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In the year 2099, imagine having to cancel your family vacation plans to St. Louis or that Oklahoma ranch. How come? Because, unfortunately, it’s dystopian times and there’s a wall there. It’s even worse inside those middle districts for Asher, son of The Defiance, because his one true love is now trapped on the Lazurite side, and her father runs totalitarian government. This month we’re crossing The Wall in our September book quest, and today we invite Brian Penn to explore this debut and other dystopian dooms.

Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Ignite by Kara Swanson
2. Above the Circle of Earth: prebuy this sci-fi
3. Lorehaven Guild: The Wall book quest

Mission update

• Lorehaven reviews: The Chaos Grid by Lyndsey Lewellen
• Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild

Introducing guest Brian Penn

Brian Penn is an award-winning novelist and screenwriter. He has a BS in psychology, which he finds useful while composing interesting and authentic characters. He currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and three children, who serve as his daily inspiration. When he isn’t writing you can find him spending time with his family, hitting the slopes, or shooting archery. Brian is a recipient of the Literary Titan’s Book Award as well as a Maxy Award Finalist for best science fiction.

• BrianAlanPenn.com
• @‌BrianPennAuthor on Facebook
• @‌brianpenn on Instagram
• @‌BrianAlenPenn on TwitterX

1. How did you first ‘plot’ to destroy future-America?

• Famous dystopian tales have messed up Europe (Brave New World)
• A few specifically target the U.S. of A., some vaguely (The Hunger Games)
• What would last in such a society? What would be barely remembered

2. What can Christians do in a dystopian country?

• Choose between the Defiance and the harder-core Sons of Levi
• Choose between peaceful withdrawal or shrewder engagement
• Choose between human morality and artificial tech “resurrection”

3. What’s next for Asher and/or Sarai as we rebuild?

• Reader response to The Wall since its December 2023 publication
• Titles for the two sequels are now revealed; when do they release?
• What else lies in your future—any Defiance, creativity, or some of each?

Com station

Top question for listeners

• Would you join a resistance to overthrow dystopian government?

Vince Mancuso, Jabin Kainos sci-fi series author, liked ep. 228:

I may not agree 100% with some of your thoughts—I see no reason Christians shouldn’t try to dominate the markets—I fully understand how you got there, as well understand we are in a different culture than Michelangelo, but I don’t want that to keep us from making attempts and succeeding where we can.

Next on Fantastical Truth

Just this month we’ve seen three examples of a polarity shift. Up is down. Water is dry. And heroes are actually villains—while the villains get justified by tragic backstory. How does this happen? In reality and fiction, why do some modern storytellers, keep reversing the polarity of heroes and villains?