Alister McGrath writes fantasy? What’s next? A cookbook?
This is an unabashedly churlish review of Alister McGrath’s new book The Aedyn Chronicles: Chosen Ones. It is based on a quick read of the first chapter. That first chapter was photocopied and handed to me — unsolicited mind you — from a pastor who is a big fan both of Alister McGrath the Theologian and of fantasy literature. So he had high hopes that the two might make a good mixture, kinda like ketchup and mustard.
Alas, the mix is more like ketchup and ice cream. (Now I recognize the possibility that somebody out there will say “Hey, I happen to like ketchup drizzled on ice cream.” Fair enough, then you may indeed be in that desperately small demographic that will enjoy this book. But those who find that combination distasteful should think twice.)
Here’s my cynical self thinking that Zondervan is going to market this as a stepping stone for Christian parents who want their kids to read Christian fantasy and have finished Narnia and have nowhere to go.
But I have a better idea. Rather than read “Christian” fantasy (whatever that is) why not read good fantasy? If the kiddies have finished The Last Battle and are not yet ready for The Hobbit, why not pass them a copy of Diana Wynn Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle or Neil Gaiman’s Coraline or that seven volume chronicle of one Mr. Harry Potter?
It is important for a man to know his limitations. McGrath may be an eminently capable historical theologian, systematic theologian, and apologist, but to think he can handle this genre is, alas, itself a fantasy.
I warned you it was churlish.
Tags: Alister McGrath, fantasy literature, The Aedyn Chronicles
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James Palmer says:
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 5:09pm
I actually think Ketchup might go just fine with ice cream, if you’ve prepared the Ketchup properly:
http://www.heinzitup.com/view_recipe.asp?RecipeID=532
randal says:
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 5:12pm
Okay James,
I’m happy to provide this link for folks like yourself. In no time at all you’ll be able to curl up in your favorite chair with a frosty bowl of ketchup ice cream and a crisp new copy of The Aedyn Chronicles.
James Palmer says:
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 5:16pm
Haha. No thanks. This sounds like it falls in the all-to-large category of mediocre Christian “art”, along with the vast majority of other Christian fiction, music, etc.
Christian art used to be much better when it wasn’t just trying to be a Christian version of secular art.
randal says:
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 5:18pm
J.K. Rowling is a Christian who just wanted to write good fantasy. The fact that she had talent was just the icing on the cake.
James Palmer says:
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 5:24pm
True, but it seems difficult to find Christian artists whose art is explicitly Christian (i.e. it would not be mistaken as secular) where it isn’t cheese. In the music world, I can only think of a couple examples such as Sufjan Stevens who manage to pull this off consistently. In film, The Passion of the Christ and a handful of others would fit the bill, but then you get movies like Fireproof, or that one with the one-armed surfer girl. It’s a pity.
Walter says:
Monday, May 30, 2011 at 6:22pm
Aedyn Chronicles, The Chosen Ones
Sounds like a good title for book about Calvinism: The Chosen Ones.
I am assuming that Aedyn is pronounced something like Eden?
davidstarlingm says:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 4:26pm
No, no — I’m sure it’s pronounced “eh-eedin”. Not like Eden at all.
//sarcasm
I’m reminded of xkcd’s Fiction Rule of Thumb. Although I do think the graph needs a spike halfway down for Tolkien and a third of the way down for Rowling.
davidstarlingm says:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 4:29pm
I daresay that — from a Christian perspective — Rowling is as good of a read (or better) for kids as Narnia. And that, coming from a fellow who once loudly trumpeted this drivel.
randal says:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 4:42pm
My daughter would heartily agree. To be frank, I have to say that as good as Narnia is (and it is pretty good) it is also highly over-rated.
davidstarlingm says:
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 4:32pm
For one thing, HP does a far better job of teaching critical thinking skills than Narnia. I particularly love Hermione’s treatment of Trelawney’s prophecies in Prisoner of Azkaban: