Speculative Fiction Writers Guide to War, part 12: Military Training Types

The military training of hereditary warrior castes, barbarians, paid professional soldiers, draftees, militias, and levies have varied. Use these types of training in your stories–or use knowledge of them to stand tropes on their head. —Travis Chapman in November 2018

Thankful for the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special?

The 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is widely considered one of the worst pieces of entertainment of all time. Yet even it leaves me reasons to be thankful. —Travis Perry in November 2018

Speculative Fiction Writer’s Guide to War, part 11: Training a Spartan, Samurai, or Starship Trooper

The elite training of warriors as different as Spartans, Samurai, and Starship Troopers show many features in common. These features drill warriors to prepare them to face the harsh realities of combat. —Travis Perry in November 2018

The Nature of the Beast

How does the idea of monsters fit into the Christian walk? —Mark Carver in November 2018

A March of Stereotypes

Taking a broad view of speculative fiction, and especially of science fiction, we may discern the march of female stereotypes. —Shannon McDermott in October 2018

Speculative Fiction Writer’s Guide to War, Part 7: The Fearless Elite

How likely is it to find the farm kid who is fearless in the face of danger and ready to kill the enemy? Rarer than you think. —Travis Chapman in October 2018

One in a Million

What if parallel worlds do exist? Does that mean there is a world out there where Adam didn’t sin? —Mark Carver in October 2018

Speculative Fiction Writer’s Guide to War, part 5: Psychology of War: Essential Fears

Essential fears shape much of what humans do on a battlefield, driving them to fight, flight, or surrender responses. —Travis Chapman in October 2018

Who Says We Can’t Play In the Genetic Sandbox?

Who gets to say what the human race can and can’t do when it comes to tinkering with the planet? —Mark Carver in October 2018

Speculative Fiction Writers’ Guide to War, Part 3: Levels and Types of War

As Star Wars: Rogue 1 showed, warfare normally happens at three levels: tactical, operational, and strategic. And has many different types. —Travis Chapman in September 2018

Faith in a Grimdark World

Novelist Aidan Russell: “As Christ’s followers, we are called to fight, and we cannot fail.” —Aidan Russell in September 2018

Who Is In Control?

When someone (or something) has control, it doesn’t like to give it back. —Mark Carver in September 2018

God and Christian Characters in Space

Novelist Steve Rzasa: “Speculative fiction needs believing characters who are believable.” —Steve Rzasa in August 2018

Where Have All the Monsters Gone?

Why aren’t dinosaurs roaming the earth today or giant sharks eating fishing boats whole? —Mark Carver in August 2018

Who Does Maintenance on Your Story’s Weapons? (And Other Stuff)

In the real world weapons need to be taken care of to maintain their usefulness. Have you thought about maintenance in your speculative fiction stories? —Travis Perry in August 2018

Imago Hominis

How sick would our society be when people actually prefer the company of soulless, factory-made machines to living, breathing people knit in the womb by God’s hands? —Mark Carver in August 2018

A Shadowy Argument for Christian Fiction

Shadows cast by stories can sometimes obscure the truth, but can Christian fiction paradoxically illuminate through shadow? —Brett Armstrong in August 2018

‘Altered Carbon’ Looks Too Long Into the Abyss

Altered Carbon is an outstanding piece of storytelling, but does the sci-fi drama fail to heed its own warnings? —Randy Streu in July 2018

The Car-Universe Without A Motor, part 11: Consciousness

Consciousness is unique. It’s more than just a product of brain function–its origin is a mystery which makes more sense if we’re willing to talk about God. —Travis Perry in June 2018

The Car-Universe Without A Motor, part 10: Life

Life coming from non-life on its own is a staple of science fiction. But is so unlikely in the real world that even recent advances in science are a long way from explaining it. —Travis Perry in June 2018
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