by J.A. Webb | Apr 20, 2025 | Blog post
After writing the heroic tales of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars, did Edgar Rice Burroughs slip up and write an anti-hero?
As a kid, I sampled what was, even then, a set of dusty antique tomes with titles such as Tarzan of the Apes, The Jungle tales of Tarzan, and The Beasts of Tarzan. Though they never earned the top shelf in my bookcase, I enjoyed the books- rousing tales of heroic adventure and unabashed male chivalry. At least the earlier books in the series were, though I remember a few scenes from later books . . .
At any rate, one day while perusing the precariously stacked and mouldering offerings in a musty old used bookshop, I found another of Burroughs’s novels. One I’d never heard of. And likely one you’ve never heard of, either, though in the opinion of my teenage self, this story outshone the rest of the Tarzan and John Carter books combined. I still agree with that estimation, even today. This is the best of Burroughs’s works, and one you shouldn’t miss.
The Mucker was originally published as several separate stories from 1913 to 1916. The very large novel I happened upon was what we’d now call the Omnibus, including the entire series, and an epic tale it was.
My young heart thrilled at the adventure, and if it’s not too much of a spoiler, at the progression of the main character from nave to nobleman, from predator to protector. The kind of tale a man of any age can appreciate.
And even though my tastes lean toward the Speculative, there’s still something about this tale that draws me, even now, to revisit it. Perhaps it’s the epic scope of the story, perhaps it’s the non-stop action, but more likely it’s owing to the happily and unrepentantly extreme testosterone level- which is so high from first page to last that, even now, it’s oozing, running like molasses down the tattered old leather spine where it sits on my bookshelf.
Maybe it’s time to pull it down again, though several outlets now offer it in audio. Choices, choices.
So- our search for great fantastical fiction that Christian men can enjoy, though yet lacking a plethora of modern offerings, can as always, find satisfaction in the greats of the past. Like The Mucker.
May we soon bring you many new releases equally great.
by J.A. Webb | Apr 5, 2025 | Blog post
Can Christian men really enjoy middle-grade stories seen through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy?
If you’ve been reading this blog for any time, you are aware how frustrating has been my search to find thrilling fiction written for Christian men. So often, I retreat to the great classics of the past, all the while moaning, “Where are the great modern Christian writers . . . who are writing for men?”
Sometimes I even take a peek into the YA and MG section, open a few covers, then too often shuffle home empty handed- to pick one of the afore-mentioned classics off my own bookshelf.
I mean, really! How many guys are going to be hooked by a story featuring a pack of snarky teen-age girls? By stories about a geeky kid bullied by the high-school quarterback? We may have lived that story ourselves . . . but who wants to go back and re-live it? Give us stakes that resonate!
Yes, like a bad Groundhog Day nightmare, bookstore offerings too frequently disappoint the Christian man.
But not today.
At the recommendation of a friend- thanks Jeremiah!– yet with trepidation, I picked up A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. I think it was the ent-like green man on the cover that tipped the scales. Who doesn’t love a walking tree monster?
But still, that trepidation was real, having been so repeatedly disappointed by the insipid young protagonists who’ve invaded in so many otherwise promising MG/YA stories. Don’t writers remember what it was like to be young? None of us were ever so vapid. Foolish, perhaps. But not that. At least I hope not.
So it was with great surprise and not a little joy that I entered the world of Monster and found a thirteen-year-old POV character who, not only didn’t make me cringe, but was so well-written that I forgot his age altogether. Was instead swept away by the tale.
Beyond that, I’ll say little about the story. I don’t want to spoil anything for you.
But I will leave with this one caution. Don’t listen to the (very well narrated) audio while driving. Doing so with fogged eyes is highly unsafe. Thanks a lot for the tear-jerker Josiah!
So, though our epic quest for great fiction written for Christian men may not have yielded any new adult fiction this week- still, we did come away with one worthy MG/YA offering.
I’ll take the win.
by J.A. Webb | Mar 22, 2025 | Blog post
Christian men might reasonably wonder- “Why bother to read a Time Travel Dystopian Magical Fantasy written in 1889?”
But if you are asking yourself the same question right now- read on. If you pass this one up because of it’s age you’ll be missing a treat.
As a grade schooler, I so loved The Prince and the Pauper that I grabbed the next book in the Mark Twain section- which happened to be this one- A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I, like the character of the story, was immediately transported to a new world. One of which I had never imagined. And like him, one I never wanted to depart.
And speaking of being transported into a story- this story is available in audio, narrated by Nick Offerman of TV’s Parks and Rec fame. Give that guy a snow white mustachio and he might be Samuel Clemens. Fantastic work!
But why, as a Christian man, bother to read a book written in 1889? Much less love it? And one of Time travel?? With our modern understanding, such an outdated tale is a waste of our time, no?
That depends. Do you love dry humor or sarcastic barbs? Dystopian social commentary so skillfully woven into the story that you’ll miss it as it slides right past your awareness and into a deeper part of your consciousness, where it will set up shop and begin to remodel the way you see your own world? In a historical setting, no less? Quite a trick, that!
No?
Then how about time travel, non-stop action, political intrigue, soundly beating weaselly bad guys, rescuing both fair maidens and the down-trodden- both at the same time? Would you enjoy a tale of a stalwart man, a defender of right-striving to mightily take hold of his world and correct all the many wrongs he observes- and succeeds? An epic saga of hard work and entrepreneurial genius? Of independence and rugged self-reliance? Of valiant battle against injustice, of social systems which both literally or figuratively enslave those trapped within that society?
“But,” you say, “I hate reading 19th century prose. It’s so stilted, deciphering the story is such work. Won’t flow.”
I get it. But you’re out of excuses.
This book reads as naturally and as cleanly as if written yesterday. If I hadn’t told you, you’d not have known it was older than your grandpa. Or your great-grandpa.
“Oh,” you say, the beginnings of a knowing smirk glimmering in your eye. “You say this book is a great read for Christians, but I happen to know Mark Twain was a heathen. Not a Christian. What do you have to say about that?”
Hmm. Well, I can’t speak to Twain’s eternal condition. But perhaps I’ll share a few phrases from the book and let him speak for himself, such as:
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“ . . . Concentrated power in a political machine is bad and an established church is only a political machine.”
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In context, Twain was speaking of a government established religion- and it’s hard to disagree with that. I’d love a bit less concentrated power and fewer political machines in our time, wouldn’t you?
How about this one?:
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“ . . . We must have a religion, it goes without saying . . . “
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I could go on, but that’s not what this article is about- and plenty of others more qualified than I have already written about Twain’s supposed religious beliefs- well after his own death- coincidentally- so he can’t even have a say in the argument. And not one of those experts seems to agree with the other, by the way.
The point is- while we wait for the modern-day Tolkien to appear, or the Christian Heinlein or Asimov, there waits a fantastical tale that lies forgotten in the dusty tomes of your library. Dust it off. Join our intrepid traveler on his journey back in time.
Like him, you may never want to return.
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by J.A. Webb | Mar 15, 2025 | Blog post
As I read The Old Gods Waken by Manly Wade Wellman, I began to wonder . . . should Christians read stories about White Magic?
Amid completing final edits on my upcoming novel, Inheritance, I took a much needed break to spend a few hours away from the keyboard. I used that opportunity to listen to a new book, at least new to me- a recommendation from a friend . . . (thanks Rick!).
Even better- this book was read by my favorite narrator of all time- who now voices my own books. Multi-Grammy, Nebula, Audie, etc. Award-winning narrator Stefan Rudnicki, of Enders’s Game fame. What a great voice!
The Old Gods Waken by Manly Wade Wellman led us on a thrilling excursion into the Appalachian mountains of the United States. There we left the modern world behind and entered one peopled by unpretentious mountain folk, their simple ways, their folk wisdom — and by Others — shadows from another age . . . one much older. Darker.
Here in these craggy mountains are things of an unseen world, forgotten by modern history, dismissed by modern science. But all too well remembered in the lore of these deep-rooted mountain folk. And these folk know well how to respond when suddenly, those dark entities attack.
The main character- John, better known as John Silver, plays the central role in a series of five novels and dozens of short stories. In this, the first book of the series, he and his friends fall victim to unseen attacks by practitioners of dark magics. They band together and take the offensive in a thrilling tale of good vanquishing an unquestionable evil.
The characters jump off the page, each with their own vibrant personalities, the picture of each painted with the elegant, unobtrusive brushstrokes of a master storyteller. The story line is straightforward, the prose spare and unobtrusive. Crisp. Clean. The regional dialects are well portrayed and real-to-life. And while the plot and the antagonists might at first glance seem to be a bit campy, the mastery on display in the development and portrayal of the protagonists evidence the fact that this might be intentional. I think it is.
Why? Because this is pulp fiction at its best. A fun, thrilling story, an escape from the pressures and perils we face in our own world- every day. A story that doesn’t offer more existential angst, but less. A stress-free adventure the reader might inhabit, join John and his cohorts, and defeat the evil enemy. Never having to fear elevating their own cortisol levels.
In short- a fun read. But one which does acknowledge the existence of the unseen worlds. And the entities which inhabit it. Including our own Creator God.
One thing I love about this story is this- the magic system in this world is not one which has been made-up from whole cloth. The author portrays the very real world, the very real Powers and Principalities that we all struggle with, as Paul so appropriately points out in Ephesians 6:12. Our world needs more stories which explore this topic- of True Magic. Our age has too long denied its presence.
An aside- for the purposes of these discussions, I will define magic as anything which violates the laws of physics, of time and space. Not my definition, and if I knew where I’d first heard it, I’d give credit. But I don’t.
The point is this. Who can do the impossible? Who can freely defy these laws? Of course, our Creator God can, and does. So, it seems, can the heavenly host. The angels. Both those who serve Creator God, and those now in rebellion.
This story explores this unseen world of True Magic, both dark and light. Not creating a new fictional reality, but drawing upon the knowledge of the real- folklore, both biblical and arcane. Occult.
But should Christians read stories about this unseen world? The occult?
I contend that the unseen world is as real as that which we inhabit. As real as all we see, touch, and feel. And though we can’t ordinarily perceive that unseen world, we should be aware of that reality and stand against those dark, unseen forces. After all, Paul says “we struggle” against them. “Struggling against” is not a “willful ignorance” of. The Apostles, other disciples, and even Jesus often waged war against the dark forces- casting out demons . . . saving all who would accept the Truth- a truth itself hailing from the unseen realm.
A caveat. To be too pruriently interested in the things of the occult is not healthy, and I’m not encouraging that. I am encouraging a healthy, well-informed knowledge of the enemy, that we might guard against his wiles.
Which brings me to my second point as it relates to this story. What are the weapons we are to employ against this unseen enemy? Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 6:11– this is the armor of God, the armor of light. I refer you to the teachings of Paul, rather than expand upon this subject here. But in short, when doing battle with our unseen enemies we are to employ- or more rightly deploy- His Truth, His Righteousness, the covering of His Salvation, the Gospel, and the Word of God. Not with our own strength, but His.
So back to our story. Did Silver John and his companions follow Paul’s exhortations? Did they enter battle with the prescribed armory? Calling upon His power? The answer is not clear-cut. Prayer is mentioned as a weapon, as is God. But many of the tactics used during “magical battle” hearken more of white magic than they do of true spiritual battle. Is this done simply for the sake of a thrilling story with a bit of “magical world-building” thrown in- drawn from real folklore? Is it done for the sake of story simplicity?
After all- stopping the action cold for a three chapter treatise on Ephesians 6 might not be a great storytelling tactic. Tom Clancy might get away with a multi-thousand word treatise on the construction of nuclear weapons- right in the middle of a thriller novel- but the rest of us aren’t Tom Clancy.
So- should Christians read this story of White Magic? Will the remainder of the Silver John saga bring more spiritual clarity? Will this story which, quite accurately portrays the unseen worlds and the dark entities which inhabit them, eventually portray the bible and the gospel with equal accuracy? Though some commentators do suggest the Silver John stories flesh out a “primitive gospel-based Christianity”, I don’t know the answer to these questions. Yet.
Either way- this is a fun story of good vanquishing evil, of the unseen realms. And I, for one, will be continuing this journey with Manly Wade Wellman.
Besides. Be honest. Wouldn’t you, right now, love to take a few evil bad guys to the woodshed? I’d bet a few are coming to your mind, even now.
by J.A. Webb | Feb 22, 2025 | Blog post
Must Christian men turn to the past to find great fantastical tales?
Are there any undiscovered jewels lost among the dusty tomes lining the shelves of stories past? Read on, as we tell a tale of our recent journeys, and decide for yourself.
Having despaired of locating modern Fantastical fiction — written for adult — (dare I say it . . . Men?), we turned our attention backward in time, a path our feet have so often gravitated toward when frustrated by the dearth present in modern day writing.
But in this disheartened rout, unlike so many other times, we passed by the admittedly tempting safe harbors of Lewis and Tolkien, where so often we’ve taken shelter, crying all the while “oh where are the great modern day Christian authors, who would write for such as we?”
But as we marched wearily onward, a faint cry reached our ears from the depth of a wood by which we were about to pass. Though it were the blackest of woods, we could not but heed the call, and gladly there we met author John Buchan. As the sunset and the blackwood encroached, he whispered to us a tale set in Scotland of the 1600s, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
Witch Wood is a speculative tale of ancient pagan magic and a battle between true godliness, variations of false religiosity, and the unseen world. There are no anti-heroes here, no pale pastels, no gray areas or moral ambiguity. Only good and evil, true heroes fighting self-sacrificially for the right, unsympathetic villains, the banally self-ignorant, and the willfully sinful.
The supernatural elements of the story are so elegantly portrayed as to cause the hairs to rise on the back of the neck. Better, the author does not make the mistake that so many modern Christian authors do, namely, the monster is never shown in the light of day. One only catches glimpses of him as he darts between the deep wood shadows, never losing the power of dread.
The setting is gorgeously illuminated in the imagination of the reader. The characters are vibrant and true to life. The story and the stakes were such that we often found ourselves clenching fists and gritting teeth.
In short, we’ve found, finally, a “new” fantastical tale worthy of the attention of Christian men. It’s so satisfying to say that!
P.S.- It would be unworthy if I didn’t give credit where credit was due. I discovered this story when Leo Vaughn mentioned it in a recent post on his Substack blog- Resurrecting the Real.
He’s a writer of Christian fantasy himself, frighteningly smart, and his blog is a great read. Check it out!
