Robin Hardy
The first three below constitute The Annals of Lystra, with the following three being The Latter Annals of Lystra.
T. L. Higley
Tracy (who is female) has written some excellent novels in the speculative category. She's great in all aspects of writing, but I think she really shines when she has stories that take place in historical eras.
Tracy's Fallen from Babel was a time travel novel that constituted one of the four books we launched Realms with.
Watch for a new series from Tracy through B&H.
Sharon Hinck
Sharon has published some fun (and a little speculative) chick-lit fiction with Bethany House. But her first love is Christian fantasy. With no contracts and only the love of her stories burning in her, she wrote the entire manuscripts for her Restorer trilogy.
T. L. Hines
T. L. Hines (who is male, and not to be confused with T. L. Higley, who is female), is a promising new author with a fun speculative title from Bethany House.
Douglas Hirt
Doug's Cradleland Chronicles is a great envisioning of life at the beginning of mankind's time on earth.
RiverOak, who published this series, is trying some innovative things with podcasting for these books.
Caprice Hokstad
Caprice's fantasy novel is one of the many fine POD (print-on-demand) titles I'm proud to promote.
Christopher Hopper
Christopher was one of the Fantasy Four authors that made their book tour in summer 2007. These novels comprise his White Lion Chronicles.
Tom Horn
Tom is one of the fine self-published authors I'm proud to feature on WhereTheMapEnds. His novels have UFO and government cover-up storylines.
The first novel listed below is co-written with Nita Horn. On the second novel Tom lists his name as Thomas R. Horn.
James Byron Huggins
Byron writes some for Christian publishers and some for secular houses. But his speculative fiction is always...creepy.
Angela Hunt
Angie is a prolific Christian novelist who usually writes in other genres besides speculative. However, The Immortal, which concerns the legend of the Wandering Jew, is clearly speculative. As is The Truth Teller.
Randall Ingermanson
I wrote about Randy in the Christian Science Fiction section, but since several of his novels are more accurately time travel, I've put them here.
Transgression won a Christy award for excellence in Christian fiction.
Shane Johnson
Shane's Chayatocha was the first novel I've read that I would consider almost Christian horror. It's a fabulous premise and a good read. Shane's speculative fiction has been nominated for a Christy Award.
L. A. Kelly
L. A. "Leisha" Kelly is the author of some Depression-era historical fiction, but this series is inspirational fantasy.
Russell Kirkpatrick
Russell is an an interesting guy. He's a professional mapmaker (which comes out in his world-building) and a New Zealander, to boot. This series, "The Fire of Heaven" trilogy, was originally released in Australia/NZ but has now come to the U.S. I've been told he's a Christian author and these are Christian novels. They look fun.
Jim Kraus
Not all of Jim's novels are SF, but this one is.
Bit of trivia for you: the title "the silence" was typed on my own keyboard and photographed by Chris Gilbert, the designer who did this cover. Cool, huh?
Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
Another watershed event both for Christian fiction and for Christian speculative fiction was the release and subsequent popularity of the Left Behind novels.
Christian novelists owe much to LaHaye and Jenkins (the latter especially, since he did most of the writing). As with Peretti, with the success of these books came a new openness from Christian publishers and, more importantly, Christian bookstores to Christian fiction.
It's worth noting that once again the thing that advanced Christian fiction was a speculative tale. More than any other type of fiction, speculative fiction best belongs to Christian writers and readers. It's our native language.
Stephen Lawhead
It would be easy to argue that Stephen Lawhead ought to be placed in the category of industry-shaping giants of Christian speculative fiction. His Pendragon series was among the first I discovered in Christian bookstores. Some of the images from Taliesin--the bull leaping, for instance--stick in my mind to this day.
Stephen has moved on to mostly secular publishing now, as this is where he's found a larger audience. But his origins are with us and he has still provided some of the most wonderful Christian fantasy of the modern era. His novel Byzantium, though technically a historical and not speculative, is still the finest Christian novel I've ever read.
Tosca Lee
Tosca has a long history in speculative worlds, as a tabletop gamer, a writer, and a model and beauty pageant winner. Her speculative writing is so good that it has caused more than one woman to comment on how it isn't fair for one person to "have it all."
I had the great honor of being the first to bring Tosca to the world of Christian fiction, and to be her editor and friend. Don't miss the interview I did with her.
Demon: A Memoir is about a man who walks into a diner and is hailed by a stranger--who happens to be a demon in human form, bent on telling the protagonist all about human history—from a certain point of view. Brilliant writing.
Jeffrey Leever
Jeffrey is a Christian writing for a secular publishing house. His first novel is what he calls "Christian-influenced Thrill-Horror." It's a PG-13 novel about a terrifying killer (or killers) haunting a small Indiana town. Set for a September 15, 2007 release.
Madeleine L'Engle
The Granddame of Christian speculative fiction.
C. S. Lewis
Here's another guy who needs no introduction.
Most people know of Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, but not everyone knows of his Space Trilogy. It's heady stuff, completely speculative and utterly Christian.
And the last two are classics, especially Screwtape. It's a must-read.
Robert Liparulo
I've known Bob for years. He once reviewed some of my speculative fiction for New Man magazine. Now he's an author in his own right, with all kinds of movie deals always circling around him and his books. Awesome covers, too.
George MacDonald
MacDonald is considered by many to be the first Christian speculative novelist of the "modern" (19th century) period. Writers like Tolkien and Lewis were no doubt influenced by his writings.
Kathryn Mackel
Kathy has a wonderfully creepy speculative mind. She's got screenwriting experience (including working on Peretti's Hangman's Curse) in addition to her fiction credits.
I credit Kathy with introducing me to the term "Christian chillers."
Watch for a new series from Kathy through Realms.
L. A. Marzulli
Lynn Marzulli (who is male) wrote the Nephilim series, which is great Christian science fiction.
Also, if you're interested in UFOs from the worldview of Christianity, be sure to check out my white paper on the subject.
Paul McCusker
Paul is best known for his pioneering and prolific work writing and directing hundreds of the Adventures in Odyssey radio series for children from Focus on the Family, where he is Writer in Residence.
But Paul is also a gifted speculative novelist for adults, which can be seen in his inspired idea for Twilight: a grieving private detective is hired by a new set of clients with one thing in common--they're all dead.
Paul is also the author of the Time Twisters trilogy of time travel novels for youth.
Carole McDonnell
Carole's fantasy novel is one I looked at while acquisitions editor at Realms and NavPress. Excellent writing and bold vision, and by an African-American woman author, to boot!
This novel is being published by a secular publisher but it's Christian through and through. Check it out.
Maureen Doyle McQuerry
Maureen's YA fiction is fun because it takes its imagery and themes from fairy tales. Not the Disney kind, but the original Grimm's kind, or the kind from Celtic mythology, in which there really are monsters and in which singing princesses get quickly eaten.
The title of the first novel, for instance, comes from the story of the three little pigs.
Paul Meier
These aren't new books, but somehow I missed them before now.
The Secret Code is billed as "prophetic fiction," so I guess this is as good a category for it as any.
All of these books, with the exception of the first one, were co-written by Robert Wise.
Calvin Miller
Calvin Miller is best known for his Singer trilogy of poetry, which every Christian should read.
But he has also produced a fantasy trilogy called The Singreale Chronicles. Though mainly for a youth audience it is still an interesting read for adults.
And he is coming out with a new series from B&H: The Kinta Chronicles.
Greg Mitchell
Greg bills himself as a Christian horror author. This trilogy is "a monster hunter epic about demons descending upon small town middle America and the ordinary people who must overcome their misconceptions about the Christian faith in order to take up arms and make their last stand."
Kathleen Morgan
Kathleen is the author of the Guardians of Gadiel fantasy series, the second of which is currently in publishing limbo.
Gilbert Morris
Gilbert Morris is a well-known author of Christian historical novels, but he has also written speculative fiction. Though there are several genres represented here I've put them all under this one category.
The Omega Trilogy is technothriller fiction that he co-wrote with Lynn and Alan Morris. The Far Fields is a fantasy series co-written with Robert Funderburk, that is now out of print. The other series are all for young adults. (Complete series not shown)
| Fallen Stars, Bitter Water [out of print] |
Seven Golden Vials [never released] |
||
R. K. Mortensen
The Landon Snow novels are an exciting new series for young readers (ages 9–12).
The awesome covers are done by none other than Kirk DouPonce of Dog-Eared Design, who designed the graphical look of WhereTheMapEnds.
Nancy Moser
Nancy is best known for her women's fiction and thrillers, but two of her novels are clearly speculative. Time Lottery won the Christy Award for the visionary category. I was honored to be her editor.
Brian Reaves
Brian is a young writer with a bright future in Christian speculative fiction. His Portal is a self-published novel about friends who invent a time machine and try to repair their past mistakes.
I think Brian's real forte is in supernatural thrillers but so far none of those novels of his has been published.
David Murray
David is a talented illustrator and author.
Check out his Web page to see the awesome animated intro for the book.
This novel is targeted to young readers.
Bill Myers
Bill has a great speculative mind. He's written Christian speculative fiction for the adult audience, but he's got much more for the young adult market. His Forbidden Doors series is groundbreaking (see listing for these under Christian Chills).
John Olson
John B. Olson and Randall Ingermanson
John and Randy wrote Oxygen, perhaps one of the first Christian novels that used real science in its fiction. That novel won the Christy Award in the visionary category and launched John's individual writing career.
Note that Randy Ingermanson had won a Christy on his own (for Transgression) before he won another for Oxygen. See his other books under the Time Travel category.
Jeffrey Overstreet
Miles Owens
It was my great pleasure to bring Miles to the reading public. I "discovered" his fantasy fiction while I was at Realms. Daughter of Prophecy became one of the four novels (and the only fantasy) that we launched Realms with. It was also my pleasure to be his editor.
I have, hanging on my wall in my home office, an oversize poster of the original Cliff Nielsen illustration we commissioned for Daughter of Prophecy. Miles remains one of my favorite Christian fantasy authors.
| Calling of the Halfhand [coming soon] |
Robin Parrish
Robin (who is male) has created the awesome INFUZE site and Webzine. He has also written a novel that is clearly speculative.
Carol Jo Parsons
Ronald G. Patterson
Ron's Ballad of Penumbria series is a historically rooted fantasy retelling of the story of the church from Christ's first advent and on through to the Millennial Kingdom.
Donita K. Paul
Donita's cover for DragonSpell was the first cover I'd ever seen that told me someone in the publishing industry might actually get Christian fantasy. Donita's books are for a youth audience.
Frank Peretti
Let's start with the man whose fiction gave birth to Christian fiction in the modern age, Frank Peretti. Before him, the shelves didn't have much more than Janette Oke, Catherine Marshall, and C.S. Lewis. Fine fiction, for sure, but not entirely broad.
It is worth noting that the novel that ushered in the modern era of Christian fiction was clearly Christian speculative fiction.
George Bryan Polivka
The Trophy Chase Trilogy is new fantasy with a seafaring theme, from Harvest House.
Brian Reaves
Brian is a young writer with a bright future in Christian speculative fiction. His Portal is a self-published novel about friends who invent a time machine and try to repair their past mistakes.
I think Brian's real forte is in supernatural thrillers but so far none of those novels of his has been published.
Jeremy Robinson
Jeremy Robinson writes time travel novels with a great premise. His first novel, at least, is one of the fine POD (print-on-demand) titles I'm proud to promote.
Note, though, that he tends to use profanity in his fiction.
John Robinson
John has published the Joe Box trilogy, which is in the thriller genre. But he's got an unpublished speculative series that will hopefully be available soon.
| Gravity Fades | A Certain Slant of Light |
Jonathan Rogers
Jonathan is another author writing youth/young adult Christian fantasy. This is his Wilderking series.
Julie Rollins
Julie has written a SF series, The Vadelah Chronicles, in which spacefaring aliens worship the God of the Bible (or not).
Also catch my white paper called UFOs and the Christian Worldview.
Jefferson Scott
Me again. My first three novels were near-future technothrillers featuring virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering.
The second trilogy is a Christian military thriller series, which has nothing to do with speculative fiction, but it's my site so I get to promote them anyway! Bwahahahaha!
And did I mention I've co-written two nonfiction books, too? Check out my Web page here.
D. Brian Shafer
Brian's Chronicles of the Host series is good speculative fiction about how the great struggle between God and Satan may have been, is being, and will be fought.
James Somers
James's novel is part SF part fantasy. It takes place in a faraway sector of space, but it's a battle between good and evil, like those done so well in fantasy.
Gregory Spencer
These appear to be young adult fantasies. They are published by Howard Books, a Christian publisher.
Rick Sutcliffe
Rick's Web site, Arjay Books, attracts lots of hits and scores very well on Google searches. He has some good information on Christian SF and fantasy novels there. Rick is Canadian and is a professor of mathematics and computing science at the university level.
His Interregnum series is "alternate-history Irish-flavoured Christian science fiction" that "deals with a variety of technology and ethical issues in thought-provoking plots set on alternate earths." How cool is that?
As far as I know, Rick's series is the only Christian alternate history fiction on this list. Certainly it is one of the few, and I applaud his efforts both as a novelist and a Web advocate for Christian speculative fiction.
Note that the The General and The Nexus are available only as e-books. The first three are are also available through Amazon as print versions. Volumes 6 and 7 are in development.
| The General [available here] | The Nexus [available here] |
G. P. Taylor
Graham is a Brit dark Christian fantasy. His first two novels co-released in the U.K. first and then in the US through Penguin/Putnam for secular publishing and Realms for the Christian market.
Randall Thorn
This is a Christian fantasy set in the Dark Ages.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Like I have to introduce Tolkien, the man who basically invented the modern fantasy genre.
Tolkien's Catholic faith certainly informed his speculative fiction, but I do not believe he had any direct allegorical purpose in mind when he wrote of Middle-Earth.
Tolkien's trilogy pretty much singlehandedly made me decide to become a novelist. There are powers at work in his fiction that resonate on a level far deeper than allegory. This is the stuff of myth and human archetype.
Note that this is not a complete listing of Tolkien's works, and it is certainly not a complete listing of all the editions of his works, or books about his works. Just have fun browsing!
Steve Trower
Steve's SF novel is not available through Amazon in the U.S. (but it is available through www.amazon.co.uk).
You can also find it at his Web page: www.stevetrower.co.uk.
| Countless as the Stars |
Kathy Tyers
Before coming to Christian SF Kathy had written Star Wars and other secular SF novels for Random House. Her Firebird trilogy was the first that made me pay attention to Christian SF.
Lars Walker
Chris Walley
Chris is the author of the 4-book The Lamb Among Stars series for young readers.
Michael D. Warden
Michael has created a fascinating world in which words themselves contain devastating magical powers.
| Wayfarer [not published] |
Melanie Wells
Melanie writes chillers (with awesomely creepy covers) for Multnomah/Waterbrook.
Linda Wichman
| Briar's Rose [coming soon] |
Tamara Wilhite
Charles Williams
One of the Inklings, with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
Thomas Williams
The Seven Kingdoms Chronicles is a fantasy series for young readers.
Note that The Bride of Stone is listed as being authored by T. M. Williams. That novel is actually a prequel to The Crown of Eden.
Eric Wilson
Eric is a talented young writer whose expertise covers Christian speculative fiction from both the writing and reviewing perspectives. His canny Amazon reviews have earned him a name as a knowledgeable critical reader.
All of Eric's novels are full of supernatural thrills and chills.
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