An Examination of Christian Science Fiction

Twenty years ago, admitting you were a science fiction or fantasy fan - and a Christian - was akin to admitting you listened to The Rolling Stones on the way home from church when no one was looking. Strict, straight-laced folks squinted, frowned and said grudgingly, "Well…The Chronicles of Narnia is fine, but that George Lucas is a godless Buddhist in disguise, Isaac Asimov is an atheist peddling communism, and don't even get me started on that immoral, womanizing James T. Kirk! And another thing," they'd add in a huff, "aliens. How do you fit aliens into a salvation plan? Did Christ have to die for them too?"

For many years, Christian fans of the genre had limited choices of reading material. Despite the humorous statement above, just like any other source of secular entertainment, science fiction and fantasy can be a delicate mine-field that Christian readers must walk with care, because it is often used as vehicles for humanism, atheism, or evolution - themes most Christians want to avoid. Many times, secular Sci Fi authors have used the genre to push the boundaries of morality; while secular fantasy has sometimes explored elements that parents don't wish to expose their children or themselves to.

For those few Christians who actually admitted they liked sci fi, Luke, lightsabers, unicorns, and the Force, there wasn't a whole lot for us to get into. We had the Narnia series, The Hobbit, Lewis's science fiction trilogy and The Lord of the Rings, and once the original Star Trek faded away, the helm passed to the less promiscuous, (and much better portrayed), Jean-Luc Picard - although Riker often served as a surrogate Kirk - we could enjoy the exploits of the Enterprise with a little cleaner conscience, although the humanistic themes often remained.

As Christian readers have become more demanding about their fiction's quality, the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy genre has come into its own. Today, the genre is populated with several established authors paving new roads while staying true to their faith, such as Kathy Tyers, (Firebird Trilogy, Shivering World), Brian Davis, (Raising Dragons, Eye of the Oracle), Steven Lawhead, (Pendragon Circle), R.K. Mortenson (Langdon Snow Series), Robin Parrish (Relentless), Kathryn Mackel (The Hidden), and Bill Meyers (Threshold, Blood of Heaven); while up and coming authors continue to expand the world of Christian Sci Fi and Fantasy: Sue Dent, (Never Ceese), Peter Dudek (Legends of Arvalast), Robina Williams (Jerome, Angelos), and D. Shane Burton (Orianius Creation Series). Throw in the recent supernatural-thriller slam-dunk by T.L. Hines (Waking Lazarus), and the C.S.I./X-Files inspired Comes A Horseman by Robert Liparulo, and you've got an exciting new world of Christian fiction.

One of the best, most comprehensive places to find these and other works is Edenstar Books and Games, one of the biggest purveyors of Christian-themed science fiction and fantasy works on the Internet. Edenstar was formed in February 2003 by two long-time Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy fans, Bill and Cheryl Bader, out of the frustration that many Christian Sci Fi/Fantasy fans face: the genre is often looked down upon, its titles lumped into "general fiction" or not well-spread among Christian book stores at all. Combining twenty years of research and database experience with website design experience, the Baders have compiled an ever-growing catalogue comprising of 600 or more titles.

At Edenstar, you can find the latest entry into the Langdon Snow series, classics such as the Narnia series, The Lord of the Rings, and Madeleine L'Engle's beloved A Wrinkle In Time series, children-themed books by Gilbert Morris, George MacDonald, and of course Adventures in Odyssey, as well as commentaries on hot topics such as the Harry Potter phenomenon and other works. Edenstar also boasts a healthy assortment of child safe, enriching games.

Now, none of this is to slam the mainstream genre of science fiction in any way - I don't care what anyone says, my shelves will always be stocked with Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series and Robot novels, I'm a rabid fan of Stargate SG - 1, (the good one, with Richard Dean Anderson), and I'm proud to say I own almost all the Star Wars novels, as well as a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Darth Vader my students got for me several years ago (the geek alert is now sounding!). However, as long as there are Christian readers who delight in asking "what-if" and "suspension of disbelief" is their middle name, the Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy genre will continue to grow.

Visit Edenstar today, link to them, tell your friends, and spread the word!