It seems to me in this period of semi-quarantine and social distancing which we are experiencing because of the Coronavirus pandemic, readers are the most fortunate. Other people can complain about being bored. Readers just smile and pick up another book.

No, we are not bored because we have an endless number of worlds to which we can travel and an endless number of people to meet. We can consider new ways of looking at the world and new ideas about life. We can move through time—to any period of history, to any point in the future, or to no time known in our world.

Reading really is the best way to stay at home—unless you run out of books. I feel fortunate because I have a Kindle. I have a rather lengthy number of books on my device that I have not yet read. Then there are the physical books that I’ve intended to read but have not managed to find time to stick with and get caught into their story world.

But I do have a friend who is a reader, who gets most of her books from the local public library. Since libraries have closed doors now, she has started to worry about what will be available for her to read.

Fortunately, she has a number of reading friends (not just me), so she’s already reaching out to ask about borrowing books.

Which brings me to a significant point: we talk about checking in on our friends and making sure the people we know have the things they need, but has anyone thought about asking if, maybe, they need a good book or two to help them pass the time at home?

I’ve thought the same thing about children. Parents who don’t homeschool—at least some of them—have expressed some frustration about helping their kids fill up their days. I mean, there’s just so much coloring a kid can do! After a while the best toys or games become a bit mundane.

Why not read to them? Why not put some good books into their hands?

OK, maybe not literally. You might rather be downloading some books on devices for them—which maintains all the guidelines of social distancing, but which can excite and entertain and educate, all in the confines of the family room or bedroom or livingroom.

Sometimes kids might need to have the “pump primed” by having an adult read to them for a time. Once they are hooked, they may wish to continue on their own.

I might also add, this is a great time to introduce kids to speculative literature. Their imaginations are ready to take them into worlds they can only see in their minds.

So what books should kids read?

Well, there are the classics—and some of these are in the public domain and can be downloaded for free, some for a minimal cost:

• Black Beauty
• A Wrinkle In Time
• all seven of the Narnia books
• Island Of The Blue Dolphins
• Little Women
• The Jungle Book
• The Secret Garden
• Peter Pan
• The Wind And The Willows
• The Wizard Of Oz
• Treasure Island
• Watership Down
• Where The Red Fern Grows
• The Bronze Bow
• The Witch of Blackbird Pond
• Old Yeller
• Charlotte’s Web

Then there are the just-for-fun kid books (some of these can also be considered classics):

• the Nancy Drew books
• the Hardy Boys
• Little House On The Prairie
• Lemony Snicket
• Harry Potter (all seven)
• Anne Of Green Gables and the sequels
• the Black Stallion books
• The Chronicles of Prydain

Books by Christian authors can include the following:

• The Wingfeather Saga (four books)
• the Swipe trilogy
• the Mission League series (4 books and 2 novellas)
• Dead Possums Are Fair Game (and other books by Taryn Souders)
• No Ordinary Tale trilogy

I have only brushed across the surface when it comes to all the wonderful books to read to children and which children can read for themselves. Some of these I only discovered as an adult, and they still enriched my life.

I know, some people think kids don’t want to read any more because, you know, video. But reading taps into a part of the brain that visual arts don’t, or not as much. Reading allows the imagination to run free. I think that’s why so few movies made from books actually satisfy—they simply don’t do as good a job of conveying the story as a person’s imagination can.

What books for middle grade kids have I left off?

Note, I didn’t put down very many we would consider contemporary. I know there are books by Shannon Hale that are good. There are some good Newbery Award books, but I haven’t read them to know if they are actually books kids would like. There is Savvy by Ingrid Law. There’s The Year the Swallows Came Early and any other book by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. There’s City Of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau (5 books).

Obviously some of these books are in the speculative genre. Probably most are not. The thing is, the world of the 1800s is just as foreign to today’s middle grader as is an imaginary world discovered through a portal. They both need the child’s imagination to bring to life the place and characters and events. And that’s the great advantage of reading!

Of course, I’m undoubtedly preaching to the choir here at Spec Faith. But perhaps now is the best time to sell our friends and family and neighbors and fellow church-goers on the wonders of reading. We can introduce them to Lorehaven where they can find reviews. We can give them lists, such as the one provided in this post, which can help them get started. The point is, there’s no reason for anyone to be bored if they wander/wonder into the many worlds hiding inside books.

My first book releases Sept. 7, 2020, but the website is live now.

Visit ThePopCultureParent.com to explore my upcoming book release with Ted Turnau and Jared Moore: The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ.

• Back cover description
• Author intros: Ted, Jared, and myself
• Advance reader endorsements
• More advance reader endorsements

Even better:

Get a free chapter: Five Simple Steps to Engage Popular Culture with Your Children

Visit ThePopCultureParent.com.

About The Pop Culture Parent

The Pop Culture Parent equips mothers, fathers, and guardians to build relationships with their children by entering into their popular culture–informed worlds, understanding them biblically, and passing on wisdom.

This resource by authors Jared Moore, E. Stephen Burnett, and Ted Turnau provides Scripture-based, practical help for parents to enjoy the messy gift of popular culture with their kids.

By engaging with their children’s interests, parents can explore culture while teaching their children to become missionaries in a post-Christian world.

Preorder from:

• Amazon
• New Growth Press
• The Gospel Coalition store
• ChristianBook.com

And now, our feature presentation

If the Lord wills, my conference presentation goes live today:¹

What’s the Point of Popular Culture and Why Should Parents Care?

Register for the online conference at Teach Them Diligently At Home.

Last week’s post, now edited, which I intended to list the top ten stories original story worlds by authors who don’t identify as Christians (in contrast to this week’s post), made an error. Unknown to me at the time, I included the Myst video game series as part of that list. And I’ve been repeatedly assured that the series was not only produced by Christians, its sales have been used to support missionary work (so is kinda “über-Christian” 🙂 ). So I’ve moved it over to this list, which has the top ten speculative fiction stories by authors who are Christians, and in its place have edited H. P. Lovecraft’s short story, The Call of Cthulu, back into last week’s article.

I won’t explain again the reason behind the focus of last’s weeks post on originality, but I’d like to clarify that while I used the term “original story world,” what would have been more accurate would have been “original setting.” Because the setting of a story is a broader category than the story world. It would have been a better term to account for the fact that Jurassic Park in particular invented several original ideas key to the story (bringing back lost species, searching amber of ancient DNA), though had an otherwise ordinary story world. Likewise this week’s list is really more broadly about original setting, even though I’m continuing with the term “original story world.”

Likewise I won’t explain my rating system all over, though I will mention I rated rated each story from 1 to 5 on originality, influence on other stories, sales influence, and influence on public discourse. The ten stories on this list rate from 10 to 16 points overall.

10. Requiem 4

Image copyright by Mike Duran

Mike Duran is far better known for his Reagan Moon series than this novelette. However, while I’ve read one of the Reagan Moon books (The Ghost Box), I feel Requiem 4 is far more original in its tone and approach. Combining concepts of Nephilim, demons, dystopia, and military science fiction, Requiem 4 is among a handful of works by contemporary Christian authors I consider truly original.

While it does draw on other types of stories I just mentioned, Requiem 4 rates 5 points for originality in my opinion. As far as influence on other stories, as far as I know it sadly has had none, 1 point. Concerning sales, I don’t know for certain, but I would guess this story rates a 2 in that department. Concerning influence on public discourse, it’s hard to get people talking about a story they’re barely aware of, but I estimate people would talk about this tale if it were better known–2 points. 10 points total.

A disclaimer is in order here–Mike asked me for editorial input on Requiem 4 as he was writing it. Some of my advice he followed and some he didn’t. I’m not responsible for the story turning out as original as it did, but I could be accused perhaps of bias in favor of a story I helped with in a minor way. I don’t think I’m biased about it (my connection may have caused some negative bias, in fact)–but, anyway, now you know.

Downsides? This story could be disturbing for some readers. Not supremely graphic but a bit so. I also don’t agree with the notion of Nephilim as used in the tale, but Mike drew from ideas popularized by Dr. Michael Heiser, a scholar many people find fascinating. Though I disagree with much of what Heiser says, he does make a few points I find worthwhile…but anyway, Mike creating a story that includes elements drawn from Dr. Heiser’s works is of course a legit thing to do in writing fiction.

9. Lightbringer

Image copyright: Orbit Books

Brent Weeks’s Lightbringer series I haven’t read, but the story world premise of magic divided up by colors of light isn’t commonly done as far as I know. Though The Black Prism, the first in the series, was published in 2010, which is long after the invention of the card game Magic: The Gathering, which has been dividing magic up into colors since 1993. Still, the system Weeks created uses seven colors instead of four. The Lightbringer series also departs a bit from the normal fantasy milieu by placing its story in a world not limited to swords and medieval technology–gunpowder and simple mechanical machines are common in Week’s story universe.

For re-branding color magic and throwing in some non-standard tech, I’ll give Mr. Weeks a 3 for originality. Influence on other stories is difficult to gauge for tales which are relatively new, but clearly there is some influence, so a 2. Concerning sales, I think Lightbringer has done quite well, but doesn’t hit the top (no movie deals as of yet!)–4 points. As far as influence on public discourse is concerned, does the general public discuss the stories Brent Weeks created? Die hard fans might, but nobody else as far as I know, so 1 point. 10 points total.

As far as story downsides that may exist, it’s difficult for me to comment because I haven’t read it. I read dozens of Amazon reviews and saw some few readers complained about excessive use of the f-word and sex, while others complained the story seemed “chauvinist.” I’ve met Mr. Weeks in person and know he’s a Christian, but his reviewers didn’t focus on any redemptive aspects of his stories or any indication the series relates to faith in God–not that I saw in the reviews I read, anyway.

8. Myst Series

The game cover to Riven, the second game in the Myst series. Copyright: Cyan

Myst represents a series of video games that started in 1993. I had heard of Myst but never played it. I’m including it on this list based on other people mentioning it and me conducting some research. The reason Myst was so groundbreaking at the time was it decided to do video game graphics from already rendered images, making the images available via the then-new technology of CD-Rom discs. The experience was visually immersive but didn’t allow for rapid realistic movement. So in an age dominated by shooting baddies even more than our own time, the developers of Myst decided to center the game around solving puzzles, with different small worlds to explore (limited in size by the storage capacity of discs), and built a backstory after the fact to explain what they’d created. The backstory, while an afterthought, helps make the game immersive and fascinating for many players.

The first game was a huge hit in terms of sales, spawning a sequel, Riven. Fans loved the sequel, inspiring even more games, but they were uneven in terms of quality and playability and gradually became less popular. For a time it seemed the Myst series was going to fade out of existence. However, since 2016 it’s enjoyed a bit of a resurgence in popularity.

By shaping content to match a format and doing what no other game series has done before or after, the Myst series rates 5 for originality. While often hailed as a game of the future back in the 90s, most games did not in fact imitate Myst. It’s had only limited influence on other games, so  I gave it a 2. Sales were great at first for Myst but declined eventually, so I rated it a 3. As far as Myst influencing the public discourse, I judge any influence it may have had on what people think to be limited to its fans, so 1 point. 11 points total.

I can’t speak very well to any negative influences Myst may or may not have had. Myst contains no direct references to God, though does refer to “The Maker” in a way that supports a theistic worldview. The Myst series qualifies as “clean fiction” with no nudity, profanity, or violence. Still, I’ve been told some people might possibly object to the game’s magical system, though I don’t know specifically why.

7. The Dark Trench saga

The Dark Trench Trilogy. Image copyright: Kerry Nietz

Loads of modern sci-fi stories are in the cyberpunk sub-genre, but I think Kerry Nietz’s Dark Trench series takes an approach to a futuristic cyber dystopia that on the one hand is boldly politically incorrect and on the other, nobody else is doing. Not that I’ve ever heard of. Because Kerry’s world is of an Islamic civilization that has conquered the world–but then is endlessly at war against itself.

Dystopian Islamic cyberpunk is a unique combination, but cyberpunk is so common this tale gets a 4 for originality from me. As far as influence on other stories, it’s probably had some, but limited–2 points. As far as sales are concerned, I think the series may rate a 3 in the system I’m using. As far as influence on public discourse, hmm–as intriguing as Islamic cyberpunk is, I don’t actually hear people talking about it. Though they should!–2 points. 11 points in all.

Downsides could include the idea the story portrays an unrealistic view of Islam…perhaps even one that’s “Islamophobic.” Personally I think there is little chance Islam will conquer the entire world and Christians should not focus on it all that much–so perhaps a danger of this series would be to get people overly focused on Islam.

6. The Constant Tower

Image copyright: Carole McDonnell

Several people recommended to me books by Carole McDonnell. I’ve only read a bit of her work, not including the novel I included here or other novels she wrote I considered, but I’m impressed by her powerful story-telling from what I’ve read. I wish I could say for certain that The Constant Tower has the most original story world among her works, but I don’t actually know for sure that it is. However, I’m intrigued by the premise of towers with a will of their own but which also work with human beings to keep people safe “from the Creator’s ancient curse.” I also find the idea of geographic location changing every night interesting–like dreams or nightmares of motion coming true in a sense, perhaps.

Also, from what I’ve read, this fantasy is one of relatively few that seems to owe nothing to Tolkien. There are not elves or dwarves or sword-and-sorcery play from the reviews I read. As far as I know, nobody has ever used towers in the sense McDonnell has done–5 points for originality. As far as influence on other stories is concerned, I don’t know of any, though perhaps I’m a poor person to judge since I haven’t read the story. Let’s say 2 points. As far as sales are concerned, I don’t actually know, but to estimate sales influence by the number of ratings left on Amazon and elsewhere, I would guess this novel is a 2. As far as influence on public discourse, I again don’t know of any (even though perhaps there should be) but there may be some I’m unaware of, 2 points. 11 points total.

As far as downsides, one reviewer I saw mentioned sexuality and violence. Other comments make it clear that while “the Creator” is clearly referenced, Christian ideas are not overt in most of this story, which can be good or bad, depending on the person you ask.

5. The Mote in God’s Eye

Image copyright: Gallery Books

This novel is a collaboration of work between Larry Niven, who is not a Christian, and Jerry Pournelle, science fiction writer well-known for his Catholic faith. Interestingly the tale takes place in a future universe in which the overall society is Catholic (though not every individual is Catholic) and in some ways resembles the feudal past of Earth. Space has nobility who reign by birthright. This conservative-mindset world meets the first known intelligent alien species, who are radically different from human beings and who are both very nice and welcoming–while at the same time form a menace to human existence.

This story puts overtly Christian (even though generally Catholic) characters in a situation that doesn’t line up with the Christian gospel very well–in which aliens do evil, but haven’t contemplated needing a Savior and don’t seem interested in one. Evolution is treated seriously in the story and shows what it would take for aliens to evolve as “more advanced” than humans. This story rates 5 points for originality for the aliens it created. As far as influence on other stories, this tale may have influenced other science fiction in ways I’m unaware of, but hasn’t influenced Christian authors very much for sure–2 points. As far as sales, I think the story sold reasonably well, and has a few sequel stories, but hasn’t become a big franchise–3 points. As far as influence on public discourse is concerned, I think the story would lend a person to talk about what it would really mean to meet aliens and is interesting in that respect. But on the one hand isn’t widely-known and on the other is mainly about the menace the aliens (secretly) pose–2 points. 12 points overall.

As for downsides, I think Protestants get shorted in the tale, but that’s fine (I kinda returned the favor to Catholics with Medieval Mars, which is largely Protestant). I also think treating evolution so seriously would obviously cause a lot of protest from the point of view of Biblical creation. Still, while I’m willing to talk about evolution as a story idea, I would have preferred the story to have done more to show God’s purpose or plan for the alien race–although the tale didn’t altogether neglect that aspect of the story. AND finally, the title seems insulting to God, but there’s actually a story reason explaining exactly why the story title is what it is…

Image copyright: Howard Books

4. Demon: A Memoir

While writing a story that includes demons done many times by Christian authors, the approach of trying to delve into what motivates a demon hasn’t been looked at as thoroughly since the time of Milton and hasn’t been written from the demonic point of view that I know of other than The Screwtape Letters. Especially pondering why demons hate humans marks Demon: A Memoir as original compared to other stories.

Overall I’d give Tosca Lee’s Demon 4 points for originality (it did draw from previous tales to a degree). As far as influence on other stories is concerned, I’m not really sure, but suspect it’s been minimal, 2 points. As far as sales are concerned, I believe it’s sold well–4 points. As far as influence on public discourse is concerned, I think people reading this story would be generally interested in talking about what demons are like and what motivates them, though probably not in depth. 3 points. 13 points in all.

On the downside, years ago I wrote a personal blog post saying that I felt Demon failed to really convince me this was a demonically evil character in the tale and also seemed to rather humanize demons. I felt that the story though is something Christians should read in part because it could inspire some conversation and thought about the nature of demons and how they are and are not like humans. Still, as is, the story might strike some readers as undermining the notion that God is just.

3. Perelandra

Image copyright: Schribner

It’s interesting perhaps that I’d pick one book out of Lewis’s Space Trilogy without including the other two. But each of the three works in the trilogy are distinctly different from one another. Out of the Silent Planet strongly parallels the planetary exploration science fiction stories common at the time Lewis wrote his tale, whereas That Hideous Strength features the main character’s return to Earth and contest with an organization of scientists influenced by demons reminiscent of Lewis’s own work in The Screwtape Letters.

Perelandra occupies original middle ground between the other books in the series, where the Fall (in the Christian sense) could happen on another world, Venus. It’s the main character’s role to prevent that from happening (Dr. Ransom). This book therefore makes Lewis’s ideas about the redemption of the universe and nature of the existence of aliens central to the tale.

Lewis of course drew from the Bible and pre-existing science fiction for his story, but I’d still give it a 4 for originality. As for influence on other stories, I’d say this story has mainly influenced other Christian writers, mostly to refrain from writing science fiction! Because Lewis largely closed the door to aliens having sinful motivations, which make stories interesting–in ironic contrast to how he showed fantasy creatures to act in Narnia. Overall, 3 points for his negative influence. Sales? Perelandra has sold well-enough, but not amazingly well, 3 points. Influence on public discourse would likewise rate 3 points in my estimation, because while the story is thought provoking about the nature of God’s work among other intelligent species, most people aren’t that aware of the existence of this story. 3 points. 13 points total.

On the downside, Perelandra has been criticized for showing the Eve figure as a stereotypical and old-fashioned view of femininity (space Eve lacks “agency,” among other complaints). Though Professor Weston, the antagonist of the tale, who serves as Satan’s sock puppet (so to speak) is hardly more developed. The story is also a strange read with certain elements seeming outright surreal, such as the prolonged fight between Weston and Ransom.  My biggest criticism though is the story reinforces ideas that writing about aliens acting as human beings do is unchristian, even though Lewis was fine portraying animals and mythological beings as equivalent to humans in terms of personal morality.

2. The Screwtape Letters

Image copyright: HarperCollins

C. S. Lewis’s look at what one demon would advise another to do as a commentary on demonic influence in the real world was a bold approach to modernize and make relevant the concept of Satan’s influence. Clearly The Screwtape Letters isn’t Lewis’s most renowned work (Narnia is), but it’s among his most original.

Still, as a story concept, Lewis did not invent stories about demons (bear in mind that Faust was considerably better-known in his time than ours). He simply refreshed the notion, but with a significant twist: 4 points. As far as influence on other stories is concerned, there certainly has been influence, but I’d say the influence has diminished over time, 3 points. Sales of this story have been steady but are not on the scale of even Narnia, let alone LoTR. 3 points. As far as influence on public discourse is concerned, the main limiter on its influence on discourse is the fact the book is so clearly Christian, therefore non-Christians tend to ignore it. Though that isn’t true when it was first published and in fact pretty much everyone aware of the existence of this book winds up discussing at least some of its ideas in my observation–4 points. 14 points total.

The major downside of this book is that cultural issues have moved on since Lewis’s time. As has correspondence. So the issues Lewis talked about are not the same as what we face today, even though there are many similarities. And the style he wrote in, which was fresh and easily-accessible at the time of writing seems stale and old-fashioned now. All of these things limit the scope of this story and can have the side effect of causing someone to miss issues that matter very much in our own day but which were moot points in Lewis’s time (such as the modern rise of Neo-Paganism).

1. The Lord of the Rings

Image copyright: HMH books

It’s hard to overstate the influence of J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterwork. Fantasy as we know it in modern times with all the elves-dwarves-magic-swordplay aspects is directly a product of what Tolkien wrote.

Tolkien though was not in fact trying to be original or create a new genre. His fascination was with legends of the past, including Pagan mythology and fairy tales, and he wended them into a world that also included various Christian ideas removed from specific allegory. While the results were groundbreaking, the roots of what inspired Tolkien are visible. So I’d give him a 4 for originality. As far as influence on other stories is concerned, of course LoTR rates a 5. As far as sales are concerned, the overall series with all related products rates a 5. As far as influence on public discourse is concerned, do people discuss the meaning of the ring of power and other story elements as much as they simply get caught up in the action? How many people are even aware of the fact Christian ideas inspired Tolkien? Here I’d say the story falls down, 2 points–16 points total.

The downsides of LoTR includes how little of the intended meaning gets across to the general public. Many readers and viewers of the movies seem unaware of the fact that Tolkien made commentary on the ultimate nature of evil. Even moreso, Frodo bearing the ring paralleling Christ’s Passion or Gandalf coming back from the depths paralleling the resurrection or Aragorn’s return to Gondor paralleling the Second Coming largely falls on deaf ears. I’ve had conversations with non-Christians in which I explained the Christian symbolism in Tolkien and the reaction I’ve received is, “Huh. Interesting!” followed by no change in attitude towards LoTR or life in general. Sadly. (And, no kidding, practicing Neo-Pagans who dislike C.S. Lewis defend Tolkien because of the Pagan elements he drew upon. I’ve had conversations on that topic…)

Conclusion

I laid out these two posts with certain expectations in mind–one would be that Christian stories overall are less original in the rating scheme I’ve created than stories created by non-Christians. But that isn’t true in the stories I’ve placed in these posts–sales and influence on public discourse is definitely less, but originality isn’t less.

Though what I think I’ve found is that in the world of speculative fiction in general, strong sales have at least some connection with original story settings. That seems to be less true for stories written by Christians or dealing with Christian themes. Narnia, less original in my view (clearly influenced by Tolkien to a degree), definitely outsells C.S. Lewis’s other creative universes.

It seems to be the case that Christian fans of speculative fiction aren’t as drawn to originality as speculative fiction fans in general. Perhaps that isn’t actually true, but it seems to be as of this moment. Hmmm.

Also, of all of these stories, only one has been turned into a film version. Overall, the entire body of Christian speculative fiction is much less commercially successful than so-called “non-Christian fiction.” Apparently there’s a smaller fan base seeking Christian writers of speculative fiction.

I would have liked to include more stories in this list. Yes, stories and authors I knew about were more likely to make the list than ones I don’t know, but I included stories I haven’t read or seen here. I will list all the stories I considered in a comment below.

Agree? Disagree? Would like to suggest your own list? Please let me know in the comments below!

(By the way, the podcast version of this post, same content but in different words, is available at:)

https://travissbigidea.podbean.com/e/top-ten-most-original-speculative-fiction-story-worlds-part-2/

In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to write a lot about resurrection on SpecFaith. Now that joyous theme has crossed to the Fantastical Truth podcast from Lorehaven. It’s perfect for celebrating Jesus’s glorious resurrection promises all month long.

In part 1, we focus on what Scripture says about Christians’ resurrected bodies.¹

Concession stand

• Of course, this series will be a very brief survey of the topic.
• We’ll include lots of verses, references, and books in the show notes.
• We do presume you’re familiar with words like “soul,” “resurrection,” etc.
• We know this is part of a bigger conversation about all Jesus’s promises.
• Does this sound “materialistic”? It might. So let’s be clear: materialism’s bad.
• Also, we’ll strive to base any speculation on what the Bible actually says.

Exploring the resurrection of our bodies

1. What does resurrection mean to us?
2. Do Christians believe resurrection is physical?
3. How is resurrection is a process, first spiritual, then ending when our bodies are made new?
4. What verses (such as 1 Corinthians 15:44, 50) are used to deny the material nature of resurrection?
5. How does our speculation about our resurrected bodies start with the clear promises Jesus has given in his word?

More notes for question 5:

• Does that mean we get “superpowers”? Fly? Walk through walls?
• I don’t think so. Any of that is speculation. Jesus is still super-supernatural.
• Scripture’s prophecies emphasize our humanity. Being human is good.
• We won’t know everything. (That really would make heaven “boring”!)
• I doubt we’ll have angel-like powers. Video games in “God mode”? Boring!
• OT prophecies talk about owning land, farming, animals, basic human stuff.
• We’ll get into more of that in our future podcast about culture and stories.
• Still, best example is Jesus. Remember: he ate food. He was real.
• By the way: Jesus is still human to this day. How does it work? Mystery!
• Mysteries do remain. But our speculations *start* with accepting humanity.
• It helps to know that resurrected people will dwell in a resurrected creation.

Next on Fantastical Truth

In our next episode, part 2 of this series, we’ll ask: well, if Jesus redeems not just our souls but our whole human bodies, where are we going to live forever and ever? Do we get whisked up to “heaven”? Or (hint, hint) does Jesus actually promise that New Heavens will touch down to New Earth for an eternal union of these realms, so that “the dwelling of God is with man”? This is even more amazing stuff, and for those who love Jesus it is absolutely life-changing.

A year ago, almost to the day, I posted an article on my site entitled “Does God Speak Through Nature?” The premise was simple: God used “natural” phenomenon in Egypt to pry His people free from Pharaoh’s grip. Could He not continue to use the world around us to speak to us today?

So many people—and this includes many Christians—say, No, floods and earthquakes and hurricanes and pandemics have known, scientific causes. They occur because of natural law.

But my question is, Who created and controls natural law? Did not God hang the stars in place? Does His hand not maintain what He created? Scripture indicates He is the One who makes DNA coding and tides and mutating viruses work the way they work—and keeps them doing so.

And He [God’s Son] is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. (Heb. 1:3a; emphasis mine)

Then there’s this passage in Colossians:

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (1:16-17; emphasis mine)

All this to say, I don’t believe things happen in the world for no purpose.

God hasn’t sent a modern day prophet to tell us why things happen as He did during Israel’s history before their exile. But we don’t actually need a modern day prophet because we have the ancient ones, inspired by God, collected in the Bible.

Someone has to be pretty blind not to see parallels between the world today and the world of the ancient Jews. Including this:

Come, my people, enter into your rooms
And close your doors behind you;
Hide for a little while
Until indignation runs its course.
For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place
To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;
And the earth will reveal her bloodshed
And will no longer cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:20-21)

But who knows? Maybe the Coronavirus is just your run of the mill virus and we shouldn’t think twice about it in spiritual terms.

Then again, maybe it is the wake-up call to remind us that God will bring judgment on the earth one day. Not today. Maybe not in five years or ten or fifty. But assuredly, God will bring judgment. Again, that statement is something—in this culture—that’s uncomfortable to say. I mean, we’ve heard from the likes of Rob Bell and his Love Wins best seller of nearly a decade ago. He clearly lays out his belief that no matter what a person believes, he’s on his way to paradise with God.

Well, for one thing, I know a lot of atheists who would be horrified if this were true. They don’t want eternal punishment, that’s for certain, but neither do they want to be with God for eternity.

But more importantly the “everyone’s on his way to heaven” idea is not what God revealed. Pretty much the opposite:

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE . . .
THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” (Rom. 3:12-18)

Which brings us to God’s warning and the need for repentance.

At one point God sent the prophet Jonah to the main city in Assyria, Nineveh. I won’t get into Jonah’s issues here, but the people in that foreign country were known to be warlike, violent and cruel. They seemed to devise ways of killing that would cause the most pain. Jonah’s message was simple: “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” He apparently didn’t even offer them any hope.

Still, the people knew what caused their impending judgment, and they bowed before God and repented.

God’s response? “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it” (Jonah 3:10).

Those people in that place and for that generation, were spared God’s judgment.

The prophet Joel brought the same message to the people of Israel:

Alas for the day!
For the day of the LORD is near,
And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

Revelation echos this idea of “destruction from the Almighty,” which Christians know as the Tribulation. Are we there yet? Not close. Jesus Himself when asked when He would establish His kingdom went into some detail about the things that will take place first, including this:

You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. (Matt. 24:6-8)

The beginning of birth pangs, not yet the end. I think that’s where we are. And these events that seem so out of the ordinary (because they are) serve as reminders that “the wages of sin is death,” that God will bring His judgment to bear on this world.

The prophet Joel said it to his generation in Israel, but I think it is just as true today:

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness
And relenting of evil. (Joel 2:12-13)

I admit the word “evil” has troubled me. I looked it up and in the original, used as a noun as it is here, evil means distress, misery, injury, calamity. In other words, it does not mean wickedness. The idea is clear: repentance alters God’s judgment. His nature is to be slow to anger, to have heaps upon heaps of lovingkindess, and to turn away from bringing His judgment.

Of course the New Testament paints the entire picture for us. God turns away His wrath from those who bow before Him because Jesus accepted that wrath, poured out on Him. And those of us who accept this free gift of grace? We have peace with God through Jesus.

Even in the midst of a pandemic. We’re not facing His angry judgment. Ever. We may die from the virus or from something else, but we will enter into His presence, the way the thief dying beside Jesus, did. That’s something far different from judgment.

So in one way (there are others), this virus thing is a blessing in disguise. It gives us an opportunity to face our mortality, and to repent for turning our backs on God, for living for ourselves instead of living for Him. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime, so to speak—an eternal lifetime.

Readers of this article who know me on Facebook probably will have noticed I asked on several sites that cater to Christian writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, what they thought were some of the most original story worlds of all time. I apologize that it’s not possible for me to include everyone’s choice. That’s true even though I decided I couldn’t narrow this list down to just one set of ten. This week I’ll look at the ten best “secular” (or not specifically Christian) stories and next week I’ll do the top ten original story worlds from Christian authors.

Edit By accident, I included the Myst series on this list. However, I was repeatedly and clearly assured after the fact that its authors are Christians. So, I’m moving Myst over to the part 2 list, and editing this post to include The Call of Cthulu short story. (Of course Alice in Wonderland also had a Christian author, but I’m leaving it where it appears on this list.)

Why “most original” story worlds?

Speculative fiction is different from setting a story in a realistic scenario. Plot and characters are important for any kind of story, but in speculative fiction, the author gets to create the world from scratch if he or she chooses to do so. Yeah, some writers for a variety of reasons pick settings that are realistic or close to it (like Urban Fantasy). But one of the greatest powers science fiction, fantasy, and horror can choose to exercise is to make completely unfamiliar worlds that nonetheless make internal sense. The creation of these story worlds I would say is a unique achievement, often bolstered by specific story ideas that make a tale more than just entertainment. Speculative fiction can be and has been commentary on ordinary life. Science fiction comments in particular on the potential power of technology. Epic fantasy weighs in on the ultimate nature of good and evil, while horror looks at the inner darkness so common in our world, usually contrasting it with light. Much of this commentary, these powerful ideas found in speculative fiction, are found in the story worlds themselves. Rather than plot or character.

So strongly original story worlds often make the best stories–or at least the ones that impact people in the real world the most. These are the stories that get people to think about what could and could not be, what is and is not true. And helps them understand all of that better.

How did I choose and rate them?

I’ve considered novels, short stories, television, and movies. I admit to a sampling bias–media I’ve read or seen myself was more likely to make this list than media I haven’t seen myself. That’s true even though I did ask for other people to include their favorites and have included here two story worlds I personally don’t know much about and had to research (Myst and One Piece). Inevitably a story world I know little about is rated less objectively than ones I know.

I rated rated each story from 1 to 5 on originality, influence on other stories, sales influence, and influence on public discourse concerning the themes these tales cover. All of these stories rated between eleven and seventeen in my system with a number of ties. But the assigning of numbers was itself a bit subjective. So I also assigned subjective rankings to the ties.

So, starting from number 10 and working our way to 1:

10. Ringworld

Looking at a ringworld from the inside. Image copyright: Trevor B. Williams

1970’s Ringworld is a load of fun for people enamored with technology and what the future of humanity might include in terms of tech. While it doesn’t include even the Internet as we know it, it features human beings with near-infinite lifespans, x-ray lasers, inertialess drive, variable swords (like a light saber, but better), super materials, and most importantly, a world in the shape of a ring, that produces scientifically realistic artificial gravity by spinning. Also featuring interesting and convincing aliens and an oblique reference to the Tree of Life in the Bible–though the “real” tree of life is a fruit a human being can’t resist eating that’s designed to convert a human into another stage of life, a Pak (who are bald and toothless, with over-sized joints, which is supposedly why humans lose hair and teeth and suffer from arthritis as we age). Certainly a thought-provoking series in a number of ways.

Ringworld wasn’t wholly original, borrowing from the concept of a Dyson Sphere and many other tech ideas. So I rated it a 4 on originality. Ringworld has had limited influence on certain other stories. For example, the video game Halo is set on a “ringworld”–so I gave it a 3 for influence. Ringworld sold well for a science fiction book but didn’t become an all-time best-seller, so it got 3 for sales. As far as influence on public discourse goes, I think only hard-core fans of Ringworld would ever talk about its meaning, even though it’s thought-provoking, so it rated a 1. 11 points total.

On the downside, Ringworld features a story setting that like so much of science fiction, simply assumes humans will no longer be religious in the distant future. There are no references to God or faith that I remember. The series includes some graphic sexual content. Overall, a negative moral influence in my estimation.

9. The Call of Cthulu

Original sketch of Cthulu by H.P. Lovecraft. Image source: Wikipedia Commons.

The first version of this post omitted H. P. Lovecraft altogether, a serious error. Overall, what’s called the “Cthulu Mythos” has been hugely influential and was quite original, which would earn the overall “mythos” a significantly higher place on this list than the short story that introduced Cthulu itself. However, the mythology of Cthulu built over time, over a body of short stories and now anthologies, games, and video games. This placement at number nine is based on Lovecraft’s original introduction of Cthulu.

In the short story The Call of Cthulu, H. P. Lovecraft introduced cosmic horror, which was an entirely new genre. Personifying the uncaring universe of evolution as a hostile alien, worshiped by human beings driven insane by the very nature of the god-alien, the story rates a 5 for originality. Lovecraft’s overall body of work has been far more influential than this short story itself, so we’ll put it at a 3 for influence on other stories. As far as sales are concerned, while Cthulu-related stories have become top sellers, the original short story never sold well, 2 points. As far as getting people to talk about the nature of a universe without God, certainly many people do so, but I think most people, even Lovecraft fans, are more aware of the weirdness of Lovecraft’s god-monsters than they consider how his atheism shaped the worldview: 3 points. 13 points total.

The negative influence of this story stems from Lovecraft’s atheism. But while its background ideas assume that Jehovah is fictional, the universe Lovecraft created is a bleak and terrifying place. While some people have fallen in love with Lovecraft and become fascinated by every aspect of his fictional worldview, I would say fascination with nihilism as seen in Lovecraft’s work does not appeal to most people. Certainly there are negative influences in this story, but it’s probably more powerful (in terms of working evil influence) for people to simply ignore God than to contemplate the terrors that might occupy a godless cosmos.

8. Story of Your Life

Arrival Movie Poster–the movie based on Ted Chiang’s novella. Image copyright: Paramount.

Better known by its film adaptation, Arrival, I’d like to give Ted Chiang’s 1998 Nebula-award-winning novel credit where it’s due, more than the movie (because stories shorter than novels can be very influential at times and deserve that acknowledgement). The story looks at a linguist, Dr. Louise Banks, studying an alien language. The aliens say entire sentences as whole units, which means no one element of a sentence comes logically before another. The act of studying the language eventually changes Louise, making her capable of thinking out of temporal order–which in turn causes her to experiences events of her life out of order, as if her mind were time-traveling.

This tale is thought-provoking on the nature of consciousness, language, aliens, and touches on destiny and free will.

This story tops out originality at 5, but has had only a limited influence on other works, 2. It sold well for a novella, but was not at the top in sales–3. And while the ideas behind Story of Your Life / Arrival are very interesting and get people talking about fate and destiny and the experience of time related to language, the relatively limited audience for Story of Your Life limited its influence on public discourse, 3. 13 points total.

On the downside, again, thinking about God even in a time of personal tragedy is omitted from the tale. The story also strongly suggests that free will is just an illusion, which most Christians would not agree with.

7. Foundation Series

Copyright owner: Gnome Press

Isaac Asimov’s Foundation was first published in 1951, the first in a series of books. The series imagines a galactic empire in the distant future on the verge of collapse, predicted by one of its brightest minds of that time, Hari Seldon, in something he called “psychohistory.” Psychohistory is imagined to allow a person to mathematically predict what masses of humans will do with complete accuracy. While an individual would be unpredictable, individuals don’t usually matter, mass movements do. Seldon tries to shorten the amount of time the galaxy will spend in barbarism by creating the Foundation, which will be dedicated to preserving civilization and helping rebuild a second galactic empire.

Influenced by other sci fi tales of empire and histories like Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Asimov’s story world is not wholly original. Really the concept of psychohistory alone was wholly new, but one radically new idea was enough to rate this series as a 4 for originality. Numerous sci-fi stories have been partially influenced by the Foundation series, including Douglas Adam’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. But it has never been adapted to film or TV, so I rate it a 3 for influence on other stories. The series was a sci-fi bestseller for decades, but didn’t get the big film dollars, so 4 on sales. As far as its influence on the general populace, it suffers a bit from not being as widely-known as films are, but does lead to thinking not only about the nature of fate versus free will, but also on the power of individual action versus collective action. The books have influenced real-world scientists and inventors (as mentioned in the linked article), making their impact deep, albeit narrow. So a 3 for influence on the public. Overall rating: 14.

On the downside, yet again, an entire very advanced civilization exists in the distant future in which humanity has become essentially irreligious, as if faith or belief in God is itself a sign of a lack of civilization.

6. Jurassic Park

Image copyright: Alfred A. Knopf

Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel contained all the original story world ideas that the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchise would develop later. In essence, Crichton anticipated that advances in genetic technology would allow astounding changes to become possible in the future. Even bringing back extinct species, to include dinosaurs. The novel was intended to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of genetic engineering. Malcolm the mathematician who criticizes the park reliably serves as Crichton’s own voice on the subject–that the type of control they were attempting in the story could not succeed because “life finds a way.” Thought-provoking in its look at the role of future technology, with sidetracks into discussions of chaos theory, Jurassic Park as a novel was far more cerebral than its film adaptions would become. Which, of course, were mostly about dinosaurs eating people. 🙂

The idea of bringing back dinosaurs, including the tidbit that their DNA could perhaps be salvaged from amber was wholly original at the time. However, being set in the near future of the real world limits the overall originality of the story setting, so this tale rates a 4 for originality. In terms of influence on other stories, its main influence has been to spawn its own franchise. Though some other stories have taken up the issue of genetic engineering, relatively few have–3 for influence on other stories. As far as sales go, Jurassic Park has done very well, 5 points. As far as influence on public discourse, while the novel was clearly intended to get people talking about genetic engineering and people do talk about it because of Jurassic Park to a degree, I would say the rest of the franchise became all about seeing dinosaurs for most people and watching people get eaten. So 3 for influence on public discourse. 15 points overall.

Downsides–kinda violent, albeit with limited gore. And maybe there’s a person or two who calls on God as he’s about to be eaten. But overall, JP is as irreligious as anything else. Faith is simply erased from mention, as if nobody with personal faith would even be around in such a story world. Because, you know, faith is so unusual…

5. One Piece

One Piece: Image copyright Eiichiro Oda

First created as a manga by Japanese artist and illustrator Eiichiro Oda, One Piece features a Monkey D. Luffy with a band of pirates looking to become next king of the pirates by acquiring the “one piece” treasure. When you mention pirates looking for treasure, my brain starts to go into “I’m bored now mode,” but assurances from multiple people on Facebook that this is a great story and very original led me to dig deeper. Lots of strange creatures and animals exist in Oda’s fantasy setting. The world itself consists of a vast ocean and one long, thin continent. Demon fruit and the latent ability of “haki” makes something like a unique and very unusual magic system. From what I gather this story is full of unexpected details at every turn, details the story makers have meticulously build upon over time.

So, in part taking the word of others here (I’ve never seen One Piece; I’ve only read about it), this story world is wildly original, yet internally consistent–5 points. The influence on other stories seems limited (as far as I can tell) to its own franchise. But the One Piece franchise is enormously popular worldwide, with manga comics, anime films, TV, video games, and even theme parks! Since it’s influence is enormous but mostly within its own franchise, I’ll give a 4 for influence. As far as sales go, while One Piece has had limited success in the USA, its sales worldwide top the charts for manga and anime–5. Influence on public discourse, as in ideas that make people think about the nature of reality or decide to become a scientist or something–uh, as far as I can tell, One Piece has very little of that–1 point (if you disagree, feel free to mention One Piece’s influence on the public in the comments below). 15 points total.

On the downside, I can’t say. I haven’t experienced One Piece. I could guess that the show contains no references to God at all, but it in fact may reference God. It certainly does reference supernatural power. Could it reference that power in a way that could promote substituting a reverence for supernatural power outside of God for a relationship with God? I don’t know. Perhaps. (Most stories have a downside of some kind, though not all are equal in that respect…)

4. Gattaca

Image source: DNA podcast

The 1997 film Gattaca responds to the same scientific advances in genetic engineering that inspired Jurassic Park but talks about how genetic technology might be applied to human beings in the future. By imagining a society where genes are seen as destiny and the elite consist of those whose genes have been cleansed, the story focuses around Vincent Freeman, who is not part of the genetically engineered upper crust but seeks to join it by faking his DNA profile. The story questions the value of attempting to re-engineer the human race from a perspective mostly critical of any attempt to do so. But the desire to get rid of genetic defects receives a measure of sympathy as well.

By creating an immersive story world in which continual genetic testing was essential to establishing a person’s identity and status, Gattaca made its central issue of a person’s genetic status impossible to ignore and also key to the story. I give it 5 for originality. In terms of influence on other stories, Gattaca probably was more influential in showing its elite separated from the ordinary masses, established by continual testing. That situation was picked up by other stories such as Elysium but overall, looking at genetic fitness did not become a feature of numerous other stories–3. Gattaca’s sales at the time were disappointing, though it’s seen as a classic today, and it hasn’t spawned a franchise–2. As far as influence on public discourse, my subjective estimation is Gattaca did a great deal to bring eugenics to public attention-even for people who hadn’t seen the film. 5 points for that. 15 points overall.

On the downside, Gattaca features profanity and some sexuality and again, if there’s any reference to God in the tale, I don’t remember it. By the way, the concept of God would be pertinent to the idea of what it means to be human and what we humans have the rights to change about humanity. But that’s a controversy the film avoided.

3. 1984

Copyright: Harvill Secker

Nineteen Eighty-Four, as the novel’s name is sometimes written, reveals a future dictatorship (from the time of writing) in which government control is pervasive over everyone. The novel anticipates the technical capacity to spy on everyone but is most innovative in imagining the language of this new world, Newspeak, a language designed to cover up truth. The protagonist, Winston Smith, becomes involved in a sexual relationship, which causes him to question propaganda for a while, though he is captured and re-educated and ends the story saying he loves “Big Brother,” the ubiquitous dictator of that part of the story world.

The setting of 1984 has clear parallels with Huxley’s Brave New World written seventeen years beforehand and was also inspired by Soviet communism, so this story is less original than most others on this list–3. Orwell’s story has rarely been exactly imitated, but the basic dystopian framework he laid out has influenced numerous other stories, including Gattaca. But that influence didn’t come from 1984 alone–4 points. As far as sales are concerned, Orwell’s novel has always sold well and continues to sell well, though not in the same category as One Piece–4 points. In terms of influence on public discourse, it’s difficult to imagine a story doing more to make the public generally leery of propaganda and government control, it’s main concerns–5 points. Total: 16 points.

Negatives: as far as lack of references to God are concerned, a dystopian hellhole of a story setting is a perfect time to refrain from mention of God if you ask me. Though it’s interesting that sex is what caused Winston to question the party. Because the party suppresses all forms of joy, including sex apart from reproduction. So in effect following a natural human impulse, one the Bible would classify as sinful outside of a marriage, is portrayed in a positive light, as helping Winston. Which I wouldn’t agree with.

Note there’s a joy and freedom in contact with God, as well as sexual joy, one more to what I would think the point is–that is, the government can control my body, but they can’t control my mind. Though in fact, 1984 declares a totalitarian dictatorship can control your mind…

2. The Matrix

Image copyright: Warner Brothers

1999’s The Matrix perhaps could be accused of being less original than I’m going to give it credit for. Cyperpunk had been done before The Matrix, starting with William Gibson’s Neuromancer (ironically perhaps, published in 1984). Gritty dystopian had been before, such as in 1984. But The Matrix uniquely combined the gritty post-apocalyptic world of the film’s Zion with the slick dystopia of The Matrix itself. Even folding in a superhero story. Each one had been done, but not all in one package. Also the movie contains numerous themes that relate to religion and an examination of the nature of reality–for example, in some ways Neo is like a Christ figure, though in other ways not.

Overall, I rate this film 4 for originality. Its focus on martial arts and slick dystopian feel I would say influenced plenty of other movies, 4. The sales of The Matrix were very good, but leveled off somewhat as the series continued, 4. And while not everyone talks about The Matrix in a philosophical way, ideas like taking the red pill instead of the blue pill have entered common talk. The movie also gets people thinking about the issue if what we see and sense really is a reliable indicator of what the real universe is like. A very important topic when talking about science and faith–4 points. 16 points total.

Downsides? A number of things. Sensuality (though not sex), profanity, violence, an implication at one point that Buddhists may be right in how they see the world as one that can be manipulated by meditation. Worse, later in the series it would be awfully easy for someone to compare The Architect (the master computer program enslaving humans) with God–a very negative view of God. Though Messianic ideas also attach to Neo, in some ways his entire world and the colony of Zion, while we can draw parallels with the Christian life, in reality form more of a substitute for God’s work in the world than an allegory for it.

1. Alice in Wonderland

Painting by Sir John Tenniel

It’s hard to be more original than the 1865 novel that made travel to an entirely different world as simple as falling down a rabbit hole. The influence of Alice In Wonderland on portal fantasies has been tremendous. With all kinds of strange references that were meant to have a zany appeal to children, this story has also been hugely influential on children’s literature. Nearly all children’s literature. Lewis Carroll also embedded a number of mathematical puzzles in his tale and certain scenes that have an appeal to adults.

The most original concept of Carroll’s was simply passing down a rabbit hole to enter another world. But much of the setting was certainly original–I give this story 5 points. In terms of influence, as Josh Foreman pointed out on Facebook, even Oz and The Chronicles of Narnia owe the basic concept of a portal to a fantasy world to Carroll. How could it be more influential?–5 points. Certainly Alice in Wonderland has been a success in sales and in many translations and newer versions of the original–5 points. Only in terms of influence on public discourse does this story lag behind, since few people I know discuss it regularly–2 points. 17 points total.

Downsides? I must confess not having read the original novel. I’ve only watched several film adaptations, which may not have been faithful to the original tale. What I saw was a secular as any other tale in the list here. Though the original may not have been, so I won’t comment further on that topic.

Conclusion

Based on the list I’ve compiled, the most original stories don’t necessarily have to be the ones that get people talking about important issues. But may of them do–and for many, the issues they bring up rather overtly at times make the story more interesting than it would otherwise be, not less.

But readers, what do you think of the list itself? Hate it? Agree / disagree with particular points? Have your own list you’d like to share? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

(By the way, below is the link to my podcast talking about the same subject in different words:)
https://travissbigidea.podbean.com/e/top-ten-most-original-speculative-fiction-story-worlds-part-1/

I am Lazarus, come from the dead,
Come back to tell you all, I shall tell you all.

— T.S. Eliot, “Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

In the last glimpse we catch of Lazarus, he is sitting at a dinner held in Christ’s honor, the object of the crowd’s curiosity and the target of a murder plot. People were going over to Jesus because He had raised Lazarus from the dead, so the Pharisees decided to kill Lazarus. They could be very straightforward in their problem-solving. Their solution would only have worked, however, if Lazarus stayed dead. One wonders if they detected a potential pitfall in this.

We are never told what became of the murder plot. Presumably it never came off. I am more impressed by the image in the Gospel of the people flocking to see Lazarus. I think I would have been more interested in hearing him. Lazarus, come from the dead, back to tell us all – But as far as the narrative reports, he tells nothing. Lazarus returns from the dead and silently vanishes.

He is not the only one. Other people rise from the dead, in both Testaments: the widow’s son in Nain, Jairus’ daughter, Dorcas, Eutychus, the Shunnamite’s son, the son of the widow in Zarephath. None of them is given a voice in Scripture to tell their story or make a statement. None of them tells all, or even anything. And it’s possible they had nothing to tell. Maybe rising from the dead was like waking up from sleep. We wouldn’t know.

There was another Lazarus, the beggar carried by the angels to heaven in Jesus’ parable. Later the rich man, in hell, asked Abraham to send Lazarus to his brothers, a messenger from the dead to bring truth to the living. Abraham dismissed the idea: They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them. If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.

Let them listen to Moses and the prophets. We already have been told what we need to hear; the dead have nothing more to add. They will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. Strangely enough, the dead can’t even tell the truth better than it has already been told. And this, maybe, is what lies behind the loud silence of the Bible’s returned dead. Lazarus was raised as a sign and not as a messenger; the widows’ sons returned for love and not revelation.

One did return from death and speak. Jesus Christ is the only resurrection among all the risen dead. Everyone else returned to life before the grave, still to die for good and all. Only Christ traveled through death and beyond, to life in eternity – death not only reversed but conquered, never to be suffered again. The creeds say that Christ descended into hell. He Himself told no tales. What did He say? I think we should notice that He told the disciples that they should have seen this one coming, what with Moses and the prophets and all. And beyond that?

He gave a command, a commission, a blessing. He gave a promise that we would never be alone, and a brotherhood. I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. He gave hope, in more than words. We still haven’t torn down the veil of death. But we have – out of the darkness, the cold, the emptiness, above all grief and fear – the blazing glory of the Risen Son.

On our new Fantastical Truth podcast episode, Zack Russell and I met minds with Kathy Tyers.¹

Kathy Tyers created the well-loved five-book Firebird series, which first launched in 1987. She also wrote Crystal Witness, which Enclave Publishing plans to re-release this summer.

Oh, and as Kathy tells us, she’s now creating a new series: The Sunstone Saga, set in the same world as Crystal Witness.

Its first novel, The Long Silence, is already in progress. Lord willing, it could release as soon as 2021. Listen to learn more:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Lorehaven magazine reviews Firebird

We reviewed the Firebird series in our spring 2020 issue’s cover story, “The Best of Christian Fantasy“:

Lady Firebird Angelo has grown up knowing she might someday die for her people. As the thirdborn daughter of the royal family of the planet Netaia, she has trained for combat as a “wastling,” destined for suicide. Unfortunately, during her first engagement in space, she fails. Firebird is captured alive by the enemy. This galactic Federacy employs Firebird’s new captor, Field General Brennen Caldwell, who is both intriguing and supernaturally telepathic.

Their encounter leads to the first of Lady Firebird’s drastic life changes in Firebird, book 1 of Kathy Tyers’s Firebird series. Tyers described Firebird’s original version, from Bantam Books, as a “cultural conversion story.” Yet since then, newer versions from Christian publishers enhanced Brennen’s commitment to an Eternal Speaker. That unseen entity has promised a divine messiah who hasn’t yet arrived. …

Tyers deftly describes other worlds, adding color to landscapes and intensity to emotions, especially in those my-mind-to-your-mind entanglements. Firebird’s musical talent adds even more atmosphere, not often seen in fiction, much less space opera. This trilogy—continued years later in books 4 and 5, Wind and Shadow and Daystar—marks a fantastic find for Christian fans and beyond.

Our questions include:

• What’s your origin story? How did you jump into operatic space?
• After the first Firebird trilogy, what brought you back for two more books?
• How did your time at Regent College “reboot” your biblical creative engines?
• What are the big “what if” questions that led to the Firebird universe’s alternate history and future for human space exploration?
• What’s your view of Christian imagination?
• What can sci-fi/space opera (or fantasy) do that other genres can’t?

Next on Fantastical Truth

We’re starting a new series for the season: Epic Resurrection. What does Jesus’s promise of “resurrection” really mean? How does resurrection change our view of ourselves? How does it change our whole planet, even the universe? Finally, how does resurrection change our view of fantastic stories?

Still seeking our biblical/fantastical risen Savior,

Stephen