As students and teachers get settled into this new semester, and as the rest of us enjoy this fall weather (yes, I know some of you think this is too cold, but this is almost perfect weather, so enjoy it), I thought I would give a couple more books to read, this time a fantasy series (with a Christian theme) that I have read in the last year or two.
So, I have been interested in fantasy ever since the fourth grade (and who says you can’t choose a book by its cover, I picked up my first fantasy book because of the minotaurs on it.). Anyhow, many of you may know of the religious undertones in such classics as the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and especially in C.S. Lewis’ “The Chronicles of Narnia.” As the fantasy genre has continued to grow and evolve, so has the subgenre of Christian fantasy. Although it flies mostly under the radar, I have found several series that I have enjoyed, and hope that you might have more suggestions for me or enjoy the books I offer to you.
A series that I just started, but is already really promising, is L.B. Graham’s “Binding of the Blade” series. The first book, “Beyond the Summerland,” is slow to start, but it definitely was written as the start of a series, and it proceeds to set up the rest of the series nicely. At the beginning, we see that there is no violence in the world; everybody lives peacefully in the world that Allfather created, until everything is shattered by a fallen “Titan,” and war enters the world. Fast forward in this world several thousand years, and you are ready for the book. I bet you can also see the Christian ties already. As I said, I have only read the first book, but I do plan on finishing the series.
Stephen Lawhead is becoming more and more known for his books of historical fiction, but he started out in fantasy. His first trilogy was entitled the “Dragon King,” and it is loosely based on Davidian themes. The hero, Quentin, is an acolyte to the priests of the god Ariel, but finds his life turned around when a wounded knight comes with a message. The action keeps moving and keeps you engrossed in the book.
As always, if you have any ideas and comments for things I could change, please let me know. If you have any books that you have read or have read the books I mention, please leave a comment. We here at Salzmann always want to know what the people are reading. Comments are always appreciated, and anything I can do to make this better I will strive my best to accomplish.
Here is some of the basic information about the library:
- Our standard hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays, 12 to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Our address is 3257 S. Lake Dr. St. Francis, WI 53235, right next to Henni Hall, due west of the South Parking Lot.
- The library’s phone number is (414) 747-6479. If you would like to contact me through email, it is mschrauth@sfs.edu.
- There is free Wi-Fi available.
- The library catalog is available online.
So, come in and check us out – everybody is welcome.
