by John Ottinger III
An Early Attraction
My father always valued reading. To him, a book in hand was as good as gold. He most valued the classics, or works of history or biography. My own love was for works of science fiction and fantasy. I dreamed of other worlds. My father understood this, but also wanted me to read in a more well-rounded fashion.
After some few years of trying to convince me to get books of a more perceived value out of the library, my father accepted that I had fallen in love with a genre of fiction that he did not enjoy, nor even understood. However, in his love for me, his eldest son, he did what he could. Fearing I might fall into the trap of swallowing some of the lies he believed were subtly taught in such fiction, he, on a Christmas morning, presented me with a book by Stephen Lawhead titled The Paradise War. It was the first book in The Song of Albion series, a Celtic myth-based work by a Christian writer. My father thought that if I must read fantasy, I might as well read fantasy by a man of faith.
At first, I put the book on my shelf, thinking this was another ploy by my father to get me to stop reading fantasy. I had already developed my distaste for works of fiction by Christians, not yet knowing that The Chronicles of Narnia my father once read to me at night were by a man of deep faith; or that The Hobbit, another favorite tale for bedside reading, was the creation of a man who would not separate his writing from his worldview.
It took some time, but after a few months, I had reached a dry spell in my reading. Looking at my shelf of books (all of which were fantasy or science fiction, save a collection of Hardy Boys mysteries) I rediscovered Stephen Lawhead’s novel. Taking it down off of the shelf, I cracked the spine. When I began, it must have been midmorning. I got up only once from my bed (my reading place of choice at the time) for dinner and proceeded to read until I was done with the book at 2 A.M. It was this which launched my life-long search to find authors of Christian faith who write superb fiction.
Beyond Narnia
Most Christians today are familiar with the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. Because of stage and screen, their works and lives have become well-known even by non-readers, and they are appreciated by many who do not share their faith. These men are known entities, authors of such high caliber that their writing prowess is unmistakable and only rarely challenged.
However, there are many accomplished Christian writers of science fiction and fantasy who are not recognized globally or even nationally. While some Christian leaders trumpet how much modern fantasy has been shaped and molded by Christian authors, few can name more than a handful of contemporary, faith-inspired fiction writers. And those in the pews have little knowledge of fantasy or science fiction beyond Lewis and Tolkien. Most people of faith are simply unaware of the wealth of speculative literature available today that both edifies and entertains.
Of course, many Christians write quality fantasy and science fiction today. Both genres, separate but related, serve as excellent vehicles to express the Christian life, teach Christian morality, and communicate an understanding of Christ’s divine nature. After all, Christ used parables to convey the truths of Scripture, truths expounded upon by theologians nearly two millennia later. Narrative provides a vehicle to comprehend truth in ways that cannot necessarily be expressed through logic and reason. This is not to say that theology doesn’t have its place, but story often conveys what reason or persuasion cannot do alone.
The Magic of Fantasy
Through narrative a certain magic occurs, for reason alone cannot explain the world around us, the world God created. G.K Chesterton wrote in “The Ethics of Elfland,” a chapter in his larger book titled Orthodoxy:
“When we are asked why eggs turn into birds or fruits fall in autumn, we must answer exactly as the fairy godmother would answer if Cinderella asked her why mice turned to horses or her clothes fell from her at twelve o’clock. We must answer that it is magic.”
In other words, reason alone cannot explain how God is Three, or why Jesus would sacrifice Himself for us. These are magical things, or what we more often refer to as miraculous.
Indeed, fantasy and science fiction lend themselves to the miraculous. Rules are relative in speculative novels. Ordinary fiction must follow the physics, biology, and harsh truths of the real world. Speculative literature transcends that. The science fiction genre tries to take science to a logical conclusion, or question what already exists. The fantasy genre knows no bounds in what can happen. In it, all things are possible, limited only by the authors’ and readers’ ability to imagine and suspend their disbelief. Because of this, fantasy and science fiction are excellent vehicles for exploring a realm beyond the one we can touch and see.
Karen Hancock, a Christian science fiction and fantasy writer explains how most plots in fantasy mirror Christ’s life. In her online article titled “Why I Read Fantasy,” she writes:
“[The hero] typically begins the story as a menial of unknown parentage (often turning out to be a king’s son) who suddenly comes to realize not only that there is a great battle raging—or about to break out—in his world, but that he has a calling upon his life to fight in it. He also discovers in himself unusual abilities that will be required to win it. After enduring many trials and difficulties (the cross before the crown) the hero and his followers succeed in defeating the evil and delivering the realm. Justice prevails and the rule of good triumphs, as will eventually occur in our own world.”
A Word of Caution
While science fiction and fantasy offer many positives, there are dangers in the genre. Science fiction tends to laud the human endeavor above all things. Humanity triumphs most often, and religion, if included, is usually for outdated or Amish-like people groups and planets. Fantasy, while including miracles (i.e. magic), tends to also give more credence to the heroism of the man or woman rather than to the help given by an Aslan. Popular fantasies usually are polytheistic as well. In these works, religion is sometimes used to convey teachings or philosophies antagonistic to the Christian faith; and matters of faith are even ridiculed and reviled in the writings of some authors like Phillip Pullman or Robert A. Heinlein.
Authors may use these genres as political or religious tools as well, attempting to subtly sway the reader to their own point-of-view. Terry Goodkind, for example, in The Sword of Truth series, seems to use his multi-volume work as a persuasive essay on the merits of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism. Science fiction writer, L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology. Some say that the Harry Potter novels give credence to the Wiccan religion.
However, speculative novels can be used less as a persuasive tool and more as an informative or challenging one. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, was a treatise on the evils of a totalitarian state that controls free speech. Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld novels, uses fantasy to satirize politics, culture, and religiosity. The Giver by Lois Lowry, popular reading in junior high English classes, challenges the general belief in the inherent goodness of a utopian society. Fantasy and science fiction, like any genre of fiction, can be used to preach to the choir or challenge the unthinking.
Christians in Fantasy
Christians have a role in reclaiming this small corner of the culture at large for God. John Bunyan used a fantasy, Pilgrim’s Progress, to teach the world how difficult the Christian life can be, but also how great the rewards are at the end of the long journey. Karen Hancock has written a science fiction novel, Arena, in John Bunyan fashion, to teach a postmodern generation how difficult the Christian walk is and the challenges their generation will face, especially with the resurgence of Gnosticism. Stephen Lawhead uses Celtic mythology to teach the death and resurrection of Christ.
Other authors of fantasy and science fiction take a more subtle approach in teaching lessons from Scripture. L.B. Graham, author of The Binding of the Blade series, has written a five book fantasy series that demonstrate the values of honor and truth, love and heroism. His works are not explicitly Christian or even allegorical, but they teach life lessons that cannot be learned only through hard study, but that are best taught through narrative. Such a method is easily internalized. Donita K. Paul, author of Dragonspell, teaches children the value of friendship and trust. Gilbert Morris, a popular Christian writer of historical novels, has also written fantasy and science fiction novels for teens, including The Seven Sleepers Series and The Daystar Voyages (with Dan Meeks) teaching similar life lessons. Jeffrey Overstreet has garnered acclaim even outside Christian circles for his tales of the Auralia Thread, which are as literary as they are fantastic.
These authors are not writing fiction for indoctrination purposes. Wayne Thomas Batson, author of The Door Within Trilogy, in an interview with The Sword Review online fiction magazine in January 2007, explained the call these authors feel:
“Like anything a Christian puts his/her hand to, Fantasy Fiction is an artistic expression. Just as someone could craft a unique piece of furniture or a beautiful painting, writers can write fantasy… But when you craft a fantasy story, you build a world, you create the rules, the races, the laws that govern what is possible. We yearn to create because we are made in His image.”
Christian authors know the value of narrative, and they have seen the allure of fantasy for a postmodern generation. We should, as fellow Christians, be encouraging and supporting these works even if, as in the case of Kameron M. Franklin’s book The Maiden of Pain, they are writing books not even explicitly or allegorically Christian. This book is written as part of the popular Forgotten Realms setting of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. Although it is a novel too upsetting for children, its explorations into the meaning of pain can shed a greater light on the depth of the suffering of Jesus at the cross for the adult reader.
In reading the works of authors whose worldview is Christian, we not only learn a bit about ourselves, but the non-Christian who picks up their works might learn of the beauty of Christ. Fantasy and science fiction, then, should not become mere evangelistic tools, but should help unbelievers move closer toward an understanding of their need for Christ.
A Call to Action
In this postmodern generation, children and adults love to read fantasy and science fiction. The popularity of the Harry Potter books and Eragon by Christopher Paolini show that the fan base for fantasy is large and growing. The popularity of even more recent books like The Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan or the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan show how fantasy has permeated into young adult fiction. Children, and increasingly adults, can be found curled up on the couch with a fantasy work. It is time that Christians embrace this genre as one of the Lord’s many wondrous creations, rather than revile it because we are afraid to seem to condone magic.
Gene Edward Veith, in an online article for the Christian Research Institute titled “Good Fantasy and Bad Fantasy,” claims that the problem is not fantasy itself but “crossing away from fantasy, what the reader knows to be imaginary, into the actual world, what the reader believes to be real.” And that fantasy may be needed “to awaken people’s imaginations to longing, beauty, moral heroism, and transcendent ideals.” Therefore we must not abandon this realm of literature to those who would subvert it, cheapen it, or use it to make a mockery of the Savior. We must instead claim it as part of God’s created order, another way of glorifying the Almighty.
Through fantasy and science fiction I learned the values of honor, justice, friendship, and love in ways that no theology could teach me. They were made intimate and personal, as my intellect and emotions rode on those of the characters whose stories I followed. If Christians write works of these genres, then perhaps society at large will learn what those values truly mean, rather than the twisted versions of our postmodern culture.
© 2010 John Ottinger III
This original guest column was written for Residential Aliens.
[Ed. Note: Another guest column that touches on this subject is R. L. Copple’s editorial, “Fantasy and Christianity,” which appeared in the December, 2008 issue of Residential Aliens.]
[...] guest column “On Christian Fantasy: More than Tolkien and Lewis” is now up at the online fiction magazine Resident Aliens. The intended audience is Christians and [...]
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[...] Columnist John Ottinger discusses Christian Fantasy at Residential [...]
[...] a very thought-provoking exploration concerning Christianity and Fantasy by John Ottinger over at Residential Aliens. The second over at League of Reason is how science fiction gives us the ability to test and [...]
“In reading the works of authors whose worldview is Christian, we not only learn a bit about ourselves, but the non-Christian who picks up their works might learn of the beauty of Christ. Fantasy and science fiction, then, should not become mere evangelistic tools, but should help unbelievers move closer toward an understanding of their need for Christ.”
Such a very very good point! Thank you so much for reminding us
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