Just been setting some essay questions for the “Bible in Popular Culture” course, including one on religion and science fiction so I thought this was pretty timely over on io9.com – Christian readers demand more science fiction books. Why won’t Christian publishers listen?.
I think the authors are on to something here. The best theological science fiction – which takes the opportunity to use the freedom found in the speculative nature of the genre – doesn’t seem to be published by ‘Christian’ publishers. I can think of some counter-examples, but I’d definitely be more likely to find something at the local Whitcoulls or Borders which connected religion and science fiction in an intelligent manner.
On a related note, a number of bookshops I’ve been into recently have decimated their science fiction sections (and to a certain degree their fantasy sections too) and replaced them with sections headed up ‘Vampires’. I’m hoping the fad passes soon and we get back to having a broader scifi/fantasy selection to pick from in stores. (Not that I’m averse to a good vampire novel – or even a trashy one when I’m tired and reading on the train – but it’s all a little overwhelming when looking for something else)
Related links: Greenflame · Books from blogs; Greenflame · A Case of Consilience; Greenflame · A bunch of religion and popular culture links
And Andrew Jones ‘tongue-in-cheek’ guides relate to the types of materials stocked in local Christian bookshops. See Tall Skinny Kiwi: How To Survive a Christian Bookstore: #1 EMBRACING THE FEAR and Tall Skinny Kiwi: How to Survive a Christian Bookstore: #2 FINDING YOUR HAPPY PLACE.
Updated: See additional comments over at TheoFantastique | A meeting place for myth, imagination, and mystery in pop culture..