Audie Thacker likes to think of himself as a writer, and so far his word processor hasn't been able to convince him otherwise, though one can't fault its efforts. He is the author of the fantasy novels Shifters: Manipulations and Shifters: Judgments.

‘Haibane Renmei’ Almost Persuades Me That Its Ideas Are Christian

You should give this older anime series a chance, even if it has fallen into obscurity and if its ideas can’t quite take biblical flight.
Audie Thacker, Aug 4, 2020

The World of ‘Kino’s Journey’ Is Beautiful, Yet Avoids Resolutions By Design

Kino’s Journey (2003) is a very atypical anime series, often offering viewers curiosity over resolution during its heroine’s travels.
Audie Thacker, Jun 2, 2020

‘Yona of the Dawn’ Forsakes Cozy Palace Life to Challenge Its Royal Heroine

Yona of the Dawn’s anime (and manga) pivots from an early teen-romance setup to an adventure quest with surprising turns.
Audie Thacker, Feb 28, 2020

‘Joshua’ Offers Readers a Strange, Unbiblical Alt-Version of Jesus

Speculative stories often explore an alt-world version of Christ, but the Rev. Joseph F. Girzone took this too far in Joshua: A Parable for Today.
Audie Thacker, Sep 10, 2019

‘The Promised Neverland’: Finding Freedom In A Demon-Haunted World

Life looks good for the children of Grace Field House, but then two children see behind the curtains.
Audie Thacker, Jun 18, 2019

‘Maquia’ Shows A Different Side of Epic Fantasy

Many epic fantasies focus on adventurers, but Maquia explores the wonder of motherhood.
Audie Thacker, Mar 1, 2019

‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’: A City Without Guilt

Ursula K. Le Guin’s imagined utopia has one terrible condition, and two responses that both ignore this evil.
Audie Thacker, Jan 15, 2019

My Hero Academia: True Heroics in a Quirky World

My Hero Academia doesn’t just pit heroes versus villains, but seriously explores the nature of true heroism.
Audie Thacker, Nov 30, 2018

Violet Evergarden: Letters of the Woeful Wages of Sin

If you love stories that genuinely make you weep, Violet Evergarden is the series for you.
Audie Thacker, May 23, 2018

‘Meant to Be’ Explores Half a Good Message

Reviewer Audie Thacker praises the concept of PureFlix’s “Meant To Be,” but believes the film’s themes fall apart.
Audie Thacker, Apr 18, 2018

Re:Zero’s Second Chances Only Make Life Worse

In Re:Zero, modern teen Natsuke Subaru is thrown into a world of second chances to save lives, yet he’s pushed to his limits.
Audie Thacker, Jan 16, 2018

‘Hogfather’: In the End, a Discworld Story about Nothing

Terry Pratchett’s standalone Christmas spoof “Hogfather” rings with absurdity, even in its attempted serious ideas.
Audie Thacker, Nov 1, 2017

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ Brews A Great Story With Iffy Ideas

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s characters struggle with guilt, regret, and lost humanity.
Audie Thacker, Jul 14, 2017

‘By Eyes Unseen’ Series Serves Enjoyable Christian Allegory

I don’t usually enjoy Christian allegorical fiction. But when I do, it’s thanks to novels like F. E. Greene’s “By Eyes Unseen” series.
Audie Thacker, May 26, 2017

Orange Anime Offers Partial Reasons Against Suicide
| Audie Thacker, Articles, May 11, 2017

‘Library War’ Pits Thought Police Vs. Militant Libraries

In Library War, a woman fights the warriors of censorship while also hunting for her mysterious prince among library fighters.
Audie Thacker, Dec 29, 2016

Shadow Legacy: A Solid Follow-up To Synthetic Genesis

“Shadow Legacy,” Age of Quintessence book 2, shows author Vista Townsend improving her storytelling.
Audie Thacker, Nov 17, 2016

Psycho-Pass Surveys An Ideal But Controlled Society

Psycho-Pass season 1 explores the question: can mankind create the perfect society, or will any such attempt have flaws?
Audie Thacker, Nov 3, 2016

Beast Player Erin Ranks Among The Best Anime Stories

“Beast Player Erin” is one of the best anime series I’ve ever seen.
Audie Thacker, Aug 11, 2016

Exploring Disney’s Sci-Fi Gem ‘The Black Hole’

In the late 1970s, Disney joined the movie space race with “The Black Hole,” which despite its flaws is pretty good.
Audie Thacker, Jul 29, 2016

Foundation: Salvation In Lies and Manipulation?

If mankind’s only hope is a group of elites who lead us to the promised land, then please let me off the train.
Audie Thacker, Jun 17, 2016

Age Of Quintessence, Book 1: Synthetic Genesis—Frankenstein’s Monsters In Space

Vista Townsend splices a story about genetically engineered beings. Are they monsters? What do they really want?
Audie Thacker, Jun 10, 2016

Erased: An Intriguing Time-Travel Murder Mystery

A manga artist travels back in time without a Delorean or a police box, exploring the concept of second chances.
Audie Thacker, Jun 2, 2016

Miracle At The Higher Grounds Cafe Is A Spec-Lite Fluffy Cupcake

Max Lucado’s promising premise gets sidetracked by a strange need for too much niceness and a perfect ending.
Audie Thacker, Jan 28, 2016

Planet Hulk: The Deliverer Has Come To Smash

Hulk smash “Lost In Space,” “Gladiator,” and “Braveheart” into big story with messianic themes starring Hulk.
Audie Thacker, Jan 21, 2016

‘Injustice: Gods Among Us’ Explores A Clash Of Heroes

The DC graphic novel series pits Batman versus Superman and shows the limits of two extreme responses to evil.
Audie Thacker, Dec 3, 2015

‘Snow White With The Red Hair,’ Season 1: A Beautifully Animated Romance

The first season of “Snow White with the Red Hair” is a rare, clean romance story that well presents honor, respect, and dignity.
Audie Thacker, Sep 29, 2015

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Dust “Nothing is as it seems, and wishing on stars will get her nowhere in this delightfully twisted sequel to a classic.” —Lorehaven

The Vault Between Spaces “The Vault Between Spaces is an inventive fantasy with heart for its religion and its characters.” —Lorehaven

Let the Ghosts Speak “Although often grim, Let the Ghosts Speak gives a captivating read of murder, mystery, and spirituality.” —Lorehaven

Sponsored Review: The Light Unbound “Ambitious in scope and relentless in speed, this novel concludes C. S. Wachter’s saga on a high note.” —Lorehaven

Daily articles from SpecFaith

Yes, C. S. Lewis Actually Did Want His Fairy Stories to Teach Christian Truth E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 29

Evaluation Phase-Spec Faith 2020 Fall Writing Challenge Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 28

Fiction Friday: Brand Of Light By Ronie Kendig Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 25

Let’s Talk About Race and Racism. White Supremacy Versus “White Supremacy” Travis Perry, Sep 24

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast.

35. Did C. S. Lewis Say It’s ‘Pure Moonshine’ to Create Stories that Teach Christian Truth? Fantastical Truth, Sep 29, 2020

Ep. 34: How Has Lorehaven Been Questing Through the Great 2020 Pandemic? Fantastical Truth, Sep 22, 2020

Ep. 33: How Does Portraying Fantastical Characters Develop Christian Character? | with Julie Novak Fantastical Truth, Sep 15, 2020

Ep. 32: What Five Questions Help Us Engage Popular Culture for God’s Glory? | The Pop Culture Parent, part 2 Fantastical Truth, Sep 8, 2020

Find more from Christian creators

The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ Now available from New Growth Press

Why My Hopes are Flying High for Tomorrow’s DC FanDome Virtual Event E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 21

Join Me Tonight on the Realm Makers Livestream: How Can Stories Help Us Long for Heaven? E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 9

Quotes and Notes: Should Christian Fantasy Include Magic? E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 8

‘Haibane Renmei’ Almost Persuades Me That Its Ideas Are Christian You should give this older anime series a chance, even if it has fallen into obscurity and if its ideas can’t quite take biblical flight. Audie Thacker, Aug 4, 2020

The World of ‘Kino’s Journey’ Is Beautiful, Yet Avoids Resolutions By Design Kino’s Journey (2003) is a very atypical anime series, often offering viewers curiosity over resolution during its heroine’s travels. Audie Thacker, Jun 2, 2020

‘Yona of the Dawn’ Forsakes Cozy Palace Life to Challenge Its Royal Heroine Yona of the Dawn’s anime (and manga) pivots from an early teen-romance setup to an adventure quest with surprising turns. Audie Thacker, Feb 28, 2020

‘Joshua’ Offers Readers a Strange, Unbiblical Alt-Version of Jesus Speculative stories often explore an alt-world version of Christ, but the Rev. Joseph F. Girzone took this too far in Joshua: A Parable for Today. Audie Thacker, Sep 10, 2019

‘The Promised Neverland’: Finding Freedom In A Demon-Haunted World Life looks good for the children of Grace Field House, but then two children see behind the curtains. Audie Thacker, Jun 18, 2019

‘Maquia’ Shows A Different Side of Epic Fantasy Many epic fantasies focus on adventurers, but Maquia explores the wonder of motherhood. Audie Thacker, Mar 1, 2019

‘The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas’: A City Without Guilt Ursula K. Le Guin’s imagined utopia has one terrible condition, and two responses that both ignore this evil. Audie Thacker, Jan 15, 2019

My Hero Academia: True Heroics in a Quirky World My Hero Academia doesn’t just pit heroes versus villains, but seriously explores the nature of true heroism. Audie Thacker, Nov 30, 2018

Violet Evergarden: Letters of the Woeful Wages of Sin If you love stories that genuinely make you weep, Violet Evergarden is the series for you. Audie Thacker, May 23, 2018

‘Meant to Be’ Explores Half a Good Message Reviewer Audie Thacker praises the concept of PureFlix’s “Meant To Be,” but believes the film’s themes fall apart. Audie Thacker, Apr 18, 2018

Re:Zero’s Second Chances Only Make Life Worse In Re:Zero, modern teen Natsuke Subaru is thrown into a world of second chances to save lives, yet he’s pushed to his limits. Audie Thacker, Jan 16, 2018

‘Hogfather’: In the End, a Discworld Story about Nothing Terry Pratchett’s standalone Christmas spoof “Hogfather” rings with absurdity, even in its attempted serious ideas. Audie Thacker, Nov 1, 2017

‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’ Brews A Great Story With Iffy Ideas Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’s characters struggle with guilt, regret, and lost humanity. Audie Thacker, Jul 14, 2017

‘By Eyes Unseen’ Series Serves Enjoyable Christian Allegory I don’t usually enjoy Christian allegorical fiction. But when I do, it’s thanks to novels like F. E. Greene’s “By Eyes Unseen” series. Audie Thacker, May 26, 2017

Orange Anime Offers Partial Reasons Against Suicide | Audie Thacker, Articles, May 11, 2017

‘Library War’ Pits Thought Police Vs. Militant Libraries In Library War, a woman fights the warriors of censorship while also hunting for her mysterious prince among library fighters. Audie Thacker, Dec 29, 2016

Shadow Legacy: A Solid Follow-up To Synthetic Genesis “Shadow Legacy,” Age of Quintessence book 2, shows author Vista Townsend improving her storytelling. Audie Thacker, Nov 17, 2016

Psycho-Pass Surveys An Ideal But Controlled Society Psycho-Pass season 1 explores the question: can mankind create the perfect society, or will any such attempt have flaws? Audie Thacker, Nov 3, 2016

Beast Player Erin Ranks Among The Best Anime Stories “Beast Player Erin” is one of the best anime series I’ve ever seen. Audie Thacker, Aug 11, 2016

Exploring Disney’s Sci-Fi Gem ‘The Black Hole’ In the late 1970s, Disney joined the movie space race with “The Black Hole,” which despite its flaws is pretty good. Audie Thacker, Jul 29, 2016

Foundation: Salvation In Lies and Manipulation? If mankind’s only hope is a group of elites who lead us to the promised land, then please let me off the train. Audie Thacker, Jun 17, 2016

Age Of Quintessence, Book 1: Synthetic Genesis—Frankenstein’s Monsters In Space Vista Townsend splices a story about genetically engineered beings. Are they monsters? What do they really want? Audie Thacker, Jun 10, 2016

Erased: An Intriguing Time-Travel Murder Mystery A manga artist travels back in time without a Delorean or a police box, exploring the concept of second chances. Audie Thacker, Jun 2, 2016

Miracle At The Higher Grounds Cafe Is A Spec-Lite Fluffy Cupcake Max Lucado’s promising premise gets sidetracked by a strange need for too much niceness and a perfect ending. Audie Thacker, Jan 28, 2016

Planet Hulk: The Deliverer Has Come To Smash Hulk smash “Lost In Space,” “Gladiator,” and “Braveheart” into big story with messianic themes starring Hulk. Audie Thacker, Jan 21, 2016

‘Injustice: Gods Among Us’ Explores A Clash Of Heroes The DC graphic novel series pits Batman versus Superman and shows the limits of two extreme responses to evil. Audie Thacker, Dec 3, 2015

‘Snow White With The Red Hair,’ Season 1: A Beautifully Animated Romance The first season of “Snow White with the Red Hair” is a rare, clean romance story that well presents honor, respect, and dignity. Audie Thacker, Sep 29, 2015

Dust

“Nothing is as it seems, and wishing on stars will get her nowhere in this delightfully twisted sequel to a classic.” —Lorehaven

The Vault Between Spaces

“The Vault Between Spaces is an inventive fantasy with heart for its religion and its characters.” —Lorehaven

Let the Ghosts Speak

“Although often grim, Let the Ghosts Speak gives a captivating read of murder, mystery, and spirituality.” —Lorehaven

Sponsored Review: The Light Unbound

“Ambitious in scope and relentless in speed, this novel concludes C. S. Wachter’s saga on a high note.” —Lorehaven

Yes, C. S. Lewis Actually Did Want His Fairy Stories to Teach Christian Truth
E. Stephen Burnett, Sep 29

Evaluation Phase-Spec Faith 2020 Fall Writing Challenge
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 28

Fiction Friday: Brand Of Light By Ronie Kendig
Rebecca LuElla Miller, Sep 25

Let’s Talk About Race and Racism. White Supremacy Versus “White Supremacy”
Travis Perry, Sep 24

35. Did C. S. Lewis Say It’s ‘Pure Moonshine’ to Create Stories that Teach Christian Truth?
Fantastical Truth, Sep 29, 2020

Ep. 34: How Has Lorehaven Been Questing Through the Great 2020 Pandemic?
Fantastical Truth, Sep 22, 2020

Ep. 33: How Does Portraying Fantastical Characters Develop Christian Character? | with Julie Novak
Fantastical Truth, Sep 15, 2020

Ep. 32: What Five Questions Help Us Engage Popular Culture for God’s Glory? | The Pop Culture Parent, part 2
Fantastical Truth, Sep 8, 2020

Why My Hopes are Flying High for Tomorrow’s DC FanDome Virtual Event
E. Stephen Burnett, Aug 21

Join Me Tonight on the Realm Makers Livestream: How Can Stories Help Us Long for Heaven?
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 9

Quotes and Notes: Should Christian Fantasy Include Magic?
E. Stephen Burnett, Jul 8