Where Are All The Speculative Titles Going?
Christopher Miller, Jun 25, 2013
Today’s post is going to be a departure from my “Last Son of Earth” series in order to bring you some highlights from the ICRS (International Christian Retail Show) in St. Louis. For the uninitiated, ICRS has been the primary […]
Characters Matter, And Their Character Matters
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 24, 2013
What we see in Christian novel after Christian novel is a flawed character in need of a Savior. The impression this gives is that people without Christ aren’t likable, that their flawed character means they won’t do heroic deeds or stand up for right.
Iconoclasm, Part 1
Brian Godawa, Jun 21, 2013
The Bible is full of fantastic imagery; how did the Reformation honor this?
Superman Soups Up Sermons
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 20, 2013
Should Christians help promote cinematic Christ-callbacks?
Deus Ex Machina: The Origins
John Otte, Jun 19, 2013
Two weeks ago, I griped about how Enterprise, the last Star Trek TV show to be aired on television, resorted to using a tired old trope called deus ex machina in their plots. But deus ex machina is not a […]
Readers And Writers Finding Each Other
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 17, 2013
For me, reading is similar to going to a nice restaurant. When I order my meal, do I get the item on the menu that I know I really like, or do I experiment, try something new?
Three Reasons To Support Self-Publishing
A. T. Ross, Jun 14, 2013
Stephen’s cautions from yesterday are well taken. Yet self-publishing need not be a solo act, and it’s a great way to escape a top-heavy industry with its bottom-line gatekeepers.
Three Scriptural Cautions Against Self-Publishing
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 13, 2013
Self-publication could distract from God and chief ends, bypass the Church Body working together, and sacrifice team-built excellence.
Speculating on The Classics
Yvonne Anderson, Jun 12, 2013
In previous posts, I’ve mentioned some older-than-dirt stuff we don’t usually think of as speculative fiction, like epic poems and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Recently I’ve been visiting with another author whose work isn’t usually mentioned in discussions of the genre […]
Last Son Of Earth – Part 6
Christopher Miller, Jun 11, 2013
I’d like to start by thanking everyone for your wonderful comments last week. You’ve given me much to ponder and I think I may have to go back and alter a couple of the chapters this week. I’m glad that […]
Art And The Clive Staples Award, Continued
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 10, 2013
The Clive Staples Award is not a popularity contest. Consequently, no voter should choose a book he has not read! Our aim instead is to honor fiction well written.
In The Beginning …
Michelle Levigne, Jun 7, 2013
There’s nothing new under the sun — no matter what galaxy or fantasy world you care to mention. The challenge is weaving it all together so it feels fresh and new.
How To Be A Silly Christian Fiction Critic
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 6, 2013
Don’t read actual Christian fiction. Compare apples and oranges. And especially, never challenge your own silent acceptance of evangelical tropes.
Daniels Ex Machina
John Otte, Jun 5, 2013
I should have known better. The last time I was on here (a month ago?!?!? It seems a lot shorter than that!), I did some complaining about the long-cancelled TV show Enterprise (because, hey, I’m up on the latest entertainment […]
Last Son Of Earth: Part 5
Christopher Miller, Jun 4, 2013
For those of you following along from previous weeks, I apologize for being so off and on lately. My work schedule has been an odd one and I’m squeaking in any hours I can to my writing projects (this being […]
Art And The Clive Staples Award
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jun 3, 2013
There are good books on the list, and I don’t think it’s going to be easy to pick the one I want to vote for as best of the lot. But I’d like to think through the process of making that choice.
Star Trek Into Fun Yet Generic and Derivative Darkness
E. Stephen Burnett, May 30, 2013
The latest “Star Trek” film has great cast, visuals, and action. But the story ends up derivative, the worldview one of “distractism,” and the titular “darkness” generic and dull.
O Pioneers!
Yvonne Anderson, May 29, 2013
1908 was a year for pioneering. The first long-distance radio message was sent that January. Robert Baden-Powell founded the worldwide Boy Scout movement. The aeronautics world saw its first passenger flight–a crude biplane carrying one passenger. (Related note: Later that […]
The Clive Staples Award For Christian Speculative Fiction
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 27, 2013
For those in the US, blessings on this Memorial Day. For all of us, an update on the Clive Staples Award–specifically three announcements
Last Son Of Earth – Part 4
Christopher Miller, May 21, 2013
When we last left our young hero, Alden, he was being interrogated by Lord Langley of CON (the Conclave of Nations). Today we conclude Chapter 2 and learn a bit more about the Separatist movement and what is expected of […]
Speculative Fiction And Our Culture
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 20, 2013
How do we as Christians know what to do when we face troubling circumstances: disabilities, abortion, choices between life and death? All of that makes me think, What do we as Christians do in a world of super drones and string theory and cloning and possible pandemics and the push for euthanasia?
Word Vs. Image, Part 2
Brian Godawa, May 17, 2013
Brian Godawa: Would conservatives scold Jesus for sharing confusing stories instead of tightly organized three-point sermons?
Relics, Relics, Relics
E. Stephen Burnett, May 16, 2013
Behold the Christian MacGuffin, the Mushi: a quasi-Biblical object with Surprising Supernatural Powers for plot purposes.
Inspiration From Surprising Sources
Yvonne Anderson, May 15, 2013
While back, I read a used copy of Ursula K. LeGuin’s The Left Hand of Darkness. And thought, Oh-oh – have I read this already? Parts of it look familiar.
Last Son Of Earth – Part 3
Christopher Miller, May 14, 2013
One of Them Alden stopped immediately. He knew the only thing a CON Man didn’t enjoy killing was time and he didn’t feel like testing their patience today. Shoot first, ask questions later was CON protocol. They were peacekeepers, Agents […]
Books Versus The Screen
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 13, 2013
The vast majority of the best stories are within the pages of books, not on the little or big screen.
Word Vs. Image, Part 1
Brian Godawa, May 10, 2013
Author and screenwriter Brian Godawa: “Our Western bias toward rational discourse can too easily blind us to the biblical power of story and word pictures to embody truth.”
Surprise! Wrong Villain
E. Stephen Burnett, May 9, 2013
“We create our own demons,” Tony Stark concludes in Iron Man 3. Very true, but subversion can only go so far. We also fight actual demons and overt villains.
To Boldly Go…
John Otte, May 8, 2013
Instead of boldly going where no man has gone before, Enterprise tepidly rehashed Star Trek cliches. Now I’m worried this could also happen with the upcoming feature film “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
Sharing My Reading Joy
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 6, 2013
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.
