Episode 57 - "To Narnia and Beyond" Preview!

May 21, 2026 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors, Sneak Peek

A peek inside To Narnia and Beyond!

What if fantasy stories hold spiritual insights that can be your pathway to a deeper faith? This brief, approachable guide invites readers into the major fantasy works of four writers of great fantasy: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, and Madeleine L’Engle. They all share in the distinction of being outspoken about their Christian faith, as well as having written stories of fantasy that have endured and inspired generations.

Whether you are discovering these authors and their works for the first time or are a fan seeking fresh insight, To Narnia and Beyond presents spiritual themes, historical background, and scholarly analysis in an accessible manner.

Learn more about the book: https://www.book-bat.com/nonfiction

Episode 50 - To Narnia and Beyond

November 20, 2025 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors, Sneak Peek, Author Insights

Karlissa J’s latest book, To Narnia and Beyond, comes out next year! In this episode, she talks about the inspiration behind the book, her research process, and how she hopes readers will be inspired to pick up more classic works of fantasy!

To Narnia and Beyond explores the fantasy novels of George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L’Engle.

More about To Narnia and Beyond: book-bat.com/nonfiction

Publisher’s website: siretona.com

Preordering and Release: To Narnia and Beyond will be released in 2026; stay tuned to hear when it becomes available for preorder!

Episode 45 - War of the Rohirrim Review

June 19, 2025 by Karlissa Koop in Thoughts on Fantasy, Classic Novels & Authors

Last year, a Lord of the Rings movie was released that garnered little attention. We give our review of The War of the Rohirrim, along with thoughts on Tolkien-esque storytelling, Japanese perspective, spiritual themes in Tolkien’s books, and what people expect from tales about Middle Earth.

SPOILER ALERT: we give notice when we are about to discuss an event that happens later in the movie (starting 18:15), though we never give away the ending.

Note: Production companies included New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Animation, WingNut Films, Sola Entertainment, Domain Entertainment (II).

Join the Conversation!

Have you seen The War of the Rohirrim? What did you think of it?

Episode 38 – Till We Have Faces: An Underrated Classic or Niche?

October 16, 2024 by Karlissa Koop in Book Review, Classic Novels & Authors

Is C.S. Lewis’ final novel deserving of more attention, or too difficult to understand and get into? Karlissa and Jason both came out of reading it with differing opinions, and now, they want to discuss why Till We Have Faces has been largely forgotten.

Episode 33 - 6 Things About Lilith

July 11, 2024 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors

Time to talk about George MacDonald, and his final novel, Lilith! Karlissa gives six reading tips for understanding what's going on under-the-surface in this philosophical, magical story.

Fernando Soto’s article “The Worm as Metaphor in Lilith” was published in 2006 in North Wind: A Journal of George MacDonald Studies, and can be found on the George MacDonald society website, at https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/northwind/

Episode 32 - The Great Divorce and The Divine Comedy

June 27, 2024 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors

What does CS Lewis’ novel The Great Divorce have in common with Dante’s Divine Comedy? Is The Great Divorce a fantasy book, or not quite? Jason and Karlissa have finished reading The Great Divorce, and discuss its themes, before Karlissa tells Jason about her experience reading The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso).

Much of Karlissa’s understanding of The Divine Comedy comes from Jason M. Baxter’s guide, A Beginner’s Guide to Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Episode 31 - Perelandra and Star Wars

June 13, 2024 by Karlissa Koop in Thoughts on Fantasy, Classic Novels & Authors

Jason finished reading CS Lewis’ Perelandra! What did he think? Karlissa and Jason use this as a launch point for talking about hard and soft sci-fi, Star Wars, CS Lewis’ novels, and more!

Spoiler warning for Perelandra! This is the second book in CS Lewis’ Space Trilogy, between Out of the Silent Planet (book one) and That Hideous Strength (book three).

Books Referenced:

Perelandra (CS Lewis); Sonic the Hedgehog, Volume 10: Test Run! (IDW Comics); Paradise Lost (Milton); Shivering World (Kathy Tyers); Out of the Silent Planet (CS Lewis); That Hideous Strength (CS Lewis); The Divine Comedy (Dante); The Great Divorce (CS Lewis); Till We Have Faces (CS Lewis);

Notes:

Milton’s (Paradise Lost) first name is John. John Milton.

Perelandra was referenced in the Language of God podcast, “166. Molly Worthing – Science and the Journey to Faith.” Molly Worthing states, “For the most part, I don’t find Mere Christianity to be this very powerful apologetic intervention that I think many people think it is, and for me, The Space Trilogy is most absolutely his most powerful apologetic work.”

Alister McGrath has talked about the racism concerns in Lewis’ books on the CS Lewis Podcast.

Episode 14 - 10 Facts About J.R.R. Tolkien

September 14, 2023 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors

Karlissa came up with a list of ten fun things to say about John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and multiple short stories!

“Christian Fantasy 101” has become To Narnia and Beyond! Explore the fantasy novels of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, and Madeleine L’Engle, and how they each expressed their faith in their writings.

Learn more: https://www.book-bat.com/nonfiction

Resources mentioned: the CS Lewis Podcast with Alister McGrath; J.R.R. Tolkien’s letter to Milton Waldman; “On Fairy Stories” (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Jason Fisher’s Article “Reluctantly Inspired: George MacDonald and J.R.R. Tolkien”: https://digitalcommons.snc.edu/northwind/vol25/iss1/8/

Episode 7 - 10 Fun Facts: George MacDonald

May 11, 2023 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors

Who was George MacDonald? And why are his works a vital part of Christian Fantasy? Ten things you should know about this oft-forgotten author.

George MacDonald's stories include: "Phantastes," "Lilith," "At the Back of the North Wind," "The Princess and the Goblin," "The Golden Key," "The Light Princess," and more.

Learn more: https://www.book-bat.com/nonfiction

Episode 3 - 10 Fun Facts: CS Lewis

March 09, 2023 by Karlissa Koop in Classic Novels & Authors

CS Lewis: one of the most famous Christian fantasy authors, writer of the acclaimed Chronicles of Narnia, author of multiple apologetics books defending the Christian faith… and a more complicated person than we may imagine.

Jason reacts to ten surprising facts about C.S. Lewis that Karlissa has found during her research. Where was Lewis actually born? What was his official career? Who was Arthur Greeves? Discover something new about this familiar author!

Correction: CS Lewis did identify as an Anglican. He did try not to emphasize denomination in his writings to non-Christians, as he explains in the introduction to Mere Christianity, instead focusing on things that join us across the Christian faith.

Learn more: https://www.book-bat.com/nonfiction

Resources: The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings (Phillip and Carol Zaleski), The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis (Jason M. Baxter), Narnia, Middle-Earth and the Kingdom of God (Mark Worthing), the CS Lewis Podcast (with Alister McGrath), Perelandra (CS Lewis), That Hideous Strength (CS Lewis).