Episode 32 - The Great Divorce and The Divine Comedy

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

Karlissa came up with a list of ten fun things to say about John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings, among other books!

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

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.

Episode 4 - Questions from the Jar, Part 1

Karlissa and Jason answer an array of questions about books, reading, and Christian fantasy! Do we take Lewis’ advice and reread books? Do we need more thoughtful influences shaping Christian fantasy authors, and does the level of academic rigor found in Lewis and Tolkien still exist in the Christian fantasy landscape? We share our opinions, tangents, and queries!

Correction: Phantastes (George MacDonald) doesn't end with it all having been a dream, though his other novel Lilith leaves things ambiguous as to whether it was a dream.

Books mentioned: C. S. Lewis "Different Tastes in Literature" (article); Phantastes (George MacDonald); Amish Vampires in Space (Kerry Nietz); The Thrawn Trilogy (Timothy Zahn); Redwall series (Brian Jacques); Till We Have Faces (C.S. Lewis); The Children of Hurin (J.R.R. Tolkien); The Great Divorce (C.S. Lewis); The Wingfeather Saga (Andrew Peterson).

This episode is from back when the Book-Bat podcast was focused on Christian fantasy books. Visit book-bat.com/about to learn more about who we are and our goals for the podcast!

Episode 3 - 10 Fun Facts: CS Lewis

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.

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).