Is There A Market For Christian Space Opera Novels?

[Dayton3]

I've been looking for Christian science fiction for a number of years.

But almost all of it seems to be either "End Times" type of books or "Fantasy" type books like those of C.S. Lewis.

The closest thing I've found to Christian space opera (the future, starships, high technology et cetera) is Chris Walley's "Lamb Among the Stars" trilogy.

"Lamb Among the Stars" is pretty good but still inadequate for my tastes.

I've been wanting to take a shot at science fiction writing for years and I've wondered if space opera for Christians might be a neglected market.

 

[Trent Roman]

Christian space opera is sort of like Christian rock: the problem isn't that it doesn't exist, so much as what has been done is really, really bad. Some genres, of liteature or music or what-have-you, are simply conceptually incompatible.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Kelso]

You might want to start off by writing it as a children's/young adult's book... and see how things go.

Christians are always looking for new ways to reach the younger generation.

 

[Shawnster]

What would qualify as "Christian" SciFi? Is it having a character that is a Christian? Something more?

I was at a used book store yesterday and it was interesting to note what was filed under the "inspirational/Christian" section. It was a series of books set in the 1800s. You know, the kind of book that has the "Little House on the Prairie" feel.

Would that qualify as Christian SciFi? A nice wholesome story with strong, morally upright main characters such as you see on Little House or the Hallmark Channel?

 

[Dayton3]

What would qualify as "Christian" SciFi? Is it having a character that is a Christian? Something more?

I was at a used book store yesterday and it was interesting to note what was filed under the "inspirational/Christian" section. It was a series of books set in the 1800s. You know, the kind of book that has the "Little House on the Prairie" feel.

Would that qualify as Christian SciFi? A nice wholesome story with strong, morally upright main characters such as you see on Little House or the Hallmark Channel?

Good questions.

I was thinking something alone the lines of a starship captain several centuries now who becomes a Christian, Christians are then portrayed in a favorable light, and the plights and struggles of Christians centuries from now is a significant driving force in the story.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Well, if you're writing about plights and struggles suffered by Christians, are these different plights and struggles than everyone else suffers?

Or are all suffering, and this is the unique way Christians deal with it?

And suffering from whom or what? The perils of the environment? The inner loneliness and feelings of being lost and isolated? Or oppression from.... whom?

Are you writing for Christians, or are you writing everyone? For example, your protagonist has a very Christian viewpoint, but you don't mention it by name, but it may be very familiar to other Christians. C S Lewis was much this way.

Or is it overtly Christian, like Christian rock? And here you are writing to a particular audience. And how do they wish to be entertained?

In the end, there are niche markets for just about everything. But you need to answer these questions for yourself and decide what niche you are targeting. Find the correct publisher who knows that niche, and market to that niche.

In some ways, you probably have an easier time, there isn't much to compete with, there are already Christian publishers and bookstores and online stores, so the main thing is a compelling story that people will enjoy. That's always the hardest part of any genre.

 

[stj]

The self-segregated Christian markets are dominated by preachers selling the notion the End Times are nigh. There is no future expected. Therefore, Christian Space Opera set in the future is an implicit denial of an article of faith. Contemporary space opera is pretty much limited to alien invasion, which also attacks doctrine either by admitting evolution or admitting Satanic powers of creation, which is formally Manichean heresy. Most Christians just assume God agrees with them but the editors tend to be more plugged into actual churches with set theologies. Even C.S. Lewis suffered criticism for his doctrinal improprieties, until they were hallowed by money and time.

So, no, there is no such market.

 

[Greg Cox]

There are novels and stories with Christian themes. "A Case of Conscience." "A Canticle for Leibowitz." Etc. But I don't know if there is any sf marketed specially at Christians.

If so, as a practical matter, it probably wouldn't be shelved in the sf section of Barnes & Noble, but sold primarily in bookstores that specialize in Christian literature. Therefore, you should be looking at the "inspirational" book market (which exists) as opposed to mainstream sf publishing.

Just a helpful tip.

 

[Dayton3]

There are novels and stories with Christian themes. "A Case of Conscience." "A Canticle for Leibowitz." Etc. But I don't know if there is any sf marketed specially at Christians.

If so, as a practical matter, it probably wouldn't be shelved in the sf section of Barnes & Noble, but sold primarily in bookstores that specialize in Christian literature. Therefore, you should be looking at the "inspirational" book market (which exists) as opposed to mainstream sf publishing.

Just a helpful tip.

Indeed.

I found the "Lamb Among the Stars" trilogy in Mardels.

 

[Michael Chris]

^I've seen a few, don't remember the titles. Of course, there's always C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy (which is ok and not exactly space opera). So I'd assume there's a market, very small though I'd bet.

Some genres, of liteature or music or what-have-you, are simply conceptually incompatible.

Not true. Also, not all Christian rock is "overtly Christian."

 

[Trent Roman]

There are novels and stories with Christian themes. "A Case of Conscience." "A Canticle for Leibowitz." Etc. But I don't know if there is any sf marketed specially at Christians.

I thought of "Canticle..." but it's A) not space opera, although epic in scope; and B) not Dayton's brand of Christianity.

Some genres, of liteature or music or what-have-you, are simply conceptually incompatible.

Not true.

For instance...?

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Michael Chris]

Definitely not their best, but pretty good and definitely Christian elements (stuff from the Old Testament mostly). I enjoy it. I find no incompatibility.

 

[Trent Roman]

^ That is pretty funny, but I wasn't really thinking of satire. Attempts to take both genres seriously at the same time, which generally fail on one side or the other.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[FalTorPan]

Try The Last Guardian and ICE, both by Shane Johnson.

 

[Cutter John]

I'm not really religious, so I'm not sure if my opinion matters, but I think a story would be a lot more effective if you just concentrated on telling a good story with an interestign and likeable main character who just happened to be a practicing christian. Promote by example rather than 'preaching'.

I guess I'm wierd, but I always thought ENTERPRISE (NX-01) should've had a ships chaplain on board.

 

[Shawnster]

For instance...?

Creed? Jars of Clay? Amy Grant started out Gospel but has since gone mainstream. A lot of your old Country and Bluegrass singers fit into the Gospel realm.

Well, if you're writing about plights and struggles suffered by Christians, are these different plights and struggles than everyone else suffers?

Or are all suffering, and this is the unique way Christians deal with it?

One could take the historical stories about the early Christians vs. the Romans and reinterpret them in a SciFi setting. Rome could be replaced by an Imperialistic Star Empire.

Satire without the humor. More like metaphor or allegorical stories.

While not overtly Christian, Dan Simmons Hyperion series (Hyperion, Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, Rise of Endymion) had A LOT of overt and subtle inspirations from Christianity.

I wonder of some of Piers Anthony stories could likewise fall under this category. I've not ready any of his stuff though so I can't comment for sure.

 

[Hyperspace05]

The contradiction of an impending endtime and far future SciFi has already been touched on.

I think you would be far better off trying to write an allegorical story set in the far future that highlights christian values instead of a story of christians in the far future. An allegory can range from something more obvious (Narnia) to the more subtle (LOTR).

 

[Greg Cox]

Again, it all depends on how you define "Christian sf." There are plenty of authors who deal with religious themes in their books, in a speculative, metaphorical, or literary fashion. Ray Bradbury, Gene Wolfe, Michael Bishop, Orson Scott Card, etc.

But if we define "Christian sf" as something that's overtly evangelical, then you're talking a whole different audience and market.

My local grocery store actually has two separate spin racks--one for mainstream thrillers, romance novels, and so on, and one for "inspirational" novels put out by speciality publishers. I gotta admit, I've never seen anything that looks remotely like sf on the latter, but I'm hardly an expert on that particular corner of the publishling biz.

 

[Trent Roman]

Creed? Jars of Clay? Amy Grant started out Gospel but has since gone mainstream. A lot of your old Country and Bluegrass singers fit into the Gospel realm.

Creed has said they don't consider themselves a Christian rock group, and I usually go by self-identification given the high index of subjectivity involved in such matters. Never heard of the other two. As for country and bluegrass--I'd never try to deny that, as musical genres, they more receptive to being melded with Christianity. (Heh, I'm reminded of an old sketch comedy show where god shows up at the Country Music Awards and tells everybody: "Stop blaming me for this shitty music!")

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Michael Chris]

^ That is pretty funny, but I wasn't really thinking of satire. Attempts to take both genres seriously at the same time, which generally fail on one side or the other.

Eh? What's up with people dismissing things as satire that aren't satire lately? It's good (I find) music to a Christian theme. There is nothing innately incompatible between Christianity and rock or any music.

Dayton, you might find something here, though I am very unfamiliar with the site.