Into the Fire

Continually, whether frequently or infrequently, we read about the literary vs. the world, the Amish or prairie romances vs. contemporary whatever, vampires/werewolves, zombies, etc., specfic, sci-fi, and fantasy vs. everything in the ever expanding genres of Christian/CBA fiction. Writers take sides, deride opponents, state the obvious, rant or rave, and declare their passions for their favorite types of fiction.

Recently Eric Wilson, author of the Thomas Nelson published Trilogy of the Undead, Christian literature featuring vampires, said critics/observers accused him of “jumping on the Twilight bandwagon” when, in fact, he stated that he’d proposed a series about vampires over five years ago.

It seems ludicrous to me to allow the serial killers in the Christian thriller/horror genre to kill rampantly while denying the bloodthirsty vampires or other such wicked beasts to be sanctioned to the secular market. Personally speaking, I don’t remotely care about the vampire, etcetera culture amped up because of their particular current flavor for beast of the month or year or era. Not my gig. Never has been. However, if any writer wants to engage in such literature, it’s alright with me. Now a Christian writer who attempts to bring these types into the Christian “label” will have to do an amazing job of placing that scary creature into a potentially more meaningful story which could require more skill than the standard issue monster novels purport simply because it has to win an audience which is used to reading them from the secular market.

Regarding the other end of the writing spectrum, if a writer wants to step back into a culture where life is structured to the max, observe a time now gone by, and keep to long past means of transportation, communication, and other less modern ways to live, I say go for it. Do the research and write the story.

Either way, there’s the escape mechanism involved. The reasons for reading a novel involve escaping to the place and activities of the author’s presentation to the reader.

It makes no sense to me to argue for one over the other. To assume because there is a large audience for the sweet prairie romances or the Amish/Mennonite stories, that there aren’t audiences for the other extremes in Christian literature is to eliminate segments of the audiences still waiting for Christian novels to address their needs.

Each genre in Christian fiction presents its own niche market. Why not produce novels for all of them? I still maintain there must be a way to produce smaller numbers of niche market novels so that all readers who desire stories which at least involve biblical values in some manner can be available. But then . . . what do I know?

The only place I know of which requires certain books be read is in school and still people find ways not to read them. No one forces a consumer to pay hard-earned cash to buy one novel over another. And although there is definitely a competition for those book buying dollars, there shouldn’t be a competition which eliminates entire genres before they even have the chance to consistently compete for their share. Should there?

Father, you know the vast imaginations of your people and the tasks you’ve given your writers. You are no respecter of persons, you love us equally. Help us all to write to honor you with the words you supply. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.