The Crusade to find thrilling fiction for Christian men continues

Disheartened and broken, haunted by the still echoing horror of my recent safari into the wilds of my local Christian bookstore’s Fantasy aisle (in my never-ending crusade to find thrilling fiction for Christian men). . . and still lacking anything new to read, I took a risk.

Yes. That risk.

I went to the bookstore-which-shall-remain-nameless across the street, closed my eyes, and dipped one hand into a bin of secular speculative fiction books, drawing a few at random. Several looked interesting. Very interesting. No surprise there, though- they always do.

It’s what’s inside the cover that’ll get you.

Oh, it’s not that they’re poorly written. Secular spec fiction still enjoys the robust support of the publishing industry, and traditionally published books are, for the most part, reliably well written.

The risk, the fear that keeps me at the edge of my seat, picking up first one, then setting it aside for another, indecision writ clear on my sweating brow, tempted yet tremulous, is the fear of the unknown.

Oh, I have no fear of the obvious stinkers, the thinly disguised ideological screeds. Those authors can’t help themselves and give away the game somewhere around the second scene. Easily avoided are any hooks any such story might throw in my path, hoping to entangle me in a pointless tale, helpless captive to their heavy-handed preaching (We’re all going to die. Next week! Unless selfish and banal Western women quit shaving their underarm hair!) or the like.

Immediately recognizing the peril and with the grace of a born dancer, I dodge, weave, and execute a deft overhanded throw- perhaps even a hook shot, if I’m feeling lucky- and those tomes describe a perfect arc into the trash bin.

I’ve even, in the most egregious cases, been known to refuse to return such to the library. Upon receipt of those inevitable and sternly worded letters about legal consequences, I fire back equally smarmy responses, informing the head librarian what a service I’ve done for society, destroying said offending book, public property or not.

More devious is another type of story. Deceptively promising stories, great in both concept and execution, which are yet riddled with underlying unstated assumptions. You know what I mean. Maybe a veiled reference to the absolute validity of the Theory (Yes, they really called it a theory, once upon a time.) of Evolution. Or perhaps some chap drops comment in dialogue about how “. . . the Bible was corrupted centuries ago and is now untrustworthy. Every fool knows that.”

Such flaws, for the sake of an otherwise enjoyable story, I can grit my teeth and ignore. (Though wouldn’t it be nice if there was so much great Christian Spec Fiction for guys that I didn’t need to? According to my dentist- that would be a very good thing.)

No, none of these fill me with the trepidation that has even now (as I clutch one volume in my left hand, one in my right, and two more balanced on my thighs, palms sweaty) left me unable to commit to any one of them for fear of the unmentionable.

Namely, that once I’ve become captivated by the story, pulled so deeply into the irresistible current of a fantastic tale, that I’ll (long after it’s too late) find some twisted world view, buried deep in those oh-so-attractive pages. One which will eventually seep from said pages, staining the foolscap, coalescing into some fiendishly, cunningly crafted, gotcha, upside-down and inside-out monstrous deconstruction of all that is right and Holy. Completely spoiling what had promised to be such a great book, turning the final climatic scenes into a grotesquery. A shocking surprise.

Like that one I got in college, when, for months I’d proudly displayed the cover of the great Alan Parsons Project album, Eve, center stage on my plank-and-cinderblock shelves. After which time a guy walked in, pointed a half-empty beer bottle at the album, and remarked, “Funny how they trick you into not seeing that funky fungus, or whatever it is, on those girl’s faces.”

I looked, then looked again. Then suddenly saw that which I’d never realized before. And have never really been okay since.

And just as I was never able to see that album the same again, or ever see those faces as pure and lovely as I once had, these treacherous stories likewise leave me able neither to forget that which I’ve read, nor mourn that which could have been, if only.

It’s these books. The ones with such promise, the ones that trick me into believing that maybe, just maybe, I’ve found the one . . . it’s these that hurt the worst.

And I’ve decided it’s time to do something about it.

If no one else will feature great fiction for Christian men, making it easier for guys like me to find great stories, then I guess it’s time I did.

So this blog post is my announcement, my declaration of a new crusade to find thrilling fiction for Christian men. My call to all the Christian Warrior-Priest authors out there. Gather near, prepare to go forth and do battle for our culture, using the Word of God and the Power of Story to reclaim our culture!

And that battle cry has been heard. A worthy band of Christian writers has already begun to answer that call. Have gathered for the assault, pens at the ready and notebooks thrust defiantly skyward as they link arms and prepare for the final charge.

Keep your eyes on this blog as the campaign gains momentum and battle plans are finalized. It’s going to be an exciting year!

In the meantime, check out the initial offering of a new writer in the field and a friend of mine, Daniel Lewczuk, chosen from the front ranks of our hardy band. And now you can sample the first fruits of what promises to be an incredibly exciting career. And it’s available in AUDIO! FREE!!

Daniel is an ex-cop who left his life of crime—not his, other’s—to spend more time with his wife and three sons. Since then he’s become an award-winning sci-fi and fantasy author, small business owner, and the creator of stunning wood pieces that inspire Muggles all over the country to ponder the worlds beyond this one. Daniel lives in southern Ontario and still wonders, “What Would John Carter Do?”

Learn more at http://www.authordaniellewczuk.com/ . . . and stay tuned. A great wave of new Christian authors remains to follow.

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