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Nomad
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Mar 5, 2021

Legend of the Storm Sneezer
Reviews | Lorehaven Review Team on Mar 5, 2021

53. How Can Christian Fans React When Fantasy Creators Get Cancelled? Part 1
Podcast | Fantastical Truth on Mar 2, 2021

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

Library

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The Mermaid's Sister, Carrie Anne Noble
Etania's Worth, M. H. Elrich
Cinderella Spell, Laurie Lee
When Desperate Measures Are All You Have Left, J. C. Morrows
Fractures, James C. Joyner
Torch, R. J. Anderson
The Terran Summit, Anna Zogg
The Xerxes Factor, Anna Zogg
The Paradise Protocol, Anna Zogg
The Awakened, Richard Spillman
The Ascension, Richard Spillman
Love's Sacrifice, Kelsey Norman
Unbroken Spirit, Kelsey Norman
Seed: Judgment, Joshua David
Reviews

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Nomad
“R. J. Anderson’s fantasy Nomad is a rollicking read with fascinating conflicts and plot twists.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 5, 2021

Legend of the Storm Sneezer
“Teen readers fond of lengthy, lighthearted ghost-and-zombie tales will enjoy Legend of the Storm Sneezer by Kristiana Sfirlea.”
—Lorehaven on Mar 5, 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

Podcast

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53. How Can Christian Fans React When Fantasy Creators Get Cancelled? Part 1
Fantastical Truth, Mar 2, 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

Webzine

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SpecFaith

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

site archives | statement of faith
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The Fantastical Elements of Romantic Fiction, part 2
Parker J. Cole, Mar 4

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

Beyond

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Order the book! E. Stephen Burnett

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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

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’During Traumatic Times, We Need Truthful Stories to Help Us Heal’

Lorehaven’s summer 2020 issue has arrived, and thanks in part to the dark magic of pandemics, you can read the entire issue right now.
E. Stephen Burnett on Jun 30, 2020 | No comments

Lorehaven’s summer 2020 issue has arrived.1 Keep scrolling to get the complete issue content list, complete with links. Yes, and this time, thanks in part to the dark magic of pandemics, you can read the entire issue here at Lorehaven.com right now.

It starts with this Captain’s Log, exploring how truthful stories help us during hard times.

Subscribe today so you get all Lorehaven content, including (this summer) daily reviews.

Captain’s Log, Lorehaven magazine, summer 2020

In a world that groans because of sin, people are talking more about trauma. But less often do we consider our need for truth-based stories to help us seek healing.

People suffer trauma from their choices or others’ abuse, or from our sick world.

Alas, some may wear trauma like chic fashion. Others try to weaponize their sense of trauma to go on a vengeance quest. Or at best, they may fall into forming hero complexes, supposing they can cope with trauma by gaining power to help others.

Presuming the trauma is real, all these responses to it are fake. They don’t identify the sin under which the Earth groans (Romans 8:22). They don’t lead to real healing.

Only in the gospel can we confront trauma. This calls for careful counsel, best if done by trained and loving Christians in local churches. (Of course, some churches mishandle trauma, such as by acting like depression is solely a spiritual problem.)

We can also find well-crafted fiction to help us cope with trauma and seek healing.

Some fans prefer darker, complex stories about trauma. For example, I infamously enjoy the “nobledark” DC films (now including Zack Snyder’s Justice League, releasing in 2021!). These stories use deep themes and grayer areas to simulate suffering. They may help us face hard times, and often include reflected promises of light.

Others of us need lighter, simpler stories with clearer happy endings. Fantasy fans often scoff at such “sentimentalist” Christian fiction. But we can’t deny our reality, in which the people who suffer the worst often prefer the “cheesiest” social dramas.

Still others—I’d group myself here—prefer each type, depending on the struggle.

On some days, I need to watch, say, the anime Attack on Titan, to remind myself that “This world is cruel and merciless, but it is also very beautiful.” On other days, I opt for a lighter comedy, and remind myself that it’s okay to retreat—not away from all reality, but to the happier sides of reality that are just as realistic as the trauma.

Either way, if we are seeking true healing in Jesus, rather than indulging in despair or escapism, these stories can help us cope in ways that help us and glorify Jesus.

Here’s hoping this issue’s reviewed novels not only bring you joy, but help you heal.

Navigation, Lorehaven magazine, summer 2020

Masthead

Captain’s Log

E. Stephen Burnett: During traumatic times, we need truthful stories to help us heal.

Book Reviews

Lorehaven’s review team explores the books they like best.

  • Airfoil: Origins, Steve Rzasa
  • Cora and the Nurse Dragon, H. L. Burke
  • Emberhawk, Jamie Foley
  • Heartmender, V. Romas Burton
  • Jordan’s Arrow, Allen Steadham
  • Let the Ghosts Speak, Bryan Davis
  • Light of Mine, Allen Brokken
  • Mortal Sight, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads
  • Outsmarting Time, Laura Hans Kline
  • Sorrowfish, Anne C. Miles
  • The Story Hunter, Lindsay A. Franklin
  • The Vault Between Spaces, Chawna Schroeder

For Whom the Sun Sings, W. A. Fulkerson

Cover story: ‘I Used to Want to Change the World’

  • Explore For Whom the Sun Sings with W. A. Fulkerson
  • For Whom the Sun Sings, book review
  • For Whom the Sun Sings, chapter 1

Sponsored Review: The Light Unbound, C. S. Wachter

This novel concludes C. S. Wachter’s saga on a high note.

Discerning the ‘Girls With Swords’ Trope

Marian Jacobs: We can see some strong female characters in biblical perspective.

Sponsored Review: A Shattered World, Lelia Rose Foreman

This is the Puritan space colonization epic you never knew you needed.

The Dangers of Anti-Pearl-Clutching

Travis Perry: Let’s not overcorrect for others’ fears by ignoring Satan’s schemes.

The Chosen’s Speculation Meets a True Savior

Cap Stewart: This series may be one of the best Christian stories in our lifetime.

P.S.: Zack and I explore UFOs in today’s podcast.

Aliens. Oh snap. Audiences love aliens. Aliens! Aliens, from space. Ancient aliens. I don’t know, therefore: aliens.

Zack and Stephen launch this latest fantastical truth-finding with clips from U. S. Navy pilots who encountered UFOs. We’ll explore those reports, other alien stories, and how Christians can respond to the very notion of life and even sentient life beyond our planet.

Listen to the complete new episode, and be sure to subscribe to Fantastical Truth wherever you get your podcasts.

P.P.S. I’m speaking at three conferences this July.

Watch this space for more personal updates, especially as we head into conference season.

For me personally, I have several missions in upcoming events. Two are virtual. One, Lord willing, is real.

The near future will bring more details. Until then, enjoy the magazine—and subscribe so you don’t miss any issues!

Godspeed,
Stephen

E. Stephen Burnett, signature

  1. Please note that for pandemic-related reasons, we don’t yet have the issue’s PDF or print copies available. Expect these to release in July 2020. ↩
E. Stephen Burnett

E. Stephen Burnett creates sci-fi and fantasy as well as nonfiction, such as The Pop Culture Parent: Helping Kids Engage Their World for Christ (coauthored with Ted Turnau and Jared Moore, from New Growth Press). Stephen explores biblical truth and fantastic stories as publisher of Lorehaven.com and cohost of the Fantastical Truth podcast. He and his wife, Lacy, live in the Austin area, help with foster parenting, and serve as members of Southern Hills Baptist Church.

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