By day, Austin Gunderson is a media production professional; by night a reader and writer of fantasy, and is review chief of Lorehaven magazine. He resides in the Pacific Northwest with the wife of his youth, and serves as a member of Lighthouse Christian Center.

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‘Batman v Superman’: An Exquisite Superhero Theodicy

The sequel to ‘Man of Steel’ neither ignores the world as it is, nor pretends there’s nothing beyond it.
Austin Gunderson on Mar 28, 2016

‘The Secret Of Kells’: The Shape Of The Light

As civilization ends, one boy in a remote Irish abbey seeks beauty in the face of evils both ancient and emergent.
Austin Gunderson on Mar 24, 2016

‘Jesus Triumphant’ … and Hollywoodized

The penultimate novel in the “Chronicles of the Nephilim” series chomps down on the leg of a live lion before being hurled into a bog of extinct cliches.
Austin Gunderson on Feb 4, 2016

‘The Force Awakens’ After Finally Finishing Its Beauty Sleep

Imagine watching “A New Hope” as though it was actually “Episode IV” instead of a de facto “Episode I.”
Austin Gunderson on Dec 21, 2015

Story Evangelism: The Gospel Has Power In Realistic Fiction
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Nov 19, 2015

Should Christian Stories Evangelize? Chapter 4
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Oct 22, 2015

Should Christian Stories Evangelize? Chapter 2
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Oct 8, 2015

Badfan v Superman 8: A Moral Cinematic Universe
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Jul 30, 2015

Badfan v Superman 5: You’ll Believe A Man Can Die
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Jul 21, 2015

Badfan v Superman 3: Challenging Cheap Optimism
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Jul 14, 2015

Feed The Right Wolf: ‘Tomorrowland’ and The Allure Of Fatalism

Christians know we’ll never arrive in Tomorrow until Christ reigns on New Earth. But how far might we go if we reached for the stars?
Austin Gunderson on Jul 10, 2015

‘Inside Out’ and Upside Down: Sorrow As A Symbiote

When Pixar takes you inside a young girl’s mind, expect the counterintuitive.
Austin Gunderson on Jun 23, 2015

‘The Ghost Box’ and The Spirit Sea

In a Los Angeles awash with the supernatural, opening your eyes means entering a battle.
Austin Gunderson on Mar 24, 2015

‘David Ascendant’ Faces Giant Flaws and Thrills

This rip-roarin’ roller coaster of sword-and-sandal war and scandal rises despite its defects.
Austin Gunderson on Mar 4, 2015

Speculative Caroling
| Austin Gunderson, Articles, Dec 26, 2014

‘Enoch Primordial’ Soup

Enoch Primordial: A mass of fantastical ingredients does not a fantastic story make.
Austin Gunderson on Dec 3, 2014

Taken Into The Dance: The Metaphysics Of ‘Interstellar’

Visceral emotion and bittersweet beauty mark this unabashed ode to hard-core humanism.
Austin Gunderson on Nov 17, 2014

‘The Maze Runner’ Chases A Hope Unseen

“The Maze Runner” is not a mere special-effects extravaganza but an intimate exploration of human choices and survival.
Austin Gunderson on Sep 19, 2014

‘The Apocalypse Door’ Opens on Spiritual Thrills

Warrior-priest bashes in heads, dispenses one-liners while battling demonic plot to fast-track end of world. ‘Nuff said.
Austin Gunderson on Jul 23, 2014

‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ … and Eternity

In a future of desperate war, one coward’s life is transformed by all the time in the world.
Austin Gunderson on Jun 11, 2014

Chariots, Horses, and Aircraft Carriers are No Match For ‘Godzilla’

Neither nature nor nature’s God pay heed to humanity’s hubris.
Austin Gunderson on May 21, 2014

‘Leviathan’ Will Pull You In With A Hook

In this frenetically savage thriller, an evil creature of incredible power drives characters into the arms of that Being Who is mightier still.
Austin Gunderson on Apr 23, 2014

Judging ‘Noah’

This speculative adaptation of the biblical epic eliminates all assurance of salvation in order to gaze unflinchingly at the justice of God.
Austin Gunderson on Mar 29, 2014

A Storyteller Sings In ‘The Way Of Kings’

This monumental epic, a work of singular beauty and depth, treats its readers with respect by challenging the convictions of its characters.
Austin Gunderson on Mar 12, 2014

Debugging ‘The DarkTrench Saga’

This far-future sci-fi hurls the reader into a dystopia of universal Islam, where a man enslaved by technology will step into legend when he encounters the living God.
Austin Gunderson on Feb 19, 2014

‘A Cast Of Stones,’ A Clash Of Tones

This well-written and entertaining novel is a step in the right direction for Christian fantasy, but its dissonance of conflict forestalls greatness.
Austin Gunderson on Jan 29, 2014

‘Bid The Gods Arise,’ and Wake Me Up As Well

Reviewer Austin Gunderson: This fantasy’s fascinating setting and villains keep readers engrossed, but the story suffers in style, pacing, and plot.
Austin Gunderson on Jul 26, 2013

Explore the best Christian fantasy.

My Novel ‘The Mermaid’s Sister’ Arose from True Depths of Mourning Articles | Carrie Anne Noble on Mar 1, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 26, 2021

My Screenwriter Mom Introduced Me to Fantastic Sci-Fi in the 1960s Articles | Jason William Karpf on Feb 25, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3 Podcast | Lorehaven on Feb 23, 2021

Join Our March 11 Livestream Exploring Christian Reactions to Fandom Cancel Culture News | Lorehaven on Feb 22, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 19, 2021

Venus is More Than Just a Love Goddess Articles | Shannon Stewart on Feb 18, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Enthusiast and New Lorehaven Writer Shannon Stewart News | Lorehaven on Feb 17, 2021

Stories with Bad Ideas Can Still Help Us Grow Articles | L.G. McCary on Feb 15, 2021

Gretchen and the Bear Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 12, 2021

The Mandalorian is a Religious Fundamentalist, and Here’s Why That’s Awesome Articles | Josiah DeGraaf on Feb 11, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Josiah DeGraaf News | Lorehaven on Feb 10, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2 Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 9, 2021

The Death and Rebirth of Magic in Children’s Fantasy Articles | R. J. Anderson on Feb 8, 2021

Torch Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 5, 2021

Fictional Magic Systems Can Go Beyond Rules and Reveal Deeper Characters Articles | Elijah David on Feb 4, 2021

How God Uses Story Villains for Our Good Articles | Zackary Russell on Feb 3, 2021

Introducing Sci-Fi Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Zackary Russell News | Lorehaven on Feb 2, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1 Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 2, 2021

Frank E. Peretti to Give Keynote Address at Realm Makers Writers Conference This July News | E. Stephen Burnett on Feb 1, 2021

Fugue for the Sacred Songbook: In Eb Minor Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 29, 2021

How A Year Without Superhero Films Rebooted Our Universe Articles | Jason Joyner on Jan 28, 2021

New Book ‘Reading Evangelicals’ Will Focus on Famous Christian Fiction News | E. Stephen Burnett on Jan 27, 2021

Introducing Superhero Novelist and New Lorehaven Writer Jason C. Joyner News | Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2021

49. How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction? Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Jan 26, 2021

Militant Secularism Could Force Christians to Create New Subcultures Articles | Mike Duran on Jan 25, 2021

Flight of the Raven Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 22, 2021

‘One Piece’ Manga Reaches Chapter 1000: How Did This Pirate Become King? Articles | L. Jagi Lamplighter on Jan 20, 2021

48. What Were the Top Seven Issues for Lorehaven Readers in 2020? Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Jan 19, 2021

To Shape a Story is to Shape a Soul Articles | L.G. McCary on Jan 18, 2021

Find fantastical Christian novels

Find fantastical Christian reviews

The Icarus Aftermath “Arielle M. Bailey’s The Icarus Aftermath spins a golden yarn of vivid characters and gripping emotion, set in a world ripe for exploration.” —Lorehaven on Feb 26, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness “Kyle L. Elliott’s novel The Hourglass and the Darkness posits a world before the great Flood, starting a promising series.” —Lorehaven on Feb 19, 2021

Gretchen and the Bear “Carrie Anne Noble’s delightful fantasy/sci-fi mashup Gretchen and the Bear defies every expectation.” —Lorehaven on Feb 12, 2021

Torch “Torch blazes a solid conclusion to the series’ themes of just leadership and racial reconciliation among fairy folk.” —Lorehaven on Feb 5, 2021

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3 Fantastical Truth, Feb 23, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2 Fantastical Truth, Feb 9, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1 Fantastical Truth, Feb 2, 2021

49. How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction? Fantastical Truth, Jan 26, 2021

Browse back issues (2018–2020)

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 3: the Moon Travis Perry, Feb 24

The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 1 Parker J. Cole, Feb 17

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 2: Venus Travis Perry, Feb 11

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 1: Mercury Travis Perry, Feb 4

Find more from Christian creators

Get exclusive shirts and beyondin the Lorehaven store

Explore the book The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ

Does ‘Engaging Popular Culture’ Include Right-Wing Talk Radio? E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 9

Join My Livestream This Thursday: Seven Ways to Find Truth in Fantastic Stories E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6

‘Batman v Superman’: An Exquisite Superhero Theodicy The sequel to ‘Man of Steel’ neither ignores the world as it is, nor pretends there’s nothing beyond it. Austin Gunderson on Mar 28, 2016

‘The Secret Of Kells’: The Shape Of The Light As civilization ends, one boy in a remote Irish abbey seeks beauty in the face of evils both ancient and emergent. Austin Gunderson on Mar 24, 2016

‘Jesus Triumphant’ … and Hollywoodized The penultimate novel in the “Chronicles of the Nephilim” series chomps down on the leg of a live lion before being hurled into a bog of extinct cliches. Austin Gunderson on Feb 4, 2016

‘The Force Awakens’ After Finally Finishing Its Beauty Sleep Imagine watching “A New Hope” as though it was actually “Episode IV” instead of a de facto “Episode I.” Austin Gunderson on Dec 21, 2015

Story Evangelism: The Gospel Has Power In Realistic Fiction | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Nov 19, 2015

Should Christian Stories Evangelize? Chapter 4 | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Oct 22, 2015

Should Christian Stories Evangelize? Chapter 2 | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Oct 8, 2015

Badfan v Superman 8: A Moral Cinematic Universe | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Jul 30, 2015

Badfan v Superman 5: You’ll Believe A Man Can Die | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Jul 21, 2015

Badfan v Superman 3: Challenging Cheap Optimism | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Jul 14, 2015

Feed The Right Wolf: ‘Tomorrowland’ and The Allure Of Fatalism Christians know we’ll never arrive in Tomorrow until Christ reigns on New Earth. But how far might we go if we reached for the stars? Austin Gunderson on Jul 10, 2015

‘Inside Out’ and Upside Down: Sorrow As A Symbiote When Pixar takes you inside a young girl’s mind, expect the counterintuitive. Austin Gunderson on Jun 23, 2015

‘The Ghost Box’ and The Spirit Sea In a Los Angeles awash with the supernatural, opening your eyes means entering a battle. Austin Gunderson on Mar 24, 2015

‘David Ascendant’ Faces Giant Flaws and Thrills This rip-roarin’ roller coaster of sword-and-sandal war and scandal rises despite its defects. Austin Gunderson on Mar 4, 2015

Speculative Caroling | Austin Gunderson, Articles, Dec 26, 2014

‘Enoch Primordial’ Soup Enoch Primordial: A mass of fantastical ingredients does not a fantastic story make. Austin Gunderson on Dec 3, 2014

Taken Into The Dance: The Metaphysics Of ‘Interstellar’ Visceral emotion and bittersweet beauty mark this unabashed ode to hard-core humanism. Austin Gunderson on Nov 17, 2014

‘The Maze Runner’ Chases A Hope Unseen “The Maze Runner” is not a mere special-effects extravaganza but an intimate exploration of human choices and survival. Austin Gunderson on Sep 19, 2014

‘The Apocalypse Door’ Opens on Spiritual Thrills Warrior-priest bashes in heads, dispenses one-liners while battling demonic plot to fast-track end of world. ‘Nuff said. Austin Gunderson on Jul 23, 2014

‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ … and Eternity In a future of desperate war, one coward’s life is transformed by all the time in the world. Austin Gunderson on Jun 11, 2014

Chariots, Horses, and Aircraft Carriers are No Match For ‘Godzilla’ Neither nature nor nature’s God pay heed to humanity’s hubris. Austin Gunderson on May 21, 2014

‘Leviathan’ Will Pull You In With A Hook In this frenetically savage thriller, an evil creature of incredible power drives characters into the arms of that Being Who is mightier still. Austin Gunderson on Apr 23, 2014

Judging ‘Noah’ This speculative adaptation of the biblical epic eliminates all assurance of salvation in order to gaze unflinchingly at the justice of God. Austin Gunderson on Mar 29, 2014

A Storyteller Sings In ‘The Way Of Kings’ This monumental epic, a work of singular beauty and depth, treats its readers with respect by challenging the convictions of its characters. Austin Gunderson on Mar 12, 2014

Debugging ‘The DarkTrench Saga’ This far-future sci-fi hurls the reader into a dystopia of universal Islam, where a man enslaved by technology will step into legend when he encounters the living God. Austin Gunderson on Feb 19, 2014

‘A Cast Of Stones,’ A Clash Of Tones This well-written and entertaining novel is a step in the right direction for Christian fantasy, but its dissonance of conflict forestalls greatness. Austin Gunderson on Jan 29, 2014

‘Bid The Gods Arise,’ and Wake Me Up As Well Reviewer Austin Gunderson: This fantasy’s fascinating setting and villains keep readers engrossed, but the story suffers in style, pacing, and plot. Austin Gunderson on Jul 26, 2013

My Novel ‘The Mermaid’s Sister’ Arose from True Depths of Mourning

Articles | Carrie Anne Noble on Mar 1, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 26, 2021

My Screenwriter Mom Introduced Me to Fantastic Sci-Fi in the 1960s

Articles | Jason William Karpf on Feb 25, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3

Podcast | Lorehaven on Feb 23, 2021

Join Our March 11 Livestream Exploring Christian Reactions to Fandom Cancel Culture

News | Lorehaven on Feb 22, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 19, 2021

Venus is More Than Just a Love Goddess

Articles | Shannon Stewart on Feb 18, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Enthusiast and New Lorehaven Writer Shannon Stewart

News | Lorehaven on Feb 17, 2021

Stories with Bad Ideas Can Still Help Us Grow

Articles | L.G. McCary on Feb 15, 2021

Gretchen and the Bear

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 12, 2021

The Mandalorian is a Religious Fundamentalist, and Here’s Why That’s Awesome

Articles | Josiah DeGraaf on Feb 11, 2021

Introducing Fantasy Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Josiah DeGraaf

News | Lorehaven on Feb 10, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 9, 2021

The Death and Rebirth of Magic in Children’s Fantasy

Articles | R. J. Anderson on Feb 8, 2021

Torch

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Feb 5, 2021

Fictional Magic Systems Can Go Beyond Rules and Reveal Deeper Characters

Articles | Elijah David on Feb 4, 2021

How God Uses Story Villains for Our Good

Articles | Zackary Russell on Feb 3, 2021

Introducing Sci-Fi Creator and New Lorehaven Writer Zackary Russell

News | Lorehaven on Feb 2, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Feb 2, 2021

Frank E. Peretti to Give Keynote Address at Realm Makers Writers Conference This July

News | E. Stephen Burnett on Feb 1, 2021

Fugue for the Sacred Songbook: In Eb Minor

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 29, 2021

How A Year Without Superhero Films Rebooted Our Universe

Articles | Jason Joyner on Jan 28, 2021

New Book ‘Reading Evangelicals’ Will Focus on Famous Christian Fiction

News | E. Stephen Burnett on Jan 27, 2021

Introducing Superhero Novelist and New Lorehaven Writer Jason C. Joyner

News | Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2021

49. How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction?

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Jan 26, 2021

Militant Secularism Could Force Christians to Create New Subcultures

Articles | Mike Duran on Jan 25, 2021

Flight of the Raven

Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Jan 22, 2021

‘One Piece’ Manga Reaches Chapter 1000: How Did This Pirate Become King?

Articles | L. Jagi Lamplighter on Jan 20, 2021

48. What Were the Top Seven Issues for Lorehaven Readers in 2020?

Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Jan 19, 2021

To Shape a Story is to Shape a Soul

Articles | L.G. McCary on Jan 18, 2021

The Icarus Aftermath

“Arielle M. Bailey’s The Icarus Aftermath spins a golden yarn of vivid characters and gripping emotion, set in a world ripe for exploration.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 26, 2021

The Hourglass and the Darkness

“Kyle L. Elliott’s novel The Hourglass and the Darkness posits a world before the great Flood, starting a promising series.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 19, 2021

Gretchen and the Bear

“Carrie Anne Noble’s delightful fantasy/sci-fi mashup Gretchen and the Bear defies every expectation.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 12, 2021

Torch

“Torch blazes a solid conclusion to the series’ themes of just leadership and racial reconciliation among fairy folk.”
—Lorehaven on Feb 5, 2021

52. Do Christians Really Need Science Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 3
Fantastical Truth, Feb 23, 2021

51. Do Christians Really Need Fantasy? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 2
Fantastical Truth, Feb 9, 2021

50. Do Christians Really Need Fiction? | Fiction’s Chief End, part 1
Fantastical Truth, Feb 2, 2021

49. How Can We ‘Terraform’ the Church to Enjoy Fantastic Fiction?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 26, 2021

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 3: the Moon
Travis Perry, Feb 24

The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 1
Parker J. Cole, Feb 17

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 2: Venus
Travis Perry, Feb 11

Settling the Solar System in Science Fiction, part 1: Mercury
Travis Perry, Feb 4

Get exclusive shirts and beyond
in the Lorehaven store

Does ‘Engaging Popular Culture’ Include Right-Wing Talk Radio?
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 9

Join My Livestream This Thursday: Seven Ways to Find Truth in Fantastic Stories
E. Stephen Burnett, Oct 6