Christian Speculative Fiction discussion

In December, we would like to do another group read with regular discussion questions and continual dialogue. What would you all (or ya'll for those in the southern US like me) like to read?

The book needs to be Christian, stand-alone or the first in a series, and speculative fiction (like science fiction, fantasy, apocalyptic, etc...). I would also like it to be a book that is available on Kindle so we can all get it by December 1st.

Please list any and all the books you would like to read with us. Next week I'll set up a poll for us to vote on just one.

I'll get the suggestions started. Maybe my idea will encourage others to suggest something.

A little steampunk before Christmas anyone?

The Wind Merchant by Ryan Dunlap.

It is more allegory than overtly Christian, but it is clean and the author is a solid believer.

Stan wrote: "A little steampunk before Christmas anyone?"

Steampunk is awesome! Great suggestion.

Here is a book I haven't read yet as another suggestion:

Sir Gibbie by George MacDonald

Two suggestions by two people and no other comments. If it comes to a vote right now, looks like we might have a tie! Lol!

Sir Gibbie is also labeled The Baronet's Song. I've read it before and I love the story. There's also a children's version called Wee Sir Gibbie of the Highlands.

I'd be open to either book. I missed the last session, but I'd like to be part of this one.

I think we still have a tie!

Lara wrote: "I think we still have a tie!"

Appears to be!

Anyone... Anyone... Anyone...

Since we have a tie and I’ve already read Sir Gibbie, I’d like to check out The Wind Merchant if everyone is okay with that

Ooo I haven't heard of either of these, but after reading the blurbs, I would love to read Sir Gibbie!

I also just snagged it on Amazon since it's free. :)

George MacDonald. He's the one who influenced C. S. Lewis, right? I've been wanting to read something by him. I just haven't gotten around to it. This would be just the nudge I need.

Yes, George MacDonald was one of C.S. Lewis' heroes and even shows up as a character in The Great Divorce. Sir Gibbie is free for Kindle, so feel free to download it. You can also get The Princess and the Goblin for free which I recommend.

So is it official? Are we doing Sir Gibbie?

Another influence on C S Lewis and Tolkien J R R. was William Morris author of The House of the Wolfings. Sadly not Christian Speculative Fiction. The House of the Wolfings is an epic poem that is pretty interesting. I guess that is off topic though.

Nothing official about our December read yet. I'm waiting until next week to see if we can get some more interest.

Got my free copy of Sir Gibbie! Can't wait to dive in. But I'll wait if we plan to read this one. I also picked up The Princess and the Goblin. I couldn't find the free version. But I got it for 99 cents. I'm sure it's worth it. That title begs to be read.

I'll have to look into William Morris too. ;)

J.F. wrote: "Got my free copy of Sir Gibbie! Can't wait to dive in. But I'll wait if we plan to read this one. I also picked up The Princess and the Goblin. I couldn't find the free version. But I got it for 99..."

You should be able to find a version of The House of the Wolfings for free. I'm pretty sure it is public domain by now.

Stan wrote: "You should be able to find a version of The House of the Wolfings for free. I'm pretty sure it is public domain by now."

I found The Well at the World's End for free. I also found a collection that includes The House of the Wolflings, The Well at World's End, and The Wood Beyond the World for $1.99. I put it on my wish list. If I like the free one...I'll buy the rest. Thanks for the suggestion!

J.F. wrote: "Stan wrote: "You should be able to find a version of The House of the Wolfings for free. I'm pretty sure it is public domain by now."

I found The Well at the World's End for free. I also found a c..."

I had not looked for any of his other works. I just picked up the free edition of The Well at the World's End. Thanks!

Stan wrote: "Lara wrote: "I think we still have a tie!"

Appears to be!

Anyone... Anyone... Anyone..."

Steampunk sounds good to me!

So far it looks like the votes are:

Stan- The Wind Merchant

Me - The Wind Merchant (I'll read Sir Gibbie at some point!)

C.S. - The Wind Merchant

Laura - Sir Gibbie

J.F. - Sir Gibbie

Kenyon - The Wind Merchant

I'm going to keep the votes going until Friday before we chose a book. Anyone can still vote, and if you want to change your vote, that's fine too.

Sir Gibbie gets my vote—just to make things interesting! (No, I genuinely liked the description of Sir Gibbie—though The Wind Merchant sounds good, too, so I can go with that if it keeps its lead.)

I'm planning to read Sir Gibbie either way. And I'm willing to give a steampunk a whirl. Something I probably wouldn't read otherwise.

Sorry this won't be helpful, but I'll read either.

As a note that might be pertinent, I just found out that I'll be traveling extensively in December. I don't know that I will be able to do the group read. If that means my suggestion needs to drop out, I'm okay with that. Also, Sir Gibbie seems to be available for free on Kindle and The Wind Merchant is not, if that makes a difference.

I don't want to pull the Wind Merchant as a suggestion since we all like it, but it might be unfair to count your vote, Stan if you aren't going to read with us. Safe travels though!

Since the vote is then even with Steve's vote, I'll switch my vote back to Sir Gibbie. Perhaps will get a few more readers willing to try it because it's free.

Sir Gibbie it is then. We'll start on it Dec 1st. I'll send out an announcement and start a folder for discussion threads as we go through it together.

Thanks for understanding - everyone!

This travel was not planned and suddenly developed.

My apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.

Stan wrote: "Thanks for understanding - everyone!

This travel was not planned and suddenly developed.

My apologies for any inconvenience this has caused."

No worries! We were going to have lots of fun with either book.

I know the Gibbie group read is over now, but just in case anyone is still reading...

If you were as captivated by Gibbie's story as I was on my first reading (and have been ever since) you may be interested in that chance to bid on a signed print of one of artist Carrie Stout's beautiful illustrations for my new translated edition of the novel (the scene where Gibbie befriends the Newfoundland dog and spends the night sleeping in his kennel.)

We're not making any profit from this as all proceeds are donated to a fund to raise money for a Christian artistic retreat called North Wind Manor.

Anyway, you can check out the details here (bidding ends in about a week.)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...