Sleep in Peace (story and preview)

By Karlissa J

Davy Jones started awake. A chilly, palpable darkness surrounded the merchild, his belly resting against soft mud.

He wasn’t afraid of the dark or the cold. He breathed through it. He lived in it. And yet something had unsettled him. “Uncle Jor’mun Gand?” Davy Jones whispered.

Silence.

“Uncle?”

“I heard you,” His uncle’s smooth voice floated from the darkness. “I told you not to wake me. What do you want?”

“Can… can I um… can I come sleep beside you?”

A pause. “Fine.”

Davy Jones swam up and over. He felt the rock that his uncle slept upon, then nosed his way to his uncle’s chest, curling beneath the larger merman’s arms. The child stretched out his own eel-like body. “Uncle?”

“Yes?”

“Um… I saw a glowing fish in the house.”

“A small one?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then don’t worry about it,” Jor’Mun Gand said absently. “All the food is stored away. And glowing fish are rarely scavengers anyways.”

The room fell back into quiet. Davy Jones could feel his uncle’s pulse. The merchild curled into a ball. “Uncle, I… I had a nightmare. I didn’t see anything, but I smelled something scary following me.”

His uncle shifted. “Tell me: what do you smell right now?”

Davy Jones’ little nose searched the water. His voice lifted cheerily, “I smell you.”

The two spent a moment tasting and smelling the chemical mixture of the water: the salt of the sea, the particles stirred by the current outside. Jor’mun Gand held his hand over Davy Jones’ heart, feeling the child’s rushing pulse.

He pulled his nephew closer. “Focus on the comforting smells. On me. On what’s really here. There are no monsters, no scary smells. Just us.”

Davy Jones took another couple sniffs to confirm his uncle’s words. Then, he set his head against the rock. The spiny dorsal fin trailing from his head to his back folded down.

No monsters, Davy Jones thought contentedly, curling his long claws into the rock beneath his hands and uncoiling his slimy, serpentine body. He yawned, exposing rows of mini daggers for teeth. No monsters – just us.

This short story is also the first chapter in Davy Jones’ Aquarium! Click here to find the book on Kobo or take a look at Karlissa J’s novels!

Four Approaches to Writing Christian Fantasy

By Karlissa J

“If a writer’s aim be logical conviction, he must spare no logical pains… where his object is to move by suggestion, to cause to imagine… If there be music in my reader, I would gladly wake it.” George MacDonald, “The Fantastic Imagination”

Many people debate over whether The Lord of the Rings should be called a “Christian” book series. Tolkien himself once said his books were religious, but different people have different standards for applying the label “Christian” to a work of art; and The Lord of the Rings is subtle in its use of spiritual themes.

For some readers, the subtlety leaves them more open to learning from the books, and the lessons go deeper. Other readers, however, walk away unsure whether they learned anything, and completely unaware of Tolkien’s Christian faith.

Contrast that with the style of George MacDonald. MacDonald was a preacher, and when he told stories he didn’t stop preaching. His fantasy books and fairytales were also deeply symbolic, so in addition to surface-level teachings there are layers to discover upon rereading.

For some (like Lewis) this makes MacDonald’s fantasies rich, exciting, and memorable. Tolkien, however, came to resent them as being too preachy; and some modern readers will find MacDonald’s florid narrative style and layered symbolism hard to make sense of.

L'Engle’s Time Quartet books are an odd mix of openly Christian and bizarrely unconventional. Some readers are deeply moved and drawn to Jesus by these stories, while other readers come away critiquing her beliefs as unorthodox.

And then there’s Lewis. His Cosmic Trilogy alone is all over the place, from only subtly Christian (Out of the Silent Planet) to deeply theological (Perelandra) to focused on critiquing a particular philosophy (That Hideous Strength). His preachiness varies accordingly.

Which is better: to openly declare a Christian message? To subtly explore a Christian worldview in a tale of good versus evil? To fill a story with much teaching and instruction?

I believe all have their place, because there are a myriad of readers in different stages of their walk with God, coming from a variety of backgrounds, ages, reading skills, and learning styles.

In response to a question about how to include Christian messages in a fantasy book, current fantasy author Wayne Thomas Batson had this to say:

“Your allegory will always be too obvious for some and not enough for others. The big thing is, always respect the story itself. If the message within the allegory is precious and valuable, but the story built around it is superficial, it will fail. Tell a fantastic and meaningful story; respect the genre and the reader, and any allegory within will be that much more powerful.” {See Note}

Each of these four classic authors – George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Madeleine L’Engle – had a different way of telling a fantasy story. I encourage you to try reading a book from all of them! Find out which author or authors you enjoy most and learn from best.

NOTE: quote from GoodReads author page for Wayne Thomas Batson: https://www.goodreads.com/author/33508.Wayne_Thomas_Batson/questions (accessed August 27, 2024)

The Sheep and the Briars (a parable)

By Karlissa J

(This story was first published in the FellowScript InScribe Magazine, February 2025 issue)

Sheep may not be as stupid as we claim; yet there are things the Shepherd understands that sheep need help to figure out.

The Shepherd was instructing Well-Spoken Ram one day, telling him how he could help the other sheep.

Pointing to a row of briar bushes growing across the length of the pasture, the Shepherd explained: “Well-Spoken Ram, it is important that the sheep do not eat from these bushes. For just beyond them lies a pack of wolves, waiting for sheep to get too close. But the wolves will not pass to this side of the bushes.”

Peering between two briar bushes, Well-Spoken Ram glimpsed a dark figure, and a pair of sharp golden eyes locked onto his gaze. Well-Spoken Ram backed behind the Shepherd, trembling. “Are you sure they will not pass?”

Stroking him gently, the Shepherd repeated: “The wolves will not pass to this side of the bushes. But you must tell the other sheep not to eat from these briars.”

The ram did not know why the wolves would not cross the bushes. But he trusted his Shepherd’s word. “I can do that,” he agreed.

Well-Spoken Ram carried himself boldly, feeling very happy to be chosen by the Shepherd for this important job. He walked around the other sheep as they grazed throughout the pasture, and he bleated: “The Shepherd said with his own mouth: do not eat from the briar bushes! If you do, you will be devoured by wolves!”

Many sheep took this sage advice to heart, and steered clear of the briar bushes and the wolves beyond.

Among the meandering sheep was Loyal Lamb. Nibbling casually, mind absorbed in finding the softest patches of grass, Loyal Lamb tasted something strange on her tongue, something prickly but with juicy leaves.

“What is this?” She pulled back to examine a stick that had been lying within the grass. The lamb had never seen this type of stick.

But she recalled the warning of Well-Spoken Ram: never to eat from the briar bushes. With a shudder, she realized that the thorny branch in front of her might be from a briar bush!

“Oh no! Have I disobeyed the Shepherd, eating from a briar?” But she hadn’t been trying to; the branch had appeared in her path. Questions raced through her mind.

“Is it a briar branch, or something else? Does the Shepherd care if I eat from a branch, if I don’t eat from the bush itself? If it is a bad briar branch, will He forgive me for touching what I meant not to touch? Oh dear! I better go to Well-Spoken Ram for more answers!”

Well-Spoken Ram, meanwhile, had come to feel very proud of his position in directing the flock. Thus far, only the sheep that despised the Shepherd ignored his words, jeering at him as they tested out the briar bushes for themselves.

“Whatever befalls you,” he declared, “is on your own hooves!”

Then up came Loyal Lamb.

“Excuse me,” she bleated to Well-Spoken Ram. “I know I was told not to eat the briar, but I nibbled a branch in the grass, and it might have been a briar branch. Did I disobey the Shepherd’s words? What should I do?”

“You nibbled from a briar bush?!” Well-Spoken Ram snorted angrily. “Then of course you disobeyed the Shepherd! Oh, Loyal Lamb, are you one of the scoffers too? Do you not remember what the Shepherd said: if you eat of the briar the wolves will devour you?”

Loyal Lamb quaked. “I do not want to be devoured by wolves. I want to obey my Shepherd. But I’m afraid I may have eaten some briar – I do not know. Can you help me –”

At that the ram cried, “How dare you try to defend your actions?! Traitor! You do not obey the Shepherd!”

The sheep around heard his cry, and gathered towards Loyal Lamb, whispering, “A briar-eater? A briar-eater?”

Loyal Lamb trembled, and spoke haltingly, trying to explain; but her words were drowned as Well-Spoken Ram yelled loudly and clearly and persuasively: “The Shepherd said it, and we must obey! The lamb who ate from the briar bushes is doomed to face the wolves! Come, sheep: give the traitor over to her fate!”

And Well-Spoken Ram lowered his horns, charged at Loyal Lamb, and shoved her towards the briar row. The other sheep looked on, nodding and approving. “He is right about the Shepherd’s words.” “That lamb has clearly disobeyed the Shepherd.”

Beyond the briar bushes, the wolves awaited, eyes eager as the lamb was shoved, trembling and screaming, into their jaws.

“For all the law is fulfilled by this single piece of instruction: ‘You should love your neighbour as yourself.’ But if you are biting and devouring one another, watch out! You might end up consumed by each other!”

Galatians 5:14-15 (author’s paraphrase)

The Fantasy Author's Secret Tool

By Jason Koop

What are the tools any writer – particularly one of fantasy – requires?  Talent, some are more apt and able than others; communication skills, nothing kills a story’s potential than it being communicated poorly; grit and determination to see a project through to completion; and curiosity.  And not just any curiosity, but a particularly nerdy type.

Now, we will explore that last one, but first, some clarification.  As someone who has dabbled in writing fantasy almost since I could write, I have come to realize in the past few years that I have built up some assumptions that I now realize are a big “wrongzo” to quote my favourite YouTuber Arlo.  Primarily, I assumed that the best thing for a fantasy writer to do to help inspire them was to intake fantasy.  It makes sense, right?  Fantasy goes in, fantasy goes out.

One thing about being married to someone who not only writes fantasy, but has gotten multiple books published (7 as of this blog posting), is that I have had my eyes opened to the realities of getting a quality fantasy story written, and the tools necessary to accomplish this.

Yes, she has the talent, grit and drive, and has come a long way in her communication skills.  But more notably for me, most of her published novels have come from a nerdiness that predated the published work.

While we have stated on the podcast that Kenneth Oppel’s novel Silverwing did inspire Karlissa’s Kingdom of Bats, it was her love for – and knowledge of – bats that was the real driving force.  It’s evident in that there are multiple species of bat represented, and they aren’t readily defined as “good bat species” and “bad bat species”.

Dwelling in Darkness is heavily inspired by both animals of the night, the Popol Vuh (a Mayan religious text), and Malagasy mythology.  There are multiple reference books around the house about the age of sailing and weaponry of that time frame that Karlissa delved into well before writing the Tales of the Diversity trilogy.  Davy Jones’ Aquarium was primarily inspired by her interest and knowledge of creatures that live in the dark depths of our oceans… and aquariums, of course.

There are examples of this in other fantasy writers.  Madeline L’Engle had a love for science, which one can definitely pick up in her Wrinkle in Time series.  J.R.R. Tolkien had a deep affinity for Norse mythology.  C.S. Lewis was a Medieval and Renaissance scholar.

Timothy Zahn, whom has written some of my favourite Star Wars novels, has a doctorate in physics, which definitely is evident in things like space battles; he can elevate these conflicts beyond a simple shoot and explode scene.

One advantage of being at the very least curious or knowledgeable in any area is that the writer can then use this to provide greater detail and “colour” for the reader’s imagination.  If Karlissa’s knowledge of creatures that live in the dark ocean depths were contained in a Google search, then Davy Jones’ life in the Abyss would undoubtedly come across as a lot more boring, with not much to differentiate it from our own.

Fantasy is a wonderfully malleable genre.  And some of the best examples of fantasy come from taking a dash or two from this wonderful world God created and letting that influence what happens in our fantasies.

As much as writers of fantasy are encouraged to let their imagination go wild with the possibilities, I think we should also praise their own unique flairs that they bring to the table.  If a writer’s work is clearly painted by their love of animals or the way physics would interact with something fictional in space, I think it all adds depth to the fantasy experience.

Sonic the Hedgehog on the Small Screen... Ranked

By Jason Koop

Everyone: in this, the month of March, the year of our Lord 2025, I am petitioning that this be henceforth known as “The Month of Sonic the Hedgehog”.  Why, you ask?  Simple, because everyone knows that a march is like walking really fast.  That’s as close as you can get to running without lifting your knees that high.

So, to celebrate this inaugural month of Sonic, let’s do something that is still very much “in” these days.  Ranking media.

But what to rank… the Sonic video games, where the hedgehog got his start?  Nah, I haven’t played every Sonic game. How about the comics?  I’ve certainly talked ad nauseum about those on the podcast.  Yeah… about that.  I’ve only really read the IDW comics, and have only seen parts of the Archie comic run. And the movies… well, the less I say about those the better.

Hmmm… the problem with making these click-bait-y type blogs is you either need to come in with a ton of knowledge or a lot of time to get caught up on what you don’t know.

For the sake of brevity, we will rank something from a relatively small selection size.  Sonic’s adventures on the small screen.  Heck, we can make it even smaller by reducing it to purely animated series.  That way I can eliminate the Knuckles mini-series.

#6.   The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (1993)

Full disclaimer, I have only seen a couple episodes of this, and… I honestly feel that gives me a pretty good grasp on the series as a whole.  The theme song kind of summarizes what to expect.  Sonic and Tails run around, clash with the Dr. Robotnik and his minions, wacky hi-jinks ensue, with no real plot or character to make them stick.  Frankly, it has more in common with a Looney Tunes cartoon than anything particularly “Sonic”.  While certain characters from the show got limited exposure in the Archie comic run, there’s a reason why no one is really clamouring for references to this part of Sonic’s history.

#5.   Sonic Underground (1999)

Again, having only seen a couple episodes of this, this is another insanely wacky chapter in the Hedgehog’s existence.  Really, about the only thing it does is affirm the Hedgehog’s affinity to music.  Which, while neat in of itself, does little to make this one worth watching.  At least it pretends at having a plot/story arc for its protagonists.  That’s something.  And the title is a pun.

#4.   Sonic Boom (2014-17)

Part of an attempted re-boot for the franchise (which also included a few video games sharing the same title), this series presented both different designs for the characters and a much lighter tone.  While the characters are relatively flat, there are some fun episodes and truly humorous jokes.  Thankfully, the show is self-aware enough not to take itself seriously.  Overall though, it’s best described by its in-show fast-food franchise, a “Meh Burger”.

#3.   Sonic Prime (2022-24)

This series is… confusing to me.  On the one hand, it cuts out the wacky silliness that Sonic has been known to indulge in with his animated shows.  On the other hand, it replaces it with a multi-verse story that frankly feels too spread out.  While the multi-verse does give the audience interesting takes on certain characters (like Nine, Knuckles the Dread and Mangey Tails), we aren’t given any real reason to get attached to them and their conflict.

The Chaos Council – comprised of 5 different Eggmen – is pretty funny with its squabbles and Shadow does his best to keep things on point.  There are multiple cool action sequences, and the dialogue is pretty good too.  However, it’s all too… surface and would have been better off with less multi-verse hopping.

#2.   Sonic the Hedgehog (1993-94)

Also known as Sonic SatAM (because it typically played on Saturday mornings), this is the series that is arguably the most recognizable.  In a world where Robotnik has pretty much won, polluting most of the planet and robotizing many of its inhabitants, it’s up to Sonic, Tails and the Freedom Fighters to fight back.  It provided the groundwork for the initial 10 years of Sonic’s run in Archie comics; with several characters introduced in the show being main characters, like Princess Sally Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, Antoine, Rotor, Nicole, and Robotnik’s lackey Snively.  There is a surprising amount of world-building that happens to separate it from just being “stop the evil Dr.’s most recent evil plan”.

#1.   Sonic X (2003-06)

This is by far the largest Sonic show, in terms of story and scope.  The cast is big, including Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, Cream, Shadow, Rouge, and a human character, Chris Thorndyke. In the first season, the episodes range from funny side-stories (like where they play a baseball game against Eggman and his robots for a Chaos emerald), to more serious fare (like dealing with the fact that Chris feels very much an after thought of his parents).

The second season is where the series truly shines, taking Sonic and his friends away from Earth, and placing them in their own planet where they are soon caught up in an intergalactic war with the Metarex.  Here the series really goes big with its spectacle and stakes, leading to some surprisingly dark turns for a kids show, which makes the victory feel all the more earned.

The theme song is a fun jam.  And finally, it proves my theory that the perfect Sonic show should be an anime.

#0.   Sonic x Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings (2024)

Karlissa went over my head an insisted I include this, to which I respond with…  IT’S NOT FAIR!!!  I mean, c’mon!  The animation is gorgeous, the dialogue is fantastic, the action scenes are flat-out SICK, and it features a hauntingly beautiful song by Casey Lee Williams!  I know, it’s a prelude to Shadow’s portion of the video game, and non-Sonic fans might not get a whole lot of it, but for someone like me (or even Karlissa, who has received fandom by association with me) its only flaw is that it’s not a full-on show!  Please, SEGA!!!  Make a show like this!  P.S.  Watch it on YouTube if you don’t own the game.

Fantasy Review: Castaways of the Flying Dutchman

By Jason Koop

Published in 2001 and written by Brian Jacques, this fantasy novel (which is in fact, the first book of a trilogy) sees its author writing at peak levels. Jacques packs all the charm, lavish descriptions, puzzles and riddles that are hallmarks of his Redwall series to elevate this tale into one of my all-time favourites.

Without going into too much spoilers, a boy and his dog, Neb and Den, take part on an ill-fated voyage upon the ship the Flying Dutchman, which results with the ship, its captain and crew cursed to sail the waters of the earth for all eternity.  Neb and Den are spared this fate by an angel, whom gifts them with eternal youth, among other mercies.

The second part of the story establishes how the two protagonists interact with the world around them, which leads to the third part – which is the bulk of the story.  Our protagonists, now going by Ben and Ned, must help a quiet English village fight back against industrialists which threaten to destroy it in the name of progress.

I know, sounds like something that’s been used to death in fiction, but what makes this one worth experiencing?  Oh… now you’re getting me started.

First of all, I absolutely love how Ben and Ned communicate.  They have a mental connection, and their banter very much befits two friends who have experienced so much together.  They work well together as a team, while remaining two distinct entities.

Second, the protagonists aren’t there to solve the village’s problems single-handed.  Rather, they tend to act as galvanizing forces, encouraging those they interact with to grapple with their problems and solve things by themselves.  I guess another way to describe it would be that Ben and Ned are active participants in helping the villagers, but they aren’t cheat codes that immediately solve everything themselves.

Third, and this one could apply to any of Jacques’ fantasy novels, I absolutely adore the descriptive way Jacques weaves the tale.  Whether it’s on a ship at sea, or at a quiet English village, Jacques weaves such colourful descriptions that it makes it easy for the audience to lose themselves in the locales and action.

Finally, it’s the story’s smallness.  Fantasy has long been marked by its proclivity for the fantastical – hence its name, most likely – and that fantastical-ness knows no bounds.  Fantastical journeys, feats, wars, events, settings, they seemingly know no bounds.

Castaway’s, despite its roaring start, reins things in as soon as the second part for a much slower, smaller tale.  There are no world-ending stakes, no one’s life is in danger (at least as of the third part), and yet… it’s the relatively small scope that makes the story more intimate and cozy.  Like a favourite hoodie, it will keep you hooked until the tale is done, and you will find yourself wanting to slip back into it in short order.

Those who listen to our podcast, or know me personally, should not find it surprising that I absolutely adore this story.  While I’m admittedly a huge fan of Jacques’ Redwall series, this story’s small scope and fun characters makes this a cozy, intimate tale that stands out even when compared to its author’s other works.  It’s what I would call a comfort fantasy of the highest order.

Rating:  2 of 2 eternal best friends

Fantasy Review: Avatar the Last Airbender

Written by: Jason Koop

Running from 2005-08 on Nickelodeon, Avatar: The Last Airbender is a series that needs little to no introduction to most.  And indeed, upon watching it for the first time this year (shout out to box DVD sets!), Karlissa and I can certainly see why.  The characters are funny and engaging on multiple levels.  The animation is quite simply gorgeous, colourful and expressive.  And the overarching story, while relatively simple, has its share of twists and turns that keep the audience engaged from the opening episode to the grand finale.

Following the adventures of Aang (the titular main character) and his friends – and some enemies – the world feels very much lived in.  Like there is much more going on than what is shown.  Its inhabitants have lives that, while they might not matter much to the show’s story, feel like more than just cardboard cutouts.

And while the overarching world stakes are high – Aang and his friends must stop the Fire nation from taking over the world – it doesn’t inherently lessen the more personal moments, moments of growth that occur during the show’s run. 

Unfortunately, the story can feel meandering at times, where the audience is left to wonder why we are being pulled into side stories/quests.  But, by and large even the side stories are a positive, as they serve as enhancers to the world as a whole.

The animation, while decidedly western, does borrow a lot from Japanese anime.  From character reactions to fight sequences to even its spirituality.  And while the last one might cause some to bristle at it, overall I feel like it enhances the show and differentiates it from a lot of western-made action-adventure series.  It’s not afraid to get super silly at times, or equally somber and reflective, and it manages to pull both off very well.

 Then there’s the action sequences.  Oh my.  This is where its anime influences really shine.  They are epic, martial art-infused sequences, that manage to feel both artistic and impactful.  And thankfully, they rarely seem to happen without being tied to something going on with a character during them, so they don’t seem gratuitous.

While neither Karlissa nor myself can say that this show is one of our favourites that we will be going out of our way to re-watch, both of us can safely say that it was a fun, engaging ride from start to finish and we are glad to have experienced it.

Rating:  3 out of 4 elements