Insert Clever Title About The Antichrist Here
John Otte, Aug 1, 2012
Well, we had to talk about him at some point. And if you want to check out Kaci’s post about the Antichrist, it’s here.
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Fred Warren, Jul 31, 2012
It’s an even-numbered year, so it must be time for the youth of the world to gather in a major global metropolis to compete in the Olympic Games. This is a good thing, especially if you enjoy stories, because the Olympics are all about the stories.
News And Your Views
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 30, 2012
A smattering of this and that today. An update on our First Ever Spec Faith Writing Challenge, then news for For fantasy lovers. Finally, your views, in two parts.
Ancient Realms Of Imagination
Scott Appleton, Jul 27, 2012
The stories that I read while growing up inspired me to be a better person–to better follow God and to deal more rightly with other people. A good story isn’t just penned or typed; it grows out of the heart.
Speculative Faith Reading Group 8: The Stone Table
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 26, 2012
In “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” how has Aslan’s death affected you, and how does it affect you now? How do other stories’ heroes’ deaths remind you of Christ’s ultimate death?
The Spiritual Villain
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 25, 2012
Bane vs. The Joker: in stories, the scariest villains are not the ones who kill the most, leer the most, or have the worst weapons. Instead the scariest villains have spiritual impact on the main characters, or we as readers and viewers.
When Bad Things Happen To Good Characters
Fred Warren, Jul 24, 2012
It looks like a significant majority of our readers prefer posts that are educational, help them make informed choices about their reading/viewing material, and/or provoke discussion. Tough cookies. You’re getting a story today.
Readers And Reviews
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 23, 2012
Some people are intimidated by the whole writing reviews process. Since Spec Faith has added the review component to our library, I thought it might be helpful to look at writing reviews briefly, in the hopes that more readers will brave the waters of influence and post their thoughts here and elsewhere on the web.
Announcement: The 7/16 Writers’ Challenge
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 23, 2012
Last week I left open the possibility that we might add a second round to the first ever Spec Faith Writers’ Challenge, creating a poll for the entries that received the most thumbs up so that readers might decide which is their favorite. I’m not closing the door to that possibility, but I realized that the entries posted later in the week need some time for readers to read them.
Teaching Story Transitions 3: Start With God’s Story
Jared Moore, Jul 21, 2012
How do parents reject false discernment notions and replace them with truth? With none other than the truest “story” of all: the Scripture, God’s Word.
Writer’s Block?
Tom Pawlik, Jul 20, 2012
This is one of the things that makes us different from the rest of the animal kingdom. Our creativity. Other animal species may have developed forms of communication, but so far as we know only humans engage in storytelling.
Speculative Faith Reading Group 7: Aslan Springs Forth
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 19, 2012
In these two chapters, watch for this contrast: of the wrong sort of “seriousness” — the manipulative, duty-driven dominance of the Witch — versus the joyful, holy, righteous seriousness that Aslan brings.
Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign
John Otte, Jul 18, 2012
John talks about “the signs of the times.” And he dresses up as a famous occult scholar and archaeologist. The two are related. Promise.
Shining Light In ‘The Dark Knight’
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 17, 2012
“You’ll hunt me; you’ll condemn me,” Batman says at the end of The Dark Knight. “That’s what needs to happen.” Some Christians cried: “No it’s not! Heroes don’t lie!” They miss the point.
Writer Time: A Short Writing Challenge
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 16, 2012
Here’s the way we’ll set up this first ever Spec Faith writing challenge. I’ll give a first line, and those who wish to accept the challenge will write what comes next–in 100 to 200 words, putting those in the comments section of this post. Readers will give thumbs up to the ones they like the most, and, if they wish, they may give a reply to the various entries, telling what particularly grabbed their attention.
The Sword Endures
Rebecca P. Minor, Jul 13, 2012
With all the different kinds of speculative stories, with fantastic weapons and wars, why is the symbol and themes of the sword so transcendent?
Speculative Faith Reading Group 6: Greed and Gifts
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 12, 2012
In these two chapters of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” we see good and evil even more clearly — along with God-exalting, reality-reflecting truths of what really causes evil, and the seriousness of fighting it.
Challenging The Indie Imagination
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 11, 2012
For this epic-story reader, it’s hard to keep track of all the new independent Christian-speculative publishers. Wouldn’t it better to combine some of them, at least for marketing? Several indie press-runners have already joined this conversation.
Introducing The Author: Karyn Henley
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 9, 2012
In case anyone isn’t noticing, young adult (YA) literature is hot right now, especially fantasy. Following this trend, any number of writers who published adult fiction now write for the YA market. Of late I’ve learned of several children’s book writers who are making the switch too. Such is the case with today’s author — Karyn Henley.
Why Christians Can Love Speculative Stories
Ted Turnau, Jul 6, 2012
“Popologetics” author Ted Turnau: Speculative stories give more space to explore reality, imaginative worlds that enchant, and reflections of our true home.
Sex, Violence and Dark Events
Karen Hancock, Jul 6, 2012
I understand that some readers are made very uncomfortable reading “graphic horror and implied sexual abuse,” but does that mean neither can ever be acceptable elements in Christian fiction, regardless of the purpose they might serve in that fiction? Should Christian authors of speculative fiction – or any fiction – refrain from putting “dark and violent things” into their novels as a matter of principle?
Sex In The Story: One Shade Of Black
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 5, 2012
Why are professing Christian readers, mostly women, reading and enjoying the pornographic novel “Fifty Shades of Grey,” and are overtly defending this practice? This is worse than Harry Potter hysteria or angst over supposed witchcraft in stories.
Baggage, Blizzards, and The Rapture
John Otte, Jul 4, 2012
In honor of the Fourth of July, John talks about winter weather. And not because it’s the Fourth of July either. Yeah, this isn’t helping, is it?
The Legend Of Intaglio, Part 7
Fred Warren, Jul 3, 2012
And now, the conclusion…presented without accompanying illustrations in the electrifying three-dimensional brilliance of Your Own Imagination!
Introducing N. D. Wilson
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Jul 2, 2012
Publishing as N. D. Wilson, Nate writes middle grade fantasy for the general market, including the well-loved Cupboards Trilogy. His most recent release is the much acclaimed The Dragon’s Tooth, first in the Ashtown Burials series, which received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and School Library Journal. The paperback edition is due out next month.
Teaching Story Transitions 2: Your Children Aren’t Yet Saints
Jared Moore, Jun 29, 2012
“Don’t shelter children.” “Do shelter children.” What wrong belief does both views assume? How instead should parents teach story discernment?
Good News For Readers
Lyndon Perry, Jun 29, 2012
In this new world of e-publishing, self-publishing, and the like, there is exciting news for readers: greater access to new and favorite authors.
Speculative Faith Reading Group 5: Enter The Lion
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 28, 2012
Who is Aslan? Is he the same as Jesus Christ? An “allegory” for Him? Or something else entirely? Who would we ask? Also, what about that strange “Lilith” explanation for the White Witch, from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”?
The Strange Case Of Nicheolas Bartleby
E. Stephen Burnett, Jun 27, 2012
He loves speculative stories. But deep down he doesn’t much care for actually sharing the joy in the best ways possible.
