Lars Walker: Beyond ‘Wannabe’ Fantasy
Lars Walker, Mar 24, 2013
This week Lars Walker’s “The Christian Fantasy” column gained many readers and reactions. Naturally we asked for a sequel.
Realm Makers 2013: An Expanding Vision
Rebecca P. Minor, Mar 22, 2013
The first Realm Makers conference at The University of Missouri on Aug. 2 to 3, 2013, will focus on Christian-speculative authors. Yet organizer Rebecca P. Minor says that may only be the beginning.
Resurrection, Part 2: Christ Is Risen
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 21, 2013
Divine energy courses through His dead body. Light blazes. His heart beats. Tissues repair and muscles tighten. Some wounds vanish; five others stay as evidence. Resurrection begins.
I Started Out As A Child
Yvonne Anderson, Mar 20, 2013
For better or for worse, our childhoods shaped us. So did the stories we enjoyed.
Have You Visited Your “Inmost Cave” Lately?
Christopher Miller, Mar 19, 2013
The following blog post was written by my brother (and co-author) Allan today while I’ve been on the road. Enjoy! ——————- I love exploring. Whenever I can, I like to take my family out on hikes to explore nature. I […]
In The News: Mid-March 2013
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 19, 2013
“The Hobbit” on DVD, reviewing the “Left Behind” dramatic audio pilot, “Doctor Who” promos, St. Patrick, a low view of what Jesus can handle, and one theologian’s “Jack the Giant Slayer” criticisms.
Reading And Standards For It
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 18, 2013
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.
A Brief Introduction To Gene Wolfe, My Favorite Contemporary Author
Matt Mikalatos, Mar 15, 2013
If you love speculative fiction, either as reader or writer, Wolfe is worth your time. If you’re a Christian wanting to improve the quality of the books you’re reading or improve your craft as a writer, Wolfe is essential.
Resurrection, Part 1: Prelude
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 14, 2013
Every good hero in fantasy and science fiction must experience some kind of death and rebirth. Only one Hero has truly done it. And only He can share the joy of His Resurrection.
Book Trailers Part Two: Electric Boogaloo
John Otte, Mar 13, 2013
Two weeks ago, John talked about book trailers. This time, he’s talking about book trailers again, but with a twist!
What Makes Fantasy Work? Part 2
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 11, 2013
I hope our readers here at Spec Faith are thinking about the Christian speculative novel–fantasy, science fiction, supernatural, or whatever–they would like to nominate for the Clive Staples Award. Let’s find the books that work and pick the best of the lot to honor.
Speculative Faith Upgraded: News, Feedback Forms, and Beyond
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 8, 2013
Speculative Faith is more than a blog. Here’s what we’ve added this week on our continuing journey to be the top resource portal for Christian speculative story exploration.
Listening To Left Behind: Prologue
E. Stephen Burnett, Mar 7, 2013
Skip the “Left Behind” movies (likely including the upcoming “Caged” remake). The audio-drama series is much more fun. And I hope to re-explore them in a new series.
How Can They Hear?
Yvonne Anderson, Mar 6, 2013
A common complaint with Christian fiction is that it’s too preachy. Personally, I’m more apt to be dissatisfied because it’s not preachy enough.
Magic In The Story: Written In The Stars
Christopher Miller, Mar 5, 2013
Today we continue our series on Magic in the Story with a form of so-called “magic” I believe many are confused about. This post, entitled “Written in the Stars” is an exploration of the difference between Astrology and Biblical Star-Reading […]
What Makes Fantasy Work? Part 1
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Mar 4, 2013
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?
Perseverance and Philippians 2:12-13, Part 2
Robert Treskillard, Mar 1, 2013
If you are at all familiar with the difficult time Christian speculative fiction has had getting a foothold in the market, you understand our need to persevere—both as readers and as authors.
Fiction Christians From Another Planet! VIII: The Invisible Body
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 28, 2013
Why do some Christian novels treat local churches like they treat characters going to the bathroom? Why in effect say “ew” to the body of Christ?
To Trailer or Not To Trailer
John Otte, Feb 27, 2013
. . . that is . . . well, it’s a question, anyway. Actually, it’s a question I wanted to ask all of you. As some of you may or may not know, Failstate: Legends, the sequel to my debut […]
Magic In The Story: The Two Faces Of Magic
Christopher Miller, Feb 26, 2013
This week we delve deeper into the mysteries of ‘Magic in the Story’ and find ourselves confronted by the fact that there are two faces of magic in Narnia.
Reviving The Clive Staples Award
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 25, 2013
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.
Perseverance and Philippians 2:12-13, Part 1
Robert Treskillard, Feb 22, 2013
The confusing phrase is “work out your salvation.” What in the galaxy does that mean? Does it mean that we must “work” for our salvation? Does this mean that we are under “law” and not under grace? Am I responsible for my own salvation? Is my salvation contingent upon my behavior?
Fiction Christians From Another Planet! VII: Attack Of The Spiritoids
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 21, 2013
From the misquote “you are a soul, you have a body,” to spiritual-warfare “only unseen realities matter” assumptions, to end-times evacuation-from-Earth tropes, Gnostic spiritoids infect some Christian fiction.
Where Are All The Superheroes?
Yvonne Anderson, Feb 20, 2013
From the halls of Odin to the exploits of Beowulf, the graphic-art mythos of Superman, the school day victories of colorful Power Rangers—why are superheros so super?
Magic In The Story: What’s The Big Deal?
Christopher Miller, Feb 19, 2013
Magic — just the mention of it can cause many a “good Christian” to draw dividing lines, take sides and ready for attack. Are we being discerning or just overreacting? Join our new series: Magic in the Story.
Idolatry And Reading-Fandom
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Feb 18, 2013
Religion scholar David Chidester has famously argued that baseball, Coca-Cola, rock ‘n’ roll, Tupperware—and even the Human Genome Project—serve, for their biggest fans, as “religious fakes,” meaning they play the role of religion, though they aren’t the real thing.
Riding The Negative Waves Of Dystopian Fiction
Kerry Nietz, Feb 15, 2013
From dystopian genre’s long past to fears of our own futures, “Mask” author Kerry Nietz explores why such stories are so popular.
Fiction Christians From Another Planet! VI: Alien Love Slaves
E. Stephen Burnett, Feb 14, 2013
Even in many speculative-novel subplots, the bad Christian-fiction romance is coarse, and rough, and irritating, and it gets everywhere.
Dust You Are
John Otte, Feb 13, 2013
One of the things I’ve gotten used to, being a Lutheran in an industry filled with . . . well, mostly not-Lutherans, is that there are times when I’ll reference a belief or practice of my denomination, only to have […]
Label Me The Anti-Christ or Give Me A Grilled Chessus!
Christopher Miller, Feb 12, 2013
I remember it well, my first novel had just been published and reviews were starting to appear on various blog posts and retail sites. To my delight the posts were almost unanimously positive. The comments were packed with kids and […]
