Dealing with Dragons” is an hilarious, almost farcical fantasy that takes place in the kingdoms neighboring the Enchanted Forest. It is a world with knights and dragons, princesses and wizards and all manner of magical creatures and traditions. It is the tale of Cimorene, a princess, the seventh and youngest daughter of the king of Linderwall.

          Cimorene is a princess unlike any other princess in this world. She is not content to fill her head with manners and embroidery and inane traditions. She tries to study magic, or fencing or Latin but as soon as her parents discover each infraction, they order it stopped. None of those studies are fitting for a princess. None of the studies befitting a princess capture Cimorene’s interest. She learns them, but she is bored and frustrated. When a betrothal to a neighboring prince is planned, she resists. She doesn’t want to marry the bubble-headed prince just because it is fitting. Her parents, even her fairy godmother, are adamant. She will marry Prince Therandil.

          As she mulls over the problem, a nearby talking frog offers advice. Run away. Cimorene follows that advice, going to the dilapidated gray house the frog directs her to. There she finds dragons.

          After a rather frightening encounter, smoothed over in part by her princess training, she is taken in by one of the dragons. Her parents can’t complain. Being captured by a dragon is fitting for any princess. It comes with its own frustrations, though. Her father, compelled by tradition, offers her hand in marriage to the knight who can rescue her from the dragon.

          In the midst of hilarious attempts to discourage ever-increasing numbers of knights, including Prince Therandil, from rescuing her, Cimorene stumbles into her own adventure. In the process, she discovers an interesting way to best a wizard, makes several interesting friends and uncovers a dire plot against the dragons.

          This was a fun, whimsical story. I found nothing objectionable to my faith. It was silly and humorous at places, with some oddly jumbled permutations of fairy tale lore, but it was all light-hearted fun, not sarcastic or acrimonious.

          There was a clear understanding of right and wrong and the good guys clearly won the day. There is some light-hearted poking fun at tradition, which some might find offensive, but I thought was handled with just the right touch. Even though Cimorene balked against following tradition and all the”fitting and proper” education she had to endure, there are several times her knowledge and training aided her. There were just as many times she used the knowledge she had gained from her brief time spent studying not-fitting-for-a-princess studies. For me that illustrated the point that, while tradition and proper behavior is important, blindly following said tradition is unwise.

          The only complaint I really have, and it’s not much of one, is related to the villains. Throughout this book and even the entire series, all wizards are portrayed as evil and deceitful. There is one short section in the last book of the series that intimates there were some wizards not in on the nefarious plots, but it is a minor, almost missed side statement. This seems a bit one-sided and unrealistic, but it fits in this story-world. This same story-world presents most princesses as bubble-headed, dragons as noble, witches and magicians as good (they are different than wizards) and cats as helpful.

          All in all, “Dealing with Dragon” and its companion books, “Searching for Dragons,” “Calling on Dragons” and “Talking to Dragons” are fun forays into the fantasy land of The Enchanted Forest and its neighboring kingdoms.

          The bio on the back flap of many of his books says “Ted Dekker is known for novels which combine adrenaline-laced stories packed with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil.” This is certainly true of THR3E.

          THR3E begins with a brief discourse on the nature of evil between seminary student Kevin Parson and his academic advisor. This conversation, which sounds boring, is actually quite interesting. Although brief, it sets the foundation for the entire story. “Can man remove himself beyond the reach of evil? Or is he condemned to live a life of evil?” From that first question, the author builds a picture of Kevin Parson, a young seminary student with what is referred to as a bizarre past. Throughout the story, we see him trying to ignore, forget and overcome his past, but events won’t let him.

          Within moments of leaving his advisor, he receives a phone call. The man on the other end demands that Kevin call the newspaper and confess his sin. If he doesn’t, his car will blow up in three minutes. He gives Kevin a riddle, meant to reveal and remind Kevin of the sin and hangs up. Kevin frantically ditches the car in a greenbelt near an almost empty parking lot. A moment later, the car explodes. The ensuing investigation takes 300 pages of non-stop action as Slater taunts and teases and detonates more bombs. With each new event, Kevin is forced to admit and confront another piece of his past.

          In the end, this entire story can be summed up in Dr. John Francis’ response to that initial conversation at the beginning of the book. Man is not condemned to a lifetime of evil, but rather “A lifetime struggle with evil.” Who knew a philosophical and theological question could be so gripping and compelling? No wonder it has been a public debate for millennia. And Ted Dekker’s “THE3E” just made it even more so.

          I first discovered The People when as a teenager in the 1970’s I happened across “The People: No Different Flesh. There I met Eva-Lee, her family and her world as they absorbed the tragic news that their Home was dying and they must build ships to take them Elsewhere. Eva-Lee and her People had Gifts and Persuasions that allowed them to enter minds (only under dire need or with permission), move objects and fly (they called it lifting). When one of the ships that left the Home crash landed on Earth, the People were scattered and stranded in a strange land.

          Zenna Henderson’s People stories chronicle many of the encounters between residents of Earth and the People. From the fearful religious cult that sees them as an abomination to the struggling desert farmer who only sees a badly injured boy to the traveling pioneer family who rescues a frightened, abandoned girl, the histories of this exiled People are shaped and shared in several People anthologies. All these stories vividly depict a People struggling to adjust to their new Home. Amidst that struggle is the determination to remain a distinct Group, even as they hide their differences from Outsiders. The People, a loving, forgiving race thrill to discover echoes of their own spirituality in this new world and consistently strive to reflect that spirituality as they use their Gifts and Persuasions, albeit circumspectly, to aid and heal and help those they meet.

          Originally published as short stories in the 1960’s and depicting rural Southwestern life with amazingly realistic detail, these stories are timeless. Written in a gentle, conversant manner, they vividly portray the life and emotions of rugged, sensitive characters. These characters reveal a wide range of human emotion and need, all the while showcasing ideals worth emulating, sometimes even by exhibiting its opposite.

          In the years since they first appeared as short stories, several compilations have been published. Rather than just producing straight anthologies, Zenna Henderson created stories to connect, or bridge the short stories, creating, in effect, a novel. The only compilation still in print is “Ingathering: The Complete People Stories of Zenna Henderson.” Ironically, this is the only one I haven’t read. I’m told there are a couple of stories, as well as a letter written by Zenna Henderson that do not appear in any other collection.

          These are stories that will enrich all who read, but a Christian may find them particularly delightful. Every one of the People stories I have read has reflected and encouraged a lifestyle and principles compatible with Christianity. Many of her stories include Scripture and all of them apply Scriptural principles. Her terminology (“The Presence” - God, “Called” - the awareness of imminent death, “Festival” – a group funeral/memorial service for all who died that year) may surprise, even startle some, but in reality these terms may perhaps be a closer depiction of truth

          I recommend everyone read these stories, from pre-teens to octogenarians. They are that good.

          “Ranger’s Apprentice” is yet another young adult series. (Can you tell I have young adults in my house?) There is much that is being published in this genre that is admirable. This series by John Flanagan is one of them.

          Will is “ward of the manor,” a foundling who has been raised with the charity of the lord of his region. The story opens on The Choosing Day, the day when he and the other 16 year-old wards of the manor are chosen by one of the many guilds If no guild takes them as an apprentice, they are sent to be a hired hand of a farmer in the region. This seems to be Will’s fate until he demonstrates curiosity, honesty and other ranger-needed traits when he passes an unknown test devised by Halt, the local Ranger. The Rangers are an elite group of men charged with being the King’s eyes, ears and hands throughout the region. Halt recruits Will into the Ranger Corp and begins his training.

          His ward-mate, Horace, is chosen for the Battle School. Both Will and Horace have character building struggles and misunderstandings to overcome during the coming year. In the end they both discover their strengths and find success in their chosen apprenticeship. At times their bickering and other choices seem juvenile and obtuse, but they are teenagers, after all. Male teenagers. With all the angst and fire to prove their mettle. They soon learn to value and rely on each other’s strengths.

          This is a wonderful series, showing characters making choices and experiencing the consequences, good and bad, of those choices. Admirable traits such as honesty, courage, determination and more are portrayed favorably while their negative counterparts are revealed as less desirable. Positive growth is seen in the characters and noble actions rewarded. Although obviously written for the young adult market, and somewhat lacking the intensity and complexity of more sophisticated stories, this is a series even an adult can enjoy.

          While I really like the entire series and I don’t know how he could tell the same story and not do this, I have one compliant. The books are not stand-alone. The story is not completely told in one book. The first book is complete, but 2-4 tell a complete story and 5 ends on a cliff hanger, with the fate of at least one person in jeopardy. If he fails to write, or his publisher decides not to publish the next book(s), this story remains in limbo. I realize one of the greatest stories of our culture, The Lord of the Rings, does this very thing. I know sometimes a good story does need to span several books. I just don’t particularly like this trend. I prefer stand-alone books. I love books that pick up the storylines of characters from previous books, telling more of those character’s stories (such as Harry Potter, the Enchanted, Inc series, the Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom series). I just don’t like a single story arc to span multiple books. I like all the questions answered, the story arcs complete and a rosy future, or at least an acceptable one, in the horizon. There are exceptions, though and “Ranger’s Apprentice” is worth reading even with this “fault”. In fact, I highly recommend it and am eagerly awaiting the 6th book.

         Fortune”s Fool by Mercedes Lackey (ISBN-13: 978-0-373-80266-1 or ISBN-10 0-373-80266-8) is another story from the 500 Kingdoms and is published by Luna, an imprint of Harlequin in 2007.

         Like the previous 500 Kingdom stories (one of which I reviewed), Fortune’s Fool is set in a fantasy land that has a magical force called The Tradition that nudges (or pushes) people toward well-known story-paths. The hero and heroine of Fortune’s Fool both come from families who have learned to, if not manipulate The Tradition, at least to influence it to the benefit of their respective kingdoms.

         Sasha’s great-grandfather, while he was still a Prince, procured the help of a Godmother to teach him, made a bargain with a dragon for the needed dragon blood and set about learning all he could about The Tradition. He taught his family that there always needed to be a Scholar, one who studied The Tradition and could predict and guide the family so that they and the kingdom prospered.

         Katya and her Sea-King family also knew of and used The Tradition to aid their kingdom. As magical creatures, mer-people were even more at the mercy of The Tradition. Katya’s father, while still a Prince, determined that they would instead control The Tradition. One such tradition he changed was the one that mermaids would sing sailors to their death. He sent out bards singing songs depicting an alternate story for mermaids, that said sailors merely forgot their One True Loves, at least until the One True Love managed to break the spell. And, soon, because of “seeding” The Tradition this way, that story became prominent.

         Both Katya and Sasha are the youngest in their families, seventh daughter and seventh son. According to The Tradition this was the position of Fool. Both families used this to their advantage. Sasha appeared foolish on the surface, but in reality went about singing songs that manipulated The Tradition and bringing prosperity to his kingdom. Katya, seemingly insignificant to those who bothered to notice her, slipped in and out of the Drylanders and the Sea Kingdoms, watching and listening and bringing reports back to her father, the Sea King of one of the most prosperous and benevolent sea kingdoms.

         Katya and Sasha meet and fall in love while on their many wanderings. Unlike many romances, this is really just the beginning of the story. When Katya is kidnapped by a djinn intent on gathering magical power and taking over neighboring kingdoms, Sasha begins his search. Both face many perils as they struggle to defeat the rising evil surrounding them.

         Mercedes Lackey creates a wonderfully detailed and believable fantasyscape. Her stories are a joy to read, with one exception. Physical intimacy is, while not casual is at least common in the land of the 500 Kingdoms. Sasha and Katya indulge in several explicit encounters. It is refreshing to learn that Sasha is a virgin, but both Katya’s and Sasha’s attitudes in that area are off-center of what is considered moral to a practicing Christian. Fortunately, the bulk of the intimate encounters occur in one short section, about halfway through the story. If you are so inclined, you could easily skip over those scenes. The rest of the story is an enchanting adventure and romance that you might well enjoy. I did.

         Today’s blog is essentially a continuation of my Friday review of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series Friday, with some personal observations of merit or concern for the Christian. Warning: While there are no true spoilers, some of my comments might reveal enough that major points of plot can be discerned.

         Twilight is essentially a romance between a human and a vampire. On first glance, that might seem inappropriate reading material for a Christian. I was surprised, though, to see many truths illustrated and mirrored in the Twilight series.

         One of significant import to a Christian is the Cullens’ choices in regard to their vampire nature. The Cullens have a clear sense that killing humans is wrong. They separated themselves from others of their kind in order to live according to their conscience. This is a vivid picture of the constant struggle that is (or should be!) evident in each Christian. We are to put off the sinful nature and be controlled by the Spirit. In real life, that means there are many times when we chose to resist the pull of “our old nature”, whatever that may mean to each individual Christian, and chose to live in a way that is hard, but right. In a very real sense, the Cullens’ way of life illustrates that dynamic that should be evident in every Christian’s life. This is seen most vividly in the last book, when we get more intimate glimpses into the vampires’ way of life and daily struggles.

         Another, less “weighty” reason I see value in this series is Bella. Bella is portrayed as a regular down-to-earth teenager. Not angry or rebellious, not extreme or radical, just a normal teen with a slightly above normal maturity, or at least life-awareness. This attribute seems appropriate for this story. A flighty, never-a-serious-thought type of girl would never have been attracted to an 80+ year old vampire. In order for that relationship be believable, Bella needs that maturity, that awareness of human nature and that intellectual and emotional honesty with which she observes the world around her. But even with all that maturity, it is obvious that she is essentially a teenager. A teenager experiencing life changes and emotions and dilemmas. A teenager who, even with her maturity, is still floundering and making less-than-stellar choices.

         Whether designed by the author or not, many things about Bella’s circumstances create a rapport with readers that allow for subtle lessons and observations. In fact, the entire story, the little details as well as major plot circumstances, serve as unobtrusive but clear illustrations of truth. By making Bella a supposedly awkward outcast, she forges a bond with the majority of teens everywhere. Bella’s surprise at the ease in which she is accepted into the school and community life is yet another subtle lesson to all those awkward teens that their perception of themselves might be based on old history and not current fact.

         Some would say the fact that Bella’s parents are divorced and her mother remarried are reasons not to read this book. I disagree. I think Bella’s situation actually allows insights that could not be seen if her parents were still together. In this culture marriages are dissolved. It is not right but it is a fact of life. We could write stories that ignore this fact, but should we? As Christians, we are to impact the world for our King. We are to reveal Him to those we see everyday, to those we talk to, to those we come to love and to those we barely know. This is as true for us who are writers as it is for every Christian. If we ignore the true nature of society and create stories based on that supposed ideal, can we really reach those living in the not-so-ideal?

         Yes, Bella’s mom and dad should not have divorced. If they hadn’t, the events of Twilight would have been different, but probably not by much. The Cullens would still have moved back to Forks. Edward would still have had been blindsided by the way Bella’s blood “sang” to him. Most likely, they would still have fallen in love and Bella would have been put in danger. Stephenie Meyer could have written the book with Bella’s parents still married. But that is not story of Twilight. By making Bella the daughter of divorced parents, she has immediately forged a connection with every teen impacted by divorce. And she shows some of the consequences of that divorce: a child too-soon dealing with issues too big, a child torn between two people she loves, a child forced, albeit by her own choice, to choose which parent needs her more.

         The physical attraction between Bella and Edward is handled well. It is there, but it is held in check. Because Edward is 80+ years old, and he has spent most of his vampire life exercising immense control of his desires in other areas, it is believable that he is the one to set the tenor of their level of intimacy. It is commendable that both are virgins when they finally marry, but it concerns me that Edward routinely spends the night with Bella. While it may seem the epitome of romance for a boy to hold the girl he loves while she sleeps, it is not something to be encouraged. Edward might have honed his self-discipline by the years spent resisting his vampire impulse to feed on humans, but it is unlikely any other teenaged boy has the same level of control.

         While I think Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn make a great series, I recognize that many things in these stories may seem “messy” to Christians. Even if we ignore the vampire aspect of the book, there are still those choices and actions and opinions expressed that are at least slightly off what is pleasing to God. For the most part, though, I think those events and choices make for a compelling and gripping story.

         The truth is, real life, real emotion IS messy. Real life experiences teach us and cause us to mature. Real life experiences engender messy emotions and risk messy choices. Real life experiences give us ample opportunities to choose rightly or wrongly. The emotions we feel may be right or not; they may be fueled by right causes or not; they may motivate right actions or not. That is the nature of the human condition.

         It also seems to be a theme the runs through this entire series. That we all have choices and many times we have to force ourselves to choose the hard thing because it is right. This constant tension, that everlasting struggle to find the best, wisest, most perfect choice, whether in action or emotion or opinion, is a fact of life in this world. And Stephenie Meyer illustrates that well through the “messy” choices made by each of the characters throughout the series.

         Like I said in an earlier post, I looked for sites that reviewed fantasy from a Christian perspective. Last year I found none. This year, though, I’ve found several.

         Guide to Christian Fantasy has a wealth of information. I have not read everything on the GCF, but what I have read is impressive. There are thoughtful essays on types of magic in fantasy, the value of fantasy to a Christian and reviews of many, many books. I’m intrigued by the ranking system. Each book is judged for literary quality, Christian morality and age appropriateness. It appears as though the owner is no longer adding to the site, but there is plenty to read and peruse. I found several books and authors I’ve not read among the list of reviews.

         Another site, recommended by CGF is Refracted Light. This site has many authors and books reviewed. Books on this site are judged, using a common A-F grading system, based on morality and writing.

         I’m pleased there are other Christians on the Web reviewing fantasy. There are stories written that will uplift and encourage, that will illustrate truth and dispel deception, that will fire the imagination and ignite a passion for all that is best. Together we will find them. And together we will share them with you.

         Today is a “guest reviewer day.” That’s when I send you to read another’s review of something I’ve read. Enjoy!

         Several months ago I made a remark to someone that I thought the Harry Potter series was one of the most Christian stories I’ve ever read. In terms of illustrating truth in an emotionally powerful way, it succeeds better than many books written specifically for the Christian reader. The themes of good vs evil, of redemption and forgiveness, of sacrifice and honor and the power of love are threads throughout the series. The last book brings them all to a very satisfying conclusion.

         One day I will expound on that, but for now I’ll refer you to another reviewer who says something similar. (You might also want to follow the links that reveal her growth of opinion.)

         Let me know what you think!

         “Enchanted, Inc”, ISBN 0-345-48125-9, is another magic realism book, this one set in New York City, written by Shanna Swendson and published by Ballantine Books in 2005. It is the beginning of a series that includes “Once Upon Stilettos,” “Damsel Under Stress,“ and “Don’t Hex with Texas.”

         Katie Chandler is ordinary, a trait direly needed by Magic, Spells and Illusions, Inc, the company actively trying to recruit her. Katie, formerly from Texas and living in New York for the past year, is skeptical at first that this is a real job offer, but the months spent surviving an ogre of a boss come to a head and she is ready to seriously consider a closer look at this mystery job.

         Not until her first day at work does she realize she traded a figurative ogre boss for a real one. But by then, that little fact is just one of many that add interest and excitement to her day. As was explained to her when she came to interview at MSI, most people have at least a little magic in them. Some, like those working for MSI, can perform magic, but many only have enough to make them susceptible to spells and illusions. Then there are the few like Katie, called immunes, who are not affected at all by magic. They can walk through magical barriers. They see through the illusions fairies, elves and gnomes wear to escape notice. And, a main reason MSI is recruiting them, they can see magically hidden clauses in contracts and notice suspicious people or actions during business meetings.

         Katie learns soon after starting work at MSI, Inc that the magical community is nervous. Apparently there is trouble brewing, but no one is sure where it will strike next. Because of her astute observations and quick thinking, Katie soon becomes invaluable to MSI, discovering and helping eliminate at least one possible threat to the company. Everything is not all serious, though, as Katie adjusts to her new life in a magical company. She socializes with her new co-workers, rescues a frog-prince, attempts to date with some seriously hilarious results, all the while juggling her new life and her old life in an effort to keep the truth from her roommates.

         This is lighthearted read with quirky characters and a fascinating world to discover. Katie Chandler is a sympathetic, down-to-earth heroine. Her observations and reactions to single life in New York City add levity to an already humorous story. I’m sure subsequent books will see her having even more fun and becoming even more invaluable to the magical community of MSI, Inc.

         “Garden Spells”, ISBN 978-0-553-80548-2, was written by Sarah Addison Allen and published in hardback by Bantam Dell in 2007. Allen has also published “The Sugar Queen” and has at least one other book due out soon. “Garden Spells” is a light, fascinating story. As with most novels published in the current culture, there are some out-of-wedlock relationships and explicit intimacy portrayed. While rare and done tastefully, some Christians might find these offensive. If you are able to overlook that, though, this book could prove to be a satisfying break from day-to-day reality.

         “Garden Spells” is a sweet magical realism story set in the small fictitious town of Bascom, NC. Many of Bascom’s residents have unique quirks (every generation of Youngs has a Phineas who is the strongest man in town, Clark women were great lovers and always married well, or all Hopkins men married older women). The Waverly family, though, was the oddest of the town. Or so it seems for Claire and Sydney, sisters who had drastically different reactions to life in the Waverly house and garden.

         Claire and her mother returned to Bascom when her mother was pregnant with Sydney. Claire relished the safety and security of life under one roof and immersed herself in the life of a Waverly. The house and garden was magical, with flowers blooming without regard to normal seasons and an apple tree that threw apples at you. If you ate one, you saw the most momentous occasion of your life. Claire, and most of the Waverly women, did not like apples as a result. In Claire’s words,

“If it’s good, you’ll suddenly know that everything else you do will never make you as happy. And if it’s bad, you’ll have to live the rest of your life knowing something bad is going to happen. It’s something no one should know.”

         Claire grows up and starts a catering business that capitalizes on the Waverly tradition of the magical garden, using the different edible flowers to impart various magical effects. Sydney, however, cannot get away from Bascom fast enough. She leaves town soon after graduation and does not return for ten years. When she does return, she is running, with her six-year-old daughter, from an abusive relationship. The book explores the tragic and sometimes humorous history and new life as the two women learn to forgive each other and forge a new, more satisfying relationship. In the end, both women find peace with themselves, their history and their new loves.