More on the Lost Genre Guild

Trying to define Christian speculative fiction is sometimes like trying to herd chickens or sweep water, but The Lost Genre Guild has made a strong effort. Take a look at their definition here.

Check out their examples in the left column. They've done a nice job enlarging the boundaries for Christian speculative fiction to include topics I hadn't thought of. How about space opera? Or cyberpunk?

Their list of featured books include some recent offerings that are excellent, such as Shade and Never Ceese. Take a look.

And check out these blogs for more offerings about this helpful website:

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Courtney
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Lost Genre Guild
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Mirtika
Hanna Sandvig
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise

Launching The Lost Genre Guild

The Lost Genre Guild is a group of artists banding together to promote the lost genre of Christian speculative fiction. Take a look at their website.

I love this statement on their website: "Seeing as God monopolized creativity an infinity ago...." The link between God and creativity is often overlooked, even by Christians. How can we limit creativity?

The Lost Genre Guild is seeking to promote Christian speculative fiction.

The Christian Science Fiction/Fantasy group is touring the Lost Genre Guild this week. Take a look at what others have written about this new endeavor:

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Grace Bridges
Valerie Comer
Courtney
Frank Creed
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Andrea Graham
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Timothy Hicks
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Lost Genre Guild
Mike Lynch
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Crista Richey
Mirtika
Hanna Sandvig
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Timothy Wise

Christian horror

Becky Miller has a fascinating discussion about Christian horror here as she's reviewing John Olson's book, Shade. Check it out.

Worthy?

Melchi, the homeless giant in John Olson's thriller, Shade, is a man with no calling other than fighting the Mulo - the mysterious evil ones. Hints of his destiny as the child of prophecy dot the action and Melchi is determined to remain pure to his calling.

After he rescues Hailey, a graduate student being lured by the Mulo, he struggles with something unexpected: he likes her. These thoughts he finds impure. In fact, the story is peppered with his self-condemnation. He is sure at every turn that he has made himself too impure to fight the evil.

He doesn't notice what we notice, that he continues to fight effectively. He is gracious and giving, thoughtful and devoted. He doesn't notice these traits, either, but if he did, I'm sure he would not have recognized them as helpful.

Melchi worships a being that seems to be God. And yet, he doesn't understand God's grace and forgiveness. In fact, we learn that he does think he is following God but doesn't consider himself worthy to even read God's Word.

I found it interesting that Melchi remains true to his early training. He willingly offers his own life to battle evil and yet he doesn't have a complete understanding of God's grace.

How will he defeat evil if he can't even battle his own impure thoughts? Melchi nearly succumbs but you'll have to read the book to get the full picture.

Olson has done a clever job of revealing an issue common in Christian circles today: that of ministering only in our worthiness. Can we truly serve God if we are tempted? If we give in to sinful desires on occasion? Can we even worship if we are not worthy?

Shade is a good book. On one level, it's a great action-filled story. But there's another level of meaning to consider as well.

Check out Shade here and here.

Also see what others are saying about Shade:
Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

A Christian thriller

In the movie, A Beautiful Mind, we were drawn into the world of the brilliant mathematician John Nash, seeing the world through his eyes. We are drawn to his incredible ability to crack codes for the Pentagon and panic when he must flee from Russian gunfire - an unexpected turn in his patriotic duty.

So it's jolting when we learn that Nash has been seeing delusions. His roommate doesn't really exist and there is no code to crack. He's a schizophrenic, unable to tell reality from hallucination.

That same kind of tension opens John Olson's book, Shade. We meet Hailey who is hospitalized after escaping something that doctors are sure was a hallucination. The confusion that Hailey feels - is she delusional or is she recalling reality - blends into the writing style of the book. We feel that same confusion.

We meet Melchi, the giant man who rescued her, and believe he is real. But he struggles with forces and beings that we can't identify. Is he delusional as well? Does he even exist or is he a hallucination? Hailey struggles - and so do we.

Don't read this book if you're trying to put yourself to sleep at night. You'll be fighting off sleep at 2 am to finish the next chapter. It's a good read with lots of adventure and an intriguing look at hallucinations vs. reality.

Check out Olson's book here or here.

Tomorrow we'll discuss the faith journey that guides Melchi and lures Hailey.

Check out what others have to say about the book:

Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Shade by John Olson

I'd like to introduce you to John Olson's thriller, Shade, as we jump on board the Christian Science Fiction/Fantasy November blog tour.

Olson has crafted a fascinating mix of fantasy, faith, mystery and even a dash of romance to produce a book that's hard to put down. It's full of surprises and insights as we follow a mysterious giant devoted to fighting an elusive evil force.

Shade can be found at Amazon by clicking here. You can also visit Olson's website here.

Tomorrow we'll discuss the twists and turns of Shade, including its wild ride through the world of delusions and reality.

Here are others blogging about Shade:
Brandon Barr
Jennifer Bogart
Justin Boyer
Keanan Brand
Kathy Brasby
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Katie Hart
Joleen Howell
Jason Isbell
Jason Joyner
Kait
Magma
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Melissa Meeks
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Eve Nielsen
Nissa
John W. Otte
Steve Rice
Mirtika or Mir's Here
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

Perelandra

We're reading through C.S. Lewis' Perelandra right now. I had assigned this book to my teenagers and discovered quickly that Lewis' writing style was too dense for them. So we switched to me reading it out loud while they draw cartoons. (This method lets me explain some of Lewis' ideas as well.)

Because it had been years since I read Perelandra, I qas reminded quickly of his complex writing style - and of the depth of his story.

Perelandra is science fiction, the story of two British professors who end up on Venus battling for the spiritual foundation of the emerging planet. Lewis has crafted a parallel story to Eve's temptation, where the Lady of Perelandra must decide whether to obey God (called Maleldil on Perelandra) or to take the path of martyrdom, choosing to sacrifice herself for the supposed good of her husband and children.

Of course, the evil tempter twists and weaves stories that sound wonderful while holding an ugly trap.

Our hero, Ransom, first battles verbally and, later, physically trying to maintain the Lady's innocence and God's plan for this new life.

What's fascinated us, as we read, is how Lewis understood so well all the human rationalizations for our decisions. How the tempter tried to deceive the Lady is how we have been deceived many times.

But Lewis always offers a twist, a fresh look at God's work.

My almost 13-year-old son would like to see more action in the story, although he's been riveted lately as Ransom pursues Weston across the floating island and onto the sea. Lewis couldn't resist philosophizing often, but the story is creative and opens the door to some fascinating discussions. It's a must-read.