Christian science fiction
Encyclopedia
Christian science fiction is a subgenre of both Christian literature
and science fiction
, in which there are strong Christian
themes, or which are written from a Christian point of view. These themes may be subtle, expressed by way of analogy
, or more explicit. Major influences include early science fiction authors such as C. S. Lewis
, while more recent figures include Stephen Lawhead and Tim LaHaye
. Authors writing in this subgenre face particular difficulties reconciling aspects of science with their Christian beliefs, which may lead to difficulties having their work accepted by the wider science fiction community.
The term is not usually applied to works simply because most or all of whose characters are Christian.
' world view through works such as Out of the Silent Planet
. While the extent to which Lewis' influence varies, Mort points in particular to Madeleine L'Engle
's A Wrinkle in Time
as a Christian science fiction work which, as he puts it, cannot be read "without being reminded of Lewis' Narnia
stories." (Of course, Narnia was fantasy rather than science fiction, but Mort is noting the similarities in style and execution of the story.) Other early authors identified by Mort as being influences upon the development of Christian science fiction include J. R. R. Tolkien
, George MacDonald
and Charles Williams
. (Although, again, these writers worked in fantasy, their influence on Christian science fiction is clear, Mort argues.)
— especially those writing "hard
" science fiction — is reconciling the limits placed on the author in exploring science within a Creationist framework. This is made even more problematic when one considers that the notion of "the future as divinely ordered" limits the author's ability to speculate on what that future may be. For example, the first of these difficulties has been identified by Pierce as a problem with some of R. A. Lafferty
's work, who "is uncomfortable with the idea of even biological evolution"; while Tom Doyle notes the predictability of the Christian apocalyptic novel, due, he argues, to the genre following "a particular interpretation of biblical prophecy". (Still others would argue that embracing creation is a thoroughly plausible scientific position.)
These difficulties raise concerns regarding genre boundaries: while Christian science fiction has been identified as a specific market into which stories can be sold, Doyle has questioned whether or not books that are, at times, classified in this subgrenre truly fit. In examining Christian apocalyptic fiction
, Doyle notes that it is often classified as Christian science fiction, but argues that this classification is inappropriate. While both may employ scientific themes, Christian apocalyptic fiction is not, as he describes it, "scientifically minded", arguing that the authors tend to respond to scientific problems "with biblical authority, prophetic interpretation, and fundamentalist ideas of human identity instead of rational argument, scientific method, and humanistic thought". It should be noted, however, that Doyle sees Brian Caldwell
's We All Fall Down
as an exception to his argument, suggesting that (despite being a work of Christian apocalyptic fiction) it is the sort of work that he would like to see classified as science fiction.
Christian literature
Christian Literature is writing that deals with Christian themes and incorporates the Christian world view. This constitutes a huge body of extremely varied writing.-Scripture:...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, in which there are strong Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
themes, or which are written from a Christian point of view. These themes may be subtle, expressed by way of analogy
Analogy
Analogy is a cognitive process of transferring information or meaning from a particular subject to another particular subject , and a linguistic expression corresponding to such a process...
, or more explicit. Major influences include early science fiction authors such as C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
, while more recent figures include Stephen Lawhead and Tim LaHaye
Tim LaHaye
Timothy F. LaHaye is an American evangelical Christian minister, author, and speaker. He is best known for the Left Behind series of apocalyptic fiction, which he co-wrote with Jerry B. Jenkins. He has written over 50 books, both fiction and non-fiction.-Early life:LaHaye was born in Detroit,...
. Authors writing in this subgenre face particular difficulties reconciling aspects of science with their Christian beliefs, which may lead to difficulties having their work accepted by the wider science fiction community.
The term is not usually applied to works simply because most or all of whose characters are Christian.
Influences
While earlier works such as Victor Rousseau's The Messiah of the Cylinder (1917) are regarded as part of the Christian science fiction subgenre, John Mort argues that the most influential Christian science fiction author was C. S. Lewis, a "prolific writer who wrote works of Christian science fiction and theology for the average person." In When World Views Collide: A Study in Imagination and Evolution, John Pierce presents the argument that Lewis was partially writing in response to what Lewis saw as "Wellsianity" — an "anthropocentric evolutionary mythology" — which he came to view as both false and blasphemous, condemning H. G. WellsH. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
' world view through works such as Out of the Silent Planet
Out of the Silent Planet
Out of the Silent Planet is the first novel of a science fiction trilogy written by C. S. Lewis, sometimes referred to as the Space Trilogy, Ransom Trilogy or Cosmic Trilogy. The other volumes are Perelandra and That Hideous Strength, and a fragment of a sequel was published posthumously as The...
. While the extent to which Lewis' influence varies, Mort points in particular to Madeleine L'Engle
Madeleine L'Engle
Madeleine L'Engle was an American writer best known for her young-adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time...
's A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy novel by Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. The story revolves around a young girl whose father, a government scientist, has gone missing after working on a mysterious project called a tesseract. The book won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award, and...
as a Christian science fiction work which, as he puts it, cannot be read "without being reminded of Lewis' Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of seven fantasy novels for children by C. S. Lewis. It is considered a classic of children's literature and is the author's best-known work, having sold over 100 million copies in 47 languages...
stories." (Of course, Narnia was fantasy rather than science fiction, but Mort is noting the similarities in style and execution of the story.) Other early authors identified by Mort as being influences upon the development of Christian science fiction include J. R. R. Tolkien
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
, George MacDonald
George MacDonald
George MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister.Known particularly for his poignant fairy tales and fantasy novels, George MacDonald inspired many authors, such as W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle. It was C.S...
and Charles Williams
Charles Williams (UK writer)
Charles Walter Stansby Williams was a British poet, novelist, theologian, literary critic, and member of the Inklings.- Biography :...
. (Although, again, these writers worked in fantasy, their influence on Christian science fiction is clear, Mort argues.)
Notable authors
- C.S. Lewis, whose The Space TrilogyThe Space TrilogyThe Space Trilogy, Cosmic Trilogy or Ransom Trilogy is a trilogy of science fiction novels by C. S. Lewis, famous for his later series The Chronicles of Narnia. A philologist named Elwin Ransom is the hero of the first two novels and an important character in the third.The books in the trilogy...
is regarded as one of the most influential works in the subgenre.
- The Left BehindLeft BehindLeft Behind is a series of 16 best-selling novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, dealing with Christian dispensationalist End Times: pretribulation, premillennial, Christian eschatological viewpoint of the end of the world. The primary conflict of the series is the members of the Tribulation...
series by Tim LaHaye can also be considered Christian science fiction, although the series is also described as "apocalyptic fantasy".
- Stephen Lawhead, although he is better known for his fantasyFantasyFantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novels than his science fiction works.
- Madeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'Engle was an American writer best known for her young-adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time...
, especially in regard to her novel A Wrinkle in TimeA Wrinkle in TimeA Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy novel by Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. The story revolves around a young girl whose father, a government scientist, has gone missing after working on a mysterious project called a tesseract. The book won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award, and...
and its sequels, first published in 1962.
- Walker Percy with his Christian science fiction work Love in the ruins.
- Gene WolfeGene WolfeGene Wolfe is an American science fiction and fantasy writer. He is noted for his dense, allusive prose as well as the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying into the religion. He is a prolific short story writer and a novelist, and has won many awards in the...
, author of e.g. The Book of the New SunThe Book of the New SunThe Book of the New Sun is a novel in four parts written by science fiction and fantasy author Gene Wolfe. It chronicles the journey and ascent to power of Severian, a disgraced journeyman torturer who rises to the position of Autarch, the one ruler of the free world...
, who is noted for the strong influence of his Catholic faith, to which he converted after marrying a Catholic.
- Chris WalleyChris WalleyChris Walley is a geologist, author, and tertiary education lecturer- Biography :Chris Walley was born in Wales in 1954; however, he grew up in northern England. He received a Bachelor of Science in geology from Sheffield University and a Phd from the University of Wales, Swansea...
and his "Lamb Among the Stars" trilogy.
Criticism
Mort argues that one of the difficulties facing Christian science fiction authors who endorse CreationismCreationism
Creationism is the religious beliefthat humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe are the creation of a supernatural being, most often referring to the Abrahamic god. As science developed from the 18th century onwards, various views developed which aimed to reconcile science with the Genesis...
— especially those writing "hard
Hard science fiction
Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by an emphasis on scientific or technical detail, or on scientific accuracy, or on both. The term was first used in print in 1957 by P. Schuyler Miller in a review of John W. Campbell, Jr.'s Islands of Space in Astounding Science...
" science fiction — is reconciling the limits placed on the author in exploring science within a Creationist framework. This is made even more problematic when one considers that the notion of "the future as divinely ordered" limits the author's ability to speculate on what that future may be. For example, the first of these difficulties has been identified by Pierce as a problem with some of R. A. Lafferty
R. A. Lafferty
Raphael Aloysius Lafferty was an American science fiction and fantasy writer known for his original use of language, metaphor, and narrative structure, as well as for his etymological wit...
's work, who "is uncomfortable with the idea of even biological evolution"; while Tom Doyle notes the predictability of the Christian apocalyptic novel, due, he argues, to the genre following "a particular interpretation of biblical prophecy". (Still others would argue that embracing creation is a thoroughly plausible scientific position.)
These difficulties raise concerns regarding genre boundaries: while Christian science fiction has been identified as a specific market into which stories can be sold, Doyle has questioned whether or not books that are, at times, classified in this subgrenre truly fit. In examining Christian apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
Apocalyptic fiction is a sub-genre of science fiction that is concerned with the end of civilization due to a potentially existential catastrophe such as nuclear warfare, pandemic, extraterrestrial attack, impact event, cybernetic revolt, technological singularity, dysgenics, supernatural...
, Doyle notes that it is often classified as Christian science fiction, but argues that this classification is inappropriate. While both may employ scientific themes, Christian apocalyptic fiction is not, as he describes it, "scientifically minded", arguing that the authors tend to respond to scientific problems "with biblical authority, prophetic interpretation, and fundamentalist ideas of human identity instead of rational argument, scientific method, and humanistic thought". It should be noted, however, that Doyle sees Brian Caldwell
Brian Caldwell
Brian Caldwell is an American sailor. He spent seven years cruising the South Pacific with his parents when he was young, returning to Hawaii at age 15. He departed Hawaii aged 19 and completed his voyage on September 28 1996. He was the youngest solo circumnavigator, finishing at the age of 20,...
's We All Fall Down
We All Fall Down (Brian Caldwell novel)
We All Fall Down is a Christian science fiction novel by Brian Caldwell published in 2000. The protagonist lives through the traditional End Times scenario predicted by Evangellical premillennialists We All Fall Down (ISBN 978-0741404992) is a Christian science fiction novel by Brian Caldwell...
as an exception to his argument, suggesting that (despite being a work of Christian apocalyptic fiction) it is the sort of work that he would like to see classified as science fiction.
See also
- List of Catholic Science Fiction and Fantasy authors
- List of Protestant Science Fiction and Fantasy authors
- Religious ideas in science fictionReligious ideas in science fictionScience fiction works often present explanations, commentary or use religious themes to convey a broader message. The use of religious themes in the SF genre varies from refutations of religion as primitive or unscientific, to creative explanations and new insights into religious experience and...
- Religion in SF
External links
- ChristianSciFi - A portal site for Christian Science Fiction
- Holy Worlds A community site for Christian sci-fi authors
- Christian Fandom Home Page Nondenominational fellowship of fans interested in fair, accurate representation of orthodox Christian viewpoints with an emphasis on science fiction and fantasy (includes horror and western genres as well).
- Where the Map Ends Premier site for all genres of Christian speculative fiction; includes massive Booklist, interviews, and writer's helps.
- Marcher Lord Press Publishing company dedicated to producing full-length Christian science fiction and fantasy novels (both print and e-books).