Fantastical Truth

Last week we remembered the Sept. 11 attacks. But some people, shall we say, did not know how to grieve well. That’s for many reasons. One of them is strange yet simple—they can’t fathom that real people could really do something like this. But it’s true that many groups of real bad guys really want to take over the world. So today, author Kerry Nietz, student of futuristic caliphates, returns to the studio to ask which false religions seem the most bent on global domination. Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich Mission update Lorehaven Mission Survey: help shape this podcast and more! Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild We’re still reading through The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Backstory: Kerry Nietz Kerry Nietz is an award-winning science fiction author. He has over a half dozen speculative novels in print, along with a novella, a couple short stories, and a non-fiction book, FoxTales. Kerry’s novel A Star Curiously Singing won the Readers Favorite Gold Medal Award for Christian Science Fiction and is notable for its dystopian, cyberpunk vibe in a world under sharia law. It  is often mentioned on “Best of” lists. Among his writings, Kerry’s most talked about is the genre-bending Amish Vampires in Space. AViS was mentioned on the Tonight Show and in the Washington Post, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Newsweek called it “a welcome departure from the typical Amish fare.” Today his latest release is Start Early, You Might Get Published Before You Die, an honest and humorous look at the long, unpredictable path from aspiring storyteller to published novelist. 1. If militant Islam took over the world … This one’s been much in the news, so we’ll discuss this one first. Kerry and Stephen have both written about Islam in their novels. Kerry’s novels imagine a future literally ruled by the caliphate. That’s a future many Muslims anticipate, total submission to Allah. Yes, many believe (with Qu’ran support) that it’s won by the sword. Yet this story is more about the people affected by these beliefs. Stephen’s novel includes “peaceful Muslims” and militant ones. In fact, long before Sept. 11 he was researching Islamic religion. Great fiction shows realistic people, peaceful, militant, in between. We can reject false religion and long for everyone to know Jesus. 2. If fake Christianity took over the world … Some folks ignore other world-dominators and focus only on this. In some cases, they’ve truly suffered in the Church Back Home. Yet in other cases, they only think they have, or fall into rumors. But it’s still worth noting some professing Christians do want this. And not in the normal, biblical way of “Jesus returns to do this.” Some specifically call for religious monarchy, a “Christian prince.” There really is a “patriarchy” or bad sorts of religious nationalists. Shrewd readers will spy references in Above the Circle of Earth. Such top-down “spiritual” notions are refuted by clear Scripture. Jesus takes over the world in His own way, starting with hearts. 3. If a secular state took over the world … This is more of a catch-all, because this foe can take many forms. Secular-Luciferianism, like in many Christian end-times scenarios. Materialist magicians, like the N.I.C.E. of That Hideous Strength. Humanistic technocracy, like CAUSE in Above the Circle of Earth. Sociopolitical movements like Godless socialism or Communism. These also include fascism, secular nationalism, and evil hybrids. Dictator cults, like the Kim dynasty that dominates North Korea. Sexualism, or the religious worship of disordered self-expression. New! Therapism, which denies our sinful nature for “brokenness.” Many of these are adept at hijacking Christian-sounding words. Com station Top question for listeners If you were evil, how would you take over the world? John Fort heard our ep. 326 chat with Bryan Davis: I’ve met Bryan Davis many times in real life as an exhibitor at homeschool conventions. He is the real deal—a humble, honest, and good man. He has been very encouraging and helpful to me as an upcoming author of fantasy and sci-fi myself. So happy you featured him on your podcast. Next on Fantastical Truth The Pendragon Cycle streaming series began with a slower start for its January release on Daily Wire Plus. Well, this month, everything changed. Based on the first two volumes in Stephen R. Lawhead’s series, The Pendragon Cycle worked its new wizardry to reach the top 5 shows on Prime Video. Let’s go behind the scenes of the Cycle, touching on controversies but staying pre-political and pre-medieval as we explore how Christian creators fight to build the future.

In the last 25 years, whole human beings have been born, grown up, graduated, married, and become parents. They may not remember that day when our world was gripped by events that seemed stolen from dystopian novels. On Sept. 11, 2001, militant religious terrorists hijacked four planes in the United States and plunged them into the sides of large buildings. Thousands died. Millions mourned. And every real person and fantastical fiction was forever changed. Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich Mission update New at Lorehaven: review of The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur Lorehaven Mission Survey: help shape this podcast and more! Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild 1. Where we were when the towers fell Zack’s memory of discovering the news by himself on a Tuesday Stephen’s memory from just after one class at his own college Initial fears, end-times narratives, and a nation cast into grief Final blame: the militant group al-Qaeda fighting for their jihad This self-destructive and religious evil confused many onlookers. 2. Aftershocks in the world of pop culture That December: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The next May, Spider-Man (2002). And later The Two Towers. These three films and more drew on viewers’ need for heroic tales. Stories like The Dark Knight (2008) explored counter-terrorism. Christian publishers released many end-times or terrorism books. 3. 25 years later, some truth is under threat We’ve talked about conspiracy theories. Many focus on this event. But we must rely on testimony from people who lived the reality. Today we may not have fantasy/superhero films if not for Sept. 11. And the U.S. prevented more mass-casualty terrorism … so far. Other stories explore the pre-political realities of justice and war. Com station Top question for listeners Where were you (or a loved one) on Sept. 11, 2001? Tiffany Lamb in the RealmSphere recalled the 1980s: There are so many shows that had an effect on me that I am not sure I can pick just one. However, I find when I go back and rewatch them, I usually am unable to sit through them. The teenage me and the senior me are very different people, thank God! Still, the very first thing that popped into my head was the only cartoon I used to watch, Dungeons & Dragons. I loved that show. I didn’t watch a ton of tv, but on the weekends I watched Tarzan, Batman & Robin (KaPow!), and Superman. I still remember when I learned the original Superman [actor George Reeves] committed suicide. I think that was when I realized that the lives people lived on the outside were very different from what they were living in private. Basically, I came to understand that actors are not really much different than the rest of us. Because of this insight, I never did fall into the hero worship that so many actors and rock stars get from their audience. … I always thought of it as the age of innocence. However, going back and rewatching certain shows, like the Golden Girls, I can see where that was naive and due to my youth. Still, I miss the innocence of that era, and the hope everyone had for the future. We seem to be lacking that hope in our younger generation now. I wish kids nowadays could experience what we did growing up back then. It seemed like anything was possible. Next on Fantastical Truth We identified the villains behind the Sept. 11 attacks. Some doubt this could be true. Why? Only they know their reasons. But sometimes it’s because people have less experience with one false religion and more experience with another one. So they assume that for anything terrible, those villains are to blame. And it’s true that more than one group of bad guys wants to take over the world. Next week Kerry Nietz, student of futuristic caliphates, returns to the studio to ask which false religion wants to achieve truly global domination.

Last summer the new He-Man movie kind of failed at theaters. Stephen enjoyed the film! Others did not care so much, especially if they didn’t grow up in the 1980s. But last week, after the death of voice actor Peter Cullen, fans celebrated the legacy of Transformers. And last month, the Masters of the Universe remake film wielded the power of Grayskull to rule streaming media. No matter your age, big franchises from forty years ago have shaped the fantasy worlds we know today. How can Christians look back on this era with discernment and appreciation for good nostalgia? Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse The Guardian of Ailos by Michael B. Foss Etania’s Worth by M. H. Elrich Mission update September 2026 book quest for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild 1. Of note: some fans truly did miss the ’80s For many of you, the 1980s came and went before you were born! Stephen and Zack lived through most of the 1980s decade. And yet both of them only remember portions of the time. For his part, Stephen knew only the 1980s homeschool culture. It was the neighbor kids who had He-Man and Rainbow Brite Alas, Stephen never knew that fandom or any of the others, really. And he only vaguely recalls some of these obscure/old franchises. So if he sounds like a distant anthropologist, that is the reason! 2. From Star Wars to He-Man and beyond Recap: George Lucas and Kenner created modern toy franchises. Mass factories, network TV, and cable made a kids’ merch boom. Aside note: some Christians had some legit/silly concerns about it. Mattel lost on Star Wars, but made its own franchise: He-Man. This blended John Carter, DnD, mysticism, and superheroes. Meanwhile, other boys’ and girls’ brands took over toy stores. Zack’s notes about growing up in the 1980s and any toys he had. Last week beloved voice actor Peter Cullen (Transformers) died. Fans love his sincere voice for “gentle, powerful” Optimus Prime. That plus GI Joe, despite flaws, did seem to honor real heroism. Masters of the Universe (2026) failed in theaters, but has since found its power on streaming services. 3. Now many fans really do miss the 1980s Most of these franchises were firmly in fantasy and sci-fi genres. Without their popularity, fantasy genres may not be popular today. Eventually, He-Man got shoved out by Ninja Turtles and others. Somehow the Ninja Turtles find new life, while He-Man struggles. The new film version from Prime Studios faltered in theaters. Stephen liked this flawed fantasy, which did hit a streaming boom. Meanwhile, ’80s nostalgia steers new stories like Stranger Things. Maybe people want to feel a simple life without 2020s technology. Some of them also want a simpler morality of good vs. bad guys. But back in the actual 1980s, critics didn’t like simplistic morality. And some “80s nostalgia” also forces in the 2020s moral disorder. Every era has common graces that are better perceived with time. All eras also have unique idols, such as godless/mystical heroism. As you grow older, beware the “good old days” temptations. Do recall Ecclesiastes 7:10: “Say not, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” Com station Top question for listeners Do you have a favorite 1980s fantasy?

As students return to school, some can’t help dreading their assigned books. Even good readers in good schools will feel burdened by reading classic novels. So how can we remind ourselves and others that we’re not made to read as a duty to adults, but made for reading as part of our joy in Christ? Katherine Briggs, author of The Threshold Duology and part of the upcoming Classics Rebooted series, will teach us how fantasy fans can learn to love timeless classic fiction.[1. Photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash.] Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley Mission update New at Lorehaven: new review of Winter’s Dawn Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Backstory: Katherine Briggs Katherine Briggs crafted her first monster story at age three. Since graduating from crayons to laptop, she continues to devour and weave fantasy tales while enjoying oolong or chai tea. She, her coadventurer husband, and rescue dog reside outside Houston, where she classically educates amazing middle school students, teaches ESL to adults, and studies other languages. Katherine is the author of The Eternity Gate and The Immortal Abyss from Enclave Publishing as well as Hunting the Forgotten Planet in Volume II of the upcoming Classics Rebooted collection. 1. How to learn the dutiful joy of reading How Katherine found biblical truth and fantastical imagination. Career choice to become a classical educator and a novelist. Reviewing any differences between “literary” and “genre” fiction. Discerning definitions of “dutiful” versus “joyful” reading of books. This dutiful joy is unique to reading, starting with Scripture itself. 2. Tips to help anyone read more deeply We can say that yes, reading books gives greater joy than screens. Alas, attention spans are hard to practice for more complex books. On this podcast we often hear guests tribute read-aloud parents. Start small with abridged/illustrated versions, but don’t end there. Practice hard habits of digital device limitation, except audiobooks. The Kickstarter for Classics Rebooted begins in September 2026. 3. Enjoy ‘remixes’ like Classics Rebooted This new series retells literary classics in YA sci-fi settings. More about Katherine’s story in Volume II of this collection. And more about every other author who’s contributed to this. Support the Kickstarter fundraiser that begins in September! More about the future for Katherine and her own fantasy creations. Com station Top question for listeners Which classic story would you like to read rebooted? Next on Fantastical Truth Last summer the new He-Man movie kind of failed at theaters. Stephen enjoyed the film! Others did not care so much, especially if they didn’t grow up in the 1980s. But then last month, Masters of the Universe wielded the power of Grayskull to rule streaming media. And no matter your age, big franchises from forty years ago have shaped the fantasy worlds we know today. How can Christians look back on this era with discernment and appreciation for good nostalgia?

Once upon a time, a homeschool father dreamed of helping his children grow their love for writing. So while he worked for 20 years as a computer geek, he also trained to create fantastical fiction. Then, after hundreds of rejections, he broke through with his tale of two young teens who discover their secret ancestries: Dragons in Our Midst. Since then, Bryan Davis has won the trust of thousands of fans with more tales in this world, plus supernatural thrillers and superhero stories. Today we invite Bryan into our own cozy cave to explore how families can teach truth in fantasy this school year and beyond. Episode sponsors Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley Mission update New at Lorehaven: new review coming this Friday Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Backstory: Bryan Davis After working as a computer geek for 20 years, Bryan followed a dream to become an author. He began by writing a story to motivate his seven children to gain some excitement about writing, and that story grew into a novel. After spending the next eight years learning the craft and enduring more than 200 rejections from publishers and agents, he broke through with his best-selling series Dragons in our Midst. He is now a full-time author and lives with his wife, Susie, and their children. Bryan Davis is the author of the following series: Dragons in our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Astral Alliance, Wanted: Superheroes, The Oculus Gate, Reapers, Time Echoes, Tales of Starlight, Dragons of Starlight, Falcon’s Quest, Save the Multiverse, Not-So-Famous Dog Tales, and Not-So-Famous Dragon Tales. His standalone novels are Let the Ghosts Speak and I Know Why the Angels Dance. For more information, see his website at DavisCrossing.com. 1. How a ‘geek’ learned to make new worlds Surveying Bryan’s journey to biblical truth and fantastical stories. Recalling the early 2000s era for Christian-made fantasy fiction. His series Dragons in Our Midst broke through to new realities. These portal fantasy tales show wholesome yet human heroes. 2. Winning the hearts of homeschool fans Bryan and his wife Susie homeschooled their seven children. Later, Bryan found ready readers in the homeschool community. Some may still believe these readers aren’t open to fantasy fiction. Yet many skeptics grew to enjoy tales of magic and superheroes. 3. Forging new worlds beyond dragon tales Bryan may be known for dragons, yet he’s found many portals. His Wanted: Superheroes series appeals to middle grade readers. And his Time Echoes series reaches teen/YA fantasy fans. The Oculus Gate series enters apocalyptic supernatural thriller. Com station Top question for listeners If you found portals to new realities, which one would you try first—fantasy, superheroes, or apocalyptic supernatural thriller? Next on Fantastical Truth As students return to school, some can’t help dreading their assigned books. Even good readers in good schools will feel burdened by reading classic novels. So how can we remind ourselves and others that we’re not made to read as a duty to adults, but made for reading as part of our joy in Christ? Katherine Briggs, author of The Threshold Duology and one of the upcoming Classics Rebooted novels, will teach us how fantasy fans can learn to love timeless classic fiction.