Speculative Faith was the volunteer-led website that preceded Lorehaven. From 2006 to 2021, hundreds of Christian fantastical writers added their voices to this team blog. Many of those creatives now continue this work at Lorehaven. This archive preserves all the original SpecFaith articles and reviews. You may find, however, some outdated bios and missing images as well as occasional formatting glitches! Please note that some reviews have been updated and republished to Lorehaven.

The Poison Pill Of Culture

, Jul 22, 2019

The way culture works is opposed to the way God works, the way Jesus works, and might fairly be considered a poison pill.

Licking the Chocolate Off Poison Pills: A Comment on Cultural Engagement

, Jul 18, 2019

Is there any potential risk in enjoying arts and popular culture? Is anything out there poison to us? How should we react to things we enjoy but know are harmful to us?

The Arc and the Epilogue

, Jul 17, 2019

In the beginning, Pixar made Toy Story, and it was good.

Should We Be Against Christians Who Are Against Popular Culture?

, Jul 16, 2019

E. Stephen Burnett and Cap Stewart explore the truth and challenges of Brad East’s recent Mere Orthodoxy article “Against Pop Culture.”

Favorite Authors

, Jul 15, 2019

Authors can captivate a reader, maybe more than a genre does, but to keep their loyalty, an author needs to keep delivering.

Fiction Friday: Paranormia By Paul Regnier

, Jul 12, 2019

A great balance of comedy, action adventure, and the supernatural, Paranormia is a quirky, heartfelt adventure that is both enjoyable and uniquely engaging. — Jill Williamson

Beatitudes and Woes: A Groundbreaking Anthology

, Jul 11, 2019

The Beatitudes and Woes anthology uses speculative stories to illustrate well-known statements Jesus made. Perhaps this method will prove to be groundbreaking–used by other anthologies in the future.

Children Don’t Need Magic: A Response to Joshua Gibbs

, Jul 10, 2019

Magic is fun in fiction, but children don’t actually need magic to experience the awe of the Creator.

For Fans, Your Family, and the Church: Get the New Issue of Lorehaven Magazine

, Jul 9, 2019

Shawn Smucker delights in magic at life’s margins, we review great new Christian fantasy, and fanservants seek the Psalms and discern YA’s allure.

Realm Makers Conference Facts—From The Writers’ Tool Chest

, Jul 8, 2019

There are two things to keep in mind: 1) look for blog posts and pictures on social media about the Conference; 2) plan now to attend next year’s event.

The Villains We Love Only Want Their ‘Freedom’

, Jul 5, 2019

“We like these villains because they embody a type of freedom we long for. A freedom to be your own boss. And everyone else’s.”

Appreciate the Independence, USA

, Jul 4, 2019

Realizing that all nations end should help us appreciate the USA we have now.

A Broadened Horizon

, Jul 3, 2019

But if my estimation of Marvel’s weaknesses is the same, my estimation of its strengths has changed.

Lorehaven Magazine’s Summer 2019 Issue Arrives Next Week

, Jul 2, 2019

What’s inside Lorehaven’s summer 2019 issue? Book reviews, great articles, and our interview with Shawn Smucker.

The Quantum Mechanics God of Alternate Realities

, Jun 27, 2019

Are alternate universes fair game for Christian writers of speculative fiction? This post takes a look at why so many science fiction stories feature alternate realities based on quantum mechanics–and suggests ways a Christian worldview can be compatible with this kind of tale.

The Way It Should Be

, Jun 26, 2019

One lazy evening a while back, I was scrolling through the movies on Amazon Prime and came across an indie film called Coherence. A quick search on Google pulled up favorable reviews, so I gave it a shot. I’m glad […]

Mission Report, June 2019, Realm Makers Bookstore in Pennsylvania

, Jun 25, 2019

We are still amazed when we encounter someone who says, “I had no idea books like this existed!â€

Summer Reading List

, Jun 24, 2019

Here’s an opportunity for us to make those recommendations to Spec Faith readers for their summer reading list, especially about the books we’ve most recently read.

Alien Intelligence in Our Solar System?

, Jun 20, 2019

If the Solar System has life, including intelligent life, where might we find it? On Mars or under the surface of icy moons? Where we might really find life and what that life could be like should influence science fiction–including sci fi written by Christian authors.

One Conception From Another

, Jun 19, 2019

We all have an idea of what a witch is, but the idea is almost unavoidably an amalgam.

Awards Season Around The Corner

, Jun 17, 2019

It’s always good to take a look at books that have won awards or those that others thought were at the top of the list.

Does Family Enhance Female Heroes?

, Jun 13, 2019

Was Mark Carver’s post on Speculative Faith yesterday right about a need to have more families with children in speculative fiction? In particular, would children benefit female heroes?

Those Meddling Kids

, Jun 12, 2019

It takes just a quick glance at movies, TV shows, and books to realize that our entertainment is packed with attractive and unmarried characters, and a good portion of those that are married look and act like they aren’t married. […]

Get a Glimpse of Lorehaven’s Summer 2019 Issue, Which Arrives Next Month

, Jun 11, 2019

Coming in Lorehaven’s next issue: novelist Shawn Smucker with “Light from Distant Stars,” plus 12 more book reviews.

Characters And Their Development: From The Writers’ Tool Chest

, Jun 10, 2019

Characters make the story, even in speculative fiction. For all our intriguing Other Places, readers still read because they care about the characters.

Against the Tragic Villain Backstory

, Jun 6, 2019

I’m mostly against the tragic villain backstory as a storytelling device. Let me tell you why.

A Vulnerable Technique

, Jun 5, 2019

Flashbacks possess a special nature, generally inclined to be awkward.

Mission Report, May 2019, Realm Makers Bookstore in Orlando and Columbus

, Jun 4, 2019

This year so far, Realm Makers Bookstore has sold about 2,500 Christian-made fantastical books to eager readers across America.

What Science Fiction Fact Will Be Next?

, Jun 3, 2019

Although speculative fiction has taken the duel turn toward horror—vampires and monsters of various kinds—and superheroes, are there science fiction writers imagining and producing the next set of future technologies or societal trends in their stories?

The Wandering Earth: Science Fiction From Outside the USA

, May 30, 2019

Are science fiction movies from China and other counties outside of the United States the future? Watching The Wandering Earth gave me some clues.

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