Sandra Miesel November 25, 1941Dreamrider (1982) - first novel : 1983 Locus/5
Shaman (1989)
Against Time's Arrow: The High Crusade of Poul Anderson (1978)
Articles
Catholics & Science Fiction | An Interview with Sandra Miesel
In theory, science fiction is not supposed to contradict known scientific facts while fantasy uses premises contrary to fact. In practice, these distinctions are rather fudgy. Time travel and faster than light travel are impossible as far as science knows, yet they’re conventional devices in science fiction. Angels should belong to fantasy, yet as Catholics we believe them to be real.
It really comes down to what label a publisher uses to market a given work of fiction. Both SF & F can take place in the past, present, or future or alternate versions of same, on Earth or on other worlds. Together SF & F compose the highly flexible literary category of speculative fiction.
What do Worlds of If have to do with Jerusalem? Do Catholic
writers have a place among the wizards of fantasy and the starships of science
fiction? Although fantasy and science
fiction, which belong to the genre of “speculative fiction” (SF), can be
hostile to Christianity, so can any form of literature. There is nothing
intrinsically wrong about asking “What if?” We cannot afford to abandon this
aspect of the human imagination to those who would misuse it in the service of
atheism, blasphemy, nihilism, false cults, and New Age delusions. Our call to
redeem culture is not limited to a few safe artistic forms.
Speculation has long been a favorite approach for Catholic authors seeking
to teach, admonish, or warn.
Gene Wolfe
John C. Wright:
Michael Flynn
Tim Powers
Questions
Is there such a thing as Catholic/Christian SF?
Should there be Catholic SF?
Must Catholic SF be written by Catholics? Or is it simply speculative fiction written, to rephrase Tolkien, by a Trinitarian believer?
Do you see a
connection between your work and your faith? Is there a Catholic element in
your writing?
The Witches Next Door by Sandra Miesel - January 8, 2011
Why should Catholics care about a religious system so alien to ours? The simple answer is: It's there, it's growing, and some ex-Catholics find it attractive. (A more flippant answer: Look at what we have in common; after all, we've both had problems with Protestant Fundamentalists and been maligned in Jack Chick comics.)
Articles at Crisis Magazine
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