J. Mark Miller | A Writer's Fantasy |

An interesting discussion has been going on across the blogging community the last few days concerning the place of Christian speculative fiction. It’s a topic of particular interest to me as both a writer and a Christian. Nearly everything I write, indeed have ever written, has a spec-fic bent, as well as the vast majority of what I read for pleasure. If you were to grab my Kindle and peruse the contents you would find a few books on theology, ministry, worship, and leadership, and a couple of Bibles. All the other books, I would venture to say over 98%, fall into the broad genre of speculative fiction.

io9.com ran a post wondering “Christian readers demand more science fiction books. Why won’t Christian publishers listen?” The consensus view seems to be that Christians in general really don’t want spec-fic, and so the publishers don’t see enough demand to make pursuing such themes worth their financial while. As referenced by io9, Mike Duran points out the fact that the largest segments of CBA and ABA publishing are romance style novels marketed to Christian women.

I agree with some of the sentiments of both the bloggers and commenters in this situation, pointing out that much of mainline Evangelical Christianity has a phobia about pushing boundaries. As with music, the contemporary book scene remains fairly innocuous, predictable, and safe. Just like churches who have “contemporary music” in their services pat themselves on the back thinking they’ve become edgy, so too are the mainstream Christian publishing houses satisfying themselves with publish fare that would have seemed risqué a decade or more ago, yet causes the average reader to yawn in boredom.

The real edge-walking producers of fiction like Ted Dekker are few and far between. Frank Peretti broke ground nearly 20 years ago, but even he got too weird for the literary palates of most folks. I think those two authors have been successful because their books lean more toward suspense and psychological thrillers and less toward speculative fiction. There’s no denying they have supernatural elements in their stories, but there’s always a chapter verse ability to quote a similar circumstance in the Bible, therefore making the story safe and acceptable.

Like Christian rock, most spec-fic Christian authors are on the fringes of the Christian consciousness, often relegated to an indie status. As Mike Duran pointed out, there’s Christian spec-fic out there, it’s just that most of it is coming from small, independent publishing houses like Marcher Lord Press, or from self-publishing endeavors. The tide seems to be turning a bit, as the Christy Awards have added a new category in the past few years which includes the genre of speculative fiction. I have my questions on why they chose to call the category “Visionary,” but that’s a discussion for another time.

Seeing Jill Williamson’s By Darkness Hid, published by the afore mentioned Marcher Lord Press, as this year’s winner is evidence of the growing acceptance of spec-fic among Christians, and of indie publishing in general. Another winner, in the Young Adult category, is a fantasy style adventure by Andrew Peterson called North! Or Be Eaten. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the book, as well as the first in the series On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

Stephanie P has an interesting post over on revelife where she makes the case that science fiction and Christianity go hand in hand. Dystopian futures, where mankind seems hopeless make great settings for a story in which true believers can offer hope for the future. Think I’m wrong? Remember the frenzy over Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins’ Left Behind series. Whatever your eschatological bent, those books were pure speculative fiction, a view into a dystopian future progressing toward utopia via the supernatural power of the Biblical God. The only difference was the majority of people who bought and read those books really believe such a day is coming, though the particulars may look different than Left Behind’s portrayal.

Let’s not forget the wide acceptance of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. Widely read and beloved, they stand at the pinnacle of Christian fantasy alongside The Lord of the Rings. Though Tolkien did not try to be allegorical in his epic—indeed he criticized his friend Lewis for doing so with Narnia—there’s no denial his Catholic worldview is shining through on every page. I’ve said it here before, but when people at my church find out I’m a writer and then subsequently find out I’m writing primarily fantasy, they give me strange looks. This is always funny from people I know for a fact have seen Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter movies, not to mention a fairly large sample of church members who’ve taken their young daughters to see Twilight.

There are those Christians who take a stand against any and all things that have even the slightest hint of magic in them, citing Scriptures against consorting with enchanters, wizards, familiar spirits, and necromancers (most notably Deut. 18:9-14). For those who want to take that road, thinking it better to be strict in their interpretation and application of the Bible, that’s fine. For me, I see a big distinction between consorting with such things in real life, and reading a work of fiction.

Here is where Christian fiction writers can make huge inroads into the core philosophy of spec-fic. In my own works, I very often have what might be classified as wizards, but I always consider the source of their power. Like Tolkien’s Gandalf, the power of those working good comes directly from Erú, the one and only God of the the Middle Earth universe, a clear analog of the God of the Bible. Those who work evil, their powers come from evil. How is this any different than what we read in the Bible? On the surface, the likes of Moses (parting the Red Sea), Elijah (calling fire from heaven), and even Peter (raising the dead) could be called wizards. The reason they’re called prophets and apostles is due to the source of the power, and their calling to be servants of God.

Christian writers can bring the same worldview into their own stories, weaving their plot and structure in such a way to make their worlds no less fantastic than Rowling’s, Edding’s, Jordan’s, or any other fantasy writer you want to name.

To the other spec-fic writers out there who happen to be Christians, write on, there’s a world waiting to read the adventures God has placed in your imagination.

I you’re a Twilight fan, and you’ve ever made fun of your friendly neighborhood fantasy/science fiction lover, you owe them a sincere apology.

Seriously.

I’m about to jump in a car and be out of pocket for the next two day, but I thought I’d throw this little bit of info up before I go.

The first draft of my second novel, Rise of the Sun King, is complete.

Now it’s time to rewrite.

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In the “so good I wish I had thought of it” category, is The Long Price Quartet by Daniel Abraham. Don’t think of this as a book review as much as a recommendation. I don’t really enjoy writing book reviews that much.

The magic system he’s created in the Long Price Quartet is unique, but one of the best parts of the story is how his use of magic never feels like magic. I’m not even sure it should be called magic.

Essentially, there is an order of men called poets who dedicate their lives to binding abstract concepts (called andat) such as Stone-Made-Soft, or Removing-That-Which-Continues into concrete beings in human form. Think of it as something akin to harnessing the power of a powerful, yet limited deity, subject to your will and desires. These poets serve the remnants of the Second Empire, an loose collection of city-states ruled by royal families called the Khaiem.

There’s the lightest touch of steampunk elements to in the story, but not enough to concern you if that kind of thing turns you off.

What I enjoyed the most was the feeling of reading about the real people dealing with real situations. How does it differ from any another story in that regard? Simply put, there’s not exactly a good guy or bad guy in these books. Every character you meet is flawed deeply as a person, and you are swept along as they struggle to make the best choices they can just like you and me. You get to follow the lives of two young men across three generations of time as they seek to make a better world, end up breaking that world, and are forced to deal with the regret and consequences of their actions as they strive to find a solution to their ills.

I loved the Far East feel to the culture of the Khaiem lands. There’s an elegance and beauty there which makes you empathize with the decisions they make, even when it’s the wrong one.

The second book of the series was a little slow, and in the end it didn’t progress the story nearly as much as the other three volumes. That being said, it was hardly ever boring if you’re a fan of fantasy with an epic touch.

I highly recommend you pick up The Long Price Quartet.

Yeah, this post is off-the-cuff, out-of-the-blue, and out-of-context.

I find it rather ironic the built-in spell checker on my MacBook fails to recognize a word it suggested to me as a synonym.

I also find it offensively ironic when I meet people who give me funny looks when I say I write fantasy novels, and yet they list Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Chronicles of Narnia among their favorite movies. Not really trying to compare myself to those authors, but I just want to scream, “It’s weirdos like me who make movies like that possible!”

Ok, back to writing…

Last night my wife and I took our kids down to a small local bookstore to attend a stop along author Bryan Davis’s book tour. We had never heard of him until just a few weeks ago when we learned he was coming to town. We found his first novel and my two older children have since read and enjoyed it.

I’ll be honest, it’s a little embarrassing that I, as an aspiring author, have never been to a book tour or book signing before. I think I can chalk most of it up to inattention or lack of opportunity, but I won’t be able to use those excuses in the future.

What I appreciated most about Mr. Davis was his lecture on fantasy and heroism in literature. He weaved examples from Lord of the Rings and his own writing with his struggles to become a published author. Most of the crowd last night consisted of homeschooled children, some of whom were there as aspiring authors and not simply fans.

I know not every author has the kind of time or the financial ability to go on tour like this, but I can’t help but think about what a boon it is to not only his own career, but to the lives he touches at each stop along the way. Personally, I was inspired to hear how someone else’s publishing dreams came true. His visit gave me hope that I too could one day see my books on shelves across the country.

The first three chapters of Brent Weeks latest work in progress, The Black Prism, has been posted on the Orbit website.

I haven’t read it yet, but I plan to as soon as I can. I enjoyed his debut Night Angel Trilogy a great deal, and expect this novel will be just as fun and creative.

Click HERE to start reading.

Kudos and major hat tip to Aidan at A Dribble of Ink for the heads up.

PS: Is it just me, or does the cover model look like Ares from the Kevin Sorbo Hercules series?

I’ll admit it, I’m turning into a Brandon Sanderson fanboy. Can you be a fanboy of someone younger than yourself?

I’m really looking forward to the release of the first book in his newest series, The Way of Kings. You’ve probably already seen the beautiful cover art by Michael Whelan bandied about the interwebs, but have you read Sanderson’s own blog about the series.

Here’s a link. Go read it and then come back here.

Did you catch that? Thirty stinkin’ magic systems!

This story is going to be huge. Even though he says it’s not meant to be a replacement for The Wheel of Time, it sure does sound like it’s going to share many of the same qualities. I love that he’s taking the risk to write a huge story without guarantee of further contract or sales. Of course, if it does flop for some reason, I won’t doubt he’ll set it aside in lieu of other money-making endeavors.

I don’t foresee it flopping, do you?

Sanderson is still a young writer, and everything I’ve read from him so far have been better than what’s come before.

Here’s looking at many more years of quality from this young man.

I plan to start giving you a review of what I’ve been reading on Thursday of each week. For now, let’s play a little catch-up and see what I’ve read so far in 2010.

The Ghost King by R.A. Salvatore

Ugh. This is a hard one to write. I admit I’m a big fan of R.A. Salvatore’s Drizzt books, but I find myself a little disappointed in the Transitions trilogy. I know Salvatore is somewhat constrained by the powers that be at Wizards, but it seems to me the three books were somewhat lacking in purpose. Sure, the books are serving as a bridge to novel readers to the changes imposed on Toril by the newest edition of AD&D rules, but that’s no excuse to not have a plot beyond killing of beloved characters in spectacular ways.

Plus, I have a heavy prejudice against zombies and undead creatures in general. I think they’re really dumb plot devices. That’s just my opinion, and in light of many currently popular books, I suspect many readers don’t feel the same.

At least The Ghost King seemed to have more purpose than the two preceding volumes. The Orc King seemed to just reinforce the new status quo of the uneasy truce between Oubold’s orcs and Mithril Hall, but did offer small glimpses of the future. The Pirate King just turned the already shady Luskan into an even seedier parody of itself. Neither story really seemed to advance the story of the Companions of the Hall and their place within it.

The Ghost King finally gave us a firsthand look at what the Spellplague was doing to the magic users of Toril, and a small glimpse into the shakeup of the pantheon. In the end, I was left feeling a little cheated, and not just because of the death of Cattie-brie, Regis, and Cadderly. Drizzt may have become the star of the stories, but I fear for the franchise now that two of the Companions are dead, and another is in self-imposed exile (Wulfgar).

I hope Salvatore’s got something exciting and innovative up his sleeve.

Empire in Black and Gold by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I loved this one, and can’t wait to get into the next two volumes of the series. As with all good fantasy, the world Tchaikovsky has crafted is at once both strange and familiar. Though it took me a little getting into, I really think the idea of insect kinden—different strains of humans who’ve retained insect-like characteristics and abilities throughout their evolution—worked well. This is also the first book I’ve ever read which has true steampunk elements woven throughout the story. The balance between the revolutionary industrial machine and the fantastic was just right.

Empire in Black and Gold is gritty and realistic. The characters on both sides of the epic struggle are solid, and you get a real sense of their humanity. Real-world issues are confronted and dealt with in a blunt manner. Slavery, ethnic cleansing, racism, class envy/warfare, insurrection, politics, survival, coming of age, technology, mythology, they’re all there. You nearly feel like you’re reading a first-hand account of Hilter’s march across Europe, only set on a different world.

The war’s just getting started, and I’m hopeful the next two volumes will be just a rich as the first.

Bauchelain and Korbal Broach by Steven Erikson

This is a very solid collection of three short stories from Erikson set in the same world as his epic Malazan Book of the Fallen series. We get to look into the warped lives of two of the most powerful individuals on the planet, Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. The first story, Blood Follows, shows us how Emancipor Reese came to be Bauchelain’s manservant, and just how twisted and (a)morally depraved the pair of necromancers are.

You get a real sense over the course of the three stories that the world should be thankful the two, most especially Bauchelain, seem to be content to travel the world in search of knowledge and new experiences. Hints of the power at Bauchelain’s disposal, particularly in the third story, The Healthy Dead, lead me to believe he could hold his own against the likes of Tayschrenn, or maybe even Anomander Rake.

As a side note, the biting political/religious/ethical commentary provided by Bauchelain in The Healthy Dead is some of most brilliant prose I’ve ever read.

The three stories are not for the faint of heart, as Erikson lets the characters revel in their moral neutrality. If you thought the world of Malazan was dark, wait until you ride alongside Emancipor Reese and his employers. I dare you not to shudder.

The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

I was right. Giving Brandon Sanderson the helm of Jordan’s Wheel of Time series did nothing but make it better. I’m not trying to bash Jordan. Nothing could ever take away the fact that the story, plot, convolutions, characters, and creativity were all originally his. Like many readers, I had to try three times to get into the series because of how ponderous the writing was from the very outset. Admittedly, once I forced myself through the first half of Eye of the World I was hooked. As will all series, there were ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses.

What it comes down to, for me at least, is that I think Sanderson is simply a superior writer. Jordan was a fantastic story-weaver, but his writing never seemed to flow for me. I have a hard time saying this, being an aspiring writer myself. I know just how hard the creative process can be, and Jordan was a master at crafting a story.

I think Sanderson did a masterful job of continuing the feel of the series. Though differences in writing style are readily apparent, every character sounded the same as they always had in my imagination. There were never any jarring differences between what Jordan had created and what Sanderson continued. I can’t imagine the amount of care that was put into writing The Gathering Storm.

Sanderson has completely reenergized the series for me, and I eagerly await the next volume.

Crystal Rain by Tobias S. Buckell

Here’s a book where the aspiring author in me won an internal debate, and I’m glad for it. I’ve had Buckell’s books on my to-be-read list for a while, and finally got around to them. After the first few chapters, I seriously considered giving up and moving on to another author. The story was slow, and just not working for me. I wasn’t connecting with the characters, and had my doubts about the story going anywhere.

Something inside me told me to give it the same chance I hope agents, editors, and readers will one day give me. I stuck with it and found a very interesting story. While fairly straightforward, Crystal Rain hints at a much larger universe and a greater struggle that plagued mankind in the past, and will rear its ugly head again soon.

As an aside, I can’t tell you how many times I felt like I was reading something set in Sandra McDonald’s universe from The Outback Stars. I thought it was pretty neat then when I read in Buckell’s acknowledgements a thanks to one of his writers groups, of which McDonald is a member.

Like McDonald’s series, I loved the creativity behind basing the book’s culture on something other than modern North American, or ancient Western (Greece/Rome) civilization. The people populating Buckell’s world are of Caribbean stock, no surprise since the author himself grew up in those azure waters. Once you get a grip on the dialect, and the story gets moving, you’re in for a treat.

As far as I can figure from a somewhat spotty memory, here’s my reading record for the year:

• 44 books I consider fantasy
• 31 books I consider science fiction
• 13 non-fiction
• TOTAL: 88

I’ll probably finish another few books in the 10 odd days left in 2009.

Here’s looking forward to 2010.