C. J. has developed a thrillingly believable dystopian world, set in a post-apocalyptic United States. The characters are well-developed, are three-dimensional, and are hugely likeable. The story moves along at an exciting clip, is highly suspenseful, and the prose- particularly the characters and dialogue- are deeply immersive; I was immediately sucked into the story.
This is a highly recommended read, especially for YA readers and particularly for YA girls, but would be greatly enjoyed by anyone who liked Hunger Games . . . but not for readers who are put off by snarky, rebellious teens, 🙂
The only warning I would issue is this: If you are a military veteran, particularly a combat veteran, enter this world with your cringe blinders firmly in place. No, the environment you’re about to enter, in this story, is not consistent with your real-world experience. That’s okay- just enjoy the ride.
So, although we did find some great fantastical Christian fiction on this, our tour of the war zone, the search for great books written for Christian adults (and maybe even adult males?), continues apace.
Stay tuned.
J. A. Webb
“Thrilling Christian fiction . . . where the seen and unseen worlds collide.”
This week, as part of my continuing quest for great fantastical Christian fiction . . . or in the case of this book, fantastical fiction which Christians might enjoy, I made a foray behind the lines of the War with No Name. I did make it back to friendly territory . . . barely. But I’m still spitting fur while waiting for the results of the rabies tests. Anyone have extra flea powder?
Mort(e)- War with No Name is an Amazon Editor’s pick for best Science Fiction and Fantasy, and highly touted by the likes of Slate and The Washington Post editorial boards, among others. All those highly trained editors couldn’t possibly be wrong, could they?
Sadly, yes. They could, and often are.
Mort(e) is well written, technically, but fails to engage. The protagonist embarks upon a quest for which, in the opening scenes of the book, the author failed to establish sufficient motivation- leaving me less than interested in the outcome.
To make matters worse, the book insists on force-feeding the author’s worldview down the gullet of the hapless reader. Perhaps if I concurred with said worldview, the story would be more resonant for me. I suspect it would. If I did share that worldview, I might be turning pages eagerly, cheering for the animals as they march forward on their mission to wipe all humanity from the face of the earth- a secret dream of many in today’s secular culture, I fear. Here are sample quotes from the book and from the back matter:
“The “war with no name” has begun, with human extinction as its goal”
“. . . this utopia will be free of the humans’ penchant for violence, exploitation and religious superstition . . .”
Humans as ” . . . partially evolved monkeys that they were . . .” who should be eradicated because “they don’t respect nature.”
The author’s view of religion, and it seemed to me, particularly Christianity was painfully clear:
” . . . human prophesy and magic books and witch doctors . . .”
Religion as ” . . . an anti-science that animated the humans, driving them to greater and greater destruction . . .”
And ” . . . a ridiculous belief in God, and old man in the sky . . . another world when they die . . .chanting to Him asking for favors . . . a belief which has corrupted, is evil . . .”
So, is it any wonder I must report that this quest returns with naught but an empty bag of cat treats to show for the effort?
I read this book so you didn’t have to. You are welcome.
J. A. Webb
“Thrilling Christian fiction . . . where the seen and unseen worlds collide.”
Review of Lord Foul’s Bane– The Chronicles of Thomas the Unbeliever Book 1
by Stephen R. Donaldson
Content warning- this review of Lord Foul’s Bane includes references not suitable for young audiences.
I really, really wanted to like Lord Fouls’ Bane, mainly because Donaldson’s prose was so very pretty at times. And a ten-book series? Who wouldn’t love that?
I even stuck through the rape scene in the opening chapters, hoping the book would eventually redeem itself- make that terrible experience fulfill some purpose.
But sadly, no. Three fourths of the way through the book I realized my error. There would be no redemption.
Oh, to be fair- Donaldson may, in fact, be planning to redeem his protagonist, or at least the story. I’ll never know. I’m unable to read on.
The good-
THE PROSE-As I mentioned above, the prose was rich, deep, sometimes evocative.
THE WORLD- Is well-imagined- big, highly creative, fitting for a story of epic scope.
SOME CHARACTERS- Drew me to them. Were likeable.
THE BATTLE- Between good and evil- a perfect stage for a great, rambling epic story.
The bad-
THE PROSE- Although sometimes a joy, often tried a little too hard. And sometimes words were used too creatively for their own good- I’ll not get into it here but do a web search for “Thomas Covenant +clench”.
THE WRITING- I realize this was written in 1977, but The Elements of Style has been around much longer than that- so age is not really a fair excuse for all the telling and head-hopping going on in this book.
THE CHARACTERS- Some were likable. At moments. The main protagonist was not one of them.
He was not even a strong anti-hero (and we really don’t need more anti-heros do we? Give me a real hero). I was unable to cheer for him or cry for him. In the end I couldn’t even urge the protagonist to go on any longer, but found myself urging the author, instead, to do something with what had the makings of a great story- but he let me down, too.
THE WORLD- Although creative, features a bit too much earth-worship. Too much for my taste, and too much for the good of the story- it seemed a bit forced, an axe the author wanted to grind.
THE STORY- Seemed to wander, go nowhere. I kept yawning. Probably because I was unable to really care about any of the characters, most of whom were cardboard cutouts.
THE BATTLE- between good and evil had potential to be one of great scope. Instead the author gave us milk-toast, sniveling villains which he then further destroyed by showing them to us in the opening scenes- as campy, predictable portrayals of demons with little power, encouraging the reader neither to fear nor to enmity.
Furthermore- the theology is flawed and reduced the scope of what could have been a great battle. These evil entities were minuscule, and then were portrayed as EQUALS to the creator god. If the god of all creation is that small, how could there ever be an awe-inspiring final battle? Your god inspires no awe.
So- my search for great Christian epic fantasy– or in this case non-Christian fantasy which Christians might enjoy- continues. Unrequited.
It’s time to join the battle for our culture- using the Power of Story.
Announcing the launch of my debut novel, Fragments– with preorders beginning around 11/1/2024 and release 11/26/24 in ebook, print, and audiobook.
I had a mission in mind when I began writing- to engage in battle with the enemy- using the Power of Story.
Why, you ask, do you write Christian fiction when the experts say there’s no market for it? Someday I may write the tale of my own rejection of the Bible and of God, at the tender age of 8. It might be titled something like “How my love for great literature nearly led to my eternal destruction.” For the purposes of this conversation, I’ll be brief:
The Power of Story is greater than we realize-
Jesus understood the power of story, and he made effective use of it in his teaching. Think of the parable of the sower, the pearl of great price, the lost sheep, or the prodigal son.
In the modern day, stories inform our understanding of the world, history, and ourselves much more than we realize. Books, movies, and TV are powerful shapers of culture, not only reflections of it.
The enemy has been using the Power of Story to great effect-
Through the past seven decades or so, the enemy has used modern media and the Power of Story for his purposes.
Name the area in which our culture has declined, and it is possible to find the seeds of those cultural devolutions in popular media prior to that decline.
The ideas were intentionally planted, nurtured, and later bore fruit. These false stories were advanced years and sometimes decades before the cultural shift.
It’s time Christians joined battle, using that power against the enemy-
It’s natural to look at a problem as big as the degradation of our culture and say, “I’m just one person. What can I do?”
But we can all be part of the battle, each in our own way, with our talents and within our sphere of influence.
I chose to join this battle by writing thrilling Christian fiction.
What weapons will you bring to the battle? Will you charge, or will you stand by and watch? Miss your chance to make a difference?
The systems of this world do not favor the Christian message-
Censoring, deplatforming, and shadow banning on social media and search engines are all issues facing any Christian engaged in the online world.
Even more draconian censorship measures are being advocated by the leaders in the Western world.
The systems of the world particularly disadvantage Christian fiction-
Internet search algorithms don’t advantage the discoverability of Christian fiction.
Even many so-called Christian publishers dissuade authors from writing fiction that is “too overtly” Christian.
Many bestsellers in the Christian fiction categories on Amazon (who sell approximately 50 percent of all books and 85 percent of all ebooks and audiobooks) are books with decidedly unbiblical messages.
You’d think you’d be safe handing your children or grandchildren a book labeled Christian Fiction.
You’d be wrong.
In this environment, how can a Christian author find readers who might want his books?
Social media will not show posts from authors to readers—unless the author pays dearly for that visibility.
11,000 new books are released every day. Most are lost in the avalanche, and readers are never aware of books they might love to discover.
Showing up in the offerings on Amazon or other retailers requires a substantial marketing budget—an unviable one for most, the current cost of which is around 12 dollars per book sold, much more than the return for each sale.
Christian book retailers such as Christianbook.com only list books that are already bestsellers. They won’t list new books.
Word of mouth is the only reliable way for readers to find a new Christian author and for that author to find his readers-
It’s easy to discount the efficacy of one person telling two friends, who go on to tell their friends, and so on, but there is no more powerful way to communicate ideas—especially if the participants are committed to the cause.
I’m committed to entering this battle to use the Power of Story to bring light to our ever-darkening world.
Are you?
As I launch my debut novel, I need your help to spread the word.
And you can play a part, even if you don’t read the kind of fiction I write.
Interested? Want to strike a blow for the Kingdom?
Here’s what you can do. You can choose any or all:
1) Tell your Christian friends about me by sharing this email, asking them to pass it on to others, and them to more. Remember—email is best. When you post on social media, only a fraction of your friends and followers see your post on their timeline.
2) If you DO enjoy thrilling Christian fiction, click this link where you can sign up for my newsletter and get a free book:
3) If my writing appeals to you, consider supporting my Kickstarter campaign where you can get advance access to my debut novel and, in return, will receive early-bird pricing, bonuses, and perks only available to my Kickstarter backers.
Click the link below to check out the Kickstarter:
4) I need a select few people who’d like to be part of the team for this book, and the others currently being written. I need:
Launch Team members to assist with the launch of my first book, Fragments. These select few will assist with the planning and execution of launch strategies and communications. This is a core team, and the members should be people passionate about waging this battle. Learn more by clicking HERE.
BETA readers to read upcoming books in rough-draft form, to shape the story and suggest improvements.
ARC readers hand-selected to review the completed manuscript before it’s released for publication. A kind of final quality control.
Please EMAIL ME if you’re interested in joining the team in any of these ways.
The Kickstarter campaign for Fragments: Book One of The Seekers Series has launched
It is the year 2158 and Hegemony has fallen.
That once unified global government lies splintered in a thousand isolated fiefdoms, but the Order, the one-world religion, remains.
Now, twenty-two years after the Great Collapse and fifteen since the Bad Times, a period during which the world teetered on the precipice of a new Dark Ages, mankind struggles to rise from the ruins of a once great civilization.
Meanwhile, the Order has consolidated secret hold on these seemingly independent regions, once again securely ensconced as the unseen power behind all human government.
Should any desire for truth be rekindled in the hearts of men, the Order stands ready to stamp it out. . . .
Get exclusive content that will be offered nowhere else, and take advantage of the earlybird pricing! Visit our Kickstarter page now- Fragments: Book One of The Seekers Series
Stefan has long been my favorite narrator, ever since I first heard him in Ender’s Game.
It was always his voice I heard in my head while I wrote Fragments, as well as the following books in the series, Inheritance, Interregnum, and others.
So imagine my shock and delight when he accepted my request to narrate these books! The thrill of a lifetime. I very nearly fell off my chair when I got the news- literally so, as my family can attest . . . I’m so glad some of them were there to witness the moment- one I will always treasure.
Now, I can’t wait to hear the book in his voice, and if you, like me, are eaten up with anticipation- then I have a treat for you.
Stefan has agreed to allow the release of audio he has produced of an earlier version of the front and back text from the book- so here they are!
Back cover description from Fragments:
Preface from Fragments:
I’d love to hear what you think in the comments section below!
And don’t forget to read the FREE PREQUEL while it’s still available- it will no longer be available after the release of Fragments.
Earlier this month, I attended my first ever ACFW national conference and was astounded by the commitment and professionalism displayed by everyone involved with the conference, from organizers to staff, instructors, and attendees. All were unbelievably devoted to loving one another. To lifting one another up. To invest in one another for mutual success in our writing endeavors. All for the advancement of the Kingdom.
This thing we do is not always easy, and it’s hard to know if your efforts as an author are bearing fruit, if your writing is good enough, or even if it is good at all. The whispers in the dark are all too willing to tell you, “No, it’s not good enough.”
As writers and authors we need encouragement. All the more so as Christian authors as we take up the call to join spiritual battle with the Powers and Principalities, using the Power of Story for His Kingdom and His Glory.
I found the ACFW conference to be a place of great encouragement, filled with the Spirit, and I’m grateful I was blessed to experience such. All the more grateful to have been named winner in the Genesis awards!
The audio book of our debut novel has entered production!
Be the first to guess the name of the narrator and win a signed paperback!-UPDATE 9/22/24- THERE HAS BEEN A WINNER! If you were not the winning entrant, keep your eyes on the newsletter- there will be more opportunities to come!
Listen to the clip below and be the first to correctly email me the name of the narrator and get your free signed paperback. There will be only one prize, awarded to the FIRST to guess correctly.
Email your guesses to jawebb@jawebbauthor.com- include how you would like to be identified if you are the lucky winner (e.g. initials, first name and initial).
I will send a new email to my newsletter subscribers every week, each containing one clue, until one entrant correctly guesses the narrator.
The name of the winner will be announced in our October 9 newsletter.
Prizes will be mailed to the winner when Fragments: Book 1 of the Seekers Series is released, tentatively December of this year.
Genesis by J. A. Webb, prequel to The Seekers Series: An epic fantasy adventure about a search for truth in a darkly tyrannical world
If your very existence relied on uncovering the most profound mysteries of the universe, where would you turn?
Father Curtis, Priest of the Order of the Eternal, seeks solace in the serenity of his secluded parish, sheltered from the oppressive regime’s grasp. But when he is unjustly branded a heretic, he is forced to embark on a harrowing journey for survival.
In the process, he discovers that the very foundation of his beliefs has been built upon falsehoods. Amidst the chaos of his escape, he is confronted with the stark realization that the world he once trusted is a labyrinth of deception, orchestrated by the tyrannical forces of the Order.
His own fate and the fate of humanity hang in the balance as he battles to find the truth about himself, the Order, and Creation, in a world where seeking the truth is a capital offense.
This prequel kicks off the high-stakes tale and introduces the characters featured in the new Dystopian epic: The Seekers Series
