The Legend Of Intaglio
Fred Warren, May 15, 2012
Once upon a time, in a little Italian village nestled at the foot of the Alps, north of Milan, there lived a humble cabinetmaker named Giuseppe who wrote a weekly home improvement column for the local newspaper.
Fantasy: Where To Go Next?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 14, 2012
You want to introduce a friend of yours to fantasy. Where do you start? That seems like a no-brainer. Start with the best — Lewis and Tolkien. But then what? What if this particular friend of yours says, I love this fantasy stuff you’ve given me. Love, love, love them. What should I read next? What do you say?
For Writers: How Important Are Book Covers?
Robert Treskillard, May 11, 2012
Soon-to-be-published author Robert Treskillard advises aspiring authors on how book covers may make the sell to agents and publishers.
Beauty and Truth 3: The Chief End Of Man
E. Stephen Burnett, May 10, 2012
Story critics charge that Christians should do “more important things” than enjoy fiction. But a famous Biblical truth reflected in the Westminster Shorter Catechism begins to challenge that notion.
Done To Death: Getting It Right
John Otte, May 9, 2012
Last time, I wrote about the reason why I don’t think it’s a good idea to write “milk” in Christian fiction. And I also promised to talk about some books that I think “got it right,” so to speak. So here we go.
In Case You Were Wondering
Fred Warren, May 8, 2012
Piggybacking on Becky’s poll, here’s a summary of the current top 10 Christian fiction bestsellers compiled by the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) and Amazon.com as of about 2 pm CDT today.
What Are You Reading?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, May 7, 2012
What are you reading? What Christian speculative titles have you read in the last year or two? Have you written a review of those books, either here at Spec Faith as a comment to the title in our library or for one of the online outlets?
No Such Thing As Miracles
Athol Dickson, May 4, 2012
Author Athol Dickson: “Magical realism presents the supernatural as a matter of fact, almost as an everyday event, much as science fiction does. But like pure fantasy, magical realism refuses to explain itself.”
Beauty and Truth 2: The Criticism Of Story
E. Stephen Burnett, May 3, 2012
We can say nothing is wrong with stories. But what if someone asks what’s right about them? Don’t Christians have a more important mission than enjoying or defending fiction?
Imagine There’s No Christian SF Writing Blogs
E. Stephen Burnett, May 2, 2012
Either my perception is limited or magnified, or Christian-speculative-fiction blogs really are overly focused on writers. Shouldn’t the ratios of writers’ and readers’ material be reversed?
Rearranging Icons 7: Coming Full-Circle
Fred Warren, May 1, 2012
The harder we try to make this icon metaphor fit into the practical business of writing and understanding literature, the squishier and messier it becomes.
Poll Time For Readers
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 30, 2012
We’ve run some polls from time to time aimed primarily at writers, but this one is for readers (of which writers are a subset — or ought to be.) Where do you get your books?
Rice, Chess, and Sentient Machines
P. A. Baines, Apr 27, 2012
Author P.A. Baines: Unlike other genres, science fiction explores big what-if questions, such as, “what if the world ends tomorrow?” or “what if we discover life on another planet?” or even “what if an artificial intelligence were to come to believe in God?”
Rearranging Icons 6: Images Of Man
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 26, 2012
Just as Christ wants us, His “icons,” to exalt the Father and be one with Him as He and the Father are One, so we may want to “exalt” iconic characters who reflect us. Which iconic characters are your favorites, and why?
Done To Death: Milk!
John Otte, Apr 25, 2012
There’s a time and a place for “spiritual milk” (Hebrews 5:12). People who need the milk need it. But we can’t keep going back to it. At some point, we have to grow up and start on “solid food.”
Rearranging Icons 5: In The Eye Of The Beholder
Fred Warren, Apr 24, 2012
I’m more interested in the idea that readers can have a richer reading experience and writers can tell richer, deeper stories if they understand how this works.
Chuck Colson, 1931-2012
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 23, 2012
Defend the Truth. Live the Faith. Advance the Kingdom. These became the hallmarks of Chuck Colson’s life and ministry. The founder of Prison Fellowship passed away last Saturday at the age of eighty. To my knowledge, he had no connection with speculative fiction, but he was staunchly engaged with faith.
Secrets Of The ‘Firebird’ Story
Kathy Tyers, Apr 20, 2012
“Daystar” author Kathy Tyers shares the connection between her now-concluded “Firebird” series and the real world.
Rearranging Icons 4: Characters Becoming Icons
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 19, 2012
For every Christian, icons are inevitable. But they must show a process of redemption. Christ the “Icon” of the Father underwent suffering. So should we, as we image Him, and so should art and story characters, which image us.
Beauty and Truth 1: Four Sets Of Stories
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 18, 2012
Of the Christian novels you’ve read, which seem neither beautiful nor truthful, or only one or the other, or both?
Rearranging Icons 3: Give and Take
Fred Warren, Apr 17, 2012
As our e-mail conversation about icons continued, we moved into more of a give-and-take format, so you’ll see lots of quoting and commenting on things we posted last week.
Fantasy And Overt Christianity
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 16, 2012
Should Christian writers refrain from having their characters do what Christians do — turn to Christ, pray for help, give spiritual counsel, worship with other believers, and so on? If Christians do want to show their characters acting like Christians, should their books then be confined to Christian circles? Should we indeed write for and market to Christians only?
Christians And The Gaming World
Morgan Busse, Apr 13, 2012
With all the potential pitfalls of the gaming world, why do I still play? Some choose not to play at all. But I play video games because I like adventure, unique stories, and being the hero or heroine, and because this is something my husband and I can enjoy together.
Rearranging Icons 2: Defining The Debates
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 12, 2012
What are icons? How have Christians viewed them in Church history, speculative stories, and evangelical art? If you think you or your denomination doesn’t deal with icons, in fiction or in faith practice, think again — and join our conversation.
Done To Death: Exceptions That Prove The Rule
John Otte, Apr 11, 2012
Rebecca suggests that Mikalatos’s book shoots my theory to smithereens, but I disagree. Again, the question isn’t, “Can a non-Christian get something out of a Christian book?” The question is, “Who is this book written for?”
Rearranging Icons: An Introduction
Fred Warren, Apr 10, 2012
A few months ago, Stephen and I wandered into a conversation about the meaning of icons in literature and their connection to Christian faith, and we agreed it was a topic worth examining in more detail in a feature here at Speculative Faith.
Is Fiction Killing Hope?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Apr 9, 2012
As part of our sin or as a result of our sinful hearts, we turn to idols to fill up the longings God alone can assuage. But what happens when we say, in true nihilistic fashion, there is nothing that satisfies or can satisfy. What happens when a society decides there is no hope?
Please Quit Calling It ‘Weird’
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 5, 2012
I’m not picking on those who call Christian speculative stories “weird.” But Christianity doesn’t succeed because it’s Weird, but because it’s true. Our speculative stories should have a similar mission.
Must Good Characters Be Likeable?
E. Stephen Burnett, Apr 4, 2012
For a good story, must its central character be likeable, or only sympathetic? For Christian stories, that dilemma is more pronounced, because many authors focus on sympathetic non-Christians, rather than more-likeable Christian characters.
Speculative Death: Spin The Wheel
Fred Warren, Apr 3, 2012
“Everybody’s part of the Circle of Life. We’re born, we live for a while, we die, and then the whole thing starts all over again.”
