Author John Otte may have thought this a throwaway line in yesterday’s column:

We now live in a world where Christian speculative fiction has been on “The Tonight Show.” Govern yourselves appropriately.

Govern yourselves appropriately.

I had to salvage this line from the waste bin and asked a few Christian-speculative-fiction leaders to answer this question: How can Christian-speculative fans best react when, say, books such as Amish Vampires in Space get backhandedly endorsed by TV talk hosts?

First a disclaimer. My own perspective can be summed up in the already-overused British trope: KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. If there is a way to do this with Biblical humility, can fans be too-cool-for-school? I’m not sure how else to say this — or how to say it hypocrisy-free, because obviously we’re writing about it on SpecFaith.

Perhaps it’s simple enough to say that we must not put our trust in famous television promotion. Even the really popular stories and genres did not get this way because popular people plugged them. Instead such movements are truly grassroots. And kind of messy.

Speculative stories are better than late-night TV anyhow. Mr. Fallon should be so blessed to have a copy of this creative and published story in his studio. I only hope he reads it.

I can also hope that this good Christian movement — to promote better and more-Biblical stories that capture Scripture’s truth, beauty, and zest for the fantastic — does not go the way of other movements: being sidetracked when its members became too self-aware.

Responses from Christian spec-story leaders

Jeff Gerke, founder of original Amish Vampires in Space publisher Marcher Lord Press: not sure if fluke or cusp of a trend.

I don’t see how additional media exposure (and I’m not sure this is actually on the rise, the Fallon bit perhaps being an anomaly) should change anything. Maybe it’s easier to tell your neighbor about it if you can say, “As seen on TV.”

I’m thrilled for Kerry and AViS! And here’s hoping it starts something special.

Fantasy novelist and Realm Makers conference founder Becky Minor: this is a great opportunity.

I find this whole thing fascinating to watch unfold. I really hope Kerry gets on the radar of industry visioneers because of this “bad press.” (Since we all know, this wasn’t truly that.) There is a great opportunity here for us in the Christian spec-fic world to rally around Kerry and help people who otherwise would never have known about AViS discover that there’s a whole segment of fiction they are missing out on, because it’s usually pigeonholed “inspirational,” the death row of books at a mainstream retailer.

No matter what people say about the cover or the title in terms of personal preferences, if we really look at what Kerry’s done with both, it’s a genius publicity stunt. The great bonus here is that the book beyond the stunt is good!

Our new SpecFaith reviewer Austin Gunderson: Don’t dance in the endzone.

Christian speculative fiction hasn’t arrived. Also, it wasn’t featured on The Tonight Show this Tuesday.

What put a copy of AViS in the hands of Jimmy Fallon had nothing whatsoever to do with its themes, its substance, or even its technical quality. Though I haven’t read the book myself, I can make this snap judgment with complete confidence on the grounds that Jimmy Fallon hasn’t read it, either.

AViS received fifteen seconds of fame on Tuesday for one reason and one reason only: bold marketing. It’s got a title and cover that demand your attention and stick in your memory. It’s provocative. It doesn’t play it safe or imitate a string of predecessors. It defies convention. It fairly leaps out of the box. And looks pretty slick doing so. That’s what’s made it famous, not the fact that it’s Christian spec-fic.

Should we celebrate with Kerry Nietz over his PR coup? Absolutely. But let’s not get cocky. Our subgenre has a long way to go before its own niche publishers will even bring themselves to embrace mavericks like Nietz, let alone before we can claim to have somehow “arrived.”

Splashdown Books founder and publisher Grace Bridges: be a non-preachy fan.

John’s words may be construed as an instruction to remain mild-mannered and calm so as not to put anyone off. But I think “appropriate” behaviour in this case is free to be openly fannish. Be the fandom. Be a geek, show your passion. Just please don’t preach.

Finally, Amish Vampires in Space author himself, Kerry Nietz: have fun with this.

Be encouraging and inclusive. I’ve been following AViS on Twitter since the beginning, and there are so many opportunities there to connect with folks. Sometimes it would be easy to be negative—especially when they are clearly mocking—but I’ve instead tried to laugh along with them. Show them Christians are witty too. Plus, many people don’t know how dominated the CBA is by Amish fiction, so it is a chance to dialog on that too. Be positive. Stay upbeat. As Hugh Howey says, “be a hugger.”