Kaizoku ou ni ore wa naru! Today around the world, millions of fans who love Japan’s hit manga/anime series, One Piece, are rejoicing for many reasons, including today’s release of the live-action series season 2 on Netflix. Why do so many fans love these comical, earnest adventures of Captain Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates?

Episode sponsors

 1. Firebreak by Kathy Tyers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers/]
 3. The Hole-Man by Dan Daetz [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-hole-man]
 4. The Lorehaven Authorship [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: our book quest into fantasy Embergold [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/embergold/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

 * The hit manga just reached 600 million [https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2026/3/3/one-piece-manga-surpasses-600-million-copies-in-print], matching Superman
 * After 1,170+ chapters and nearly 30 years, creator Eiichiro Oda’s pirates-with-powers story is sailing toward its final arcs [https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Final_Saga].
 * The popular anime is ending hiatus to resume in April.
 * And today Netflix is christening the live series Season 2 [https://www.netflix.com/title/80217863], after 2023’s Season 1 happily broke the “anime to live-action curse.”
 * Oh, and this just in: last week Oda and crew made the meme come true [https://youtu.be/O9M1UMj-vwE?si=fE4HRACufakzgqLj].
 * He really did write down the answer to “what is the One Piece,” the treasure sought by every pirate.
 * He locked this in a chest, buried it deep in the sea, and initiated a great fan-pirate era.
 * But spoiler alert: I think I know the secret of the One Piece. And by the end of this episode, I shall spell out my grand fan theory.

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: our book quest into fantasy Embergold
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

The Mugiwara (Str

303. Why Do Many Fans Crown ‘One Piece’ King of the Anime?

Space is a dangerous place. Even recently we learned that the entire Artemis program has been rebooted, adding more rockets and risks! In other worlds and other galaxies, “space” is full of human life, music, adventure, romance, and fantastical new worlds. Just in time for Firebreak, book 1 of the Firebird Interlude Trilogy, we’re joined by longtime science fiction novelist Kathy Tyers to explore how the best space operas sing through this teeming expanse.

Episode sponsors

 * Firebreak by Kathy Tyers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 * Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers/]
 * The Hole-Man by Dan Dietz [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-hole-man]
 * The Lorehaven Authorship [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: Andromache review [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/andromache/], weekly reviews
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * You’ll get notified of monthly events, like last week’s livestream [https://estephenburnett.lorehaven.com/events/livestream-why-christians-need-sci-fi/].

Backstory: Kathy (Tyers) Gillin

Kathy Tyers sold her first novel, Firebird, to Bantam Spectra in 1986. Since its initial 1987 publication, it has been rereleased by Bethany House Publishers, Marcher Lord Press, and Enclave Publishing, and was followed by further Firebird-universe novels Fusion Fire and Crown of Fire. Kathy finished the Firebird series in 2011 and 2012 with Wind and Shadow and the messiah tale Daystar. Enclave Publishing has also re-released her early novels One Mind’s Eye, Shivering World (Christy Award winner, 2019), and Crystal Witness. Now she’s returning to the Firebird whorl for a new series of novels. The Firebird Interlude trilogy begins March 10 with the release of Firebreak. Kathy is also known for her Star Wars Expanded Universe novels—The Truce at Bakura and New Jedi Order: Balance Point. She lives in Montana with her husband William T. Gillin.

 * KathyTyers.com [http://kathytyers.com]
 * on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kathytyers]

1. What are the origin stories of space opera?

 * 1818: Mary Shelley’s first sci-fi-ish/horror novel Frankenstein
 * 1830: British author Percy Greg’s poetical Across the Zodiac
 * Late 19th century: the prolific Jules Verne, across Earth and space
 * Late

302. How Does Space Opera Sing of New Worlds? | Firebreak with Kathy Tyers

People want transparency! Or do we? If nothing else, public calls for revealing government secrets raise a lot of ruckus, especially when the secrets in question seem to be covering up aliens. Zack is our UAP/UFO expert. Stephen is intrigued yet skeptical. We’re both all over last week’s headlines. One former president claimed he knows aliens are real. Then the current U.S. president said he would declassify files. Whatever happens next, why do people want disclosure so badly?

Episode sponsors

 1. Firebreak by Kathy Tyers [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers/]
 3. Interregnum by J. A. Webb [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/j-a-webb/]
 4. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New reviews: For The Good of All [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/for-the-good-of-all/] and Andromache
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * Writing that next great alien-invasion novel? Join the Authorship [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship/].

Quotes and notes

 * Armies of the Aliens series on Fantastical Truth [https://lorehaven.com/series/armies-of-the-aliens/]

1. Disclosure may expose human loneliness.

 * This news could upend members of the alien fandom.
 * We could all discover there were no aliens after all.
 * Instead we might hear about human technology.
 * And we might suspect we’re alone in the universe.

2. Disclosures can upset our metaphysics

 * Disclosure of extraterrestrial life could upend religion.
 * Or we could discover the “aliens” are interdimensional.
 * Some writers believe consciousness rewrites our understanding of the universe.
 * Maybe the twist on the Fermi Paradox means humans actually arrived first.
 * Zack posted this response on X [https://x.com/ztrussell/status/2024905790692168036]:

“I definitely believe that sinister interdimensional beings directed many religious texts. And that the Bible was given by an interdimensional being. Just one that is supreme to all the others, and good.”

3. Worst, disclosures may promote demons.

 * This too could upend society’s “respectable” materialism.
 * That notion explains elite seances and messages from “aliens.”
 * This would be biblical, but seeing this exposed could be shocking.
 * It might even mean some of powerful leaders are controlled by demons

Com station

Top question for listeners

 * If we get “disclosure” at all, what secrets do you expect to learn?

Autumn Grayson wrote a whole essay about ep. 298 [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/298-should-christian-authors-post-about-politics-part-1/#comment-78818]:

… In general, when it comes to people’s political posts, there are some things I dislike, and some things that would be good to stay away from. It’s certainly best if people say things that have more substance than just expressing outrage or disapproval, because well thought out engagement on a topic is better. But I do respect people’s freedom and autonomy to say what they want to. I’ll agree with it or disagree with it as I see fit. I’ll get something out of it and learn from it either way, but what I may learn is that the content creator is someone I would not want to communicate or collaborate with. Or, the content creator ends up bei

301. Why Do Alien Disclosure Stories Captivate Our Culture?

For most of their lives, Stephen and Zack have kept their eyes to the stars and wondering if NASA or anybody else will ever again get serious about launching ships up there.[1. Image credit: SpaceX on X.com [https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1178131253184192513].] Now it seems that moment is upon us. Lord willing, next month’s launch of Artemis II will drive new great leaps back to the Moon, not only to orbit or put down boots, but to put down roots. Meanwhile, private firms build reusable rockets and plan satellite networks while setting their sights on Mars. So what other science fictions will come true in reality? Join us to discern and celebrate the God-exalting glories of human spaceflight to faraway lands for this landmark 300th episode of Lorehaven’s Fantastical Truth.

Episode sponsors

 1. The Restitching of Camille DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers/]
 3. Interregnum by J. A. Webb [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/j-a-webb/]
 4. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews on break this very busy week.
 * Last week brought a bot swarm and other technical nonsense.
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/].
 * Authors, want to talk real sci-fi and beyond? Join the Authorship.

Quotes and notes

 * 72. When Our World Groans Under Sin, Should Christians Support Space Flight? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/72-when-our-world-groans-under-sin-should-christians-support-space-flight/]

300. Could We See Lunar Bases and Mars Landings in Our Lifetimes?

Last week your solo host, Stephen, shared a hot take: that some authors’ sudden hot takes on political topics add more heat than light. These cringe political posts distract from the author’s job and confuse fans, and some go further into sinful slanders. Now that Zack is back, let’s re-engage this topic as fans and explore hope for biblical unity. Without telling anyone to “stop with politics!” or missing real concerns, how can authors post better about those topics, if they post at all?

Episode sponsors

 1. The Restitching of Camille DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers/]
 3. Interregnum by J. A. Webb [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/j-a-webb/]
 4. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: The Restitching of Camille DuLaine review [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-restitching-of-camille-dulaine/].
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * Authors: sign up for the Authorship as a Creator or Pro Novelist [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship/]

1. Top recent celebrity political wins and fails

 * Last week, Stephen should have predicted Grammy Awards cringe.
 * He feels sympathy for Billy Eilish and others who just say stuff.
 * Some celebrities can get away with this because they’re Big.
 * Example 1: J.K. Rowling, who lives in a castle and everything.
 * Example 2: George Clooney, legacy, leftist, but moderate in tone.
 * Example 3: Conservative actors who find other (often niche) work.
 * Authors who feel tempted to this openness: are you Big like them?
 * It’s like going out to buy a $10,000 suit before you can afford this.
 * If not, the cringe political post isn’t an upgrade, but a downgrade.
 * Personally, Stephen doesn’t mind politically outspoken celebrities.
 * Those who do this out of seeming grace/surplus tend to win.
 * Those who do this out of seeming vengeance/poverty tend to lose.
 * Big tip here for aspiring authors: you must give more than you take.
 * Otherwise they look kinda desperate for attention, or else insincere.

2. Engaging your responses to episode 298 [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/298-should-christian-authors-post-about-politics-part-1]

Our own Guildmaster, Ticia Messing, wants a refuge:

I have several indie authors I read or recently subscribed to their newsletters who all took part in a join political statement over the weekend with the same general idea. It was clearly to win political points for their side, and it was clearly a “If you do not agree with me, you are wrong,” and reading it I felt dirty and used. Even the author who tried to be more circumspect in how she talked about it because it was still clear what she was talking about.

My problem is I come to their newsletters not to read about politics; it is my refuge from politics. I read them to find out about how their writing is going, a quick glimpse into their life, some book recommendations, and maybe a snippet of their upcoming book.

Instead, all of these newsletters had paragraphs about Political Issue.

Jason Huff seeks to challenge cringepost motives:

What is difficult about social media in general is that most posts about politics aren’t about determining a side or discussing a moral issue but virt

299. Should Christian Authors Post About Politics? Part 2

Happy Groundhog Day.[1. Photo by Marino Linic [https://unsplash.com/@marinolinic?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-fire-92Tvpmx2rOc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText].] Maybe in these last weeks you’ve seen this same story repeat: Your favorite Christian author usually posts about whimsical life updates, pet photos, or upcoming release dates. But now she or he is suddenly and very fervently posting about politics. Words get heated. Light dims. And unwise statements share disastrous brushfires instead of book delights. What a reader to do? Call for a ban on all such topics? Block the blighter? Or maybe seek deeper wisdom?

Episode sponsors

 1. The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. Realm Makers 2026 Conference & Expo [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers/]
 3. The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-case-of-the-heart-stone]
 4. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: authors, debate this in the Authorship [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship/]!
 * New review: The Lost Chick [https://lorehaven.com/library/the-lost-chick/] by Andrew K. Johnston
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Chapter 1: A personal concession stand

 * The best time might have been during a cooler period (if existent).
 * But the next best time is now. Many fans are already considering it.
 * This topic is broader, focusing on Christian authors in all genres.
 * And too big a topic for one episode. We’re splitting this into two.
 * Sure, some authors may listen and take note, or maybe get upset.
 * But I’m speaking as a fan, and I know many fans who agree.
 * We grieve this inflammatory rhetoric among Christian fantasy fans.
 * And we don’t want to see relationships broken by nasty slanders.
 * Background: I’ve kept up with politics since before I could vote.
 * I’ve retconned my first election as Nov. 2000 (before I was 18).
 * Campus newspaper columns, a little overt activism here and there.
 * Anti-fans made a “Stephen would probably hate me” FB group.
 * Today I stay atop news, and more importantly the deeper issues.
 * And I do post about politics, so don’t hear me saying “don’t do it.”
 * But here at Lorehaven we are not first about politics. Morality first.

A positive note: Stephen’s developing post rules

 * Personally, I post about certain topics that are, I hope, limited.
 * My rules: biblical conviction, topically focused, open engagement.
 * Example: my Jan. 30 post on activist Don Lemon being arrested [https://www.facebook.com/e.stephen.burnett/posts/pfbid02FSutwwuaMGCsbCa7ErRiVT7Kj1QBA8hpzKJEwX4iLMVfzTFsVz8ySaUbnYAnWVApl?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZZpPinXGcxRaaWTIroHVaYFEFidUmBk-jT88QQ3PP9ZRCBz4hK-hWr17ld41VsohIRwfj9GEVbLU4_lViptNB8pBeUQdSRQCbNxQTYxXe146P1MPnoKZ2h49ocsHcXgFpQtT-dREmpgqxkXNSLXtXgE9DKQg7HKIRAlbOb9gjs6-clZisg5y3xEflTMFc-J1Ok&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R].
 * To me this one’s easy. The man joined a mob to invade a church.
 * I like the church. I don’t like bullies. And this topic relates to ACE.
 * Besides, I don’t like when professing Christians abuse the Bible.
 * That includes people who impulsively see other believers a

298. Should Christian Authors Post About Politics? Part 1

Allegories. Christians love allegories! That’s a story element of having a person, place, or thing meant a a direct picture of something else, like Jesus or moral virtues. Some people think Jesus did this in parables, or C.S. Lewis did this with Narnia. Others point to Pilgrim’s Progress as a prime example. Even if they’re right, might some readers focus so much on the deeper meanings of fantastical human storytelling?

Episode sponsors

 1. The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine by Lindsay A. Franklin [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media]
 2. The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-case-of-the-heart-stone]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: the Authorship [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship] has launched!
 * Listen to last week’s episode [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/296-how-will-the-lorehaven-authorship-help-you-grow-your-creative-gifts-for-christs-glory/], or read the companion article [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-authorship/].
 * Also, join the Guild by Saturday, Jan. 31 for Stephen’s livestream: How to Sell a Sci-Fi Novel in Just Twenty-Five Easy Years [https://estephenburnett.lorehaven.com/events/livestream-how-sell-sci-fi-novel-25-easy-years/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

Allegory is a form of literature in which material figures represent immaterial virtues or vices. So in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, the character Timorous represents fear and Mr. Worldly Wiseman represents worldly wisdom. In our day, distinction of genres has been muddled a bit, so we tend to regard any story with symbolic elements in it as allegorical, but it was not always this way. C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, for instance, are not allegories, even as often as they are referred to as such, and Lewis himself said as much.

The parables of Jesus could be said to contain allegorical elements, some more than others, but they are not strictly speaking themselves allegories. Jesus definitely deals in the world of virtues and vices, but he is most immediately interested in the world of human beings, their hearts, their words, and their deeds.

“How Not to Read the Parables,” Jared C. Wilson [https://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/how-not-to-read-the-parables/]

The reason for the long history of the misinterpretation of the parables can be traced back to something Jesus himself said, as recorded in Mark 4:10–12. When asked about the purpose of parables, he seems to have suggested that they contained mysteries for those on the inside, while they hardened those on the outside. Because he then proceeded to “interpret” the parable of the sower in a semi-allegorical way, this was seen to give license to the hardening theory and endless allegorical interpretations. The parables were considered to be simple stories for those on the outside to whom the “real meanings,” the “mysteries,” were hidden; these belonged only to the church and could be uncovered by means of allegory.

How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth [https://amzn.to/4sYTlru] by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

1. Jesus’s parables aren’t just allegories

 * Sometimes the Lord interpreted His tales this way. For example, He says the seed is like His word and different soils are like different hearers (see

297. Should Christian Fantasy Stories Force Religious Allegories?

This podcast and other resources from Lorehaven focus on readers. That’s why, when aspiring writers post questions like, Where can I find an agent? or Will you look at my unpublished manuscript?, we don’t have much to share in that department. Until now. We’re journeying into new lands. This month we’re launching the Lorehaven Authorship within the Lorehaven Guild on Discord. Let’s explore how these new digital channels with pro livestreams and a fan-focused Book Festival will help writers cultivate their God-given imaginations.

Episode sponsors

 1. Audio-Epic.com: “1232” podcast [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/audio-drama-podcast-1232/]
 2. The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-case-of-the-heart-stone]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * Discern the Top Three Negative Evangelical Myths about Popular Culture [https://lorehaven.com/discern-the-top-three-negative-evangelical-myths-about-popular-culture/] by E. Stephen Burnett
 * Gabriel’s Song [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/gabriels-song/], new review by Sierra Simopoulos
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

How to join the Lorehaven Authorship

Hosted in the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild], the Authorship offers three member levels:

 1. Creative ($3.99/month). Fight for your calling. Enjoy livestreams with the pros. Discover why God created us to make stories for His glory and our joy.
 2. Pro Novelist ($9.99/month). All benefits for Creative members, plus your own “booth” to seek new readers in our virtual fan-centered Book Festival!
 3. Terraformer ($29.99/month). Get all above benefits plus more perks. Help invest in the future of fantastical fiction and expand the Lorehaven mission.

How to join? Subscribe free to Lorehaven [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe/]. (Or in January 2026, just click here [https://discord.gg/YcWXeqAyyy].) We’ll send you the Guild invitation. Once you’ve entered the Guild, look for the LOREHAVEN AUTHORSHIP channels. Then click one to see your options.

Pro tip: to avoid excess mobile charges, avoid using Discord for this on your Apple or Android devices. Instead, use the desktop app or browser version.

1. Why our Author gives us imaginations

How can writers sometimes fall into ‘writicism’ traps?

 * For a while, many Christian fantasy writers seemed hyperfocused.
 * Blogs and conferences focused mainly on the craft of writing.
 * And some complained about publishers not being interested.
 * Some did try these books. Only a few succeeded. How come?
 * My take for 20-ish years: not enough writer focus on our
 * Only in the last decade-ish have we gotten better at fan outreach.
 * We’ve also seen more writers get serious about their faith in Jesus.
 * They’ve earned trust with more readers and therefore succeed.

Do fantasy fans like writing more than other fans?

 * Still, we’ve found that unlike other genres like biography, mystery, and historical romance, fantastical fans enjoy the craft of writing.
 * Some write fanfiction or other stories just for fun.
 * Others share their stories with friends or family.
 * Still others have aspirations for indie or traditional publication.</

296. How Will the Lorehaven Authorship Help You Grow Your Creative Gifts for Christ’s Glory?

“In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the globe disappear.” Jesus returned thirty years ago. Or rather, He sort of pre-returned, the warm-up act, if you will. Many faithful Christians believe in this kind of “rapture.” And in December 1995, two authors teamed up and used this idea to create the most successful biblical end-times thriller we’ve yet seen. In summer 2024 we overviewed the series. Yet now we’ll ask how that first Left Behind novel has aged, thirty years after its release.

Episode sponsors

 1. Of Dawn and Embers by Gillian Bronte Adams [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-case-of-the-heart-stone]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * Review: Sons of Day and Night by Mariposa Aristeo [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/sons-of-day-and-night/]
 * Behold Our Top Most Anticipated New Books and Movies for 2026 [https://lorehaven.com/behold-our-top-most-anticipated-new-books-and-movies-for-2026/]
 * New article releases this Thursday: Discern the Top Three Negative Evangelical Myths about Popular Culture [https://lorehaven.com/discern-the-top-three-negative-evangelical-myths-about-popular-culture/]
 * Next week, Lord willing: we announce the Lorehaven Authorship
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

Fantastical Truth podcast series: Left Behind Legacy [https://lorehaven.com/series/left-behind-legacy/]

 * 216. Why Do Christians Fight Over End-Times Prophecies? | E. Stephen Burnett vs Zackary Russell [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/216-why-do-christians-fight-over-end-times-prophecies-e-stephen-burnett-vs-zackary-russell/]
 * 217. How Did Publishers Steward the Blockbuster Left Behind Series? | with Dan Balow [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/217-how-did-publishers-steward-the-blockbuster-left-behind-series-with-dan-balow/]
 * 218. How Did The Kids Get Left Behind? | with Chris Fabry [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/218-how-did-the-kids-get-left-behind-with-chris-fabry/]
 * 219. How Did GAP Digital Turn Left Behind Into Cinematic Audio Drama? | with Todd Busteed [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/219-how-gapdigital-left-behind-cinematic-audio-drama-todd-busteed/]
 * 220. How Did the ‘Left Behind’ Kids Audio Drama Speed-Run the Tribulation? | with Darby Kern [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/220-how-did-left-behind-kids-audio-drama-speed-run-tribulation-darby-kern/]
 * 221. How Did The Left Behind Series Enrapture Millions of Fans? | with Jerry B. Jenkins [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/221-how-did-left-behind-series-enrapture-millions-fans-jerry-jenkins/]

Other Lorehaven resources on the Left Behind series

 * Lorehaven.com search keyphrase: LEFT BEHIND [https://lorehaven.com/?s=left+behind]
 * Left Behind (1995) in the Lorehaven Library [https://lorehaven.com/library/left-behind/]
 * From the archives, Stephen’s article series: Twelve Reasons the ‘Left Behind’ Series is Actually Awesome [https://lorehaven.com/series/twelve-reasons-the-left-behind-series-is-actually-awesome/]
 * How to Make a ‘Left Behind’ Streaming Series That’s Actually Awesome [https://lorehaven.com/how-to-make-a-left-behind-streaming-series-thats-actually-awesome/], Daniel Whyte IV

Secular endorsements of the Left B

295. What if Jesus Raptured His Church in 1995? | Left Behind

Last year brought many challenges for Christian fantasy fans. From flops at the theaters now threatened by streaming slop, to creators making more events for Christian storytelling, to the continued growth of biblical fiction as the top genre of Christian-made entertainment—let’s survey the top ten fantasy-related headlines from last year.

Episode sponsors

 1. Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: many features over the holidays!
 * We announced our new book quest in the Lorehaven Guild: Taliesin [https://lorehaven.com/book-quests/taliesin/]
 * Onscreen: ‘Stranger Things’ Season Five Gives Weight to Parents’ Fears [https://lorehaven.com/stranger-things-season-five-gives-weight-to-parents-fears/], A. D. Sheehan
 * Onscreen: ‘David’ Creators Answer all Your Questions About the Animated Hit Movie [https://lorehaven.com/david-creators-answer-all-your-questions-about-the-animated-hit-movie/], Josh Shepherd
 * Engage: Alleged ‘Rock and Roll’ Soundtrack Incites Suspicion of Netflix’s Narnia Movie [https://lorehaven.com/alleged-rock-and-roll-soundtrack-incites-suspicion-of-netflix-narnia-movie/], newcomer Sierra Simopoulos
 * Sierra Simopoulos also reviewed Sons of Day and Night [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/sons-of-day-and-night/]
 * My own article: Why Christians Need Fantastical Stories [https://lorehaven.com/why-christians-need-fantastical-stories/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * Stop by the homepage for many upgrades, especially the Library.
 * Soon: discover the Guild’s new wing, the Lorehaven Authorship.

10. Superheroes failed to save ailing cinema

 * Marvel movies, despite their strengths, all flopped at the box office.
 * Personally I did like Fantastic Four: First Steps, but didn’t love it.
 * Lorehaven folks were generally positive about some hero movies.
 * ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Labors to Save a Struggling MCU [https://lorehaven.com/captain-america-brave-new-world-labors-to-save-struggling-mcu/], Marian A. Jacobs
 * The Antiheroes of Thunderbolts* Preach to Marvel Itself [https://lorehaven.com/marvels-thunderbolts-antiheroes-preach-to-marvel-itself/], Daniel Whyte IV
 * ‘Superman’ (2025) Will Make You Believe a Man Can Be Earnest [https://lorehaven.com/superman-2025-will-make-you-believe-a-man-can-be-earnest/], Josiah DeGraaf
 * However, audiences were tepid; none of these films broke even.
 * The greatest foe of superheroes? Flippancy. Next: lack of family.
 * MCU reached its apex with creators who at least feigned sincerity.
 * DC’s nobledark tone was winning fans, until the studio freaked out.

9. Disney’s ‘Snow White’ remake bombed

 * Sticking with cinemas, this one might be the year’s greatest fail.
 * ‘Snow White’ (2025) Isn’t the Fairest of Adaptations [https://lorehaven.com/snow-white-2025-isnt-the-fairest-of-adaptations/], Parker J. Cole
 * I didn’t see it. Few people did. More people saw YouTube roasts.
 * This whole nonsense was an ugly reflection of three terrible trends ruining films: “woke” checkboxes, cynicism, and corporate gloss.

8. Fans abandoned legacy sci-fi franchises

 * Once a Doctor Who her

294. What Were the Top Ten Topics for Christian Fantasy Fans in 2025?

Explore the best Christian-made fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, and apply these stories’ meanings in the real world Jesus calls us to serve.

Zack Russell

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