The 13 essays in this volume explore Stephenie Meyer's wildly popular
Twilight
series in the contexts of literature, religion, fairy tales, film, and the gothic. Several examine Meyer's emphasis on abstinence, considering how, why, and if the author's Mormon faith has influenced the series' worldview. Others look at fan involvement in the
world, focusing on how the series' avid following has led to an economic transformation in Forks, Washington, the real town where the fictional series is set. Other topics include Meyer's use of Quileute shape-shifting legends,
's literary heritage and its frequent references to classic works of literature, and the series' controversial depictions of femininity.