[amazon-product alink="0000FF" bordercolor="000000" height="240"]1595540873[/amazon-product]Tuck, the third book in Lawhead’s Robin Hood trilogy, was recently released by Thomas Nelson. I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but I did enjoy the two previous books in this series, Hood and Scarlet. I’m a big fan of Stephen Lawhead and am looking forward to reading Tuck. Here’s the official summary:
The story of Rhi Bran y Hud concludes as Abbot Hugo and the Norman invaders attempt to wipe out King Raven and his flock once and for all. Their merciless attack, the first of many to come, heralds a dark and desperate day for the realm of Elfael. Bran and his few stalwarts desperately need encouragement and reinforcement if they are to survive. Bran and Friar Tuck, a most unconventional priest, ride north to rally the tribes of Wales to the fight, making new friends, and even more powerful enemies along the way . . . .
The final installment of the completely re-imagined epic of the man known as Robin Hood-told in a far more eerie, earthy, and elemental way than ever before.
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I neglected to mention yesterday that you can download free wallpaper for your computer screen or iPhone showing the cover of Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker, compliments of Tor Books. All that is required is a free registration to the Tor.com website. Click here.
Dona Watson
As I alluded to earlier, fantasy fiction is intriguing for me because when I read, it takes me into another world. As it turns out, that is a completely natural desire.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ said, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16, NKJV) That is music to my ears! This world can be so filled with yuck that it is not unrealistic to want to be taken away. And yet, herein lies the danger. Christ also petitioned his Father (in verse 15), “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.”
It comes back to the Great Commission–we are to spread the Gospel throughout the world. As fun as it is to escape for a short time in the pages of a great story, I have to remind myself that Scripture teaches us to live in this world, holding up Christ’s standard while we are here. Yes, we may not be of this world, but we are Christ’s emissaries in this world.
But someday…God’s children will indeed escape and spend eternity with Him. And that is better than any novel.
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In a follow-up to yesterday’s coverage of Brandon Sanderson’s soon-to-be-published Warbreaker, I want to draw attention to the artist who painted the beautiful cover. Don Dos Santos has made available a five-minute video demonstrating the process behind the Warbreaker oil painting. What an incredible talent!
[amazon-product alink="0000FF" bordercolor="000000" height="240"]0765320304[/amazon-product]On Sale: 6/9/2009, Tor Books
After I stumbled across Brandon Sanderson’s debut novel (Elantris) in the library, this author quickly became one of my favorites. Soon after finishing Elantris, I purchased–and thoroughly enjoyed–Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy. Now his newest release, Warbreaker, hits the stores June 9. I had a chance to read a pre-release draft of Warbreaker and loved it so much that I can’t wait to purchase a hardcopy for my library. Here’s what publisher Tor Books has to say about Warbreaker:
After bursting onto the fantasy scene with his acclaimed debut novel, Elantris, and following up with his blockbuster Mistborn trilogy, Brandon Sanderson proves again that he is today’s leading master of what Tolkien called “secondary creation,” the invention of whole worlds, complete with magics and myths all their own.
Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn’t like his job, and the immortal who’s still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago.
Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren’s capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people.
By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.
Dona Watson
Behind God and family, fantasy fiction is one of my driving passions–one of the key factors that make up who I am. Why fantasy? It might be for the brief escape from life gained from a few minutes of reading. It might be the way vast cultures and races designed by talented authors intrigue me. Regardless, I love the way fantasy fiction captures my imagination, poking me, prodding my thoughts toward something I’ve never before considered. To me, that is pure brain candy.
I know that to some Christians, fantasy fiction is frowned upon as a venture too far from reality to be healthy. In fact, not all see fiction itself as being wholesome in any way, but instead consider it to be simply a lie–as evidenced by scathing essays and posts that can be easily found on the internet. To those people, I would say, “Consider Christ’s parables.” Jesus Christ himself understood, in all of his wisdom, the explosive power a story can have on the human soul. Sometimes a story can capture our interest in ways that true life–or dryly recited principles–never can.
This is particularly true with our younger generation. Young people are so easily entranced by a good story. And this is where children of God can make a real difference in someone else’s life. Fantasy stories in particular capture young minds in ways no other types of stories can. I’m not talking about gritty, sensual fiction, but stories filled with action, intrigue, and light. What an opportunity we have to point others to Christ–the ultimate source of light in this increasingly darkening world.
As examples, I point to authors such as Bryan Davis, Wayne Thomas Batson, Sharon Hinck and others who have successfully captured our emotions and minds and then redirected us toward God and his precepts. Oh, that someday I might add my humble work toward achieving the same goal! Hence springs my love, my passion for fantasy fiction. Let’s embrace the passion and let our lights shine!
Book Spotlight | Dona Watson | 
May 30, 2009 9:58 pm | 
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