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A Matter Of Interpretation

All fiction—and especially speculative fiction—may easily mean different things to different people. · Shannon McDermott

Frodo’s Failure—When Doing Your Best Isn’t Enough

This image—Frodo’s failing despite his best effort—gets at the heart of the Gospel and the fact that left to ourselves, we can try-try-try all the livelong day and never measure up to what God requires. Never hope to come close. · Zac Totah

The Silmarillion Awards 2016

The Silmarillion Awards are the equivalent of the Oscars for fantasy. Ten awards will be presented in different categories during the last two weeks of July. Your votes will determine the finalists and ultimate winners. · Zac Totah

3 Fantasy Books You Probably Haven’t Read But Should

In case you haven’t heard, March is Fantasy Fun Month, where every day posts about fantasy favorites—from characters to maps—flood social media. Yesterday, Rebecca Miller posted about fantasy quotes. I figured why not continue the fantasy love, this time exploring fantasy […] · Zac Totah

Thinking About Time

Over all what do you think about stories that manipulate time? What are some of the best stories that you’ve read (or written) which depend on the manipulation of time or on a certain time period? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Mayhem And Its Meaning, A Reprise

Why does mayhem play such an important role in speculative fiction? The clearest and best explanation is that these stories reveal the great struggle of the world—the struggle between the rebel Satan and God. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Story Evangelism: The Gospel Has Power In Realistic Fiction

Conversion scenes don’t automatically make good stories, but good stories can show the gospel at work. · Austin Gunderson

The True Form Of Fairy-Tale

J. R. R. Tolkien appealed to reality in justifying joy in fairy stories. It’s revealing as to what he thought of fairy tales – and of reality. · Shannon McDermott

Leaf By Niggle, Heaven In Stories

A couple weeks ago I read Leaf by Niggle, which is not as silly as it sounds. · Shannon McDermott

Stories With Romance Or Stories With Love?

Could it be that our current Christian speculative fiction has focused so much on the kind of love the world recognizes that we are neglecting the kind of love the Bible extols? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Culture Wars And Speculative Fiction

Are speculative fiction writers creating worlds that reflect disagreements and opposing factions representative of societal struggles? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Violence In Speculative Literature

Speculative fiction is built upon a violent struggle. The goal is never to learn to co-exist with evil or to just learn to get along or to agree to disagree. Instead, two opposing forces, two incompatible worldviews square off. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

People Groups

The creation of people groups seems to be a common speculative trope, sometimes for allegorical purposes and sometimes for the sheer beauty and ingenuity of creation. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Exploring ‘The Hobbit’ Chapter 19: The Last Stage

Don’t be a story Scrooge. See the final “The Hobbit” film(s) and explore the book’s final chapter. · E. Stephen Burnett

Fantasy Isn’t For Rabbits . . . Or Kids Exclusively

Are Christians, then, the only people who “outgrow” speculative stories, who don’t want to read fantasy or science fiction as adults? Or is this an incorrect perception publishers have reached? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Theology and Heroes-Shaping Our Stories By What We Believe

To add to our enjoyment of a good story, we have the excitement of holding it up transparently before the Story of God and finding its parallels and tangents. · Jill Richardson

Why Read Fantasy? The Power Of World Building

Every believer who reads fantasy has heard objections. Some of them have been ably handled by others on this blog. Yet you know something deep stirs in you when you read about dragons and fairies and other worlds where battles are fought and wrongs are righted. Maybe, though you’re not sure how to explain your reading choices when presented with these statements. · Jill Richardson

Exploring ‘The Hobbit’ Chapter 15: The Gathering Of The Clouds

Thanks to the book’s final grown-up tone, “The Battle of the Five Armies” may be better than the second “Hobbit” film. · E. Stephen Burnett

Exploring ‘The Hobbit’ Chapter 14: Fire and Water

J.R.R. Tolkien’s images of a horrific dragon attack rivals today’s disaster-prone filmmakers. · E. Stephen Burnett

Christianity, Diversity, And Speculative Fiction

Diversity marked Christ’s ministry and has been a hallmark of the Church from early on. Today Christianity encompasses any number of people groups, largely because believers take seriously God’s commission to make disciples of those at home, nearby, and far away. · Rebecca LuElla Miller
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