This is an interesting breakdown! For me, it’s difficult to see how Evangelist fiction can be effective because I’ve never known a non believer to be open to reading such fiction (other than the Narnia books). And it seems like allegories risk turning off such readers when they realize they’ve been “tricked” into reading something with an agenda (I’ve met many such adults who feel this way about The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe).
At the same time, I’m a reader who will read just about anything, in any category, and I very much agree with you that there is room on the shelf for all manner of fiction that Christians might be interested in writing.
It is an interesting dilemma and I think that’s why it comes down to intent. What are you hoping to achieve? What counts as “effective”?
For example, whilst a book more akin to LOTR is more likely to sell well, I don’t know of anyone who has been drawn to faith through reading it. Whereas I know of more people who have come through the likes of Narnia or something more upfront.
Evangelistic is definitely the toughest gig, but it will always have an audience with the faithful.
@ Stephen A. Davis. Do you have any Christian Fiction book recommendations? I was always fascinated by the idea of the Left Behind series but didn’t love the characters and I always wanted more edge. I write apocalyptic Christian fiction because It feels like the least explored part of our eventual history. Like, why couldn’t Left Behind be more like The Road?
Hey K.C! I remember being fascinated by the Left Behind series when I was younger as Revelation was the only part of the Bible I read before my conversion lol. Ironically, I haven't read much apocalyptic Christian fiction since 🤔 The closest I've come is the Chronicle of Brothers series by Wendy Alec which I guess I would describe as an epic fantasy telling of the biblical story from the perspective of three angelic brothers, Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer. It starts from mans creation and charts Satan's fall in the first book up to the incarnation, then the second book covers Jesus' mission on earth, and then the remaining books jump into the future and Satan's plan to birth the anti-Christ through a family of brothers akin to him, Gabriel and Michael.
There're 5 books in the series so far but not sure when the series will be finished. The last one was released in 2018.
Honestly it might be an unexplored area when it comes to fiction, possibly because Left Behind was such big phenomenon or because it can be one of the most cliché subjects if done badly. But I'm gonna keep my eye out!
There is a book I would recommend if you're looking for something more edgy (though it's not strictly apocalyptic), "In Darkness Cast" by Jonathan Shuerger. It's more fantasy, swords & sorcery but definitely has a dark, apocalyptic edge to it: https://a.co/d/0K2vdqf
This is an interesting breakdown! For me, it’s difficult to see how Evangelist fiction can be effective because I’ve never known a non believer to be open to reading such fiction (other than the Narnia books). And it seems like allegories risk turning off such readers when they realize they’ve been “tricked” into reading something with an agenda (I’ve met many such adults who feel this way about The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe).
At the same time, I’m a reader who will read just about anything, in any category, and I very much agree with you that there is room on the shelf for all manner of fiction that Christians might be interested in writing.
It is an interesting dilemma and I think that’s why it comes down to intent. What are you hoping to achieve? What counts as “effective”?
For example, whilst a book more akin to LOTR is more likely to sell well, I don’t know of anyone who has been drawn to faith through reading it. Whereas I know of more people who have come through the likes of Narnia or something more upfront.
Evangelistic is definitely the toughest gig, but it will always have an audience with the faithful.
@ Stephen A. Davis. Do you have any Christian Fiction book recommendations? I was always fascinated by the idea of the Left Behind series but didn’t love the characters and I always wanted more edge. I write apocalyptic Christian fiction because It feels like the least explored part of our eventual history. Like, why couldn’t Left Behind be more like The Road?
Have you read any good apocalyptic fiction?
Hey K.C! I remember being fascinated by the Left Behind series when I was younger as Revelation was the only part of the Bible I read before my conversion lol. Ironically, I haven't read much apocalyptic Christian fiction since 🤔 The closest I've come is the Chronicle of Brothers series by Wendy Alec which I guess I would describe as an epic fantasy telling of the biblical story from the perspective of three angelic brothers, Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer. It starts from mans creation and charts Satan's fall in the first book up to the incarnation, then the second book covers Jesus' mission on earth, and then the remaining books jump into the future and Satan's plan to birth the anti-Christ through a family of brothers akin to him, Gabriel and Michael.
There're 5 books in the series so far but not sure when the series will be finished. The last one was released in 2018.
Honestly it might be an unexplored area when it comes to fiction, possibly because Left Behind was such big phenomenon or because it can be one of the most cliché subjects if done badly. But I'm gonna keep my eye out!
There is a book I would recommend if you're looking for something more edgy (though it's not strictly apocalyptic), "In Darkness Cast" by Jonathan Shuerger. It's more fantasy, swords & sorcery but definitely has a dark, apocalyptic edge to it: https://a.co/d/0K2vdqf
These categories are extremely helpful.