Tag Archives: JRR Tolkien
Five Foundational Books for Christian Fantasy Readers and Writers
Christian fantasy has a long and rich history, one illuminated by many brilliant writers. Though I could have included more, I’ve limited this list to five titles that hold significance not only for Christian fantasy, but also the fantasy genre … Continue reading
How Familiar Are You With Tolkien’s Work?
Along with CS Lewis, JRR Tolkien tends to receive high accolades in Christian and mainstream fantasy circles alike. So I thought it might be interesting to see how familiar avid readers and writers of Christian fantasy are with his works. … Continue reading
On the Mixing of Mythologies
Only in fairy tales can a heart live outside the body for years without end, and indeed the detached heart occurs in a number of fairy tales such as the The Giant Who Had No Heart In His Body (which … Continue reading
Faith in Fantasy, Part 3
As I’ve discussed in the last several posts, I believe that all story communicates something regarding worldview and the deeper things of life, and fantasy innately tends to reveal spiritual truth or error. Those considered fathers of fantasy–Tolkien and Lewis–had … Continue reading
Faith in Fantasy, Part 2
Despite all they shared in common, Tolkien and Lewis had distinct differences when it came to the creative process, even in the way they depicted spiritual realities in their stories. Yet the one thing they both agreed on was that … Continue reading
Faith in Fantasy, Part 1
If you’ve been around this blog any length of time, you’ll know that I consider the spiritual element a vital part of good storytelling–and it’s weighed especially on my mind of late. When fellow writer Virginia Ripple posted about fantasy … Continue reading
The Secularization of Fantasy
I ran across an intriguing interview CNN did with fantasy writer Lev Grossman, whose novels have landed on the NYT bestseller list. I’ve never read anything he’s written, but I perked up at the mention of him finding inspiration in … Continue reading
JRR Tolkien as an Illustrator
Here’s a quick dose of fantasy for your enjoyment–illustrations by JRR Tolkien. In addition to his work as a scholar and an author, Tolkien dabbled in artwork for his stories, and I find it fascinating to glimpse how he visualized … Continue reading
Three Essays For the Creative Mind
If you enjoy roaming fantastic worlds and exploring the connections between fantasy and faith, I suggest reading these essays, all by brilliant men who influenced the fantasy genre in their own ways. Each offers a unique perspective on fantasy, imagination, … Continue reading
The Problem of Subjectivity
When it comes to reading preferences–both distastes and pleasures–there’s an undeniable measure of subjectivity. After all, who hasn’t received a glowing book recommendation from a friend, only to read the book and wonder what sparked such enthusiasm? Or vice versa? … Continue reading