Faith and Fandom: Finding God In Sci-Fi, Superheroes & Video Games by Rev. Hector E Miray

As both a geek and a Christian, I'm a member of two groups that catch a lot of flack from people on the outside. Mundanes don't get fandom. They mock us. I'm a guy with a book review blog. I work full time. I have my own place. I still get mocked for being unemployed and living in my mom's basement. And, of course, being a Christian means constant belittlement for being a hater of this, that the other thing, not having a sense of humor, thinking sex is evil...

I could go on.

It gets worse if you're both a Christian and a geek. Seriously. There are Christians still stuck in the Satanic Panic of the Eighties who will freak out if you tell them you play D+D. There are geeks who will reject you if they find out you love Jesus. It can be a tough row to hoe to be both a fan and a Christian. As a member of two groups when some members of both reject members of the other, life can be a bit rough sometimes. I finally found something that bridges the two worlds though, and that makes me happy.

At any rate, the point here is that it's always nice to be around someone who gets what you get, who loves what you love and can relate to what you're about. If you've ever been to a con or even to a gaming shop (if you're a gamer, anyway) you know what I mean. If you've ever heard what a bunch of assholes Christians are from someone who thinks that Westboro Baptist Church represents all of us, then walked into a loving and warm church on Sunday, then you know what I mean.

If you've ever loved both Fandom and Jesus and you've read Faith and Fandom: Finding God In Sci-Fi, Superheroes and Video Games then you get the feeling that I'm talking about. It's weird. I've read a lot of books in my time. I've loved most of them. I've shared my thoughts about them with anyone I could get to listed (and, quite possibly, a few that didn't want to). I've never cracked open a book that made me feel this at home before. Seriously, if you're like me and you can open this and not feel something while reading this bad boy you need to get your pulse checked.

The book is a collection of essays comparing various aspects of geek culture with lessons from the Bible. It's a way of thinking about Life, The Universe and Everything that I hadn't previously contemplated. It makes sense though, if you get the references. Don't get me wrong. I'm not necessarily recommending Faith and Fandom to that guy that mocks you for your comics collections. I am, however, recommending it to you if you have a comics collection.

The essays themselves are amazing.

The first one compares the destructive power of the Hulk's rage to the destructive power of sin. I love this one. Sometimes, as Christians, we think we can do something we know is wrong and it won't hurt anything. It's not true. This essay tells us why. As much as I liked this essay though, I'm not sure I would've put it first. If it's someone's first time through a book exploring Christian themes and I was editing it, I probably would have started the book with something a little more positive and welcoming. Just my two cents. Read it though, because you need to.

Chapter Two covers the power of redemption and the fact that we can never totally overcome sin. It also talks of how we don't have to earn God's love. This is a good one.

Chapter Three is the story of Superman and how he came to Earth to save it. That sounds like someone else we know, doesn't it Christians?

Chapter Four is about receiving power. It covers characters like Shazam and Spider Man. It also mentions the power of the Word. I needed this the day I read it. I was having a rough time dealing with some things. I was glad God dropped this in my lap at just the right time.

Chapter Five is about Green Lantern rings and Christian virtues. I loved this one, but I'm a GL fan for life, so that may have actually been a gimme.

Chapter Six is all about Iron Man and the Armor of God. I like this one. We all know that Tony Stark is a LOOOOONG way from being a perfect Christian (or even a Christian at all) but redemption is possible and there are things we can learn here. There is also a definition of what that armor is constituted of.

Chapter Seven: This one is all about the importance of Christian fellowship ala The Justice League and the Avengers. I wish we had more geeks in my small group at church. I think this would be a good essay to discuss one week.

Chapter 8: Great Power, Great Responsibility. Not just Spider-Man but Christians and the power of the Word.

Chapter 9: River Tam, Firefly and the need to tell the truth to everyone. 'Nuff said.

Chapter 10: Shepherd Book and not isolating yourself in a Christian bubble. You can't share the good news with someone who already knows what it is.

Chapter 11: Captain Mal and loss or questioning of faith. We've all had those moments. What can we do about them?

Chapter 12: Doctor Who and the concept of eternity. This was a strange one for me. I can't grasp eternity per se, but I always figured God would clue me in when I needed to know.

Chapter 13: River Song, sacrifices for the Doctor and sacrifices for Christ. Good stuff.

Chapter 14: Battlestar Galactica, being lost and using the Word to find your way.

Chapter 15: Amy, Rory, the Doctor and patience with God and from God. This is an important one for those of us who expect to get what we ask God for immediately.

Chapter 16: Walter White from Breaking Bad and the importance of making the right choices. Also, the harm that comes from making the wrong ones.

Chapter 17: Mario, Link and the need to keep seeking Christ. Good essay. Gimme some feeted pajamas and a bowl of sugary cereal and it would be even better, but maybe I'm showing my age there.

Chapter 18: The NES controller and taking control of your own life. This one is pretty profound.

Chapter 19: Batman: Arkham Asylum and being defined by our enemies. But it's not just that. It's about blessing our enemies, the way scripture tells us to. This is a well thought out essay that didn't go the way I expected it to. Take a bow.

Chapter 20: Halo, the team concept and the importance of loving your friends and helping them out. Powerful stuff.

Chapter 21: Fable III: The importance of making the right choices, even when doing so is hard.

Chapter 22: Grand Theft Auto and the importance of hitting the right goals as Christians. This is a good message. It's something we all need to take to heart. And he's right, it would be right if we got a visible rating at the end of every day.

... and that's all of the chapters. I didn't know how to review this one without giving it the anthology treatment.

A few final thoughts: This is a really good book. It's an easy read and it's not real long, so you can get value from it quickly and then move along. It's also the first in a series of (currently, there may be more coming... maybe) six books. The blurb on Amazon says that the books can be read in any order but I plan on reading them in publication order because Jimbo. I'm guessing they'll all be worth the time.

My one problem with Faith and Fandom Volume One is that it needs some editing. I know that's a common complaint about independently published books. Usually, I don't see the need. Here, I think some help would have been nice. On the other hand, the message is good, the chapters are entertaining and I've already purchased the next one in the series, so I guess it didn't kill the experience for me.

Bottom Line: 4.5 out of 5 Crosses

Faith and Fandom: Finding God In Sci-Fi, Superheroes & Video Games 
Rev. Hector E Miray
Createspace, 2014

Faith and Fandom: Finding God In Sci-Fi, Superheroes & Video Games is available for purchase at the following link:

Another Life on Netflix

Radio telescopy detects a signal from many light years away. Something slams into the Earth and sprouts a huge crystal tower looking thing. A ship is prepped to trace back the signal to make contact with the aliens who sent it. Interpersonal conflict begins. It's finally far enough into the first episode that I can crack open my bottle of Coca Cola. Welcome to Another Life, a Netflix exclusive. And no, it doesn't slow down afterwards.

Seriously, this us not the show for people who get anxiety attacks from watching TV shows. There is always something going on and it gets pretty intense at times. In some ways, although Another Life is hard science fiction, it feels more like Science Horror. I know that doesn't make sense, but watch the thing and see if you don't believe me.

Ya know, it's kind of weird. Another Life is certainly not Event Horizon. There is no space fold, no lost ship, no Latin phrasing, no trip to Hell... You get the idea. The thing is, Another Life and Event Horizon share a similar atmosphere. There's always something going on. It's almost always bad. Our heroes are working their tails off to avoid wherever it is, but we're still pretty sure it's going to get worse and not better. There doesn't seem to be a way out but we still want there to be. And things aren't always what they seem.

With the good comes the not so good. Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation (especially the first two seasons) will be all too familiar with the we're-all-going-to-die storylines that a lot of these episodes embody. What the producers of Another Life got right that Gene Roddenberry did not is that there is still a lot of tension between characters. And I'll give Another Life this as well: There is no holodeck. We don't see Moriarty escaping to conquer the Enterprise here. I'll take that.

The star of the show, of course, is Katee Sackhoff. Any actress who can play a part well enough to make me accept a female Starbuck is worth watching. I was not disappointed. As Captain Niko Breckenridge, Sackhoff has a tough task: She has to keep a bunch of twenty-something punk kids on task while things continuously go wrong. It doesn't help that she took over the ship from another captain that those same young adults had served under. You can cut the drama here with the knife.

Of course, a lot of that has to do with the youth of the characters. They get into the same type of drama we all did at that age, only they've got more reason to freak out. Life on the Salvare is constantly in flux and most of what happens is not necessarily good. That's okay though. Safe and sane is boring. I'd rather see them all flipping their lids when something crazy happens. And seriously, life in space can sometimes be crazier than your ex-girlfriend on a full moon. 

Something I really like is that the writers of the show didn't forget about those left behind. Granted, we were going to see some of what was happening on Earth because of the alien artifact there, but tying in spouses and children is a master stroke. It is also sometimes heart-breaking. I think this works particularly well right now, because there is a lot of sympathy for military families. The crew of the Salvare is not military per se, but they are damn sure deployed and in harm's way so the situation is similar.

I also like the fact that the characters are human and act in human ways while suffering the consequences of doing so. There was a moment in the show where I found myself striking my forehead with the heel of my hand like it was 1985 again. I got why the character did the thing and I was pretty sure I knew what came next. I was right, for the most part. Being Another Life it was a bit worse than what I thought it would be. That's okay. I like the realism here. When things make sense it makes me happy, even when what happens makes me sad. That makes sense, right?

I also like the enigmatic nature of the aliens. Nobody knows who they are or what they want. There is no established way to communicate with them at first. I like that. Listen, I'm as big a Star Trek fan as you're ever likely to meet, but not every alien in the galaxy is going to speak English. It just doesn't work that way. And it takes awhile. That makes sense too. It seems likely to a nerd like me that aliens are not likely to think like humans. Their languages are therefore not going to be instantly translated into any human language. I like that. Even with prime numbers and the Fibonacci Sequence, all we're doing is showing that we can do simple math. Two humans who are both educated in math but don't have a language in common can't talk. Why would a human instantly know how to talk to an alien?

It mystifies me that this thing receives so much hate from Rotten Tomatoes. I don't get it. Yes, as I said previously, it has a horror type feel to it, but SO WHAT? It works. This thing is a cross between and alien invasion story and early space exploration crossed with a touch of political intrigue. I don't get the hate. Is it perfect? No. Is anything human made perfect? No. It's good. It's entertaining. It holds the attention. It keeps things moving.

All in all, I'm glad I watched it. I'm looking forward to Season Two. I damn well better get a Season Two. I need a Season Two because reasons, and it's not just because I have a thing for Katee Sackhoff. Well, maybe that's part of it but that's not all of it. Netflix just needs to shut up and show me the series. Seriously.

Bottom Line: 4.5 out of 5 Alien Whatevers

Another LifeNetflix, 2019

Stranger Things Season 3

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Okay, guys. I need to get something off of my chest. It's a very minor spoiler about something that is only there to create that Eighties feel, but it makes me a little crazy. It's weird because Season Three was the best season of Stranger Things so far and this is making me this nutty, but there it is: In one of the episodes this season Lucas sings the praises of New Coke from the Eighties. YOU DO NOT SING THE PRAISES OF THAT CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY! IT'S JUST NOT DONE! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, I almost lost my lunch when I saw that. It was terrible. Horrible, even.

But despite all of that, Season Three of Stranger Things is the best so far. The kids are growing up a bit and experiencing some of the things that go along with that. That makes sense. Kids do that. I used to be a kid at one point. I'm an adult(ish type person) now. It's good to see. We saw Mike and Eleven get together at the end of Season 2 and now we get to see what comes next. That's awesome, except when it's not. Mike, bro...

Never mind. No spoilers. But um yeah. What happens makes sense and screams young kid with his first girlfriend but, but..

Yeah, I'll shut up.

Oh, and newsflash: Elle is a badass. I know that hasn't exactly been a secret but it's good to see her coming into an understanding of her powers that wasn't really there before. She's gaining confidence. I see shades of a young Luke Skywalker here: She's got tons of power. She wants to know how to use it. She has no real mentor. She has to puzzle it out herself and she's doing an amazing job. I'm proud of this girl.

I have to admit something else here too: As a father of a couple young girls and a dude named Jim, I share Jim's pain in watching his daughter getting her first beau. Seriously. I'm not sure how I'll deal with that when it comes, but it feels real to me. People talk about teen angst in stories and yeah, it's overdone. That doesn't change the fact that adults get a wee bit angsty sometimes themselves. Dude is stuck in a situation that he didn't ask for and he's not sure how to deal with it. Yeah. Sounds like he's a dad to me. I love it.

Of course, Jim is also a bit of a hothead and that comes out in full force as well. Jim does what he needs to do because he needs to do it and doesn't always worry about what the rules are. I like that about him. Of course, American fiction has a tradition of the outlaw lawman and Jim is one of the finest examples of that I've ever seen. He's the bad cop with no good cop. I want to have a drink with this character.

As a matter of fact, the subject of young love is a theme this season and that's good. The kids are at the right age for it. It would seem a bit awkward if it weren't. The fact that the kids don't always know how to relate to having a significant other is also logical. They're kids. They haven't been there before.

Of course, that's always been the strength of Stranger Things. The writers take a totally outlandish concept (IE the creatures of the Upside Down loose in the real world) and set it in a totally believable, realistic setting. Remember mall life from the Eighties? That's in there. Remember when bike riding wasn't a way to stay in shape, but a form of transportation? That's in there. Remember when none of your friends had cell phones and you had to try to catch them at home? Yep, that's in there too. It all fits. It's Eighties nostalgia to be sure, but it's not just that. It's a realistic look at how things used to be.

Of course, Stranger Things has always contained fantastical elements and they're here in bulk. It takes a bit longer for some of them to show up than I initially preferred, but I guess the writers were a bit too busy making an awesome story to throw random shots of monsters into the mix, so they did the right thing. It was really well done too, even if it may have been just the slightest bit gross in places. But then again, evil is supposed to be gross right? And these people eating monsters are most definitely evil. If you've played Dungeons and Dragons, then you automatically get a shiver up your spine when you hear the term "Mind Flayer." You instinctively remember the horror and evil of a Mind Flayer. If you're worldly enough, you recognize Mind Flayers as echoes of Lovecraft's Chthulu. Yeah, the Upside Down monster rise to that level of evil.

And the way all involved rise up to save their town and the world (again) is epic. I've always admired the characters in Stranger Things because they've never backed down. They've never shown cowardice. They've all been very visibly scared, but they continue on anyway. That's what courage is. Richard the Lionhearted said it best: "Only the dead are without fear." These kids are scared. They sacrifice their bodies along the way. No one knows how things will end, but they all have faith that they'll win out in the end if they just keep fighting.

Or course as kids get older, they sometimes drift apart. Sometimes that's because of external forces. Sometimes it's not. Anyone who has ever played a pen and paper role playing game knows the old adage: Never split the party. This is the first season where I remember things being this split up. The kids are doing things separately in some parts. That too is part of growing up. Establishing independence is a big thing. We see that here too. The writers of this season of Stranger Things have not forgotten what it was like to do that.

Oh, and I have a feeling we'll be seeing Season Four. I can't wait.

Bottom Line: 4.75 out of 5 Demogorgons

Stranger Things, Season 3
Netflix, 2019

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My Dragon Awards Ballot

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I did my ballot on my phone. The pics above are actual screen caps. You can agree or disagree with how I voted, but you can't deny the fact that I was transparent with my votes.

So why did I vote how I voted?

I thought you'd never ask!

Best SF Novel: A Star Wheeled Sky by Brad Torgersen Awesome book. I feel bad about not reviewing it,but I only have so much time and I have to sleep sometime.

Best Fantasy Novel: House of Assassins by Larry Correia: One of a very few fantasy novels set outside of a pseudo-European setting and a whole lot of fun. Sorry I didn't review this one as well. I love Larry Correia, but I didn't really think he needed the help.

Best YA SF/F Novel: (or something similar. I cut off the title, but these are all YA books) I hadn't read any of them. I can't vote in a category where I haven't read any of them.

 Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel: Uncompromising Honor by David Weber I'm a little bitter here. Uncompromising Honor was my pick for Best SF novel. It should be in the bigger category. Having said as much, if it's the Best SF novel in my opinion, it's definitely better than any Mil SF titles I've read this year. See my review here.

Best Alternate History Novel: The World Asunder by Kacey Ezell This was my nominee. It's freaking awesome. It features a massively important part of history that is awesome ignored. It's entertaining as hell. It made me spit Mountain Dew all over my phone (I read it on Kindle). BUY THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK. VOTE FOR THIS BOOK. Do it all after you read my review though. It's posted here. 

Best Media Tie in Novel: The Replicant War by Chris Kennedy. Awesome book. I didn't realize that this was actually a media tie in, but whatever. It rocks.


Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie: Avengers: Endgame. The feels man, the feels!

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC/Console Game: World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth. I haven't been playing since my guild server shifted and I didn't have the money to follow, but this game is awesome, especially once you get past the fact that the pyramid the real players use as their home city (IE the Horde) is a pyramid that's hard to navigate.

Best Horror Novel: Zombie Airman by David Guenther: Lots of cool characters. Lots of good action scenes. I loved this book. See my review here.

Best Comic Book/Graphic Novel: I didn't vote Apparently, I need to get updated on my comics. Nothing I read this year was eligible for comics and the graphic novel I nominated didn't make the ballot. *SIGH* I'll get to work.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series: Good Omens I haven't read the book, but something about an angel and a devil working together to bring about the apocalypse just tickles my fantasy. Crowley is an amazing character and Azriphael is a delightfully naive individual.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game/Miniatures Game/Cell Phone App: (or something similar. I hacked off a title again.) I didn't vote. I didn't play any of these games.

I don't want to make one of the books that I voted for look bad, but I'll state here for the record that I'm bitter that one of my nominees, which was the best book in its category that I've ever read hands down, didn't make the ballot. If the author is out there reading this: I tried bro. I really did. Maybe next year?

*SIGH*

It happens. I should be used to it by now. I supposed I'll get over myself eventually.

So tell me what you think. What did I get right? What did I get wrong? Why are you throwing tomatoes at me? There is plenty of room for comments below.