Dark Is The Stain: Hallow’s Eve
Kaci Hill, Nov 2, 2011
I began this series because I wanted to explore the dark themes of Christian fiction. I don’t want to just discuss it; I want to touch it. I want light so bright that anything dark distracts, and darkness so black […]
Heroes
Fred Warren, Nov 1, 2011
Given the collective angst from the Christian community every year over Halloween, it seems odd to me how little attention is given to November 1.
Satan, The Imaginary, And Halloween
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 31, 2011
How we as Christians celebrate Halloween, then, hinges on these three factors — our view of Satan, our understanding of the imaginary, and what we want to say to our culture. Is there one right way of doing Halloween? I don’t believe so. I do believe we should avoid pointing the finger at other Christians and saying that they’re doing it wrong.
Why I Wrote The DarkTrench Saga
Kerry Nietz, Oct 28, 2011
Now that I’m done writing The DarkTrench Saga (from Marcher Lord Press), I’ll talk about it. The three-volume futuristic series has had some interesting criticisms, but surprisingly, the strongest reproaches have come from the Christian community.
Shooting At Halloween Pumpkins
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 27, 2011
At Halloween, do demons really run wild over neighborhoods and souls? Or might Christians “demonize” decorations, to the glee of the actual Devil? This former pumpkin-“killer” explores our actual worst enemies, and the One Who defeated them.
So How Long Have You Been Writing?
John Otte, Oct 26, 2011
There are two questions in life that make me cringe. The first is one I’ve heard for most of my life: “How tall are you?” An occupational hazard of being 6′ 6″, I suppose, but still. It gets old after […]
I Aim To Misbehave
Fred Warren, Oct 25, 2011
This scene came to mind when I read an article by Sally Apokedak at Novel Rocket that Becky Miller highlighted this weekend. Sally asks if writers should aim to avoid offending publishers. It’s a good question, worthy of discussion.
Interacting With Culture
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 24, 2011
Are giving in to our culture as traitors or fighting against it as a lover of what is right and true our only two choices? Is there no intersection in which we who know the truth can show it to our society rather than running from the assault or turning to fight?
I’m Out Of The Spec Closet
James L. Rubart, Oct 21, 2011
I admit it now. Speculative fiction has been my passion since I was a kid, and I had wild dreams back then about writing it someday.
Beyond Story Battles 1: Living For The Fight?
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 20, 2011
Christian visionary stories are not merely a means of fighting Christian novels with shallow themes, or without cusswords, violence, or dungeons and dragons. They are a means of worship, to praise and personally enjoy our Creator.
Dark Is The Stain: Chiaroscuro
Kaci Hill, Oct 19, 2011
Delving into Darkness Welcome to the new series! Church brat points to whoever knows which song “Dark is the Stain” comes from. I decided, in honor of the season, to go with a dark speculation of story. As Brian Godawa’s […]
Speculative Love, Part 6: Love Does Not Compute
Fred Warren, Oct 18, 2011
By way of closing this series on love in speculative fiction, I wanted to talk briefly about a quality of love that makes it problematical for science fiction in particular: love is not logical.
Sentimentality And Christian Fiction
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 17, 2011
I believe that stories that suggest God never brings things to right here in this life are just as untrue as those that imply He always does so. Perhaps J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis were such masters because they knew how to show both the truth of this world and the truth of Christian hope.
An Apologetic Of Horror, Part 3
Brian Godawa, Oct 14, 2011
The defense of horror and thriller movies in principle should not be misconstrued to be a justification for all horror and thriller movies in practice. It is the mature Christian who, because of practice, has his senses trained to discern good and evil in a fallen world.
Human Nature 3: Showing A Savior Isn’t Enough
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 13, 2011
Some stories include the full Gospel; others echo “subset” stories, as the Bible also does. But might Christians act as if the stories with good human heroes or Inspirational™ morals are the best or only kinds of Christian stories?
Speculative Love, Part 5: Father Issues
Fred Warren, Oct 11, 2011
Our barn-burner discussion of the non-spec-fic movie, C0urageous, reminded me (thanks, Stephen) that I haven’t talked about another sort of love (or lack thereof) we often find in speculative stories: parental love. More specifically, paternal love. Fathers are most often […]
A Look At Family Friendly Fiction
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 10, 2011
Unfortunately, the term “family friendly” has become entwined with the idea of “safe.” But safe from what? What is it that can do eternal damage to a soul?
An Apologetic Of Horror, Part 2
Brian Godawa, Oct 7, 2011
The portrayal of good AND evil, as well as their consequences, are two sides of God’s one honorable, pure, lovely, excellent, and praiseworthy truth. According to the Bible, pointing out wrong is part of dwelling on what is right, exposing lies is part of dwelling on the truth, revealing cowardice is part of dwelling on the honorable, and uncovering corruption is part of dwelling on the pure.
An Open Letter To Truly ‘Courageous’ Storytellers
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6, 2011
Christians should hate it when people base church services on entertainment. They should also dislike when people base entertainment on church services.
The Doctor’s Doctrines: Discussion Time
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 5, 2011
Doctor Who series 6 ended last Saturday, with the universe crumbling (again!) and only one clever Time Lord to stop it. Now on Spec-Faith: Discuss. Quote. Think Christianly about the BBC sci-fi series. Work it out of your system.
Speculative Love, Part 4: Alien Love
Fred Warren, Oct 4, 2011
The issue was bound to come up once people started writing science fiction stories. You’ve got humans, you’ve got aliens, you’ve got robots–put them together in a dark room without parental supervision and you get… Eww. It’s revolting, it’s fascinating, it’s gooey, it’s radioactive…It’s alien love!
Christian Speculative Fiction In A Postmodern World
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Oct 3, 2011
On one hand, Christian speculative fiction authors believe, in contradiction to our culture, that there are absolutes, that belief is essential, that beauty is recognizable, and that now pales in comparison to one day.
An Apologetic Of Horror, Part 1
Brian Godawa, Sep 30, 2011
Horror is not an inherently evil genre of storytelling. It can be used for gratuitous evil purposes, or for godly moral purposes. The Bible tells many stories using the horror genre in order to inspire holy fear of evil and admonish or chastise those in sin.
Human Nature 2: The Greatest Battle Lies Within
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 29, 2011
Stories often like to make the real enemy a surprise. But they’re usually external, missing the worst enemy of all: our own sinful flesh.
Speculative Love, Part 3: Standing The Test Of Time
Fred Warren, Sep 27, 2011
By way of wrapping up last week’s discussion of romantic love in science fiction, or the lack thereof, I want to highlight a sub-genre that seems to grasp the power of the emotional bond between a man and woman devoted to each other: The time-travel story.
Are You Hooked?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 26, 2011
Not long ago, I discussed the “It Factor,” that intangible something that sets a work of fiction apart and gets people to notice and talk and read. One thing most writing instructors agree on is that a novel opening needs to hook readers into the story.
‘Harry Potter’ and How We Learn To Discern
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 24, 2011
Whether you enjoy ‘Harry Potter,’ or believe it’s dangerous witchcraft, or try to find Christian parallels in the stories … 14 questions to ask.
Let’s Look At Openings
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 23, 2011
A couple weeks ago, I posted the openings of six different novels on my personal blog and had visitors vote for the ones that captured their interest. It was a useful exercise and proved to be lots of fun. I […]
Open Letter To Christian Visionary Readers
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 23, 2011
Do readers who find great visionary novels want to stay the minority? Instead, promote the books you love. Here’s how.
Human Nature 1: On The Enemies List
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 22, 2011
No good story is complete without some evil, and storytellers like to draw from at least ten common bad-guy standbys. But how do they try to throw in “surprise twist” enemies? And what enemy isn’t on the list of usual suspects?
