How often does this happen to you? You’re a plain, ordinary, gorgeous heroine, who’s suddenly abducted by aliens and taken to Planet Gladiator Violence VI. There you encounter a bull-headed man with piercings in all his massive muscles, and various events ensue, and if we kept up this description the grown-ups would not let you listen to this podcast episode. And that’s probably the tamest version of what’s now called “romantasy.” These kinds of monster stories are winning legions of female fans. What manner of perversity is this?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Singularity by Shannon McDermott [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. The Seekers series by J. A. Webb [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/j-a-webb/]
 3. Cultural Engagement Giveaway: The Pop Culture Parent, On Magic and Miracles, and Above the Circle of Earth [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/lorehaven-giveaway/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: new Embergold review [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/embergold/], Monster Month returns [https://lorehaven.com/series/monster-month]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * Our current book quest is This Present Darkness [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/this-present-darkness/]

Quotes and notes

 * Lorehaven podcast ep. 149. Why Do Christian Fiction Fans Love So Much Romance? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/149-why-do-christian-fiction-fans-love-so-much-romance/]
 * Lorehaven podcast ep. 249. What is ‘Romantasy’? | with Parker J. Cole [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/249-what-is-romantasy-with-parker-j-cole/]
 * Here Be Dragons: What Christians Need to Know About Romantasy [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christians-need-know-romantasy/], Kathryn Butler at The Gospel Coalition, Feb. 28, 2025
 * Ep 1240 | TikTok’s Spicy Novels Are Warping Women’s Minds [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1uTzyUHvmXegPe6hg0J3t8], Relatable with Allie Beth Stuckey, Sept. 10, 2025

Backstory: Parker J. Cole

Onscreen writer Parker J. Cole is a USA Today Bestselling author of historical romance as well as a speaker, podcast host, and CEO of the podcast network PJC Media. As an author, Parker enjoys exploring history through the vehicle of romance. Her speaking topics focus on inspiration for aspiring authors. For over a decade, she has interviewed authors from all over the world via her podcast network. Consumed with a plethora of interests that keep her life busy, she lives in Detroit, Michigan. Visit her website at ParkerJCole.com [https://parkerjcole.com].

1. Explore romantasy’s love and monsters

 * Review of the original better purpos

283. Why Are Female Fantasy Fans Falling in ‘Love’ With Monsters? | with Parker J. Cole

Distortionists in the real world corrupt the beautiful, good, and true.[1. Photo by Bree Anne [https://unsplash.com/@breebuddy?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/people-raising-their-hands-during-daytime-1vR0TtVM9bo?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] Some individuals who fall into such a dark side might make themselves beyond repentance—that is, reprobate. We might call them “ghouls.” … And such were some of you. We wanted to talk about monsters today, and we’ll start next week. First, let’s turn from the darkness and into the light, keeping our eyes open for hazards as we head into an exciting, messy, promising season of … spiritual revival and renewal for the souls of men and women?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Singularity by Shannon McDermott [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Cultural Engagement Giveaway: The Pop Culture Parent, On Magic and Miracles, and Above the Circle of Earth
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: This Present Darkness [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/this-present-darkness/] book quest
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Backstory: Bethel McGrew

Bethel McGrew has a doctorate in math and is a widely published freelance writer. Her work has appeared in First Things, National Review, The Spectator, and many other national and international outlets. Her Substack, Further Up [https://www.furtherup.net/], is one of the top paid newsletters in “Faith & Spirituality” on the platform. She has also contributed to two essay anthologies on Jordan Peterson. When not writing social criticism, she enjoys writing about literature, film, music, and history.

 * FurtherUp.net [https://www.furtherup.net/]
 * Bethel McGrew on X: @‌BMcGrewvy [https://x.com/bmcgrewvy]
 * Life on the Silent Planet: Essays on Christian Living from C.S. Lewis’s Ransom Trilogy [https://davenantinstitute.org/life-on-the-silent-planet]
 * WORLD Magazine (Oct. 2025): “A tragic vision of the world: Three books that shaped my thinking [https://wng.org/articles/a-tragic-vision-of-the-world-1756870231]“
 * WORLD Opinions: “Shocked by evil: the surprising seekers going to church in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder [https://wng.org/opinions/shocked-by-evil-1759027719]“

Quotes and notes

“The salvation of

282. How Can Creative Christians Prepare in Case of Revival? | with Bethel McGrew

Since the late 2000s, children and grownups have been getting drawn into their mobile devices and tablets. Before then, some were also hooked on TV and video games. Yet how could anyone create those devices without training their imaginations on great works of art? Carolyn Leiloglou, author of The Restorationists fantasy series, returns to help us recall the biblical purpose of art and stories, and how we help children learn to love them.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/noah-j-matthews]
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: review of Augmented [https://lorehaven.com/review/augmented] and more every Friday
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]
 * We’re finishing Echo Nova and moving to This Present Darkness

Carolyn Leiloglou

Backstory: Carolyn Leiloglou

Carolyn Leiloglou (lay-LAW-glue) is the author of the middle grade fantasy novels Beneath the Swirling Sky [https://lorehaven.com/library/beneath-the-swirling-sky/] and Between Flowers and Bones [https://lorehaven.com/library/between-flowers-and-bones/] as well as the picture book Library’s Most Wanted. Carolyn is the granddaughter of art collectors, daughter of an art teacher, and homeschooling mom to four wildly creative kids. She’s an award-winning author whose poems and short stories have appeared in children’s magazines around the world, including Clubhouse Jr. Carolyn also reviews her favorite children’s books on her platform, House full of Bookworms. Her newest book, middle-grade fantasy Beyond the Far Horizon, released this month.

 * CarolynLeiloglou.com [https://www.carolynleiloglou.com/]
 * TheRestorationists.com [https://therestorationists.com]

281. How Do Books Teach Kids to Value Stories Over Screens? | with Carolyn Leiloglou

Last week, an assassin’s bullet ended the earthly life of Christian brother, husband, father, and popular political activist Charlie Kirk. Thousands were watching on the campus of Utah Valley University in the early afternoon of Sept. 10, 2025. Millions more prayed for an hour that Kirk would somehow survive. And then we mourned his death. Lorehaven is not a political group. But we do join in this public lamentation. And we look to fantastical stories of great villains and greater heroes to explore the bigger and pre-political questions beneath this tragedy: how we must fight evil in the world.

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/noah-j-matthews]
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews of Suspended in the Stars [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/suspended-in-the-stars/] and Augmented [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/augmented]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

Our episodes about “culture war” vs. culture creation:

 * 40. How May Fantastic Stories Help Us See Politics in Biblical Perspective? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/40-how-may-fantastic-stories-help-us-see-politics-in-biblical-perspective/]
 * 136. How Did Politics Become King of Evangelical Popular Culture? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/136-how-did-politics-become-king-of-evangelical-popular-culture/]
 * 178. Should We Weaponize Fantastical Stories To ‘Own the Libs’? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/178-should-we-weaponize-fantastical-stories-to-own-the-libs/]
 * 188. Can Political Pundits Create Fantastical Stories? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/188-can-political-pundits-create-fantastical-stories/]
 * 251. Could a Cultural ‘Vibe Shift’ Advance Christian-Made Fiction? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/251-could-a-cultural-vibe-shift-advance-christian-made-fiction/]

Psalm 7:12–17

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.

He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (ESV)

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

2 Corinthians 10:3–6 (ESV)

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not

280. What Can Men Do Against Such Reckless Hate?

To become a hero following your God-given destiny, you’d best stay out of jail.[1. Photo by Saad Chaudhry [https://unsplash.com/@saadchdhry?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/silhouette-of-padlock-on-window-AqHIWSsF24I?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] Yet some Christian heroes do get caught in bad habits that keep them pacing in their tiny cells rather than practicing wise discipline as they go on adventures. How do Christian creators, in particular, fall into the traps of “cage stages”?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/noah-j-matthews]
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: weekly reviews, Jenneth’s Light of the World review [https://lorehaven.com/light-of-the-world-shows-jesus-as-a-friend-to-children/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Concession stand

 * Some people and personalities are more prone to certain obsessions.
 * Here we make no judgment about motivations; these things happen.
 * Seeing someone in a “cage” should prompt pity, not anger or mockery.
 * Still, you may want to keep a distance from cages or point the way out.

1. ‘Everything is about my distinct doctrines’!

 * This is the original “cage stage,” referring to folks who find “Calvinism.”
 * That’s a nickname for a particular Christian view of God’s sovereignty.
 * It’s often tied with strong beliefs about local church leadership.
 * The late R. C. Sproul, himself a Reformed teacher, wrote in 2013 [https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/escaping-cage-stage]:

My friend Michael Horton often comments on the phenomenon of “cage-stage Calvinism,” that strange malady that seems to afflict so many people who have just seen the truth of the Reformed doctrines of grace. We’ve all known one of these “cage-stage Calvinists.” Many of us were even one of them when we were first convinced of God’s sovereignty in salvation.

Cage-stage Calvinists are identifiable by their insistence on turning every discussion into an argument for limited atonement or for making it their personal mission to ensure everyone they know hears—often quite loudly—the truths of divine election. Now, having a zeal for the truth is always commendable. But a zeal for the truth that manifests itself in obnoxiousness won’t convince anyone of the biblical truth of Reformed theology. As many of us can attest from personal experience, it will actually push them away.[1. R. C. Sproul, “Escaping the ‘Cage Stage’ [https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/escaping-cage-stage],” Ligonier Ministries, Nov. 24, 2013.]

 * But we’ve known folks who found any new beliefs and became intense.
 * Sometimes it feels like a fandom, often associated with famous leaders.
 * In fact, you may have this story when you found Jesus or a new church.
 * But what feels new and thrilling to you may be dull or familiar to others.
 * It’s a challenge to preserve our enthusiasm while also respecting others.

2. ‘Everything is about this fandom I found!’

 * This one covers a wide spectrum, including Christian doctrine fandoms.
 * But this also covers fantasy franchises, authors, worlds, games, hobbies.
 * Stephe

279. Which Top Three ‘Cage Stages’ Trap Christian Creators?

Here in the U.S., we just had Labor Day, meant to mark the actions of hard-working Americans. And right now many Christian families honor the work of Christian heroes who are now at rest, such as pastor John MacArthur and Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson. Many fantastical stories wouldn’t be here without faithful Christians. When they pass on, and people discuss and debate their legacies, how can we best honor their labors?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Beneath False Stars by S. D. Grimm [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/oasis-family-media/]
 2. Outlaw Blood by Noah J. Matthews [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/noah-j-matthews]
 3. The Tixie Chronicles by Jack Borden [https://lorehaven.com/sponsnors/jack-borden]

Mission update

 * Lorehaven new reviews: The Heart of the King [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-heart-of-the-king/] and Beneath False Stars [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/beneath-false-stars]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

 * “John MacArthur, Fiery Preacher and Culture Warrior, Dies at 86 [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/15/us/john-macarthur-dead.html],” Ruth Graham at The New York Times, July 15, 2025
 * “James Dobson Was My Horror, and Yours [https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/james-dobson-was-my-horror-and-yours.html],” Sarah Jones at New York Magazine, Aug. 27, 2025 (only six days after Dobson’s Aug. 21 death)

Naiveté is not a trait to be cultivated in our children. Prudishness is foolish immaturity. It leaves our children gullible and vulnerable. The naïve are the easiest targets for the seductive wiles of temptation. Throughout the book of Proverbs, the naïve (“simple” in many translations) are held up as negative examples. It is a grave mistake to think of our children as little angels who need to be handled delicately so they don’t get corrupted. Rather, they are corrupt little sinners who need to be led to righteousness.

“Treating the Symptoms, Not the Sin [https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B150508],” John MacArthur sermon dated May 8, 2015

It began as an experiment. In 1986 Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family wanted to produce a high-quality drama series for the radio. He hoped that it would appeal to Christians looking for alternatives to Saturday morning cartoons or simply families in search of wholesome entertainment. Steve Harris and Phil Lollar, the show’s creators, brainstormed what the series could be. They decided that it should be set in a small town (called Odyssey) somewhere in the Midwest and hearken to the golden age of radio without sounding dated.

In 1987, a 13-week test series was aired on the Focus on the Family broadcast. It was called Family Portraits and chronicled the lives and times of Odyssey residents — including John Whittaker and a special “soda shop and discovery emporium” called Whit’s End.

Audience response was so favorable that Focus went one step further and created the weekly radio program that would eventually be called Adventures in Odyssey.

“The History of Adventures in Odyssey [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720231938/http:/www.whitsend.org/aboutshow/History.aspx],” WhitsEnd.org, undated article now archived

1. We love ‘small’ and ‘big’ Christian heroes

 * Big heroes take big risks to meet big needs during big moments.
 * They’re truly multi-talented, often skilled with speaking and writing.
 * Best of all, despite their flaws, th

278. When Christian Heroes Die, How Can We Debate and Honor Their Work?

So many books, so little time, space, and money. Many fans love collect physical copies of their favorite stories, often so much that they run out of bookshelf space. (Stephen and Zack are in this situation!) Now that we have audiobook and digital copies, isn’t book collection a waste of resources?

Episode sponsors

 1. Oasis Family Media [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers] presents “1232” dramatic audio podcast [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/audio-drama-podcast-1232/]
 2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/dan-megill/]
 3. The Pop Culture Parent by Ted Turnau, E. Stephen Burnett, Dr. Jared Moore [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/the-pop-culture-parent/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews for The Heart of the King [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-heart-of-the-king/] and Beneath False Stars [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/beneath-false-stars]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Concessions:

 * This is about culture in general, not Christian families or homeschoolers.
 * Not focused on this episode about the recent trends of books that are turning away prospective male readers.

1. Physical books make a wise investment.

 * Judas Iscariot, kinda: “These books could have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
 * Reading a book is more work than watching a movie or enjoying some other form of entertainment, so people have high expectations. And too many books have disappointed, browbeat, or lectured them. Many people are right to be skeptical that a book will be worth their money.
 * “We’re basically after Joe’s beer money, and Joe likes his beer, so you better make sure that what you give him is at least as pleasurable to him as having his six-pack of beer would be.” — Jerry Pournelle
 * You can always make more money, though. And more importantly, you can make a book budget. There’s also the library.
 * Another concern is that reading books, especially speculative fiction, will not help us get the jobs that make enough money.
 * But every job requires communication and people skills, and this is a skill best learned through a novel.
 * “According to the neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf, so-called deep reading—sustained immersion in a text—stimulates a number of valuable mental habits, including critical thinking and self-reflection, in ways that skimming or reading in short bursts does not.”

Zackary Russell’s central bookshelf, as of August 2025

2. Physical books really should take up space.

 * Why own physical books when you can erase

277. Isn’t Physical Book Collection a Waste of Resources?

Over summer and school seasons alike, many Christian parents want books for their kids that don’t have things like “Agenda” or “Wokeness.”[1. Photo by Steve Johnson [https://unsplash.com/@steve_j?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash] on Unsplash [https://unsplash.com/photos/multicolored-abstract-painting-JLfem8ViKVA?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash].] But in our zeal to keep bad, poisonous content out of books, might we miss our children’s more important need to enjoy good, nutritious content in our fantastical fiction?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/dan-megill/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews of Illuminary [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/illuminary/] and The Heart of the King [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/the-heart-of-the-king]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

1. Yes, kids need books that repeat truth!

 * No one should pretend many general market books aren’t “woke,” etc.
 * There has been a vast effort to get this ideology into content for kids.
 * So it’s a great starting point to ask about “agenda.” But don’t stop there.
 * If you do stop there, then you might accept books that share half-truths.
 * Or they may be free of one “agenda” while smuggling in other deceptions.
 * Rainbows may hide lies, but black-and-white stories may do the same!

2. But kids also need books that are good.

 * If we want books that are “free of poison,” that’s a very low bar to clear.
 * What about books that are well-made? Timeless or have potential to be?
 * Ask if any book also has quality level matching what kids want or need.
 * Consider: books made by honest creators, not committee-generated stuff.
 * Also: books that show real heroes, yet with realistic (kid appropriate) flaws.
 * Rainbows might be used for evil ends, but look for good reflections of light!

3. And kids need books that celebrate beauty.

 * Good books have truth/goodness; great ones also honor God’s creation.
 * If “beauty” seems too high-falutin’, just hear that word as healthy emotion.
 * Great books capture all the human experience, with sufferings and joys.
 * They’ll also show the wonders of God’s world and our creations in here.
 * Even better, they’ll hearken to the restored paradise awaiting His people.
 * Rainbows get used to honor ugliness, but God made them for His glory!

Com station

Top question for listeners

 * What truthful, good, and beautiful books did you enjoy growing up?

Next on Fantastical Truth

So many books, so little time, space, and money. Many fans love collect physical copies of their favorite stories, often so much that they run out of bookshelf space. (Stephen and Zack are in this situation!)  With the availability of audiobook and digital copies, isn’t book collection a waste of resources?

276. How Can Parents Find Books That Aren’t Just ‘Not Woke’ But Are Actually Good?

We’ve just seen the end of this year’s summer blockbuster movie season, such as it was. Most of the drama was about the movies rather than in the movies. Fans debate whether stories should be lighter, focusing on “fun” with simple virtues, as opposed to heavier stories with “serious” ideas. Right now it seems Team Light Stories is winning over Team Heavy Stories—and yet nobody is really winning at the box office. How can Christian fans engage stories that are light versus heavy?

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: Marian’s article about K-Pop Demon Hunters [https://lorehaven.com/k-pop-demon-hunters-pits-singing-heroines-vs-monster-idols/]
 * New reviews: Unfixed by Amy L. Saunders [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/unfixed/], Illuminary by Chawna Shroeder [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/illuminary/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

 * “The Operating System Of Cyberpunk Fiction [https://zackaryrussell.com/the-operating-system-of-cyberpunk-fiction/],” Zackary Russell
 * “Screwtape Wants You to Think Only Horror is Real, but Joy is Sentimental [https://estephenburnett.lorehaven.com/screwtape-wants-you-to-think-only-horror-is-real-but-joy-is-sentimental/],” E. Stephen Burnett

1. Many fans favor light or fun colorful stories

 * By “light” or “fun,” we mean simpler/popular morals, lots of jokes, color.
 * We don’t mean flippant or crude stories, though some can tend this way.
 * These stories often embrace or lampshade long-familiar genre tropes.
 * They often get praised by fans and critics, but fail to set many records.
 * Lots of people liked the new Superman movie (but not Stephen or Zack).
 * And many people liked the new Fantastic Four (but it’s also struggling).
 * Neither film did better than most DC or Marvel films of the past, pre-2020 [https://www.outkick.com/analysis/superman-box-office-fizzles-out-securing-yet-another-hollywood-superhero-flop].
 * And yet more of the big franchises are choosing this creative direction.
 * Critics who want “realism” must recall that real people like lighter stories.
 * Maybe these fans tend to like simple reminders about simple ideas/truths.
 * When real life is a struggle, these fans like to escape into simpler stories.
 * These fans prefer plain “inspirational” figures over “aspirational” heroes.

2. Other fans enjoy heavier or serious stories

 * And by “heavier” or “serious” stories, we mean challenging, realistic tales.
 * We don’t mean nihilistic or deconstructive, though some tend this way.
 * These stories often embrace human tradition (a better version of “trope”).
 * They often find praised and criticism by fans and critics, and set records.
 * Fans loved the Star Wars Andor series and more-serious Marvel/DC stories.
 * And many people like Christopher Nolan’s many films, Dune, and similar.
 * But these stories (in books or cinema) often prove high-risk for many fans.
 * So they are playing better on less-expensive media, such as streaming TV.
 * Critics who want “fun” must recall that life isn’t like a shallow movie-land.
 * These fans may like complex reflections of many challenging ideas/truths.
 * When real life is a struggle, these fans like stories that provide answers.
 * These fans prefer “aspirational” heroes over plain “inspirational” figures.

3. More fans embrace light and heavy stories

 * A surprising amount of franchises insist on both approaches all at once.
 * Some moments are comedic/w

275. Why Do Fans Debate Light Stories vs. Heavy Stories?

Last month at the Realm Makers Expo [https://expo.realmmakers.com], we met many skilled Christian creators who are making amazing stories in books, games, and the visual arts. Yet some people believe all this stuff is pointless or outdated and will soon be replaced by so-called “AI art.” Are they right? Will computer-generated content outpace art made by humans? And is such a belief even biblically defensible?

Episode sponsors

 1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Chill by Morgan L. Busse [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/realm-makers]
 2. The Waymaker’s Foresight by Dan Megill [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/dan-megill/]
 3. Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett [https://lorehaven.com/sponsors/above-the-circle-of-earth/]

Mission update

 * New at Lorehaven: reviews of Winter’s Chill [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/winters-chill], upcoming Unfixed [https://lorehaven.com/reviews/unfixed/]
 * Also new at the site: Josiah DeGraaf’s take on the recent Superman movie [https://lorehaven.com/superman-2025-will-make-you-believe-a-man-can-be-earnest/]
 * Subscribe free [https://lorehaven.com/subscribe] to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild [https://lorehaven.com/lorehaven-guild/]

Quotes and notes

“When you meet anything that’s going to be human and isn’t yet, or used to be human once and isn’t now, or ought to be human and isn’t, you keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet.”
—Mr. Beaver from C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

“Ginny! … Haven’t I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain?”
—Arthur Weasley from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

… Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.
—The Bible, Joshua 8:26 (ESV)

 * Ep 170. Will Artificial Intelligence Destroy Human Creativity? [https://lorehaven.com/podcast/170-will-artificial-intelligence-destroy-human-creativity/]
 * Showrunner: the “Netflix of AI” that would let people make their own TV shows [https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/tv/amazon-backs-a-new-service-described-as-the-netflix-of-ai-that-would-let-people-make-their-own-tv-shows-using-existing-ip/]
 * Build AI or Be Buried By Those Who Do [https://treeofwoe.substack.com/p/build-ai-or-be-buried-by-those-who]

Concession stand

 * This is a conversation for story fans, yet with some application for creators.
 * Stephen has and will use AI for databases and limited nonfiction research.
 * However, he still insists this “search engine” give reliable primary sources.
 * We at Lorehaven promote stories #

274. Why Shouldn’t AI-Generated Content Replace Human Stories?

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