Episode 13 - Favourite Fantasy Characters

Do we have a type? Can a villain be a favourite character? Can a character be separated from their story? We explore our thoughts on favourite characters!

SPOILER ALERTS: George MacDonald’s “Lilith,” “The Dragon Prince” (Wonderstorm).

Other books mentioned: “The Silmarillion” (JRR Tolkien), “Tales of the Diversity” (Karlissa J), “Till We Have Faces” (CS Lewis), Sonic Comics from IDW, “Rise of the Guardians” (William Joyce), “Chronicles of Narnia” (CS Lewis), Redwall series (Brian Jacques), “All-New Wolverine” (Tom Taylor)… the Bible!

Join the conversation! Who are you favourite fantasy characters? Let us know in the comments!

Episode 12 - Relatable vs Aspirational Characters

Which are better: characters that exemplify who we wish to be, or ones that remind us of who we already are? Jason and Karlissa discuss the Bible, superheroes, Sonic the Hedgehog, and even throw in a reference to Disney's "Treasure Planet"!

“When a character is relatable, the audience can see themselves in them, and they are more likely to invest in their story.” - neilchasefilm.com/relatable-characters/ - by Neil Chase

2 years ago, the website Comic Vine did a poll that asked which voters preferred: Aspirational or Relatable. Now, out of the fourteen that voted, the results were 57-43 in favour of “Aspirational”.

According to Falcon At the Movies “An aspirational hero is somebody to look up to and fights for the right thing. I think they CAN make mistakes and even have flaws, but they can NEVER question fighting for good.” - https://falconmovies.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/great-debate-what-is-an-aspirational-hero-movies/

Episode 11 - Is Magic Necessary in Fantasy?

Jason and Karlissa discuss magic: a topic that sometimes gets brought up in Christian circles concerning fantasy. Together, they consider the complexities that often get overlooked.

Resources used: “The Gospel According to Tolkien” (Ralph C. Wood); “Narnia, Middle-Earth, and the Kingdom of God” (Mark Worthing); “The Fellowship: the Literary Lives of the Inklings” (Philip and Carol Zaleski); and a few dictionaries!

A nod to Madeleine L’Engle, who brought up the magi and the stars in her book, “Penguins and Golden Calves.”

And George MacDonald’s “Lilith” indeed has many odd, magical moments - Karlissa recommends reading it!

Episode 10 - Where to Find Fantasy

Jason tells the story of how he discovered Brian Jacques’ Redwall series; then he and Karlissa give some ideas on where to find fantasy books.

Karlissa’s Current Reading: “The Heart of George MacDonald” (Rolland Hein), and “The Gospel According to Tolkien” (Ralph C. Wood).

Corrections: “The Green Ember” was written by S.D. Smith. The George MacDonald scholar is Rolland Hein. J.R.R. Tolkien’s book mentioned is “Tales from the Perilous Realm.”

Episode 9 - Underrated Books

Karlissa and Jason share their lists of fantasy books that deserve more attention!

Recommended books: Phantastes (George MacDonald), The Children of Hurin (J.R.R. Tolkien), Lilith (George MacDonald), The Thrawn Trilogy (Timothy Zahn), Out of the Silent Planet (C.S. Lewis), Tales of the Diversity (Karlissa J.), Till We Have Faces (C.S. Lewis)

Resource mentioned: The Medieval Mind of C.S. Lewis (Jason M. Baxter)

Episode 8 - Manga, Graphic Novels & Comic Books

What is manga? What makes it similar to our comic books and graphic novels, and what’s different? And why is Christian media largely lacking in graphic novels and the like?

Main resource:  New York Public Library - https://www.nypl.org/blog/2018/12/27/beginners-guide-manga

Episode 7 - 10 Fun Facts: George MacDonald

Who was George MacDonald? And why are his works a vital part of Christian Fantasy? Ten things you should know about this oft-forgotten author.

George MacDonald's stories include: "Phantastes," "Lilith," "At the Back of the North Wind," "The Princess and the Goblin," "The Golden Key," "The Light Princess," and more.

Episode 6 - Fantastical Creature Origins

Discover the origins of six popular fantasy beings, followed by a conversation about one never-used creature.

Zombies, elves, fairies, and more: where do they come from, and how have they changed over time??

Resource: Tony Allen's "The Mythic Bestiary"

Episode 5 - Questions from the Jar, Part 2

More random discussions about the state of fantasy!

Books recommended: Warriors series (Erin Hunter), Redwall series (Brian Jacques), Tomo series (by Funnypages Productions), The Silmarillion (JRR Tolkien), The Children of Hurin (JRR Tolkien), Lilith (George MacDonald), On Fairy Stories (essay by JRR Tolkien), The Dragon Prince (show by Wonderstorm and Netflix), Auralia's Colors (Jeffrey Overstreet), Till We Have Faces (CS Lewis).

Episode 4 - Questions from the Jar, Part 1

Pondering the current state of Christian fantasy: rereading books; academics in fantasy authors; and fantasy's obsession with predatory animals.

Correction: "Phantastes" (George MacDonald) doesn't end with it all having been a dream.

Books mentioned: C. S. Lewis "Different Tastes in Literature" (article); "Phantastes" (George MacDonald); "Amish Vampires in Space" (Kerry Nietz); The Thrawn Trilogy (Timothy Zahn); Redwall series (Brian Jacques); "Till We Have Faces" (C.S. Lewis); "The Children of Hurin" (J.R.R. Tolkien); "The Great Divorce" (C.S. Lewis); The Wingfeather Saga (Andrew Peterson).