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Into the Darkness
Reviews, Feb 3, 2023

The Chosen Succeeds Where ‘Woke’ Stories Fail
Jenneth Dyck in Articles, Feb 2, 2023

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
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Canaan Sleeps, Daniel Camomile
Silver Bounty, Victoria McCombs
A Sword for the Immerland King, F. W. Faller
Calor, J. J. Fisher
Once Upon A Ren Faire, A. C. Castillo
The Genesis 6 Project, Michael Ferguson
Exile, Loren G. Warnemuende
Aberration, Cathy McCrumb
The Truth Beyond the Lies, Kathleen Bird
Frost, Winter's Lonely Guardian, E. E. Rawls
Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
The Change, Bradley Caffee
Quest of Fire: Desperation, Brett Armstrong
Wishtress, Nadine Brandes
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147. Why Can Christians Celebrate Stories about Merlin and King Arthur? | with Robert Treskillard
Fantastical Truth, Jan 31, 2023

146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
Fantastical Truth, Jan 24, 2023

145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
Fantastical Truth, Jan 17, 2023

144. Which Top Six Fantasy Franchises Gave Fans Grief in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 10, 2023

143. Which Top Ten Lorehaven Stories Proved Most Popular in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 6, 2023

142. What Christmas Gift ‘Tools, Not Toys’ Helped You Grow As a Person?
Fantastical Truth, Dec 20, 2022

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Rose Petals and Snowflakes
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On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
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Into the Darkness
“Charles Hack’s Into the Darkness summons a close-range science fiction story, focusing on the personal challenges of space warfare among alien cultures with a steady pace and serious tone.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 3, 2023

A Crown of Chains
“A Crown of Chains creatively retells a biblical tale to explore themes of providence, racism, faith, and fidelity.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2023

Lander’s Legacy
“Lander’s Legacy stacks modern thrills and complex characters on a foundation of biblical what-ifs.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 20, 2023

Prince Caspian
“Pacing starts slow but creature lore grows in C. S. Lewis’s sequel, introducing practical tyrants and talking-beast politics into a Narnian resistance.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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110. Could We Enter a ‘Golden Age’ of Christian-Made Fantastical Fiction?

Zack believes more readers will soon clamor for Christian-made fantastical novels, while Stephen thinks this optimism might be premature.
Fantastical Truth on May 3, 2022 · 1 comment

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This year we’re seeing a lot of new energy around the idea that Christians and church-curious people (who are not always Christians!) need new stories that are not infected by false religion. Meanwhile, Christian-made fantasy fans, including Lorehaven, are finding new growth of interest in these kinds of stories. Could this lead to a “golden age” of Christian-made fantastical fiction? How would we even recognize such a thing? In this episode, Zack and I will explore these speculations, probably with some different perspectives.

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1. Zack, the optimist: Could a Christian fantasy ‘golden age’ draw nigh?

  • Zack recognizes that supply might exceed demand for Christian-made fantasy.
  • Still, more people are clamoring for these unique kinds of novels.
  • Overall demand for general-market fantasy seems to have increased.
  • But some feel general-market fantasy is being tainted by false religious agendas.
  • That’s why many people are looking for Christian or at least “wholesome” alternatives.
  • Several of Zack’s pastors are big fantasy fans, and have read some Christian-made titles.
  • Many articles on sites like The Gospel Coalition are encouraging biblical thinking about fiction.

2. Stephen, the pessimist: Aren’t we too early to expect a ‘golden age’?

  • Many authors and few readers is no reason to get too excited just yet.
  • Stephen has been circling this issue since the mid-2000s and seen sure yet slow progress.
  • Supply exceeding demand leads to inferior products and falling value.
  • Even Frank E. Peretti in his heyday, and the Left Behind series, was no “golden age.”
  • Today, some Christians authors are sticking with pretty basic genres/themes.
  • Christians haven’t even come to shared agreement of what fiction is for.

3. Shared hopes: What would a Christian-fantastical ‘golden age’ look like?

  • Stephen suggests Christians would agree more about the purpose of fiction.
  • They would be more like our shared agreement about the purpose of music.
  • That is, more of us know music is no mere Evangelism Tool, but worship of Christ.
  • We would have more intra-Church success, basically ignoring “the world.”
  • That is, we’d think more like niche comic-book shops, not big-box bookstores.
  • We would see more popular variety, not just (frankly) female-friendly fantasy.
  • Authors would not write as self-healing or evangelism, but out of “surplus.”
  • Publishers would tap into cultivated markets beyond eager author-types.
  • Zack suggests the animated Wingfeather Saga series will help make some changes.
  • Fan reactions to The Rings of Power may also force Christian fans to seek elsewhere.

Com station

Emory Alexander commented on our episode 109 about “story pastors”:

I am the pastor of a small church, and I have written several short stories. I recently began to consider how I could incorporate stories into my sermons. As preachers we often use illustrations, which are usually true stories, however I believe a “modern parable,” could be helpful as well.

Guest creator H. L. Burke fetched some feedback for last week’s article:

Love this article! Very well-stated with excellent examples. Thanks for sharing this and for sharing some wonderful Found Families with us in your books.

Next on Fantastical Truth

Because one of us (Stephen) is out of town at Teach Them Diligently in Pigeon Forge, we will feature a multiple-choice presentation! This could include (1) any interviews with readers and/or authors he’s able to fetch on-site, and/or (2) any recording from his presentation called “Why Do Your Kids Need Fantastical Stories for God’s Glory?” about the biblical and practical reasons families truly need fantasy, sci-fi, and other stories that offer many idols yet also graces.

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Explore the best Christian-made fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, and apply these stories' meanings in the real world Jesus calls us to serve.

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    In the Fantastical Truth podcast from Lorehaven, hosts E. Stephen Burnett and Zackary Russell explore fantastical stories for God's glory and apply their wonders to the real world Jesus calls us to serve.
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    1. Autumn Grayson says:
      May 7, 2022 at 1:55 am

      When it comes to thinking more in terms of small bookstores rather than being famous or on the best seller’s list, there’s an observation made in several Youtube comment sections that might be good to keep in mind: The observation is that, back then, many nerds wished, or at least liked the idea of, their favorite stories and hobbies going mainstream. Maybe if more people liked sci fi and fantasy, there would be more people to talk to about those subjects, and less people that would bully the nerds.

      Fast forward to today, and this idea seems to have backfired in some respects. When something goes mainstream, there is an element of it that is expected to appeal to everyone, or at least the widest audience possible. It can also get noticed and overtaken by people that act like something is only legitimate if it furthers their opinions. When all that stuff starts to happen, it becomes less about telling an awesome and unique story and more about taking certain things out to make it more ‘palatable’ to whoever has influence over the franchise.

      In that sense, obscurity is freedom. Significance and renown aren’t bad either, but we should consider the time, place and manner aspects of those things. In this case, it can be hard for something to truly maintain its identity and autonomy if everyone knows about it and has reasons to turn it into something else. If we keep those dynamics in mind, hopefully we will be more prepared for them.

      Reply

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