Is It Time You Read Out of the Silent Planet?

By Karlissa J

Have you read C.S. Lewis’ Cosmic Trilogy?

You may or may not be aware, but today – November 29 – is C.S. Lewis Reading Day.

Clive Staples Lewis has served as an entry point to fantasy for many Christian readers. He is also well-respected for his spiritual teaching. But before he ever wrote The Chronicles of Narnia or Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis pursued the creation of a trilogy in a genre that thrilled him: science fiction. The first book of the trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet, was released in 1938.

Out of the Silent Planet introduces Ransom, a man who finds himself kidnapped and taken on a journey through space to another planet. He escapes his kidnappers and wanders the planet’s wilderness until he encounters a native. Ransom befriends the alien being, and from there, his understanding of the world gradually grows.

I have to admit, this is my kind of story! Exploring an enchanting world, interacting with non-human creatures, and discovering a new language and culture!

Appropriately (or perhaps conveniently), Ransom is a philologist (someone who studies language differences); this provides an excuse for the language barrier to be rather smoothly crossed, and an excuse for Lewis to fixate on unique words and concepts.

Perhaps the lesser fame of this work is, in part, due to the fact that it's not for kids: unlike Narnia, it contains a spattering of mature content, nudity, and mild swearing; nothing obscene, but some Christian readers may find it unexpected. Especially those who assume that Lewis’ fantasy stories were all written for children.

However, if you love fantasy and sci-fi, and want to read more from Lewis, I recommend you pick up Out of the Silent Planet!

Also, if you’re interested in learning more about fantasy novels from Christian authors like C.S. Lewis, you may enjoy my upcoming book, To Narnia and Beyond: Four Christians Who Used Fantasy to Teach Spiritual Truths. You can learn more about it by clicking on the image below!

How Spy x Family Helps My Marriage

By Jason Koop

Let’s get this out of the way, I grew up in a western Evangelical culture.  As such, I was exposed to a lot of the common tropes in the 90s and 00s.  And with the goggles of retrospection on, I can only now start to recognize the waters I was swimming in.

One thing that was abundantly clear:  Fantasy was not for “good, Christian adults”!  It was only something for kids/teens to grow out of once they got older and “more mature”.  A placeholder, not something to hold onto into adulthood – unless you were using it to teach something to children or young teens.

Fantasy… For Grown-Up Christians?

Why, the very idea that any credible adult could have any positive, growing experience from reading stories about a blue hedgehog that runs at super-sonic speeds, spandex and caped crusaders fighting outsized villainy, or a hero with an ancient sword who smashes pottery to find gems?

Preposterous!  Utterly ridiculous!  Up surd!  No, no, no, NO!!!  Real, mature Christian adults can only be instructed with self-help adjacent, study type books.  Everyone knows that!

Well… okay, but why?  Do we lose something as we get older and need everything spelled out for us in order for it to sink in?  And why is it that a freakish number of these “lessons” imparted through many of these “study group” books are ever so quickly forgotten and never fondly remembered?

This year, Karlissa and I are celebrating our tenth anniversary.  And I’m sure it would come as no great surprise to anyone to find out that we have clashed; and still do.  As someone who grew up in Western Evangelical culture – but never really knew the waters I was swimming in – I am surprised at how easily I came up with the expected steps when our relationship struggles.

·         Talk to a pastor/church elder

·         Read a Christian marriage book

·         Listen to Christian marriage “experts” – podcasts, YouTube videos, TikTok, FaceBook, etc.

None of these are particularly appealing to me for a variety of reasons.  Being an introvert. Finding most “Christian” marriage advice to be pretty shallow and mostly a band-aid solution.

But then, I came across something that not only grabbed my attention, but has begun to transform how I see not only my marriage, but my whole family.  Spy x Family.

Not Your Average Spy Story

Written and drawn by Tatsuya Endo, this ongoing manga debuted in 2019.  And, despite Endo having been in the manga game since the year 2000, this was his first work to be published in English.  The premise is as follows…

In a Cold War-esque setting, a spy – code named “Twilight” – is tasked with getting close to reclusive politician Donovan Desmond to hopefully prevent a nuclear war between rival nations Westalis and Ostania.  However, the only way to do so is through his son Damian, and the best way to do so is through the private school that Damian attends.

Therefore, Twilight is tasked with creating his own “family”.  In turn he adopts little girl Anya and marries Yor to be his daughter and wife, respectively.  However, he keeps them all in the dark that he is a spy on a mission. 

Unbeknownst to him, though, both Anya and Yor are keeping secrets from him as well.  Anya is a telepath, and Yor is an assassin.  And thus, all three are trying to play the part of a happy family while keeping significant secrets from each other.

Okay, I know this sounds completely ridiculous.  But really, I think it is all a front for addressing real family life and struggles.

Twilight (going by Loid Forger), is very much a dad.  Equal parts composed, family leader, overworked and worrying that he isn’t doing well as a husband or father – thus compromising his cover – and I find him so relatable.  He works hard, tries to make Anya study to do well in school, and constantly tries to affirm and encourage Yor as a wife, mother and person.

Yor is equal parts deadly competent and completely clueless.  On one hand, her strength, love and resolve enabled her to raise her brother (Yuri) when they were children and has made her into a pillar of comfort and safety to Anya.  On the other hand, her complete lack of cooking skills and social competence often leaves her on the wrong side of cultural expectations.

Anya is childishly naïve, yet somehow more in touch with things than either of her parents.  Because of her telepathy, she not only knows both of their secrets, but picks up on struggles that both try to keep hidden from her.  And yet, she is constantly afraid that if everyone knew each others’ secrets, it would destroy this family and the stability that she desperately needs.

And the story plays this out so superbly.  Amid all the espionage, assassinations, and classroom drama is a family that is trying to find out how to function as a unit, despite their differences and secrets they can’t/won’t tell each other.

Lessons Learned

Now, how has this helped me in my marriage and family life?  This all seems a little too outlandish, you might say, to be even remotely helpful.  However, in this story I have been shown things that stick with me much more than simply being told “do this/do that”.  Lessons like:

·         What sticks with the child is family experiences much more than nice toys/presents

·         While adults aren’t culturally allowed to ask for affirmation, they still need it

·         While we are individuals, we are at our best when we sacrifice for others

·         Miscommunication happens, but it needs to be worked through

·         Raising a healthy child is much more involved than simply checking of a list of needs

And these are all told through entertaining and wildly unrealistic stories that ensure that the lessons will likely linger with me that much longer.

Maybe all of this means that I am not a proper, mature, Christian adult.  But I would like to think that stories like Spy x Family that can teach us something, perhaps in an unexpected way, that will then stay with us much longer than a lecture or spiritualized self-help book.

Fantasy Review: Rewriting Adam by Connie Mae Inglis

Review by Karlissa J

What distance would you travel to finally find a sense of home?

Rewriting Adam by Connie Mae Inglis is the story of a man named Ethan, and how his recent divorce sends him on a quest of soul-searching in Thailand. He doesn’t know how to begin or what to do with himself, but a providential encounter with Janus, and archaeologist, puts him on a path towards facing a ghost, rethinking his past, and setting foot in an alternate, Edenic realm.

From my first read, I was enamoured by the vivid depictions of Thailand and Myanmar. Before the Eden-realm comes into play, we follow Ethan – a Canadian – as he experiences these countries and their cultural differences. When Eden does come into the story, it holds surprises of its own. And there are layers to this novel that stand out the more I’ve read it.

Rewriting Adam generally does a good job of balancing elements of drama, horror, and enchantment. What I would say upon my third reading is that the drama can, in moments, feel overplayed; and the horror aspects could have been more intense and introduced earlier in the novel, considering the important role they play in Ethan’s journey. However, that may be more of my personal preference.

If you expect a fantasy novel to instantly throw you into another world and upon a hero’s quest, the fantastical elements will seem to be introduced too late in the novel. But if you are a lover of sci-fi and fantasy who enjoys stories with more unorthodox pacing, this is a narratively unique and spiritually thoughtful journey worth taking.

Nerding Out on C.S. Lewis

By Karlissa J

Clive Staples Lewis: many Christians have read at least a few of his books, we quote him without hesitation, and we value his writings for leading so many skeptics to accept Christianity. But how much do you actually know about “Jack,” as he preferred to be called?

In researching for To Narnia and Beyond, I discovered so much I hadn’t known or even expected. I collected books, read much, and then strived to select highlights for the Lewis chapters in To Narnia and Beyond.

But maybe you want more! Maybe you’re thinking: “I’m a nerd too, and I want to understand C.S. Lewis better!” If that’s the case, this blog post is for you: here are four books I recommend for nerdy readers wanting to learn more about Lewis!

Book One: GEORGE MACDONALD by C.S. Lewis

Let’s start with a book that Lewis wrote himself! In these 365 quotes from George MacDonald selected by C. S. Lewis, it becomes clearer how MacDonald influenced Lewis' spiritual beliefs. For me, it accomplished Lewis' stated goal: "to spread his [MacDonald's] religious teaching".

MacDonald's teachings in this book focus on subjects like nature, possessions, our relationship with Christ, and obedience to God.

I found it worth having a physical copy to write notes in: there are many insightful reflections worth recalling and meditating on.

Book Two: IMAGES OF SALVATION IN THE FICTION OF C.S. LEWIS by Clyde S. Kilby

A short, helpful aid to contemplating Lewis' fiction. Contains a brief overview of each of Lewis' novels (handy, since I have not read The Pilgrim's Regress and have no intention to), followed by several spiritual themes that can be drawn from the novel's story and characters.

Book Three: THE MEDIEVAL MIND OF C.S. LEWIS by Jason M. Baxter

Baxter invites us into some of C. S. Lewis' philosophies and creative choices by revealing the inspiration behind them: quotes and ideas from Lewis' favourite medieval books are paired with instances when Lewis modeled his writing after them. I felt drawn in to the 'magic' of these classics, as Baxter's writing style is very contemplative and welcoming.

Book Four: PLANET NARNIA by Michael Ward

Ward explores how ancient and Medieval astrology - particularly the concept of seven planetary personalities - shows up repeatedly throughout Lewis' writing. The core thesis is built around the Chronicles of Narnia, but there is plenty here diving into the Space Trilogy and Lewis' academic works and poetry as well.

Planet Narnia is at times quite technical, and one-quarter of the book is notes, bibliography, and indexes. This is the volume for nitty-gritty details, while Jason M. Baxter's The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis provides a more easy-reading introduction to the general topic of Medieval thinking and Medieval astrology/astronomy in Lewis' writing.

Fantasy Review: Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

By Jason Koop

Published in 2001 and written by Brian Jacques, this fantasy novel (which is in fact, the first book of a trilogy) sees its author writing at peak levels. Jacques packs all the charm, lavish descriptions, puzzles and riddles that are hallmarks of his Redwall series to elevate this tale into one of my all-time favourites.

Without going into too much spoilers, a boy and his dog, Neb and Den, take part on an ill-fated voyage upon the ship the Flying Dutchman, which results with the ship, its captain and crew cursed to sail the waters of the earth for all eternity.  Neb and Den are spared this fate by an angel, whom gifts them with eternal youth, among other mercies.

The second part of the story establishes how the two protagonists interact with the world around them, which leads to the third part – which is the bulk of the story.  Our protagonists, now going by Ben and Ned, must help a quiet English village fight back against industrialists which threaten to destroy it in the name of progress.

I know, sounds like something that’s been used to death in fiction, but what makes this one worth experiencing?  Oh… now you’re getting me started.

First of all, I absolutely love how Ben and Ned communicate.  They have a mental connection, and their banter very much befits two friends who have experienced so much together.  They work well together as a team, while remaining two distinct entities.

Second, the protagonists aren’t there to solve the village’s problems single-handed.  Rather, they tend to act as galvanizing forces, encouraging those they interact with to grapple with their problems and solve things by themselves.  I guess another way to describe it would be that Ben and Ned are active participants in helping the villagers, but they aren’t cheat codes that immediately solve everything themselves.

Third, and this one could apply to any of Jacques’ fantasy novels, I absolutely adore the descriptive way Jacques weaves the tale.  Whether it’s on a ship at sea, or at a quiet English village, Jacques weaves such colourful descriptions that it makes it easy for the audience to lose themselves in the locales and action.

Finally, it’s the story’s smallness.  Fantasy has long been marked by its proclivity for the fantastical – hence its name, most likely – and that fantastical-ness knows no bounds.  Fantastical journeys, feats, wars, events, settings, they seemingly know no bounds.

Castaway’s, despite its roaring start, reins things in as soon as the second part for a much slower, smaller tale.  There are no world-ending stakes, no one’s life is in danger (at least as of the third part), and yet… it’s the relatively small scope that makes the story more intimate and cozy.  Like a favourite hoodie, it will keep you hooked until the tale is done, and you will find yourself wanting to slip back into it in short order.

Those who listen to our podcast, or know me personally, should not find it surprising that I absolutely adore this story.  While I’m admittedly a huge fan of Jacques’ Redwall series, this story’s small scope and fun characters makes this a cozy, intimate tale that stands out even when compared to its author’s other works.  It’s what I would call a comfort fantasy of the highest order.

Rating:  2 of 2 eternal best friends

Fantasy Books Part 2

Written by Karlissa J.

Searching for a new fantasy book to read? For this week of highlighting fantasy titles, I’m going to recommend some of the classics! They’ve been published multiple times, with a variety of cover designs, so I came up with my own images for each - a little taste of what I found memorable in these stories!

Phantastes

By George MacDonald. An enchanted journey - through nature and village and palace - filled with delights and dangers, romance and tragedy, and above all, self-discovery. Beautiful, contemplative; I can see how this inspired future authors like C. S. Lewis. A journey to take more slowly.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass

By Lewis Carroll. Rich with word plays, puns, and banter, there's more to these books than what exists in the popular imagination. I've never seen a retelling that features Alice's older sister; yet I'd argue the meaning and purpose of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland hinges on her. Alice herself is fun and quirky, and the short books are easy to read.

Out of the Silent Planet

By C.S. Lewis. The first book in his Cosmic Trilogy.

I have to admit, this is my kind of story! Exploring an enchanting world, interacting with non-human creatures, and discovering a new language and culture! Appropriately (or perhaps conveniently), the main character is a philogist (someone who studies languages); this provides an excuse for the language barrier to be rather smoothly crossed, and an excuse for Lewis to fixate on unique words and concepts.

Perhaps the lesser fame of this work is, in part, due to the fact that it's not for kids: unlike Narnia, it contains a spattering of mature content, nudity, and mild swearing; nothing obscene, but some Christian readers may find it unexpected.

Perelandra

By C.S. Lewis. The second book in his Cosmic Trilogy.

Perelandra contains the adventure and beautiful worldbuilding of Out of the Silent Planet, but this time, it takes a back seat to a myriad of philosophical musings: about the nature of temptation, the definition of gender, the Theory of Evolution, and even why you shouldn't fear bugs. There are a few bizarre plot choices, but C.S. Lewis' imagination and thoughtfulness shine through.

Till We Have Faces

By C.S. Lewis. It's hard to argue with those who call this C.S. Lewis' greatest novel. It feels like an ancient tale brought to life by someone who understood ancient literature and culture; and it contains Lewis' classical mix of masterful storytelling and spiritual musing. Orual is a compelling and complex protagonist. This is a mature story, not designed for a family audience.

Fantasy Books Part 1

Written by Karlissa J.

Searching for a new fantasy book to read? I’ve been reading a lot lately as I research for my upcoming book Christian Fantasy 101, mainly fantasy from Christian authors, but also a few secular works. So I’ve decided to do a series of posts highlighting a variety of fantasy books. Take a look, and you may discover your next reading adventure!

Written by Carrie Anne Noble, The Mermaid’s Sister follows young Clara as she wrestles with the reality that her sister, Maren, is transforming into a mermaid and will soon leave their family to live in the sea. On top of that, getting to the ocean will be no easy feat, and the more Maren transforms, the more desperately she needs the sea to survive.

The story is told in first person, allowing us a deeper glimpse into Clara's emotions as she wrestles with the ever-approaching departure of her sister. There's a romantic angle carried throughout the book, which seemed a little overdone to me, but many readers will probably enjoy that aspect. There are some dark moments and innuendos, meaning the book may not be ideal for children; however, nothing truly gritty or gory. The ending is sweet, and overall, I found the book to be a satisfying read.

The popular fantasy series Warriors follows the lives of wild and feral cats as they defend their borders, hunt for food, build families, and learn loyalty and honour. Written by a team of authors that go by the name Erin Hunter.

The Warriors authors have created an engaging world that feels both perfectly cat-based and very human. Characters meow, flick their tail, hiss, purr, and lick themselves. They also struggle with questions of right and wrong, desire friendship, fall in love, and seek spiritual guidance.

On that note: the cats are ancestor worshippers, and as the series progresses, their world’s spiritual laws are further revealed. I’ve found no mention of God (or gods). Fellow Christians may find this off-putting, but I still believe there are a lot of positives in this series.

This review is for the first three books in the series Tales of Goldstone Wood: Heartless, Veiled Rose, and Moonblood. The author is Anne Elizabeth Stengl.

Princess Una and her brother grow up next to the mysterious Goldstone Wood, daring each other to get as close as possible but never brave enough to enter. They seem a to be a typical girl and boy living in a typical kingdom… unaware of the enchantments and dangers that fill their world.

This series is beautifully written, with a well-developed and magical world. The story follows the journeys of multiple characters, each with their own motivations and personality. The second and third books, Veiled Rose and Moonblood, take place during and build upon the first book, Heartless, taking side characters and turning them into compelling protagonists.

I'm reviewing the first three books of The Sword of the Dragon: The Swords of the Six, Offspring, and Key of Living Fire. The author is Scott Appleton.

A terrible black dragon fights against a prince and his army. Unexpectedly, the prince is betrayed by all but one of his trusted warriors: he and his loyal friend are murdered. The white dragon, an ally to the prince, arrives too late to save him. Years later, the black dragon has since been imprisoned, but the white dragon knows the traitorous warriors must be brought to justice.

Appleton presents us with a fascinating world, described skillfully and vividly - tainted by great violence but overcome by even greater heroes. The core characters are well-crafted and deep, each with their own desires and emotions to drive them. And I enjoyed the inclusion of creatures invented by the author.

Of course, I have to include Tales of the Diversity!

Taking place on an island-covered world filled with diverse races and cultures, the story follows Captain Ctzo in his quest to compile a multi-racial crew, fight pirates, and discover new lands.

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