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Nomad
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Mar 5, 2021

Legend of the Storm Sneezer
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Mar 5, 2021

53. How Can Christian Fans React When Fantasy Creators Get Cancelled? Part 1
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Mar 2, 2021

My Novel ‘The Mermaid’s Sister’ Arose from True Depths of Mourning
Articles | Carrie Anne Noble on Mar 1, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 26, 2021

My Screenwriter Mom Introduced Me to Fantastic Sci-Fi in the 1960s
Articles | Jason William Karpf on Feb 25, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3
Podcast | Lorehaven on Feb 23, 2021

Join Our March 11 Livestream Exploring Christian Reactions to Fandom Cancel Culture
News | Lorehaven on Feb 22, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 19, 2021

Venus is More Than Just a Love Goddess
Articles | Shannon Stewart on Feb 18, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Enthusiast and New Lorehaven Writer Shannon Stewart
News | Lorehaven on Feb 17, 2021

Stories with Bad Ideas Can Still Help Us Grow
Articles | L.G. McCary on Feb 15, 2021

Gretchen and the Bear
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 12, 2021

The Mandalorian is a Religious Fundamentalist, and Here’s Why That’s Awesome
Articles | Josiah DeGraaf on Feb 11, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Josiah DeGraaf
News | Lorehaven on Feb 10, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 9, 2021

The Death and Rebirth of Magic in Children’s Fantasy
Articles | R. J. Anderson on Feb 8, 2021

Torch
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 5, 2021

Fictional Magic Systems Can Go Beyond Rules and Reveal Deeper Characters
Articles | Elijah David on Feb 4, 2021

How God Uses Story Villains for Our Good
Articles | Zackary Russell on Feb 3, 2021

Introducing Sci-Fi Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Zackary Russell
News | Lorehaven on Feb 2, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 2, 2021

Frank E. Peretti to Give Keynote Address at Realm Makers Writers Conference This July
News | E. Stephen Burnett on Feb 1, 2021

Fugue for the Sacred Songbook: In Eb Minor
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 29, 2021

How A Year Without Superhero Films Rebooted Our Universe
Articles | Jason Joyner on Jan 28, 2021

New Book ‘Reading Evangelicals’ Will Focus on Famous Christian Fiction
News | E. Stephen Burnett on Jan 27, 2021

Introducing Superhero Novelist and New Lorehaven Writer Jason C. Joyner
News | Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2021

49. How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction?
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Jan 26, 2021

Militant Secularism Could Force Christians to Create New Subcultures
Articles | Mike Duran on Jan 25, 2021

Flight of the Raven
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 22, 2021

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The Mermaid's Sister, Carrie Anne Noble
Etania's Worth, M. H. Elrich
Cinderella Spell, Laurie Lee
When Desperate Measures Are All You Have Left, J. C. Morrows
Fractures, James C. Joyner
Torch, R. J. Anderson
The Terran Summit, Anna Zogg
The Xerxes Factor, Anna Zogg
The Paradise Protocol, Anna Zogg
The Awakened, Richard Spillman
The Ascension, Richard Spillman
Love's Sacrifice, Kelsey Norman
Unbroken Spirit, Kelsey Norman
Seed: Judgment, Joshua David
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Nomad
“R. J. Anderson’s fantasy Nomad is a rollicking read with fascinating conflicts and plot twists.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 5, 2021

Legend of the Storm Sneezer
“Teen readers fond of lengthy, lighthearted ghost-and-zombie tales will enjoy Legend of the Storm Sneezer by Kristiana Sfirlea.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 5, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath
“Arielle M. Bailey’s The Icarus Aftermath spins a golden yarn of vivid characters and gripping emotion, set in a world ripe for exploration.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 26, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness
“Kyle L. Elliott’s novel The Hourglass and the Darkness posits a world before the great Flood, starting a promising series.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 19, 2021

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53. How Can Christian Fans React When Fantasy Creators Get Cancelled? Part 1
Fantastical Truth, Mar 2, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3
Fantastical Truth, Feb 23, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2
Fantastical Truth, Feb 9, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1
Fantastical Truth, Feb 2, 2021

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The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 2
Parker J. Cole, Mar 4

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 3: the Moon
Travis Perry, Feb 24

The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 1
Parker J. Cole, Feb 17

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 2: Venus
Travis Perry, Feb 11

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Stories with Bad Ideas Can Still Help Us Grow

I’ve learned to value faith-challenging fiction from authors like Ayn Rand, Ted Chiang, and Billy Coffey.
L.G. McCary on Feb 15, 2021 | 2 comments

You may often hear people say they’re reading nonfiction books to learn something or grow in a particular area. But why do you rarely hear the same language about novels?

If story is indeed the sneakiest form of apologetics,1 why wouldn’t you read a novel to learn and grow from it? Over the years I’ve read a lot of stories that stretched me and forced me to think and grow. Some of these books I’m about to discuss are not Christian books, and several I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. But that doesn’t change the fact that they helped me grow.

1. Ayn Rand’s Anthem

Let’s start with a doozy. Years ago, my sister-in-law wanted me to read Anthem by Ayn Rand.2 She had read it for a class, so one afternoon while I visited her, I powered through the book. It’s a brilliantly written novella about a world where all individuality has been eliminated. Rand’s story is largely told by a single narrator using plural pronouns, a narrative device that hooks you from the first sentence.

At the time I knew next to nothing about Ayn Rand, but I had a growing sense of dread and disgust as the story progressed. When I got to the last line, I shuddered:

“The word which can never die on this earth, for it is the heart of it and the meaning and the glory. The sacred word: EGO.”

Ego is a sacred word? The whole story horrified me and sent me down a rabbit hole researching theology, community versus personal autonomy, and economic policy. Some of my political opinions changed because seeing them writ large in fiction, in all their ugliness, made me realize they weren’t compatible with Scripture.

Ayn Rand likely intended for readers to react very differently to her work, but hers isn’t the only story that affected me differently than the author probably expected.

Exhalation, Ted Chiang2. Ted Chiang’s short story ‘Omphalos’

In 2015 before the movie Arrival came out, I read Ted Chiang’s short story, “Story of Your Life” (because I have a thing about not seeing a movie until I read the book).

From the first paragraph, I was hooked.

Later I borrowed his two short story collections from the library. They are not what you’d call easy reading. Chiang is a technical writer in his day job, and this shows in his prose. His work is crisp but complex and even the wackiest concepts give you something to ponder.

One of my favorite Chiang short stories is “Omphalos.” This story is told by an archaeologist in an alternate universe that has direct archeological evidence for Young Earth creationism, such as mummies without belly buttons.3 It made me think through my beliefs about the age of the earth in a way that Answers in Genesis, Biologos, and Reasonable Faith never could. Every story from both of Chiang’s short story collections challenged me, but “Omphalos” proved unforgettable.

The 49th Mystic, Ted Dekker3. Ted Dekker’s The 49th Mystic

Both of the previous authors are not Christians. Sometimes, however, I read Christian fiction I don’t agree with, and it challenges me just as much.

Last year I read The 49th Mystic by Ted Dekker because I read another author—wise sage and fellow Lorehaven writer Mike Duran—sharing concerns about the book. I wanted to know for myself if they were true.4 Dekker sets his story in the world of his Circle series, but Mystic delves into new ideas I hadn’t seen in the original books Black, Red, and White.

As the title suggests, the novel spends significant time discussing “Christian Mysticism.” Someday I may review The 49th Mystic and discuss its issues with it in detail. For now, I’ll say it was very helpful to read the book and take notes about where and how I disagreed with Dekker’s premises. His novel made me think about my beliefs about the supernatural, inerrancy, and the sufficiency of Scripture, and it changed my view on how discussions of doctrine should translate into fiction.

When Mockingbirds Sing, Billey Coffey4. Billy Coffey’s When Mockingbirds Sing

Finally, last year I discovered Billy Coffey. I don’t usually read stories in magical realism or Southern gothic genres, but I got a three-book Kindle bundle on sale during lockdown with nothing new to read.

I had no idea how much Coffey’s work would affect me.

When Mockingbirds Sing introduces readers to Little Leah, who sees the Rainbow Man, a vaguely angelic being who tells her things she shouldn’t know, and what she hears changes everyone around her in darkly beautiful ways. Her story is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, and faith-affirming books I’ve read in a long time.

Coffey has a way of leading you through the raw, ugly places in the human heart, dragging you through darkness and unanswered questions until you can take no more. Then he taps you on the shoulder to show you the sun is coming up and somehow you’ve made it home. In this and Coffey’s other books, the relentless presence of Providence planted a trust in God’s sovereignty deeper in my heart than all the sermons I’ve ever heard. The next time someone asks you for a suggestion for a good self-help book, hand them a Billy Coffey novel.

What stories have stretched you or given you a new perspective?

 

  1. See “To Shape A Story is to Shape a Soul,” L. G. McCary, Jan. 18, 2021. ↩
  2. Anthem is available for free at Project Gutenberg. I don’t recommend it, but it’s there. ↩
  3. “Omphalos” is available in Ted Chiang’s story collection, Exhalation. ↩
  4. See Mike Duran’s article breaking down Dekker’s ideas at “The Dangers of Christian Mysticism,” Nov. 27, 2017. ↩
L.G. McCary
L. G. McCary is an old-school Whovian and a lifelong Trekkie. She has a bachelor's in psychology which means she knows enough to mess with readers' heads but not enough to diagnose their problems. She is the wife of an Army chaplain and the homeschooling mom of four rambunctious kids. She writes supernatural and dark science fiction on topics as diverse as artificial intelligence, ghosts, sentient snowmen, and space hotels. Her first novel, That Pale Host, releases October 2021 from Monster Ivy Publishing. Her short story, "Rendering," appears in Havok's Rebirth anthology.
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  1. Brennan says:
    February 15, 2021 at 9:15 am

    I love Billy Coffey.

    Reply
    • L.G. McCary says:
      February 17, 2021 at 4:49 pm

      Me too! I count him as one of my biggest influences as an author now, and I’m slowly buying every book he’s ever published. He has one of the strongest voices in Christian fiction, in my humble opinion.

      Reply

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