What I find fascinating about these three movies is the theme that runs through them—unlikeable characters depicting marriage as psychological warfare; evil is real and we can’t get rid of it; and “good” removed leaves evil to fend for—and against—itself.

Science Fiction And Fantasy?

The overall trend seems to be that the general market favors either science fiction or fantasy, but not both—at least not in great numbers.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 2014

The Dark Crystal: Magic, Muppets, and Monsters

Jim Henson’s tour de force “The Dark Crystal” is an epic story, but leaves something to be desired.

Tamra Wilson, Aug 2014

Indie Novelist Mark Carver: How Dark Is Too Dark?

Are there limits as to how dark Christian fiction can be? Where is the line between reveling in the darkness and using it as a tool to turn readers towards the light?

Mark Carver, Aug 2014

Finding The Edgy In Christian Fiction

God’s calling for edgy Christian fiction.

R. L. Copple, Jul 2014

The Availability And Benefits Of Short Fiction

You can discover new authors who might become your next Favorite Author by reading their short stories. And your investment in time is minimal.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 2014

The Coming Speculative Fiction Storm

For the first time in forever, an author no longer needed a publisher to economically publish their book and have readers find and buy it.

R. L. Copple, Jun 2014

Slenderman: Requiem For Responsibility

Okay, so yeah, I know that I’ve been gone for a while. Real life has intruded (and in a severe way just recently). But something happened recently that’s so bizarre, so surreal, that it’s prompted me to come out of […]

John Otte, Jun 2014

Hollywood Worldviews And Safe Fiction

“It is not only true, honorable and right to proclaim that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, but it is also true, honorable and right to proclaim that Satan is the father of lies”—Brian Godawa

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 2014

Biblical Discernment: Focus

It isn’t the presence of “icky, bad stuff” that we are to avoid thinking about, but rather discernment comes into play on what that stuff, icky or not, leads us to focus on, what truths it formulates in our minds.

R. L. Copple, May 2014

‘Amish Vampires In Space’ Takes The Topic Seriously

In this non-parody novel, author Kerry Nietz tells a believable science fiction tale of adventures in the far future of Amish settlers on an interstellar voyage.

Timothy Stone, May 2014

‘Leviathan’ Will Pull You In With A Hook

In this frenetically savage thriller, an evil creature of incredible power drives characters into the arms of that Being Who is mightier still.

Austin Gunderson, Apr 2014

No More

Christians have a hope beyond this sinful age of earth — and beyond even the present Heaven.

E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 2014

Judging ‘Noah’

This speculative adaptation of the biblical epic eliminates all assurance of salvation in order to gaze unflinchingly at the justice of God.

Austin Gunderson, Mar 2014

‘Power Of The Daleks’ Regenerates Classic ‘Doctor Who’

The first story of Doctor Who’s Second Doctor says a lot about the seductive nature of evil.

Adam Graham, Mar 2014

Welcome To Expanded SpecFaith Reviews

SpecFaith is growing, and now seeks your Christian reviews for anything speculative.

E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 2014

Managing The Minefield On The Way To Successful Publication

With the changes in the book industry, I think it’s helpful to discuss two particular elements of writing that lead to successful publication. By “successful” I mean selling to people other than our friends and family.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 2014

My Writing Influences

Keven, you write dark paranormal Christian fiction. How in the world did you get there?? Glad you asked.

Keven Newsome, Feb 2014

2014 CSA Nominations Are Now Open

The first two rounds of the Clive Staples Award are still in the hands of readers, beginning with the nominations which we’re opening today.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 2014

Change The World But Don’t Change Its Author

We can imagine a land where down is up and water is dry, but not one where God isn’t God. Source: Jesus Christ.

E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 2014

Reading Choices: Down With Snobbery

Pretentiousness, arrogance, haughtiness, elitism–I don’t think any of it belongs among Christian writers and readers. But sadly, literature–or more accurately, people’s feelings about literature–generates attitudes of exclusivity.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 2014

Amazon Gets Into The Faith-Based Business

Honest Sci-Fi Honors Life

Our culture creates death-celebrating reality but life-celebrating fiction.

E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 2014

The Fear Factor

Evil is scary. But God is scarier.

R. L. Copple, Jan 2014

Reading Choices: Do Christians Deserve Our Support?

What are Christian readers to do? Do we support those writers with whom we agree? Do we give a theological pass to those who are aiming for innovation and speculation?

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jan 2014

How To Do “New”

What will be the next work of speculative fiction to capture the world’s imagination? And perhaps, more importantly, what role will Christians have in the speculative fiction literary universe?

Wayne Thomas Batson, Jan 2014

For The Love Of God

I met the Lord the summer I was sixteen. A November or two later, I visited a local Baptist church for a Thanksgiving Eve service. That was forty years ago, and I no longer remember how I came to be […]

Yvonne Anderson, Nov 2013

Ender’s Film Has Game

Reviewer Melissa Ortega doubted filmmakers could adapt Orson Scott Card’s sci-fi story, but 15 minutes in, she changed her mind.

Melissa Ortega, Nov 2013

Finding Books

Most of us don’t choose our stories based on what’s good for us. That smacks too much like taking our medicine or eating our vegetables.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Nov 2013

Looking Over Your Shoulder

My current reads: spiritual warfare, Anne of Ingleside, A Cast of Stones, Amish Vampires in Space. What about you?

E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 2013

Expectations

So is it inevitable? If we love a series, will we always be let down because of our expectations? Or is it possible to hope and wait and wonder and anticipate and find the story ending is completely satisfying?

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 2013

Redeeming Zombies

Dive deep into zombie lit and film — the symbols and spirituality behind this uniquely modern monster craze.

A. T. Ross, Oct 2013

Once Upon A Time In Wonderland – A Review

When ABC advertised their new TV program Once Upon A Time In Wonderland with the tag line “Not the Alice you thought you knew,” I almost passed. How glad I am that I decided to watch it instead.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 2013

‘Nothing But A Black Puerility’

An evil explored in C.S. Lewis’s Perelandra explains politicians’ fits and challenges Disney “backstory” attempts.

E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 2013

Kingdom Come

Humans desire an ideal kingdom, a longing that Scripture promises to fulfill both spiritually and physically.

Yvonne Anderson, Oct 2013

Not So Sleepy After All

“Sleepy Hollow” left John W. Otte a little sleepy. And a little angry. Find out why in today’s post.

John Otte, Sep 2013

Realm Makers: Go Beyond The Blogs

Realm Makers offered more than cosplay and shared fandom. It gave deep doctrinal magic and a chance for Christian fans to better “incarnate” their love of fantastic fiction.

E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 2013

Realm Makers: What Could Be Next?

Fantasy author Morgan Busse: Could Realm Makers become another writing conference, or a true Christian-speculative conference?

Morgan Busse, Aug 2013

The Heart Of Speculative Fiction Is Not Weird

These stories, some believe and others may assume, are for the few, the proud, the niche, and not for everyone.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Aug 2013

Challenging ‘The Conjuring’

Sharing My Reading Joy

Many readers are still unfamiliar with Christian speculative fiction–even Christian writers, even Christians writing speculative fiction. Consequently, I thought I’d share with you some of my favorites.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 2013

Doctor Who: From ‘The Bells …’ To ‘Hide’

“Who” viewers, what have you thought of series 7.5 so far?

E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 2013

Clive Staples Award 2013: Calling All Nominations

Nominations are now open for the 2013 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 2013

Story Shutdowns

This may be unfair, but some themes, phrases, or single words in story descriptions make me instantly shut down.

E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 2013

The Undefined Unity Of Speculative Fiction

On the surface speculative fiction seems fractured into a thousand pieces, which undoubtedly explains the numerous small enclaves of speculative writers and fans that exist in cyberspace.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 2013

Reading And Standards For It

Maybe the entire reading experience is subjective. Maybe there isn’t an “everyone should read this” book out there. Maybe the best we can do is know ourselves and what’s good for us to read.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 2013

What Makes Fantasy Work? Part 1

Readers love Narnia and Lord of the Rings, and they love a handful of later fantasies. But a lot of stories don’t go viral, don’t get hundreds of reviews, and in fact get tepid responses. So what makes fantasy work?

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 2013

Reviving The Clive Staples Award

Voters will be eligible only if they have read two or more of the books nominated. We want this to be a selection by readers of Christian speculative fiction, not just the fans of particular authors.

Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 2013

A Well-Researched Imaginative Retelling Of The Biblical Noah

Dawn Apocalyse Rising faithfully recreates Noah’s world with dinosaurs and ancient technology. Very well researched. A fun read!

Tony Breeden, Feb 2013

Teaching Story Transitions 5: Middle-Grade Exploration

As parents transition children from the early tools of discernment, they may challenge middle-grade children to discern more on their own.

Jared Moore, Feb 2013

When Science Fiction Meets Fairy Tale

At first glance, science fiction and fairy tales appear to have little in common. They’re like water and oil. What could tales about nasty step-mothers and magic share with stories of high-tech gadgets and trips to other worlds? For starters, both address themes of human experience through the fantastic, and both bear the imprint of the culture of their time.

Jeff Chapman, Feb 2013

Fiction Christians From Another Planet! IV: Terror Of The Megachurchians

If we only ever meet in Christian novels pagan characters overcome by platitudes like “Really? There’s a God who loves — me?”, the author has gone beyond corny. Worse, our Hero and the Gospel look ridiculous.

E. Stephen Burnett, Jan 2013

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