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Why Can a Book’s Movie Be So Bad? When an Adaptation Goes Astray

Why do adaptations of books to movies and other media sometimes fail? It isn’t always because they didn’t follow the book closely enough. · Heather M. Elliott

Seven Ways to Deal With the Problem Magic Poses Christian Fantasy Writers

What is really is the problem with magic according to the Bible? How (and why) can Christian fantasy writers deal with this problem when creating stories? · Travis Perry

Is Netflix ‘Not Safe, but Good’ for Narnia?

Netflix had acquired all rights to make films based on C. S. Lewis’s magical world of Narnia. Let us take the adventure that Aslan sends us. · E. Stephen Burnett

The Deeper Magic of Easter

“The Magic Of Easter” runs far deeper than chocolate eggs and an adorable spring wardrobe. · Randy Streu

Holidays And Celebrations – Reprise

Holidays and celebrations seem to be a staple in society. Many pagan cultures held festivals and commemorations, some connected to their religious beliefs, and certainly Western society under the influence of Christianity fostered holidays consistent with the tenets of their faith. Consequently, novels that incorporate familiar festivities seem anchored in reality. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

C.S. Lewis Redeemed Myths, and So Should We

Redemption of myths fulfills the Bible’s command to “take every thought captive.” · Elijah David

R. J. Anderson on Story Evangelism

“Evangelism … takes place between believers meeting non-believers face to face, and interacting with them. … A book cannot take the place of a person.” · R. J. Anderson

How To Train Your Church Story Group

Would fantastical-story groups work in your local church? Here’s how they worked at mine. · E. Stephen Burnett

‘Jesus vs. Santa’ Notions Are Stuff and Nonsense

Why do some Christians insist on making Jesus fight Santa for the title of Christmas Hero? · E. Stephen Burnett

Shallow Reasons To Support ‘Narnia’ 1

Flawed, over-“spiritual” defenses of the “Narnia” series are not only annoying, but ignore the stories’s central beauties and childlike wonder. Even worse, such approaches ultimately make readers worship God less. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 8: The Stone Table

In “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” how has Aslan’s death affected you, and how does it affect you now? How do other stories’ heroes’ deaths remind you of Christ’s ultimate death? · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 7: Aslan Springs Forth

In these two chapters, watch for this contrast: of the wrong sort of “seriousness” — the manipulative, duty-driven dominance of the Witch — versus the joyful, holy, righteous seriousness that Aslan brings. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 6: Greed and Gifts

In these two chapters of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” we see good and evil even more clearly — along with God-exalting, reality-reflecting truths of what really causes evil, and the seriousness of fighting it. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 5: Enter The Lion

Who is Aslan? Is he the same as Jesus Christ? An “allegory” for Him? Or something else entirely? Who would we ask? Also, what about that strange “Lilith” explanation for the White Witch, from “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”? · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 4: Reality and Narnia

Why did C.S. Lewis write about four children coming into the magical land of Narnia? Why not two, or three, or even one, in order to write a simpler story with a more-focused cast of characters? · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 3: Enter The Witch

For the real-life Speculative Faith Reading Group for LWW, this week we’ll pick up the pace. It helps that chapters 3 and 4 are short and follow one vital story development — Edmund meeting the White Witch. · E. Stephen Burnett

Speculative Faith Reading Group 1: Entering The ‘Wardrobe’

This week I’m starting a reading group at my church for “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” You’re invited to join. How does this story honor God, and how can we learn from C.S. Lewis’s success at redeeming pagan myth for His glory? · E. Stephen Burnett

What Is It About Narnia?

What is it about the Narnia books that we love? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, first in the order C. S. Lewis wrote the series, has four main characters and none of them is the hero. With the omniscient point of view, readers do not benefit from close character identification. The plot is straightforward, without multiple subplots, and the writing wouldn’t be considered lyrical. Why, then, do we love these books so much? · Rebecca LuElla Miller