Holiday Recommendations

Written by Jason

Hey everyone!  It’s that time of year again!  Of getting together with friends and family, reflecting on the year that has past and looking ahead to the next one, and… way too much going on!  Okay, maybe that last one is just me, but for myself, I know that Christmastime is a time when I quite often get “peopled out” and want to advance in a direction away from what feels to me like complete chaos.

One goal Karlissa and I have discussed is keeping better track of what books (and even TV shows and movies) we watch in a given year.  And if there’s one thing that I have learned, it’s that in today’s world of media oversaturation, word of mouth is the best way to market the stories you have interacted with. 

So with that in mind, here’s some recommendations for different books, TV Shows, or even movies that you might want to consider in some of your quieter moments this holiday season, or even moving into the new year.  Some might be new, others new to me, and of course, all are fantasy (or fantasy-adjacent)!

Books…

This manga is fun and has surprisingly deep themes about family life, responsibilities and bonds.  Add on fantastic action of different types – espionage and outlandish assassinations – as well as fantastic characters and great humor.  I can’t help but wonder that I get more out of this series as a husband and dad than the teen crowd it is aimed at.

Karlissa here! This year I discovered this beautifully illustrated book about the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien – I recommend checking it out!

TV Shows…

Okay, maybe this one is a bit of a cop-out.  But having only discovered the manga and the TV series, I can honestly say that, in my mind they are both well worth your time.  The TV show largely stays true to the manga, but Karlissa prefers the TV Show’s flow.

A fan-made, animated, original Legend of Zelda story.  The fact that the characters speak via text boxes (like the video games) does not detract.  The story is gripping, the soundtrack spectacular, and I for one cannot wait for the next episode (the 6th episode was released in the spring of 2025).  Check out these videos on YouTube, this is not your average fan-fiction.

Movies…

While I’m sure many of you have come into contact with this movie in one form or another, please allow Karlissa a moment to sing its praises: “Fun, unique, and crazy, with great animation and engaging characters!”

Not a new movie by any stretch, but one that keeps with the holiday theme.  Make no mistake, this is not a Christian movie by any stretch, but with charming animation, brilliant character growth and a great sense of humor, it’s a favourite in my house.

A new release for this year, and while the novelty of the first is gone, I would argue that it’s the more subtle character growth and struggles that give it plenty of merit all its own.

Thanks to everyone who has listened to our podcast, read our blog, bought a book, or attended a book signing this year!  Thanks for being a part of the journey with us, and please stay tuned for updates on Karlissa’s new book To Narnia and Beyond, as well as any other projects that we will put out.  Also, for more recommendations, follow Karlissa and I on Goodreads (post links here) and see what we have been reading and our thoughts on them.  Merry Christmas to all, and a Happy New Year!

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!

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 Review: Avatar the Last Airbender

Written by: Jason Koop

Running from 2005-08 on Nickelodeon, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a series that needs little to no introduction to most.  And indeed, upon watching it for the first time this year (shout out to box DVD sets!), Karlissa and I can certainly see why.  The characters are funny and engaging on multiple levels.  The animation is quite simply gorgeous, colourful and expressive.  And the overarching story, while relatively simple, has its share of twists and turns that keep the audience engaged from the opening episode to the grand finale.

Following the adventures of Aang (the titular main character) and his friends – and some enemies – the world feels very much lived in.  Like there is much more going on than what is shown.  Its inhabitants have lives that, while they might not matter much to the show’s story, feel like more than just cardboard cutouts.

And while the overarching world stakes are high – Aang and his friends must stop the Fire nation from taking over the world – it doesn’t inherently lessen the more personal moments, moments of growth that occur during the show’s run. 

Unfortunately, the story can feel meandering at times, where the audience is left to wonder why we are being pulled into side stories/quests.  But, by and large even the side stories are a positive, as they serve as enhancers to the world as a whole.

The animation, while decidedly western, does borrow a lot from Japanese anime.  From character reactions to fight sequences to even its spirituality.  And while the last one might cause some to bristle at it, overall I feel like it enhances the show and differentiates it from a lot of western-made action-adventure series.  It’s not afraid to get super silly at times, or equally somber and reflective, and it manages to pull both off very well.

 Then there’s the action sequences.  Oh my.  This is where its anime influences really shine.  They are epic, martial art-infused sequences, that manage to feel both artistic and impactful.  And thankfully, they rarely seem to happen without being tied to something going on with a character during them, so they don’t seem gratuitous.

While neither Karlissa nor myself can say that this show is one of our favourites that we will be going out of our way to re-watch, both of us can safely say that it was a fun, engaging ride from start to finish and we are glad to have experienced it.

Rating:  3 out of 4 elements