Sometimes, in the crush of events in this life, a book blogger can be a stinkity stinker. I know from experience. I'll give you an example: Once upon a time a person you've all come to know and admire (or possibly just tolerate, that's okay too) went to a Science Fiction convention. There he talked to a young gentleman (either Eric Anderson or Nathan Marchand, I'm not sure which) who had published a book. Said book reviewer then purchased the book, for he thought that surely he would benefit from reading the contents thereof. He was much gladdened by his purchase for he, like most, is in need of spiritual sustenance the likes of which cannot be acquired by eating a Quarter Pounder (although he's tried).
Said book review blogger, being a major buttface, then proceeded to go home and lose the bag he had put the book in. He was much saddened by this turn of events, not only because he was looking forward to reading the book but also unhappy because he had promised the author a review on his much loved (or possibly laughed at) blog. Fear not though, gentle reader, for it so happens that this story has a happy ending: The book reviewer found the bag! Granted, it was like seven months later but hey, nobody's perfect, not even those of us so self important that we find it necessary to show our opinions about books online without being prompted. And therefore, I once again came into possession of my copy of 42:Discovering Faith Through Fandom by Eric Anderson and Nathan Marchand. I'm glad I did too, because this has indeed been a rewarding experience.
42 is a devotional. For those of you not familiar, that means that it is a book divided up into small sections with each section meant to be read on a once daily basis. So if you, for example, start 42 on a Monday, you'll read Day 1. On Tuesday, you'll read Day 2. On Wednesday, you'll read Day 3. If you miss a day, Satan himself will invade your living room and consume your immortal so...
Uhh...
No.
If you miss a day because life, you would ordinarily just continue on where you left off and shake your head at yourself. (Head shaking optional) Most devotionals have readings that correspond with calendar dates and so I would read both the day I missed and the current date (IE I missed yesterday so I'll read yesterday and today's readings today) but with 42 it's a straight forty-two day devotional with no actual dates listed so the pressure is off. You just start back up where you left off. Did I miss any days? I am happy to report to you that they guy who works fifty to sixty hours a week while attempting to spend as much time as possible with his children was able to
BUM BUM BUM...
Enjoy 42 thoroughly and learn a lot from it despite being crazy busy and missing a couple of days along the way. I hated missing, but life is life sometimes, ya know?
So, having covered what a buttface I am and also having talked about what a devotional is, how about I talk about the book itself now?
42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom is something I think the geek/nerd world really needs: A way to relate the things that members of geek culture really need. I think that for a couple of reasons:
1.) Many of us relate more to the fictional worlds that we inhabit inside of our heads than the actual world that really exists. I mean that literally and, if you're one of us, you know I'm right. We'll go to work. We'll pay our bills. We'll hug our kids and maybe do more than that with our spouses (If you have one. I personally don't.) At the end of the day though, I'd rather be on Azeroth or Orions Alpha IV than in Southeastern Michigan.
2.) Christians take a lot of flack in the geek world. I've been told by actual pastors that it can be hard to convince people with high IQs to even give Jesus a chance, that they look toward science to provide the answer for everything. We all know Athiestic Humanists that refuse to even speak about religion. We all know others who will hate on modern day Christians for things that Vlad Tepes did in the Fifteenth Century. David Weber, a best-selling SF author and a deacon in his church was told not to hold a prayer service at a con where he was a Guest. Christians at cons are definitely hated on by at the very least a significant majority of fellow fen. Seriously. Go to your favorite con. Count how many times you hear the word "Jeebus." I dare you.
42 is not going to stop that, but it can provide a rallying point for the embattled Christians among us, a reminder that you're not the only person like you that is like you. There are many millions of Christian SF fans in the world and this is the book for them.
It's not just about that though.
42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom is also a really good devotional. It is a bit intense in that it has longer readings than I've seen in other devotionals, both in the book itself and out of the Bible. It involves more directed prayer and journaling than I've ever seen before as well, but that's good. We're geeks right? We spend time on our passions and if you're a geek who loves Jesus in spite of all the venom you've received you're a hardcore and this is the book for you.
On the other hand...
I can guarantee that Marchand and Anderson are not going to come to your house and check your work. If journaling seems to be a bit to much to you the book still has value. At the end of the day, writing non-fiction is all about thinking your way through something. Thinking about what you just read is probably not as effective as writing about it, but it's a step in the right direction.
I find myself wondering if the authors of 42 and Hector Miray of Faith and Fandom: Finding God In Sci-Fi, Superheroes & Video Games have worked together on anything. That would be just the thing for a group like us.
This is also a book for those of a geeky bent who are curious about Christianity. If you're not a Christian and you're reading 42 know that literally (and I mean literally literally not literally figuratively) is available online for free. If you want to purchase a Bible to use for readings with 42 then I think that is an awesome idea and you should do it. If you'd rather get 42 and google Bible verses for free, I think that's an awesome idea too. At the end of the day though, this is a chance to see that Christians aren't the evil monsters many people make us out to be. Pick up a copy. Spend twenty minutes a day finding out what we're like. It'll be worth your time.
Bottom Line: 5.0 out of 5 Crosses
42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom
Eric Anderson and Nathan Marchand
Self Published, 2016
42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom is available for purchase at the following link:
well. you just sold one for them
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