by Jason Joyner | May 19, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I thought I was done talking about fantasy, but I had a couple more thoughts bouncing around in my brain that needed release.
Why fantasy? It’s not for everyone. My mom always said she had “no imagination”, and had no interest in something like LOTR. However, there are people who crave this sort of thing. Their imagination is so strong that they almost need a whole new world to pour over, to immerse themselves in and become part of it. I can be this way – it’s why I like Star Wars so much. My mind gets so busy that I can be all over the place if I don’t have something to feed it to keep it satisfied.
Why Christian fantasy? First of all, there is a saying that you “feed the good dog”. We have a noble and a base nature. If we feed the base nature, then that is what comes out. It is important that if we need something to feed our imagination, that we make good choices. I’m not advocating having picture perfect fantasy lands that are like a lousy Disney movie, where there is always a happy ending. I want stories that are gripping, that raise questions, that give me meat to chew on mentally through the day. It’s just that books can do all that without having to glorify the base elements of mankind.
Also Christian fantasy can express the mysteries of God in a way that more “realistic” fiction can’t. My feeling is that Western Christianity is like our culture – very rational, logical, and oriented toward lists and details and having a “box” to put everything in. We are scientific – we like to be able to explain things and have it make sense. Well, I don’t know when the last time you read the Bible was, but God doesn’t always make sense. He operates in a realm that is far above our own; He dwells in unfathomable glory, but keeps relationship with His fallen children here on Earth. Western Christianity can try to explain away the mystery and wonder in our faith (whereas our Eastern brethren can readily appreciate them because they live more in tune with the spiritual, but that’s another post :D).
Fantasy can explore and appreciate it because it doesn’t have to make sense. Fantasy operates in a world that is not our own, and doesn’t have to play by our rules. It can then expose us to the transcendental, to the God whose ways are higher than our ways. He is not explained, but He can be experienced in a way that we can get – maybe just a little better than we do now.
by Jason Joyner | May 19, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
I thought I was done talking about fantasy, but I had a couple more thoughts bouncing around in my brain that needed release.
Why fantasy? It’s not for everyone. My mom always said she had “no imagination”, and had no interest in something like LOTR. However, there are people who crave this sort of thing. Their imagination is so strong that they almost need a whole new world to pour over, to immerse themselves in and become part of it. I can be this way – it’s why I like Star Wars so much. My mind gets so busy that I can be all over the place if I don’t have something to feed it to keep it satisfied.
Why Christian fantasy? First of all, there is a saying that you “feed the good dog”. We have a noble and a base nature. If we feed the base nature, then that is what comes out. It is important that if we need something to feed our imagination, that we make good choices. I’m not advocating having picture perfect fantasy lands that are like a lousy Disney movie, where there is always a happy ending. I want stories that are gripping, that raise questions, that give me meat to chew on mentally through the day. It’s just that books can do all that without having to glorify the base elements of mankind.
Also Christian fantasy can express the mysteries of God in a way that more “realistic” fiction can’t. My feeling is that Western Christianity is like our culture – very rational, logical, and oriented toward lists and details and having a “box” to put everything in. We are scientific – we like to be able to explain things and have it make sense. Well, I don’t know when the last time you read the Bible was, but God doesn’t always make sense. He operates in a realm that is far above our own; He dwells in unfathomable glory, but keeps relationship with His fallen children here on Earth. Western Christianity can try to explain away the mystery and wonder in our faith (whereas our Eastern brethren can readily appreciate them because they live more in tune with the spiritual, but that’s another post :D).
Fantasy can explore and appreciate it because it doesn’t have to make sense. Fantasy operates in a world that is not our own, and doesn’t have to play by our rules. It can then expose us to the transcendental, to the God whose ways are higher than our ways. He is not explained, but He can be experienced in a way that we can get – maybe just a little better than we do now.
by Jason Joyner | May 17, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
Today on the Christian Fantasy literature tour, I wanted to talk about Stephen Lawhead (I feel like one of those PBS hosts). He is considered by many to be one of the premier fantasy writers in Christian fiction to be sure. He also has a following outside of the CBA from my understanding.
I read the Song of Albion series around 1998 or so. It starts with The Paradise War, and continues in The Silver Hand and The Endless Knot. It follows the adventures of a graduate student at Oxford who is drawn into a Celtic fantasy land and slowly over time becomes the hero and ultimately, its savior. It is a powerfully written narrative. The first and third books are written in the perspective of the hero Lewis/Llew, while the second book is written from the perspective of the trusted bard Tegid. The first two books really drew me in. I can still recall my own imaginings from these books, 8 years or so later. Unfortunately I found that the third book was more plodding in pace, but in pushing through to the end I was rewarded with the connection evident in all three books that was skillfully woven into the story the whole time.
I’ve read more of Stephen Lawhead’s books, including book one of the Pendragon cycle that chronicles the legend of Arthur (these books would also appeal to the fantasy reader as well). It seems that Lawhead can be spotty – I eagerly jumped into the 2nd of the Pendragon cycle only to really lose steam from the previous narrative. I noticed this pattern in a historical trilogy he wrote as well. However, he remains an excellent fantasy author, and I do recommend the Albion series.
Like I said earlier, I haven’t read much in the genre of fantasy. I don’t know why, as I’ve enjoyed all my forays into them. I really admire those writers of fantasy and science fiction, because it takes so much imagination to conjure up whole worlds and mythologies associated with them. I have trouble enough keeping my own real world plot threads from tangling! I have appreciated being part of the Christian Fantasy tour, and there are several books that have been highlighted through other tour participants that are now on my radar (where I’ll find time to actually read them is another matter). Be sure to check out the other participants listed in the preceeding couple of posts. I noticed one more blog I haven’t linked to so far:
Sharon Hinck’s blog
And we also had Karen Hincock join in with a post (unofficially).
Unless I get any other bright, fantastical ideas, it will be back to normal in the next post. Whatever that means…
by Jason Joyner | May 17, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
Today on the Christian Fantasy literature tour, I wanted to talk about Stephen Lawhead (I feel like one of those PBS hosts). He is considered by many to be one of the premier fantasy writers in Christian fiction to be sure. He also has a following outside of the CBA from my understanding.
I read the Song of Albion series around 1998 or so. It starts with The Paradise War, and continues in The Silver Hand and The Endless Knot. It follows the adventures of a graduate student at Oxford who is drawn into a Celtic fantasy land and slowly over time becomes the hero and ultimately, its savior. It is a powerfully written narrative. The first and third books are written in the perspective of the hero Lewis/Llew, while the second book is written from the perspective of the trusted bard Tegid. The first two books really drew me in. I can still recall my own imaginings from these books, 8 years or so later. Unfortunately I found that the third book was more plodding in pace, but in pushing through to the end I was rewarded with the connection evident in all three books that was skillfully woven into the story the whole time.
I’ve read more of Stephen Lawhead’s books, including book one of the Pendragon cycle that chronicles the legend of Arthur (these books would also appeal to the fantasy reader as well). It seems that Lawhead can be spotty – I eagerly jumped into the 2nd of the Pendragon cycle only to really lose steam from the previous narrative. I noticed this pattern in a historical trilogy he wrote as well. However, he remains an excellent fantasy author, and I do recommend the Albion series.
Like I said earlier, I haven’t read much in the genre of fantasy. I don’t know why, as I’ve enjoyed all my forays into them. I really admire those writers of fantasy and science fiction, because it takes so much imagination to conjure up whole worlds and mythologies associated with them. I have trouble enough keeping my own real world plot threads from tangling! I have appreciated being part of the Christian Fantasy tour, and there are several books that have been highlighted through other tour participants that are now on my radar (where I’ll find time to actually read them is another matter). Be sure to check out the other participants listed in the preceeding couple of posts. I noticed one more blog I haven’t linked to so far:
Sharon Hinck’s blog
And we also had Karen Hincock join in with a post (unofficially).
Unless I get any other bright, fantastical ideas, it will be back to normal in the next post. Whatever that means…
by Jason Joyner | May 16, 2006 | Blog, Uncategorized
The first Christian fantasy book I read as an adult was Oneprince. It was a very gripping tale, with a young prince thrust into the kingship and trying to save his kingdom from darkness. It had talking animals, an amazing escape, and the search for an unlikely ally. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to read the ending!!! Apparently it was meant to be a two or three part story, but it must not have sold enough to justify continuing. So the lousy publisher let people hang out there with a serious cliff-hanger. Boy, it was a good ending. I waited and waited for the next book, seemingly in vain…
The good news is, from the looks of things the version on Amazon has is the “full edition”. I hope to get it some time and finish the adventure I started back in the early 90’s. Has anyone read the full version? I’d like to hear from you if you have!
Looks like we have a couple of new additions to the tour:
The Jerkrenak’s Den (of course!)
Jim Black
I can’t believe I didn’t highlight Becky Miller’s blog (although I did link there)
Becky Miller’s A Christian Worldview of Fiction
Megawriter
LaShaunda’s See You on the Net
Tomorrow I will look at a prolific writer in the fantasy genre.
