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Into the Darkness
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The Chosen Succeeds Where ‘Woke’ Stories Fail
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Silver Bounty, Victoria McCombs
A Sword for the Immerland King, F. W. Faller
Calor, J. J. Fisher
Once Upon A Ren Faire, A. C. Castillo
The Genesis 6 Project, Michael Ferguson
Exile, Loren G. Warnemuende
Aberration, Cathy McCrumb
The Truth Beyond the Lies, Kathleen Bird
Frost, Winter's Lonely Guardian, E. E. Rawls
Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
The Change, Bradley Caffee
Quest of Fire: Desperation, Brett Armstrong
Wishtress, Nadine Brandes
Flight, Kristen Young
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147. Why Can Christians Celebrate Stories about Merlin and King Arthur? | with Robert Treskillard
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146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
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145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
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142. What Christmas Gift ‘Tools, Not Toys’ Helped You Grow As a Person?
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On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
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Into the Darkness
“Charles Hack’s Into the Darkness summons a close-range science fiction story, focusing on the personal challenges of space warfare among alien cultures with a steady pace and serious tone.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 3, 2023

A Crown of Chains
“A Crown of Chains creatively retells a biblical tale to explore themes of providence, racism, faith, and fidelity.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2023

Lander’s Legacy
“Lander’s Legacy stacks modern thrills and complex characters on a foundation of biblical what-ifs.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 20, 2023

Prince Caspian
“Pacing starts slow but creature lore grows in C. S. Lewis’s sequel, introducing practical tyrants and talking-beast politics into a Narnian resistance.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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Ancient Realms Of Imagination

The stories that I read while growing up inspired me to be a better person–to better follow God and to deal more rightly with other people. A good story isn’t just penned or typed; it grows out of the heart.
Scott Appleton on Jul 27, 2012
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“Why did I like that story so much? Why did it stick with me?” Have you ever found yourself asking those questions?

When I was growing up I fell in love with thought-provoking and intellectually-stimulating books. I can remember the amazing feeling of first following Christian in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. From facing foes at home to foes in Hell, Christian overcame the challenges laid out on the narrow road because his eyes were fixed on the eternal prize.

Later, I read Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and found it just as timeless as Pilgrim’s Progress. I wanted to build a submarine of my own and live off of the sea, away from the turmoil of the industrialized world. I cringed when Captain Nemo sank a ship and left its passengers to drown, but I couldn’t help admiring him for taking action in what he believed to be a just cause.

Today we live in a technologically overwhelmed society. From television to movies, to the internet and video games, from cell phones to e-readers, and the list grows the more we examine our culture. Life has become impersonal and undisciplined.

It used to be that a young man had to discipline his tongue and his life so that when he encountered others, his words could be a reflection of his character. But today the young man sends a thousand text messages that are sent on a whim, without refinement or discipline. The art of relationships has been all but lost; they have become volatile.

These are some of the reasons that I chose to create an old world fantasy in The Sword of the Dragon series, rather than a contemporary one. Separated from technology, people are more easily exposed as good or evil. They cannot hide behind a curtain of flashing lights and images.

As readers, many of us desire to retrieve the positive elements of older cultures, such as their manners, their speech, and their discipline. But our society loves pleasure more than they love God.

In my Christian fantasy novels I seek to give the youths of today new examples of heroes and heroines that choose to surmount the odds. We need stories that encourage young people to be strong for God and to live lives that please Him.

The stories that I read while growing up inspired me to be a better person–to better follow God and to deal more rightly with other people. A good story isn’t just penned or typed; it grows out of the heart.

The emails and other feedback that I have received with regards to my novels tell me that many readers are encouraged by my stories. They have laughed and they have cried, but in the end it is the story’s spiritual journey that I hope empowers them for the future. The imagination is a powerful thing. It can be used for good or for evil.

Is this why we love stories that hearken back to days of old–of knights slaying dragons and seeking fair maidens in distress? We want to love the good and despise the evil. We want to be those heroes and heroines that may falter but never waver in their diligence.

Good old-world fantasy novels push us to be better individuals. The ancient realms are ours for the taking!

– – – – –

 

Scott Appleton is a freelance writer living in northeast Connecticut. He is the author of The Sword of the Dragon series and the anthology By Sword By Right. He frequently travels around the country, visiting schools and stores to promote his books. In his spare time he enjoys reading and spending time with his beautiful wife and children. Visit his blog , Website, and Facebook page.

Scott Appleton
Scott Appleton is a freelance writer living in southeast Connecticut. He is the author of The Sword of the Dragon series, Neverqueen, and the anthology By Sword By Right. In his spare time he enjoys reading and spending time with his beautiful wife and children. Visit his blog, website, and Facebook page.
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  1. Kessie says:
    July 27, 2012 at 10:58 am

    Books do have an impact. I remember watching my brothers’ behavior as my mom read aloud Freckles, by Gene Stratton Porter. Freckles is about a guy with one arm hired to protect valuable trees in the Limberlost. There’s also a romantic subplot, and Freckles is such a gentleman. My brothers tried to act like gentlemen, too. Freckles was a great role model.
     
    Good to see an author continuing the great tradition of good role models. But is it a good story, too?

    Reply
    • Rebecca LuElla Miller says:
      July 27, 2012 at 1:12 pm

      One of the reasons we invite guests to post here at Spec Faith is to let readers find them, so the real test, Kessie, will be for you to read Scott’s books and tell us whether or not they are good stories.

      I’ve worked on two of them with him so admittedly don’t have an unbiased perspective, but I think readers will find action-packed high fantasy with true heroes and heroines.

      I’d definitely recommend them to fantasy fans.

      Becky

      Reply
  2. Lauren says:
    July 29, 2012 at 1:50 am

    I’d never heard of his books before, but this article made me want to give them a try. Added to my to-read list!

    Reply

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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