New!
Author resources • Lorehaven Guild
Podcast sponsors • Subscribe for free
Crew manifest Faith statement FAQs
All author resources Lorehaven Guild Subscribe for free

148. Why Do Some Christians Revile ‘The Chosen’? | with Josiah DeGraaf and Jenneth Dyck
Fantastical Truth Podcast, Feb 7, 2023

Into the Darkness
Reviews, Feb 3, 2023

The Chosen Succeeds Where ‘Woke’ Stories Fail
Jenneth Dyck in Articles, Feb 2, 2023

Library

Find fantastical Christian novels

fantasy · sci-fi · and beyond
middle grade · young adult · grown-ups
All novels Search Add a novel
The Wayward, Tabitha Caplinger
Fortified, V. Romas Burton
Canaan Sleeps, Daniel Camomile
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
Podcast

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast

Podcast sponsors | Subscribe links
Archives Feedback

148. Why Do Some Christians Revile ‘The Chosen’? | with Josiah DeGraaf and Jenneth Dyck
Fantastical Truth, Feb 7, 2023

147. Why Can Christians Celebrate Stories about Merlin and King Arthur? | with Robert Treskillard
Fantastical Truth, Jan 31, 2023

146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
Fantastical Truth, Jan 24, 2023

145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
Fantastical Truth, Jan 17, 2023

144. Which Top Six Fantasy Franchises Gave Fans Grief in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 10, 2023

143. Which Top Ten Lorehaven Stories Proved Most Popular in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 6, 2023

Quests

Join our monthly digital book quests.

Lorehaven Guild Faith statement FAQs

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, February 2023

Prince Caspian
Book Quests, January 2023

Dream of Kings
Book Quests, December 2022

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Book Quests, November 2022

Reviews

Find fantastical Christian reviews

All reviews Request review

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

Gifts

Find new gifts for Christian fans

Archives

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

Speculative Faith | archives

Lorehaven issues (2018–2020)

Order back issues online!
New
Library
Podcast
Quests
Reviews
Gifts
Archives
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.
Subscribe free to Lorehaven
/ SpecFaith /

New Year, New Anticipation!

Okay, so thanks to being a pastor (which means that I was uber-busy with Christmas), family illness, travel, more illness, a wedding renewal, and a couple of funerals to boot, the elaborate post I had planned for today didn’t come […]
John Otte on Jan 2, 2013
No comments

Okay, so thanks to being a pastor (which means that I was uber-busy with Christmas), family illness, travel, more illness, a wedding renewal, and a couple of funerals to boot, the elaborate post I had planned for today didn’t come to pass. Sorry. So instead, I leave you with this question:

What Speculative something-or-other (be it book, movie, video game or whatever, either Christian or not) are you looking forward to most in 2013?

John Otte
John W. Otte leads a double life. By day, he’s a Lutheran minister, husband, and father of two. He graduated from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, with a theatre major, and then from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. By night, he writes unusual stories of geeky grace. He lives in Blue Springs, Missouri, with his wife and two boys. Keep up with him at JohnWOtte.com.
Website ·
  1. Kaleb says:
    January 2, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Man of Steel, I think. The Hobbit this year wasn’t bad, but it was nowhere near the level of the LotR movies, so I think my anticipation is greatly diminished. 

    Reply
    • John Otte says:
      January 3, 2013 at 1:51 am

      Man of Steel should be a fun one. Hopefully this reboot fares better than the last one. :I

      Reply
  2. Mickey says:
    January 2, 2013 at 9:57 am

    JRR Tolkien’s King Arthur poem!
    It comes out in May 

    Reply
  3. ionaofavalon says:
    January 2, 2013 at 10:54 am

    On a funny note: I’m anticipating how many ways we can squeeze Orlando Bloom onto next year’s Hobbit movie posters. I like Mr. Bloom, but trying to find a poster without him on it is going to be impossible!

    Reply
  4. Ralene B says:
    January 2, 2013 at 12:56 pm

    Hmm…I think the next Star Trek movie. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lacee Hogg says:
      January 2, 2013 at 4:40 pm

      Agreed!

      Reply
    • John Otte says:
      January 3, 2013 at 1:51 am

      Definitely this one!

      Reply
  5. Bainespal says:
    January 2, 2013 at 5:49 pm

    Most of the speculative stories that I hope to consume in 2013 were created in 2012 or earlier, because I’m slow.  But there are some things that I’m waiting for:

    A Memory of Light, the final book in The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and finished by Brandon Sanderson.  It’s scheduled to be released January 8th — next Tuesday!
    Valor’s Worth by Rebecca P. Minor, but I still have to catch up with Curse Bearer.
    Hadean Lands by Andrew Plotkin, an interactive fiction.  I dearly hope that it will be realsed for platforms other than the iPhone.

    After having seen The Hobbit movie last night, the next movie in the artificial Hobbit movie trilogy is in the same category for me as the next Star Trek movie.  I will want to see them, because I’m highly invested in the stories (especially with The Hobbit, but also to an extent with Star Trek), but I also feel that the essence of the original stories is being desecrated and violated by the filmmakers, and I’m not eager to see more sacrilege.

    Reply
    • John Otte says:
      January 3, 2013 at 1:50 am

      I kind of get what you’re saying about the Hobbit movie. I think my problem with it was more the fact that they tried to force a more “adult” atmosphere on what is, essentially, a children’s story. I’ll be there for Part 2, though, because I did enjoy the first one.
      As for Star Trek, we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. I liked the new take on it. Although personally, I’m still betting that the mystery villain isn’t Khan or some related associate but Gary Mitchell from “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”

      Reply
      • Bainespal says:
        January 3, 2013 at 9:23 am

        We do have to agree to disagree, because out of those two movies, I liked The Hobbit better (or disliked it less).  Both movies suffer from being too goofy, in my opinion.  That is my main problem with The Hobbit.  I particularly disliked the moment when Gandalf stands before the Great Goblin on the wooden bridge, and the Goblin taunts Gandalf by saying “What are you going to do now, Wizard?”  Then Gandalf slashes the Goblin across is flabby belly, and then the goblin holds his belly and says, “That’ll do it.”  To me, that scene was disgraceful, and it betrayed the theme of the seriousness of war against orcs that had been expressed earlier in the flashback to Thror’s battle with Azog.
         
        The 2009 Star Trek movie has the same problem with goofiness, but I also think its changes to the storyline are unpardonable.  If they wanted to make a new Star Trek movie, they could just set it at any time in the future.  The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager all take place within a relatively small span of years — those three series even overlap.  It’s not like the Mayan Apocalypse ended up happening in 2512.  Instead, they had to go back and re-tell Captain Kirk’s story, altering the timeline so that none of the TV series that we know and love are now “canonical” according to the new timeline.  The fact that they have a science fictional device to explain the altered timeline only makes it worse.  It seems very disrespectful to me.

        Reply
      • E. Stephen Burnett says:
        January 3, 2013 at 10:10 am

        I particularly disliked the moment when Gandalf stands before the Great Goblin on the wooden bridge, and the Goblin taunts Gandalf by saying “What are you going to do now, Wizard?”  Then Gandalf slashes the Goblin across is flabby belly, and then the goblin holds his belly and says, “That’ll do it.”

        I could have done without that, but I must admit, I laughed.

        And we even more must admit that The Hobbit book included moments like these! In that case, our argument is what Tolkien for being silly, not the film.

        To me, that scene was disgraceful, and it betrayed the theme of the seriousness of war against orcs that had been expressed earlier in the flashback to Thror’s battle with Azog.

        It helps that orcs and goblins are separate species, something the film could have brought out more (at least with a quick reference).

        Oddly, most people didn’t like the Azog subplot. I thought it was just fine.

        Either way, with the film’s high challenge of both adapting the book, with all its oddly idiosyncratic moments and whimsical fairy-tale elements (talking troll purse!) and keeping in mind Tolkien’s later expansions and the existing The Lord of the Rings books and films, I thought the film struck an exquisite balance.

        A few thoughts on Star Trek …

        If they wanted to make a new Star Trek movie, they could just set it at any time in the future.  The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and Voyager all take place within a relatively small span of years — those three series even overlap.

        True. But those series aren’t as recognizable. We must admit, too, that a main purpose of rebooting the series is name recognition. “Mr. Plinkett,” in his excellent (though frequently foul-mouthed and crude) overview of the Star Trek reboot, explains the marketing concept: tapping into Name Recognition above all else, to cut through the media fog of not only other movies but TV, internet, smartphones, music everything else, with an Oh yes, I remember that. (This is also why we keep getting stupid cartoon-characters-in-the-“real-world” movies, along with the shlock that is flagrantly “based” on board games.)

        Instead, they had to go back and re-tell Captain Kirk’s story, altering the timeline so that none of the TV series that we know and love are now “canonical” according to the new timeline.

        This is the most ironic and amusing fact of the whole “reboot” deal — only one existing Star Trek series was left un-rebooted. Can you guess which one? Hint 1: you didn’t mention it above. Hint 2: its captain’s dog was mentioned in the film.

        Reply
        • John Otte says:
          January 3, 2013 at 2:11 pm

          I have to agree with Stephen on this one. I too was a little upset with the fact that they took a buzzsaw to canon and shredded a lot of it (I mean, come on, they destroyed Vulcan, fer cryin’ out loud!). But then, once I realized that this was an alternate timeline, I was actually okay with it.
          I think Stephen hit it on the head (or rather, Mr. Plinkett did). Who would come to a Star Trek movie set 100+ years after Voyager? Or in the time of Enterprise (the aforementioned still canonical TV series Stephen mentioned)? Not many. Sure, there’d be a few lookie-loos because of J. J. Abrams’s name, but it wouldn’t draw as well as it did. And that’s because when people think Star Trek, they don’t think Picard or Odo or the Doctor (not Who, obviously, the EMH). They think Kirk and Spock and McCoy. Without them, to most folks, it’s not Star Trek.
          I guess why I’m okay with this is because it’s a way to see new stories with the original crew. Some things will stay sort of the same (i.e. Kirk cheating on the Kobayashi Maru). Others will shock us. That’s why I’m really hoping that the next movie is not some sort of re-telling of The Wrath of Khan. We already have that one and it’s held up well. Let the story be a new one!
          But again, I know, we’ll have to agree to disagree. And I’m okay with that too.

          Reply
          • Bainespal says:
            January 3, 2013 at 11:41 pm

            And that’s because when people think Star Trek, they don’t think Picard or Odo or the Doctor (not Who, obviously, the EMH). They think Kirk and Spock and McCoy. Without them, to most folks, it’s not Star Trek.

            I understand this mentally, but I don’t relate to it.  I’m too young, I guess.  I respect the Original Series, but for me, the go-to standard Star Trek is TNG.  For me, Star Trek‘s glory day’s weren’t as long ago.  Maybe that’s why it’s harder for me to accept a “reboot.”
             

            That’s why I’m really hoping that the next movie is not some sort of re-telling of The Wrath of Khan.

            Agreed.  I think a re-telling of The Wrath of Khan would be boring, because we already know the story.  Then again, it might be aggravating, because we don’t (or at least, people like me don’t) want them to mess with the story too much.
             
            John, Stephen, thank you both for the discussion.

            Reply
        • Bainespal says:
          January 3, 2013 at 11:34 pm

          And we even more must admit that The Hobbit book included moments like these! In that case, our argument is what Tolkien for being silly, not the film.

          I know that Tolkien included silliness and comic relief, but I don’t think that moments like that horrible travesty with the Great Goblin are anything like Tolkien’s wonder-based jovialness.  Earlier on, the movie did well incorporating some of Tolkien’s own comic relief, such as the legend of the origin of golf.  I’m even willing to accept the shield-skating and dwarf-tossing from the LotR movies as close enough to the spirit of jovial comic relief.  However, the goblin liposuction is too much.  Tolkien is never crude.  I also don’t think that Tolkien would have made fun of the act of killing anything, even a goblin.  Killing goblins may be necessary, good, and honorable, but it should never be fun or cute.  The thing that really made me mad was that the movie expresses this very theme explicitly, when Fili and Kili were trying to scare Bilbo by telling him about goblin raids.  Thorin came over and scolded them, and then the scene cut to the battle that lead to Thror’s death.  This built up a theme about the grimness of war, and this theme was explicitly betrayed with that horrible moment with the Great Goblin.
           

          Oddly, most people didn’t like the Azog subplot. I thought it was just fine.

          I agree.  We’ll never know, but maybe the auidence would have received this subplot better if its foundation had not been overthrown by the betrayal of theme of war being serious.
           

          This is the most ironic and amusing fact of the whole “reboot” deal — only one existing Star Trek series was left un-rebooted. Can you guess which one? Hint 1: you didn’t mention it above. Hint 2: its captain’s dog was mentioned in the film.

          The only one left that I know of is Enterprise.  But you are a far better Trekkie than I am.  I should admit that I haven’t seen enough of Voyager to count for anything (only vague memories from my childhood), and that I’ve only recently begun watching Deep Space 9.  I’ve never seen anything from Enterprise.

          Reply
          • E. Stephen Burnett says:
            January 4, 2013 at 9:21 am

            I also don’t think that Tolkien would have made fun of the act of killing anything, even a goblin.  Killing goblins may be necessary, good, and honorable, but it should never be fun or cute.

            Ordinarily I would agree, especially given his own portrayals of war’s horrors, and clear grounding of this truth in his own background. But then there’s this, a startlingly “modern,” even video-game-esque touch, which if I hadn’t read the books I would have assumed the films added:

            Suddenly there was a great shout, and down from the Dike came those who had been driven back into the Deep. There came Gamling the Old, and Eomer son of Eomund, and beside them walked Gimli the dwarf. He had no helm, and about his head was a linen band stained with blood; but his voice was loud and strong.

            “Forty-two, Master Legolas!” he cried. “Alas! My axe is notched: the forty-second had an iron collar on his neck. How is it with you?”

            “You have passed my score by one,” answered Legolas. “But I do not grudge you the game, so glad am I to see you on your legs!”

            — from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

            By the way, this is Speculative Faith comment number 8,000. 😀

            Reply
  6. Alassiel says:
    January 2, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    A month ago I would have said the second Hobbit movie, but after seeing this one my excitement is somewhat diminished. So I’ll have to say Andrew Peterson’s The Warden and the Wolf King, which I very much hope will come out in the next year even though the date hasn’t actually been released yet.

    Reply
  7. Galadriel says:
    January 2, 2013 at 6:23 pm

    The new Hobbit movie, Dragonwitch by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, and the year of Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary and all associated celebrations

    Reply
    • Lauren says:
      January 2, 2013 at 10:40 pm

      I’ll second Dragonwitch! I’m on the edge of my seat for it!!!

      Reply
    • Alassiel says:
      January 3, 2013 at 1:21 pm

      I forgot to mention Doctor Who! Then again, I probably won’t see much of this year’s material until it comes out on Netflix, which will most likely be next year. Oh well, I look forward to seeing the episodes of season 7 that have already aired whenever Netflix gets them.

      Reply
  8. Kessie/NetRaptor says:
    January 2, 2013 at 6:41 pm

    I LOVED the Hobbit movie. But since I’ve already seen it, it doesn’t count for this question.
     
    Hmm. I’m looking forward to the rest of Grimm, and Doctor Who season 7 now that the new companion has come along.
     
    For books: I’m planning to read everything by Anne Elizabeth Stengl, since I’ve been remiss with her series. Also I’m going to reread all the Temeraire books and catch up on the latest book, which I’ve not read yet. Also I want to read a bunch of popular stuff I’ve heard of but not read, like Percy Jackson or I Am Number 4. Or 9 or whatever number he was.
     
    Also I want to read some Philip K. Dick, since I’ve enjoyed every movie that’s been based on one of his stories. I feel like he’s getting to be the 7 degrees of separation guy–this movie was inspired by this book dedicated to Philip K. Dick.

    Reply
  9. John Otte says:
    January 3, 2013 at 1:52 am

    So is anyone else looking forward to Pacific Rim? I know it looks like a large, loud mess, but I think that’s what will make it fun. Although I still think they made a mistake by hiring the same voice actress as GLaDOS (with the same vocal effects and sing-songy tone) to do the computer for the movie.

    Reply
    • D.M. Dutcher says:
      January 4, 2013 at 3:07 am

      American Kaiju movies have a really bad track record, so I’m kind of concerned. Cautiously optimistic, though I wonder why they didn’t just take an anime and make a movie based on it. If you like the idea though John, you should check out the 1990’s Gamera movies. They’re some of the best giant monster movies ever made.

      Reply
  10. E. Stephen Burnett says:
    January 3, 2013 at 10:13 am

    In chronological (I think), not priority, order of expected films:

    1. Iron Man 3.
    2. Star Trek: Into Darkness.
    3. Man of Steel.
    4. Thor: The Dark World.
    5. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

    Also, I just learned that Kerry Nietz has a new novel releasing in February: Mask. I have no clue what it’s about, but after The DarkTrench Saga I will keeping buying this man’s books.

    Reply
    • John Otte says:
      January 3, 2013 at 2:12 pm

      That’s a good list!
      Is it bad if I say I’m looking forward to the publication of two more of my books? Namely Failstate: Legends in the spring and Numb in the fall? Is that too self-serving?
      You know what, forget I said anything. 😉

      Reply
  11. ionaofavalon says:
    January 3, 2013 at 10:51 am

    I forgot about Thor! The design for the dark elves is most interesting. I just hope they keep the same tone as the last one, I liked the chivalry on the part of Thor and the Warriors Three (plus Sif of course!) But then I’m a sucker for Chivalry.

    Reply

What do you think? Cancel reply

Lorehaven magazine, spring 2020

Wear the wonder:
Get exclusive shirts and beyond

Listen to Lorehaven’s podcast

Authors and publishers:
Reach new fans with Lorehaven

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.
Website · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter