This summer WORLD magazine (my only news source) asked readers to send in their favourite last lines of books so that they could print them in an upcoming issue. I was thinking about sending something in, but my favourite book ending of all time ('"Well, I'm back," he said' - last line of The Return of the King) was used as an example, and I couldn't think of anything better than that. I kept on thinking of good first lines, though.

I can remember the first and last sentences of books, especially good ones. Sometimes, when I'm trying to decide whether or not to read a book, I'll look at the first sentence, flip to the last sentence, and then see if I'm intrigued or not. Really good beginnings and endings can stay in my mind for a long time, but sometimes it's my first impression of a book that stays with me the longest.

So, just for fun, I've decided to hold a little contest of my own. What are some of your favourite book beginnings? If you can think of any, please share them in the comments section. They can be single sentences or whole paragraphs, and they can be from fiction or non-fiction books. I'll post my favourite submissions in future blog entries. Or, if there are only two or three submissions, maybe I'll post all of them.  I look forward to reading some great opening lines!

Wow, I have not posted in a long time! Sorry about that. I have the usual excuse: life was crazy, and I was lazy.

A few months ago I spent about four bumpy hours in a van with a girl I had never met before. Fortunately she was good at making conversation, and she had read many of the same books I had read (which always helps when I'm trying to be friendly). As might be expected, we got on the subject of The Lord of the Rings. I was delighted to learn that she had read it too, since I don't often meet other people willing to plod all the way through that enormous three-volume book. However, she did say that she didn't like The Lord of the Rings as much as The Chronicles of Narnia because, among other things, The Lord of the Rings "had so much evil in it".

Now, the Tolkien fanatic in me wanted to have a long debate about the purpose of evil in stories right there in the van. But I restrained myself, and since then I've come to realize that the girl had a point. The Lord of the Rings does involve a lot of evil. Balrogs, Black Riders, orcs, giant spiders, Saruman, the Dark Lord - there are a lot of scary creatures in that book. The main characters are often put into terrible situations, and not every plot thread ends with "happily ever after". There's more violence in Tolkien's masterpiece than in the whole Narnia series put together. And that leads me to the question: How much is too much? How much evil should we tolerate in the stories we read and write?

Since it's impossible to write a story with no evil in it, I think the answer to that question depends partly on the target audience of the book you're reading or writing. If The Lord of the Rings were meant for children (which it's not), then there would definitely be something wrong with having an army of orcs catapult the severed heads of Gondor's soldiers over the walls of Minas Tirith. But since it was written for adults, I consider that an acceptable way to show what our heroes are up against. The villains in books targeted towards kids (such as The Chronicles of Narnia) are, rightly, more subtle.

But even in adult books, we have to draw the line somewhere. Most Christians don't want to read a book full of detailed descriptions of sin, violence, and death, without any redemptive themes. I certainly wouldn't want to write one! So where should the line be drawn?

I don't think there's a simple answer to that question. There are some things, of course, that don't need to be included in any story - descriptions of sex, for example, or unnecessarily gruesome violence. We need to keep in mind Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." But beyond that, I don't think there's a certain standard that everyone needs to follow. Everyone has different convictions, different temptations. Just don't read or write anything that would be harmful to your soul. Personally, I don't have a particular limit of how much language or violence I'll tolerate in a book. For me it's more a question of whether the book is glorifying evil or merely portraying evil. I  won't read a book that is trying to make me admire the person who's sinning. But if the sin is shown to be wrong, if good is exalted over evil, then I don't care as much about the number of swear words or the intensity of the battle scenes.

As I've said before, I believe that our stories are meant to reflect the true Story - the one God has been writing since the beginning of time. In order to do that, I think we need to be honest about the reality of evil. Let's face it - God's story is not "nice". The Bible contains a story about a Man who was stripped naked and nailed to an upright piece of wood to die slowly while crowds looked on and mocked Him - to name only one of its disturbing episodes. Why would God put something so gruesome and uncomfortable in His story? Well, obviously it was the only way to save us from His wrath. But I think He also did it in order to display more of His glory. God is the Hero of this story, after all. And, as I said a couple of posts ago, the best heroes are the ones who sacrifice the most. I think that, in the crucifixion, God was displaying evil in all its hideousness - and He was also displaying His love and power in all its beauty and majesty. And he was setting the stage for the happiest ending ever written. Honestly, would Easter be as joyful if Good Friday had not preceded it?

I'm not sure if any of that makes sense or not. But my point is something one of my favourite preachers has said: A diamond shines brightest against a black background. God chose a very black background so that the diamond of His glory would shine all the brighter. And I think we can do the same. By portraying evil honestly in our stories, by sending our heroes into danger and darkness, we can make them look all the more admirable and worthy of imitation - and hopefully we can give our readers a glimpse of the hope found in the gospel.

So, in answer to my car-trip friend's objection, I say: Yes, The Lord of the Rings does have lots of evil in it. That's why I love it. If Gandalf didn't have to fight the Balrog, he wouldn't be the heroic, Christ-like figure he is. If Frodo and Sam didn't have to go through Mordor, I wouldn't shed tears of joy when they woke up in Ithilien. In this way, The Lord of the Rings imitates the ultimate Story. So it is with all great stories - and so may it be with ours.

One of the reasons why I think my dad is the best dad in the world is that he's always reading books aloud to me and my siblings. He's very good at it, and I've met some of my favourite books that way. One of my favourite things to do with my family is to sit around our living room on dark evenings while my dad reads some exciting book. I have also been reading aloud to other people ever since I learned to read, and I enjoy it immensely.

I think that reading aloud is important, for a couple of reasons. One  is that I've found I can sometimes enjoy a book more when I read it aloud. Maybe hearing the words, instead of just seeing them, helps me understand them better. Reading aloud can also be a good way to strengthen relationships. For example, before my family moved, my next-door neighbor was a non-Christian widow in her eighties. I became her friend by reading books to her, and that provided an opportunity for my whole family to serve and witness to her. Books, like most things, are best when shared, and reading aloud gives us an opportunity to share them.

So how's this for a summer project: Pick a friend or family member that you see regularly, and start reading a book to them. It can be especially fun to do this with your younger siblings (or children, if there are any parents reading this blog). Not all great books make great read-alouds, though, so choose carefully. Here are some read-alouds that my family has enjoyed over the years. Hopefully you'll enjoy them as well.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - Obviously.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien - Obviously, again; although I found it rather embarrassing to try to do Gollum's voice.

The Brethren by H. Rider Haggard - An exciting adventure in the time of the Crusades. My dad read two other great Haggard books to us, but this was our favourite.

The Cat of Bubastes by G.A. Henty - My second favourite Henty book. VERY slow at the beginning - I would recommend skipping the chapters about the Egyptian methods of hunting - but the pace really picks up after that.

The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne - I suppose I should say this is for the younger kids, but I think I enjoyed reading it more than my four-year-old sister enjoyed hearing it. It's hilarious, sweet, extremely well-written, and gives some rather profound insights into human nature. Definitely a classic.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - A must-read for young girls. Much better than the movie, naturally.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate diCamillo - A beautiful fairy-tale type of book. Most of Kate diCamillo's books make good read-alouds, but this is my favourite. She's so good at making a story funny and sad at the same time. This book is INFINITELY better than the movie.

Piccadilly Jim by P.G. Wodehouse - The funniest book I've ever read, as I believe I explained in my review last year. Wodehouse was a genius.

The Code of the Woosters by P.G. Wodehouse - Our most recent read-aloud. Perhaps not quite as funny as Piccadilly Jim, but it still had us gasping for breath a couple of times. Ah, how I love British humour.

The Penderwicks and The Penderwicks on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall - These are both wonderful books. They're a huge hit among ten-year-old girls, but my brothers enjoyed them too (they just don't want to admit it). There's some silly nonsense about crushes and dating in both of them, but nothing "offensive"; their virtues outweigh their faults.

Leepike Ridge by N.D. Wilson - A great survival adventure based on Homer's Odyssey. In my opinion, N.D. Wilson is simply the greatest living writer on earth. Is it a trend among amazing writers to use their first initials in their names?

The 100 Cupboards trilogy by N.D. Wilson - An amazing fantasy trilogy. The third book, Chestnut King, hasn't come out yet, but I'm sure it'll be worth recommending. As for the other two, 100 Cupboards and Dandelion Fire, you can read my ravings about them elsewhere. For now, I'll sum up in two words: Read them!

My dad has also read some non-fiction books to us, such as The Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney and A Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel. Those are great books, too, but younger kids might have a hard time sitting through them.

I hope these suggestions were helpful. Have fun reading!

I've been thinking lately about what makes a hero. Most stories have heroes (or heroines), in the sense that they each have a protagonist, someone who is at the centre of the action and is the character we sympathize with the most. But how many of our stories have real heroes in them - in the sense that the Bible defines a hero?

I know from my own experience that it's a lot harder to create a convincing hero than a convincing villain. Maybe because there aren't as many examples from real life.  I have to confess that I haven't created many good heroic characters in my stories (I'm working on that). But based on the books I've read and the principles I've learned from the Bible, I can think of at least one very important thing that I'd like to see more of in my own heroes and in those of other writers.

I think that the most important characteristic that a hero can have is self-sacrifice. In real life, the greatest heroes are the ones who followed the example of Jesus Christ, and our fictional heroes should be the same way. Although Jesus obeyed God's will perfectly in every way, what really defined His life on earth was self-sacrifice. Even before He went to the cross, He was constantly sacrificing His own comfort in order to serve people who never came close to fully appreciating what He did for them. We should follow this example in our own lives - and in the lives of the good characters we create.

Of course our heroes should have other good qualities like honesty, courage, and integrity, but it's most important that they be willing to sacrifice themselves for others. This could mean having a hero actually lay down his life for someone else, but it could also mean simply portraying a mother who gives up her career and sacrifices her time and energy to help her children. If you think about it, all the greatest heroes - in real life and in literature - were heroes because they gave up something they loved in order to do what was right. I believe that is the definition of true heroism.

Now, fictional heroes must not only be admirable, they must also be somewhat realistic. This means that, unless you're attempting to write an allegory with a character representing God, it's good to give your hero some flaws. I've read a few books where the heroes were so angelically good that I couldn't relate to them at all. I never read any of those books twice. Even the best heroes are still people. They should have personalities - with talents, quirks, fears, and besetting sins, just like in real life. Of course, if a person is really the hero of a story, his good traits should outshine his bad ones, but he should have just enough bad traits to make him seem real.

In today's culture, which likes to pretend that life is "all about YOU!", it can be hard to find self-sacrificing heroes, either in real life or in literature. I think that makes it even more important that we include them in our stories. My ultimate goal in writing fiction is that my readers will be blessed and encouraged to pursue a better relationship with God; and I think one way to do that is by giving them Christ-like heroes that will help point them to the cross, which is the ultimate act of heroism.

I'm sorry this post has been so late in coming. The last few weeks have been the busiest of this year so far, and it's hard to find time to get on the computer. But anyhow, my family finished reading Dandelion Fire, Book 2 in the 100 Cupboards series, over two weeks ago now, and I think it's the best fantasy by a living author that I've ever read. Once again, N.D. Wilson surprised me, enchanted me, enthralled me, and generally blew away all my expectations. Why can't all modern authors be like that?

*Caution: This review may contain spoilers from the first book in the series, 100 Cupboards. If you haven't read it yet, I would suggest that you exit this blog immediately, go to the nearest library or bookstore, acquire the book, and read it as soon as possible. I would hate to be guilty of spoiling the end for you.*

The story begins about a week or so after 100 Cupboards left off. Henry's adopted parents have returned, and he has only two weeks before one of them comes to take him back to Boston. He is desperate to get away - preferably to Badon Hill - before that can happen. But soon going back to Boston is the least of his worries. An encounter with a flaming dandelion leaves Henry blind and with a strange scar on his palm. He starts having unsettling dreams about a huge man called Darius. Naturally it isn't long before Henry is back inside the cupboards - only this time, he's caught up in the fight against an evil that he helped unleash. Along the way, he learns the secrets of his own past - and what it means to be a "pauper-son".

If you were a little bored with 100 Cupboards, I can guarantee you won't have the same problem with the sequel. The plot in Dandelion Fire is extremely fast-paced and exciting, with surprises in almost every chapter. In fact, if it has a fault, it's that there are too many twists and turns to keep up with. I'm going to have to read it again before the next book comes out, just to make sure I understood everything. But in spite of that, this book is just plain fun. It has everything I want in a fantasy story: adventure, magic, imaginative new worlds, a strong hero (actually there were several of those), and an exciting battle between good and evil.

What I really love about it, though, is the characters. In addition to the ones I came to love in the first book, in this one I was introduced to a host of new and interesting characters from beyond the cupboards. But the person I really came to love in this book is Henry. In Dandelion Fire he finally pulls away from his old, timid self and becomes a true hero. He's brave, determined, and loyal, with an excellent sense of the difference between good and evil. And, yes, those dandelion tricks are pretty cool.

Dandelion Fire is, I think, the most overtly Christian out of the N.D. Wilson books I've read. There were some subtle references to the Bible in 100 Cupboards, but they become much more obvious in this book. Many of the "good guys" from the cupboards talk and act surprisingly like Christians, and virtues like courage and honesty are valued throughout the story. I think the overall message, though, is that we really can't explain how the world works the same way we can explain how a machine works. The world isn't "tame". One of the amazing things about the 100 Cupboards series so far is that it makes the real world seem almost as magical as - well, the magical ones. Honey bees are just as amazing as raggants; baseball is just as fascinating as a magic cupboard; and even dandelions have a special power. The "ordinary" things that surround us are really so complex that only God knows exactly how they work, and I think that's what N.D. Wilson is trying to show us in his books. He certainly makes the world seem more interesting!

I realize that if you're in your late teens, like I am, or older, you might not be too enthusiastic about reading a kid's book like the ones N.D. Wilson writes. Well, I think the best kid's books are the ones that can be enjoyed by older people; but I don't think Dandelion Fire is necessarily for kids. There are some pretty intense (even violent) scenes, the villains are genuinely creepy, and the world where most of the action takes place is closer to Middle Earth than Narnia. Plus, young children will probably have a hard time keeping up with all the names and plot twists. My nine-year-old sister certainly did. No, in spite of the twelve-year-old hero and the fact that it's on the "young readers" shelf at Barnes & Noble, I think Dandelion Fire will be enjoyed most by teens, or even young adults - especially those who are somewhat familiar with Herodotus, Geoffrey of Monmouth, and the Bible.

Long story short: go buy Dandelion Fire! If you like fantasy at all, I can almost guarantee that you'll like this one. I'm going to have a hard time finding another recent novel to equal it. And one thing's for sure - I'll never look at a dandelion the same way again.

Well, I don't really have much to write about today, but I feel like I should write something, so I'm posting another poem on here. I hope you're not too sick of my poetry yet.

Wonder

The sky's clouds were pregnant with the rain;

My heart's clouds helped to dull the pain.

A golden sword rent the clouds in two,

Bringing me my first thought that was new.

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

Each child that is born must one day die.

I looked into a pond on one black night,

When neither moon nor man offered me light.

I saw reflected in black sky deep down

Three piercing stars, like Durin's crown.

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

Stars can still light up empty sky.

In the aftermath of each great fall

We become children, one and all.

We look at each other with tearful eyes,

We ask each other, we ask the sky:

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

We do our best, and still we cry.

They taught us well, this world's great minds:

How to stop our ears, shut our eyes.

They taught me well, those heroes of mine:

How to live for now, leave courage behind.

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

We still want truth, who tell the lies.

My body is full; there is nothing it lacks.

But, ah! my soul with hunger is wracked!

Only something bigger than earth is wide

Could fill this lake of longing inside.

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

We can have all and be unsatisfied.

He came to me in darkest night

When nothing on earth could give me light.

His golden sword rent my clouds in two;

That day I knew that I was new.

I wonder, I wonder, I wonder why

This one clean man for the filthy would die.

He is bigger than earth is wide;

He filled my lake of longing inside.

He embraced me with red-stained hands;

Then, at last, He made me understand.

The reason, the reason, the reason why

Is that I love you, and I am I.

That's probably the best poem I've ever written (it's certainly the longest). I hope you enjoy it! Stay tuned for a review of Dandelion Fire, N. D. Wilson's newest book, coming soon!

I'm sorry to say that, starting this month, I won't be doing any more authors of the month. Apparently I haven't read well enough lately, for I have run out of good authors to mention. I regret to announce that this is THE END. The authors are going. They're leaving NOW. Goodbye!

Sorry about that. I just couldn't resist.  Anyway, I'm taking a break from "author of the month" until I have sufficiently increased my author repertoire. I may start doing a book of the month soon, but I haven't decided yet. So if, in May, you wonder why there hasn't been an author of the month for months, it's because I'm not doing them anymore. Just wanted to let you all know.

Wow. I just finished A Tale of Two Cities for the second time, and I think "wow" is the best way to describe it. This book was always my favorite by Charles Dickens, and now it's officially my favorite classic ever.

You've probably all heard of A Tale of Two Cities. It's one of Dickens' most famous books, and its first and last lines might be his most famous quotes. For those of you who aren't familiar with the story, though, I'll try to summarize it as briefly as possible.

The book begins with a kindly banker, Mr. Lorry, traveling to France to rescue a man who was unjustly held prisoner in the Bastille for 18 years, and to reunite him with his daughter. The man has lost his mind, but his daughter, Lucie Manette, is eventually able to bring him to his senses, and they come to live happily in England together. After a few years they meet two new characters, Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton, who look alike but have seemingly opposite personalities. Their lives become entwined with the Manettes when both men fall in love with Lucie. Meanwhile, a couple called the Defarges and their army of "Jaques" are preparing for a revolution in France.

My family has owned A Tale of Two Cities for a long time, but it took me a while before I could work up the courage to read past that daunting first sentence ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of reason, it was the age of foolishness", and on and on). But once I got beyond that, the rest of the book was well worth it. I read it once on my own, and just recently my dad read it to me and my brothers. One of the signs of a truly great book is that it's just as good the second time you read it. I enjoyed this book even better the second time around, so it must be good!

First of all, A Tale of Two Cities is incredibly well-written. Did I mention that Charles Dickens was a genius? He uses metaphors and foreshadowing brilliantly, especially in the first half of the book. He has a way of describing a scene that puts the reader right there, in the courtrooms of London or the wild streets of Paris. The characters are also extremely vivid. How can anyone forget someone like Miss Pross, or Madame Defarge, or Sydney Carton once they've met them?

It's not just the way the characters are portrayed that makes me love them, though. It's what Charles Dickens does with those characters. A Tale of Two Cities is a story about redemption and resurrection. It is not a pretty book. There wasn't much good in the French Revolution - it was all about hatred and revenge. The aristocrats were incredibly cruel to the people, and when the people struck back, they were just as cruel to the aristocrats. Dickens describes the evil of both sides very vividly sometimes. However, in the midst of this vicious cycle, the nobility of the good characters shines all the more. The wickedness and hate of people like Madame Defarge, the Vengeance, and Jaques Three only makes people like Mr. Lorry, Dr. Manette, and even Miss Pross, look better.

I don't know whether or not Charles Dickens was a Christian. I've certainly never heard that he was. But, whether he intended it or not, there are some decidedly Christian themes in this book. John 11:25-26 (the verse that says "I am the resurrection and the life") is quoted several times toward the end, and resurrection is a powerful theme throughout the story. As I've said before, I believe a story is only good so far as it reflects the Story of the gospel, and I think A Tale of Two Cities does that. It shows evil for what it is, but it also shows that there is something stronger than evil. Love conquers hate. Selflessness triumphs over vengeance. Courage is stronger than fear. Combine this worldview with a Christ-like hero and some very moving writing, and you have a wonderful classic.

A Tale of Two Cities is another difficult, but rewarding, book. I know that there are some awfully long sentences in there, but I promise that the story is worth reading those dry passages for. I highly recommend this book to any teenager or adult who is willing to tackle "the best of times and the worst of times".

The Roar on the Other Side

Today I want to recommend a book to all my fellow poets out there. It's called The Roar on the Other Side: A Guide for Student Poets by Suzanne U. Clark, and I think it's a must-read for everyone who likes writing poetry.

I've read a lot of books about writing, read a lot of articles on the Internet and elsewhere, taken a few classes, and gone through at least four different writing programs in school. A lot of those books, classes, and curricula had something to say about writing poetry, but it was never very helpful because the people who taught it weren't poets. I've often wished for a book about how to write poetry that was written by a good, experienced poet. The Roar on the Other Side is that book.

Mrs. Clark is obviously a poet, and a good one, too, if the little snippets she includes as examples are any indication. Even more importantly, she's a Christian, and she teaches poetry as a way to glorify God. That's what made this book so helpful and encouraging to me. It covers just about everything in poetry, from the best kinds of words to use, to the different kinds of form and meter, to using metaphors and imagery, to publishing a poem. But throughout the book there are examples from the Bible, gospel connections, and biblical exhortations to praise God with our words.

Roar is written for poets, but I think a lot of its advice, particularly in the first few chapters, could apply to any kind of writing. And, since I believe all writing should have a little poetry in it, I think it would be worthwhile for any aspiring writer to read this book. I personally would buy it just for the collection of great poems in the back. But I would especially encourage those who love poetry to read this book slowly, do as many of the exercises as possible, and try to apply all the lessons. The Roar on the Other Side is the most helpful book on writing that I've read in a long time.

The Author of the Month for January is...Dorothy Sayers!

As you may have noticed, I'm running out of ideas for the Author of the Month. At first I tried only to name authors who have written more than one of my favorite books, but that list has grown very thin. So now I'm resorting to an author by whom (alas!) I have only read one book. However, based on that book, I think she was an excellent writer, and I plan on reading many more of her works in the future.

Dorothy L. Sayers was born on June 13, 1893 in Oxford, England (all the greatest writers seem to have ended up there at one point or another), to Rev. Henry Sayers, a minister in the Church of England. She won a scholarship to Somerville College (at Oxford again), and graduated with First Class Honors in modern languages. She published a collection of poems in 1916, the year after she graduated, and her first mystery novel, Whose Body?, appeared in 1923. Throughout her life she wrote many novels - mostly mysteries - as well as plays and essays. Towards the end of her life, she also translated Dante's Divine Comedy (I'll be reading her translation for school this year), though she died before finishing it. A friend translated the rest and published it in 1962.

Dorothy Sayers once said, "The only Christian work is good work, well done." She seems to have lived out that saying, from what I have heard of her. She was certainly a great writer as well as a strong Christian. One of the books I had to read this year for history/literature was The Nine Tailors, one of her detective stories starring the character Lord Peter Wimsey. It was, by far, the best mystery I've ever read.

Up until I was about nine or ten, I hardly read anything but mysteries. All the ones I read then were silly, of course, but more recently I've read some of the famous detective stories by Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Even those books, though, left me unsatisfied. There always seemed to be something missing. But The Nine Tailors left me completely satisfied. I think that's because there's more to it than just a suspenseful mystery. Amid all the puzzles and investigations, Sayers takes time to really develop her characters and setting. I feel much more of an attachment to the characters in The Nine Tailors than those in any other mystery I've read. The story's background is hard to forget, too - a small village in the marshy lands of East Anglia, and an old church with nine bells hanging in the steeple. Besides all this, there are many subtle biblical themes woven into the story, which add a lot of meaning and depth that is missing from most detective books.

Overall, The Nine Tailors is not just a good mystery, but a good story, with plenty of humor, suspense, and unforgettable characters. It has quickly moved onto my list of favorites. I should warn you that there is more swearing in it than one would expect from a Christian author, but there's nothing else objectionable. I would encourage anyone who loves a good mystery to check this one out at your local library or bookstore. I myself will be looking around for more books by Dorothy Sayers.

I thought it would be fitting to cap off the fantasy series with a review of a popular fantasy book. Most of you have probably heard of the Inheritance series by Christopher Paolini. The first two books, Eragon and Eldest, were best-sellers, and Eragon was even made into a movie a while ago (although most people hated it). The third book, called Brisingr, came out this September, and I finally got to read a few weeks ago. This review may contain spoilers from the first two books, so if you haven't read them and would like to, you may not want to read any further.

Ever since I started reading them, I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Inheritance books. On the one hand, they aren't very well-written, they copy The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars almost to the point of plagiarism, and they're obviously written from a non-Christian point of view. On the other hand, they are very entertaining, the characters are convincing enough to make me want to find out what happens to them, and the plot is often exciting and surprising (when it isn't too much like Star Wars).

I loved Eragon when I first read it two years ago. I was less enthusiastic about Eldest, mostly because nothing significant happened for about three hundred pages of it. When I was finally able to read Brisingr, I hoped that it would be an improvement on its predecessor. It was, for the most part, though I was very disappointed to find that one of the chapters is titled "Shadows of the Past".  Although there were a few boring stretches in the middle, I enjoyed it overall.

Brisingr picks up right where Eldest leaves off, with Eragon and his cousin Roran on a mission to rescue Roran's fiance, Katrina. From there it traces Eragon's efforts to unite the peoples of Alagaesia as their rebel army marches steadily closer to the final confrontation with the evil king, Galbatorix.

As far as writing goes, Brisingr is about the same as the first two books. The story is creative and the characters are developed well, but it seemed to me like there were more words than there needed to be. Christopher Paolini certainly has talent, but I don't think he's a great writer yet. I think he could be one someday, but not yet.

The main thing I want to highlight about Brisingr, though, is not the writing. It's the worldview. The Inheritance books are a great example of fantasy's potential to mirror its author's beliefs. I highly doubt that Christopher Paolini wrote these books to convey any kind of "message". It seems to me that he was just like the rest of us - a  teenage fantasy nut writing a story for fun.  Yet his worldview still comes out very strongly in his writing.

For one thing, Paolini is a non-Christian living in 21st century America. As a result, most of his female characters fight in the battles, the ruler Eragon follows is a dark-skinned woman, and one character becomes pregnant before she is married. Though it's not as obvious as those other things, there is also a slight emphasis on tolerance Brisingr; a race of creatures who were evil throughout Eragon and most of Eldest are suddenly accepted into the rebel army, for example.

For another thing, I'm pretty sure that Christopher Paolini is an agnostic. His imaginary world, Alagaesia, is the first fantasy world I've encountered where the inhabitants actually worship "gods" - and call them that. Each culture has its own religion, except for the elves, who don't believe in any gods at all. Eragon, who is increasingly exposed to all the cultures, is often uncertain as to which belief - if any - is the right one. The difference between good and evil can also be somewhat fuzzy at times. All this may reflect Paolini's own spiritual confusion.

All in all, Brisingr is entertaining, but it is not worthy to be compared with great fantasy books like The Lord of the Rings; both because of the poor writing and the false worldview. Just so you know, the battles can get pretty gruesome, and as I mentioned above, one unmarried character becomes pregnant (though the story doesn't dwell on that at all). If you are sensitive to this kind of thing, or if your parents object, don't read Brisingr. If not, I would recommend it as a fun read, but not a story that will touch your heart or stick with you for years afterward.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Have a wonderful time celebrating the miracle of the Incarnation!

Today I'm going to conclude the series on fantasy by giving a few suggestions on how to write it. Once again, I'm no expert, but I do have a lot of experience reading fantasy, and a little experience writing it. These are just my suggestions based on that experience, and please feel free to add or subtract from them as much as you need to.

The most important thing to remember as you write fantasy, just as with every kind of writing, is that you're doing it for God. No matter how good your story is, no matter whether you get it published or not, no matter how many people like it, it means nothing if it does not glorify God and bless His people in some way. As I said in the last post, fantasy has a unique potential for communicating the gospel without being preachy, and we should take advantage of that.

On a more practical note, here are a few suggestions that may help you improve the quality of your fantasy stories and avoid making some of the mistakes that most fantasy authors make.

1. Be creative. Remember, the possibilities for fantasy are endless! It doesn't matter how crazy your ideas are; if you write convincingly enough, they can still make a great story. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Elves and dragons are cool, but they don't need to be in every fantasy story.

2. Be original. Don't try to write like your favorite fantasy authors, whoever they may be. Every writer has a different style, and yours will sound much better if you're not trying to imitate someone else's. Just be yourself. I suggest trying not to read, watch, or even think about The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, or any other fantasy book you like while you're making up a story. Also remember to check your work often to make sure your dialogue and plotlines don't sound too familiar. I am often surprised at how easy it is, when you're as steeped in the worlds of Narnia and Middle Earth as I am, to mimic them without noticing it.

3. Be descriptive. I know that a lot of people get bored with J.R.R. Tolkien's long descriptions of places in Middle Earth, but would his world seem half as real and vivid if he had left them out? Remember, your readers have never seen your imaginary worlds, creatures, or characters before. Describe them in a way that makes your readers see them as wonderful, terrible, or beautiful as you imagine them. Make them come to life. I realize that this is difficult, and I still need to work on it myself, but it I can guarantee it will be worth it.

4. Be consistent. Even though there are no set rules for fantasy stories, you still have to follow the ones you make up. Fantasy can't be realistic in the sense that everything in it could really happen, but it should be realistic in whatever context you've created. For example, if your fantasy world is medieval (people fight with swords, live in castles, etc.), don't put 21st-century expressions in the dialogue. (I know that seems obvious, but I have read fantasy books that make this mistake, and it sounds very silly.) If you've made it clear that dragons can't go near water, don't have a dragon attack a ship. It's easier to make mistakes like this than you might think. Always be on the lookout for inconsistencies in your writing.

5. Have fun! Writing fantasy, like all writing, is hard, but it can also be a blast. Don't worry too much about how good your stories are at first. Just focus on being creative and having fun. Editing can come later.

Well, I hope that was somewhat helpful, at least. Thanks for reading!

The Author of the Month for December is...Jean Merrill!

I promise I'll write that last fantasy post soon! I just didn't want to let half of December slip away before announcing the author of the month, as I've done the last few months. Unfortunately I could not find a picture of this month's author. I don't think she's as well-known as some of the ones I've done before, but she's still very good.

Jean Merrill was born in Rochester, New York in 1923, but grew up near Lake Ontario. She got her B.A. in English from Allegheny College and began to work as an editor for Scholastic Magazines. She also worked for a magazine called Literary Cavalcade, but left in 1952 to work in India. She wrote several children's picture and chapter books, but she is most famous for The Pushcart War and The Toothpaste Millionaire, in that order. She now lives in Vermont.

Although The Toothpaste Millionaire is a fun book that taught me just about everything I know about business (granted, it isn't much), I really love Jean Merrill for The Pushcart War. It takes second place on the list of the funniest books I've ever read. Written like a historical account, it tells the story of a war between the pushcart drivers of New York City and the truck drivers who want to crowd them out. What makes it so funny is that, even though almost everything that happens in it is ridiculous, the tone of the writing is always serious, much like some of the real history textbooks I've read. Characters like Frank the Flower and General Anna also help to make it memorable.

I don't know if they print it anymore, but there's an excellent audio version of The Pushcart War that makes the book even funnier than it already was. Check your local library for both the book and audio version - and remember to thank Jean Merrill!

I'm taking a short break from the fantasy series in order to share a poem I wrote today. When you're in the middle of a trial, it can sometimes be hard to know what to "give thanks" for. But when we remember what God has done for us, and how much He loves us, there's always something to be thankful for. This poem is about that. It's not my best, but I hope it's encouraging.

Thanksgiving Prayer

Today I will give thanks for what is lost and what is new.

Rain is falling hard and fast, storms struggle in my heart,

But today I will give thanks, for Your promises are true.

Today I will give thanks for what was and what will be.

Though it's hard to see the hope from behind sorrow's veil,

Yet I will give thanks, for I know that You are with me.

Today I will give thanks, for blessings past and now.

Your goodness has always followed me; I know it always will.

On hard roads and soft, in harvest and in drought,

Help me to give thanks without asking "when" or "how".

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Now that you've read my somewhat random post on the catagories of fantasy, it's time to take a look at what makes fantasy so popular. It's a fact that fantasy books usually sell very well among kids and teens, and even adults sometimes. Part of the reason probably has to do with the Harry Potter craze, and the fact that almost every children's author in America wants to imitate it, but I think there's just something about fantasy that attracts people. The question is, what is it?

Now I'm no expert, as you'll probably be able to tell, and I certainly can't speak for all fantasy lovers, but I can at least give you some reasons why I love fantasy. I don't think I'm totally unique among readers, so hopefully some of these will apply to the majority as well.

1) The first reason why I love fantasy is that it's just plain cool! Good fantasy tales of either catagory are always exciting, suspenseful, and full of heroic knights, beautiful princesses, and epic battles. I love adventure stories, and this genre offers some of the highest adventure there is. I get so wrapped up in fantasy books that, whereas an old classic like Bleak House takes me a month to complete, I can tear through a fantasy of similar length, like Eldest, in just a few days.

2) Fantasy also leaves more room for creativity than any other genre. Just think - if an author has invented his or her own world, then there are no limits to what they can put into that world. They don't have to follow any rules except the ones they make up. In a historical fiction novel or a mystery, of course, it would be unrealistic to have a dragon swoop down and start attacking a town. But in an imaginary world, anything can happen! I think this is one of the reasons so many people write fantasy, too. I have now finished the first draft of a fantasy book and am starting the process of writing a historical fiction book, and I can already tell it's going to be a lot harder than the fantasy book. Fantasy is much easier and more fun than a lot of other genres.

3) Those two points are probably the only reasons most people would give for liking fantasy. But I think, at least for me, there's another  reason - one that we might not think of right away. It has to do with what fantasy books do to us.

I've heard several people talk about how fairy tales (and, according to some, all novels) are "escapist". They say that people read books about other worlds in order to get away from their own troubled world - in order to escape reality. While I don't think that "escaping" into a fantasy world is the right way to cope with our problems, I have to admit that that has sometimes been my motive in reading fantasy. Although I've grown in this area lately, I have often been tempted to just lose myself in a book and forget about my problems.

The truth is, the world we live in is very dark. It's full of problems that range from minor inconveniences to devastating tragedy, and oftentimes it's hard to know what to believe or who to trust. Fantasy worlds also have problems, and there are just as many bad guys there as there are in the real world. But in fantasy books (all the good ones, anyway) the difference between good and evil is crystal clear. And good always wins in the end. People who can't find that kind of clarity in the real world, or aren't sure if their stories will have happy endings, want to escape from reality through fantasy stories.

For Christians, though, fantasy is not escapist. Why? Because we know that there really is a clear distinction between good and evil. We know that good ultimately does win the battles. For us, fantasy is a reflection of reality, not an escape from it. We don't need to find refuge in fantasy books, and we shouldn't try. But we can still enjoy them - even more than non-Christians, I think - when we remember that they reflect the way the real world works.

"But wait," you might be thinking. "What about all the fantasy books where the line between good and evil isn't so clear - or worse, where evil seems to be exalted over good? What about the Inheritance books? What about Harry Potter? What about His Dark Materials?" Well, what I've been describing so far is the ideal fantasy. Just like every genre, fantasy has a certain standard to live up to. And, just like with every genre, the majority of fantasy books don't live up to it. Of course, as I've said before, no author is ever going to equal J.R.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis, but some authors come closer than others. The best fantasy stories reflect Christian reality, but that doesn't mean they all do.

This brings us to another cool aspect of fantasy: it's the best genre for portraying an author's worldview that I know of. Many writers use fantasy stories solely for the purpose of convincing others to believe as they do, and even when they don't, their beliefs seem to slip in anyway. Of course, an author's worldview shows up in his writing no matter what genre he's using, but it seems to be especially clear in fantasy. Nowadays, most fantasy writers are non-Christians, so their imaginary worlds reflect how they see the real world: confusing, depressing, and without purpose.

I'm not saying that all fantasy written by non-Christians is bad. And I'm definitely not saying that all fantasy written by Christians is good. I'm just saying that the best fantasy will inevitably be written by Christians, because only Christians can make fantasy accomplish its highest purpose, which is to bring people closer to God. I'll try to explain this in more detail in the next post.

I'm sure there are many other reasons why people love fantasy. This list is not exhaustive, and some of you may not even be able to relate to it. Hopefully some of you will be able to relate to my last reason for loving fantasy, though. I think it's an important thing to remember, especially when we start thinking about writing fantasy ourselves.

As you all know, my favorite genre of literature is fantasy. I've loved fantasy stories ever since I can remember, and most of the stories I've made up (and both of the ones I've written down) are also fantasy. Apparently I'm not alone in this. It seems like no matter what bookstore I walk into, there's a new installment of some fantasy series on the best-seller shelf. Part of the reason probably has to do with the Harry Potter craze, and the fact that every children's author in America is trying to imitate it, but I think a lot of people simply find fantasy appealing.

Being one of those people, I've decided to devote a short series of posts to my favorite genre. To start things off, I'm going to describe what I see as the two main catagories of fantasy books. Later I'll look at what attracts people to fantasy, the purpose of fantasy, and maybe a few suggestions on how to write fantasy.

Fantasy is kind of a broad term. Because most fantasy literature involves some kind of magical world, the possibilities for what you can do with that world are endless. That's one of the things I like about fantasy. However, in my mind, most of the fantasy books published nowadays fit into one of two catagories: the modern fairy-tale and the fantasy epic.

1) The modern fairy-tale. This catagory is usually written for children, and it takes place more or less in our world. The story-line basically goes like this: a couple of ordinary children (usually a girl and a boy) discover a magical secret. Oftentimes it's a door into another world, but sometimes it's a magic creature or object from our world, hinting that planet Earth is not as ordinary and predictable as it might seem. The children then have a series of adventures, during which one or both of them usually receives a gift which will help them accomplish some mission in the new world.

Books in this catagory are characterized by magic and fairy-tale type creatures. They always involve some sort of battle against evil, but they're usually pretty light-hearted and kid-friendly. The best example of this kind of book is The Chronicles of Narnia, of course, but there are a few good modern examples as well. 100 Cupboards is one of them.

2) The fantasy epic. This catagory is probably the most popular and the least well-done. It's targeted more towards adults and teens, and it takes place entirely in the fantasy world. The basic story line is very simple, and goes like this: a dark power rises and tries to take over an imaginary world. The forces of good fight back, and there are several epic battles, but an unlikely hero ultimately saves the day. This type of book is usually very detailed, full of creatures, countries, cultures, and often even languages invented by the author.

The only problem with this catagory is that, to my knowledge, there's only one author that ever did it right. J.R.R. Tolkien invented the fantasy epic, and he also set the standard for it. Unfortunately he set the standard so high that no one has been able to reach it since. He did everything right, so there was nothing left for future authors to do. Every modern attempt at writing a fantasy epic just sounds like a copy of The Lord of the Rings. A prime example of this is the Inheritance trilogy, which includes almost a word-for-word quote from The Fellowship of the Ring. The fantasy epic is, in theory, a great genre, but the standard is just too high. So, unless you consider yourself a genius of Tolkien's caliber, don't attempt to write one.

I'm not saying that every fantasy book ever written fits into these catagories. There's the traditional fairy tale, of course - we all know what that's like - and the anti-fairytale, which has become pretty popular in the last decade or so with movies like Shrek and books like Ella Enchanted. But there aren't as many of those books, so I didn't think they needed a catagory of their own. There's also the wizard's tale, which was started (I think) by Harry Potter and is a little more common. I didn't include that for two reasons: one, I've never read a book in that catagory, and two, it seems to have the same problem as the fantasy epic. Everyone is just copying J.K. Rowling.

And then there's sci-fi fantasy, which, in my opinion, is a different genre altogether. That's where things can get really weird (and cool). But that's another post.

The Author of the Month for November is...

Robert Louis Stevenson!

This author probably doesn't need much introduction. You've most likely read at least one of his books, and if not, you've undoubtedly seen at least one of the many film versions of them. Robert Louis Stevenson has written some of the best-loved children's fiction and poetry in all of literature.

He was born on November 13, 1850, in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was very sickly as a child and throughout his life, but he still managed to travel and write a lot. He attended Edinburgh University, first for engineering and then for law, but didn't end up following either of those professions. His first writings were published in magazines during his college years. He continued to write for the rest of his life. From the late 1880s on he lived in the island of Samoa, where he died on December 3, 1894.

The book that Stevenson is best known for, Treasure Island, was published in 1883. Some other famous books of his are: Kidnapped, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and a poetry book called A Child's Garden of Verses. Besides The Black Arrow, those were the only ones I had ever heard of, until I looked him up on the Internet. I was amazed to discover that he wrote at least 17 novels, 13 books of non-fiction, 8 books of poetry, and 7 short stories during the  44 years of his life. Apparently I have some reading to do!

Out of the books I have read by him, my favorite is Kidnapped. It's a very fun, exciting story that takes place in Scotland. I think what makes Robert Louis Stevenson's children's books so popular is just how fun they are. They certainly aren't very deep (or even well-written compared to, say, Charles Dickens), but they're exciting, energetic, and full of memorable characters. I'd recommend reading any of the books listed above if you want to put some adventure into your reading diet.

Today I'm just writing a short post in honor of a special occasion: my blog is one year old today! I can hardly believe it's been that long. This has been a very busy and painful year for me, but by God's grace I've been able to keep this blog alive. Thank you to all the people who have read and commented regularly - all ten of you.  Even though this is a small blog with a small audience, if just a few people have enjoyed my posts or been helped by them, this year has been worth it. Thanks again for reading The Gatekeeper's Pen, and I look forward to another year of writing!

Hi, everyone, I'm back! After a month of limited Internet access, it feels great to be posting again. The uprooting process is over, and the planting process (which will take considerably longer) has begun. Which is to say, we've moved and are settled into our new house now, so hopefully I'll be able to post regularly from now on.

Well, I finished The Lord of the Rings for the fourth time about two months ago. What can I say? It was spectacular - again. I've read it four times now, and I'm pretty sure I'll never get tired of it. That being said, I'm not quite sure how to review it. How do you critique a work of genius - especially when you don't fully understand it yourself? All I can do is try my best and see what comes of it.

Hopefully all of you are at least somewhat aquainted with the story of The Lord of the Rings. For those who aren't, it can be summarized like this: a hobbit named Frodo Baggins (Bilbo's younger cousin, if you remember my review of The Hobbit) inherits a magic ring that Bilbo found on his adventures. This ring turns out to be the Ring of Power, the most precious possession of the Dark Lord Sauron and the source of his power. Frodo must destroy it in order to keep Sauron from enslaving the world.

When I first read that story, I was ten years old. I didn't know much about writing then and had only just discovered my passion for doing it myself. In fact The Lord of the Rings was what finally rescued me from the benighted world of Left Behind: The Kids and Frank Peretti books. But I didn't need much experience or knowledge about writing to appreciate this masterpiece. The story, the characters, and the detailed world they were set in enchanted me at once, and I never recovered.

Now I know enough about writing to say that J.R.R. Tolkien's is some of the best I've ever seen. The Lord of the Rings has so many characters and so many subplots that it could get very confusing in less skillful hands, but Tolkien ties everything together perfectly. His descriptions of people, places, and events are so vivid that I can see the story as if it were happening right in front of me. The language he uses is much darker, deeper, and grander than it is in The Hobbit - perfect for an epic as vast as this one. But it's his imagination that truly marks J.R.R. Tolkien as a genius. Middle Earth is, by far, the most three-dimensional fantasy world ever created. Every place that the members of the Fellowship pass through has its own atmosphere of wonder, terror, melancholy, or homeliness - and, thanks to Tolkien's detailed descriptions, it all seems incredibly real. Plus, if you look at the appendices at the end of The Return of the King (I highly recommend doing so, they're quite fascinating), you realize that Middle Earth has a history, geography, mythology, a timeline, a calendar, multiple languages complete with alphabets and grammar, and detailed geneologies of every character. It boggles my mind that any human mind could think of it all!

But even though it's these kinds of details that show J.R.R. Tolkien's brilliance, I don't think it's what has made his books so enduringly popular. It's the story, and the characters, that captivate us. Which leads me to begin discussing the worldview of The Lord of the Rings.

Before I say anything else, let me make it clear that The Lord of the Rings is not an allegory. Probably because J.R.R. Tolkien was a Catholic, and a close friend of C.S. Lewis, some people seem to interpret his stories allegorically. This is a mistake, because Tolkien himself said that he disliked allegory. In fact the only serious blot on his character that I've ever heard of is that he tried to persuade C.S. Lewis not to publish The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. (I'm not positive whether that's true or not, so don't get too mad at him yet.) However, there are many parallels that can be drawn between The Lord of the Rings and the Christian life.

Several times during the story, things happen which appear to be astonishing coincidences - such as Bilbo "just happening" to be lost in the goblin tunnels when the Ring leaves Gollum, and to pick it up in the dark. Yet J.R.R. Tolkien consistently gives us hints that there is more going on than just good luck. About Bilbo's discovery of the Ring, Gandalf says, "Behind that there was something else at work, beyond any design of the Ring-maker. I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, and not by its maker. In which case you also were meant to have it." Though this is the most obvious, there are many other examples of this throughout the trilogy. The lure of the Ring can also be compared to the temptation of sin. Almost every character, from the smallest to the greatest, has some sort of encounter with it, and although their characters are most clearly revealed by how well they resist its power, no one is strong enough to ultimately overcome or destroy it on their own. Several characters also display different aspects of Christ-likeness; and the overall themes of courage, loyalty, and hope in the face of impossible circumstances, as well as the clear distinction between good and evil are very consistent with a Christian worldview.

Overall, The Lord of the Rings is a beautiful, epic story that takes place in a fantastic world, yet tells about things that everyone - particularly every Christian - can relate to. And isn't that what fantasy books are all about - getting us to look beyond the surface of our everyday lives to see the same ideas we all live by in a new way? J.R.R. Tolkien does this better than any other fantasy writer I've ever read - except C.S. Lewis, of course. If you read The Lord of the Rings from a Christian perspective, you might be surprised at how much you can learn.

Now I know a lot of people who haven't read this trilogy, or haven't finished it, because it's too long and full of detail. Some say it's tedious. I've never found it to be tedious, and I happen to like all the details, but I do agree that it's very long, and it might be difficult if you're not used to reading books like that. Even so, I would encourage you to read it. Get it on tape (unabridged), or ask a parent or experienced reader to go through it with you if that makes it easier. Whatever you do, I can almost guarantee it'll be worth the effort. Also, if you don't think you need to read The Lord of the Rings because you've seen the movies, you're wrong. I'm not saying the movies are bad. They're actually my favorite movies of all time, and I think the film-makers did an amazing job with them. But they don't do justice to the books, simply because no movie can ever do justice to the books. There's just too much good stuff in them to pack into a movie. If you haven't seen the movies yet, I would recommend watching (and buying!) the extended versions, but only after you've read the books all the way through.

Well, there are still a million great things about these books I haven't mentioned, but to keep you from getting too bored with this long post, I'll let you find them out for yourselves. But I can't end this review without saying something about Sam Gamgee. He's Frodo's gardener, the first person to be added to the Fellowship of the Ring, and the only one to accompany Frodo all the way to Mordor. And he's not only my favorite character in The Lord of the Rings, but probably my favorite character in all literature. He's not wise or majestic or good at fighting like many of the other characters, but he's incredibly brave and loyal. He sticks to Frodo no matter what, and he keeps him going even when all seems lost. He never completely loses hope, not even when the circumstances seem hopeless. I could go on and on, and I still wouldn't adequately describe his character. You'll have to read the books to see just how amazing Sam is. Sorry, I just had to praise him in front of you.