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Readers And Writers

Special thanks to all those who participated in Spec Faith’s Shredding, Round Two. I couldn’t help but think as I read through what everyone had to say, how vital it is for writers to hear from readers, not just other writers. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Lord Of The Fantasies: Beyond The Swordfights

In “The Lord of the Rings” films, elf-maiden Arwen almost joined the fight at Helm’s Deep, and King Aragorn almost dueled the dark lord Sauron. But the movie-makers chose otherwise. How come, and how does this show truly rare heroism? · E. Stephen Burnett

The Inklings, Part 3 – J. K. Rowling, An Honorary Member?

As early as 2000 John Granger, author of several books about Harry Potter, floated the idea that the creator of the series, J. K. Rowling, was at least an Inklings wanna-be. In part he debunks the idea that Rowling’s rise […] · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Lord Of The Fantasies: The Nature Of Men

Changes made from book-Faramir to film-Faramir, from “The Lord of the Rings,” reflect two approaches of showing human nature. Stories should reflect both: our bent toward sin and corruption, and our capacity to do good and act with nobility. · E. Stephen Burnett

The Inklings, Part 2 – Who Are They

The key to The Inklings was the double linchpins of their love of words and their love of Christ. But one other thing can’t be ignored. These men of letters lived in Oxford, a place that fostered academic pursuits. In other words, it was no accident that so many men interested in similar subjects were in the same location at the same time. Of course, in light of God’s sovereignty, we know it was no accident at all. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Inklings, Part 1 – News And Tidbits

My recent series based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s lengthy essay “On Fairy-Stories” has renewed my interest in the group of scholars and writers known as the Inklings who famously met in the Oxford pub The Eagle and Child. Hence […] · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Lord Of The Fantasies: Looking Back on ‘FotR’

Ten years ago, “The Lord of the Rings” still sounded too “classical” to me. I had my Narnia. Why add another fantasy world? Then, before reading the books or seeing the film, I heard Howard Shore’s film score. And I was drawn into Middle-earth. · E. Stephen Burnett

The “Alien Work” Of God Part V

So last time, we sat at the foot of the master, C. S. Lewis, and discussed the theological underpinnings of his Space Trilogy. For those of you just joining us now (or who don’t feel like going back and reading […] · John Otte

Jack And John In Conversation

In lieu of our planned article, then, I offer you a fascinating dramatization of a dialogue between C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, with thanks to Fred Warren who found it and passed it along to me because of its relevance to the just concluded series on Tolkien’s essay “On Fairy-Stories.” Enjoy! · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Making Of A Myth, Part 7 – Tolkien And The Gospel

Few people, even those not well-versed in fantasy, will argue against the idea that J. R. R. Tolkien is the master of the fantasy genre. In that he wrote his thoughts about this type of tale in his essay “On […] · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The “Alien Work” Of God Part IV

Okay, this is getting ridiculous. Not this blog series. At least, I hope none of you think that. But I’ve noticed a pattern. Whenever I sit down to write one of these columns, NASA announces that they’ve found more extra-solar planets. · John Otte

The Making Of A Myth, Part 6 — Tolkien On Romance

Would J. R. R. Tolkien, if he were alive today, be a fan of prairie romance? The question is appropriate because of what he wrote in his essay “On Fairy-Stories” regarding escapism. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

‘The Next C. S. Lewis’?

There’s only one C.S. Lewis. So let’s stop comparing all debut or contemporary writers, especially ourselves, to him. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Making Of A Myth, Part 5 – The Use Of Primary Colors

I wonder what J. R. R. Tolkien would think about Harry Potter. Or Twilight. Or dystopian fantasies like Veronica Roth’s Divergent. Would the author of “On Fairy-Stories” be a fan of the darker forms fantasy has taken in the last decade or so? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Making Of A Myth, Part 4

Fantasy is a natural human activity. It certainly does not destroy or even insult Reason; and it does not either blunt the appetite for, nor obscure the perception of, scientific verity. On the contrary. The keener and the clearer is the reason, the better fantasy will it make. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Making Of A Myth, Part 3

In many ways Tolkien separated himself from Christian parents today because he stated bluntly that children aren’t to be protected from reality though they can and should retain the guileless wonder of childhood: Children are meant to grow up, and not to become Peter Pans. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Making Of A Myth, Part 2

Fairy stories are for children. Or are they? J. R. R. Tolkien in his essay “On Fairy Stories” built an argument that challenged the usual assumptions. First, he believed that fairy stories had significance beyond entertainment. · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Making Of A Myth, Part 1

Tolkien is specific. Fairy stories are certain things and definitely not others. First they are stories about Faerie, “the realm or state in which fairies have their being,” though this realm contains much more than elves or fairies · Rebecca LuElla Miller

Interacting With Culture

Are giving in to our culture as traitors or fighting against it as a lover of what is right and true our only two choices? Is there no intersection in which we who know the truth can show it to our society rather than running from the assault or turning to fight? · Rebecca LuElla Miller

The Narnia Secret

If the title Planet Narnia makes you cringe, you’re not alone. And if the title The Narnia Code makes you think “Lewis would have hated this,” well, me too (although upon reflection, I realized it was Tolkien who would have […] · E. Stephen Burnett
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