Today I have a guest post from Travis Perry, the editor and publisher of the Mythic Orbits anthology series (Volume 2 of which includes my story “The Workshop at the End of the World” and my husband Donald S. Crankshaw’s “Her Majesty’s Guardian”). This is part of the Mythic Orbits blog tour.
The full schedule for the blog tour appears at the bottom of the post, so if you’re interested in reviews, interviews with Travis and some of the authors, and some additional reflections from Travis on the kinds of stories that appear, be sure to check out some of the other stops on the tour!
Mysterion (the online magazine Donald and I publish) will be running an interview with Travis on October 15th as part of our regular interview feature.
About Mythic Orbits
You might be wondering what in the world “Mythic Orbits†refers to. I’m not sure if it will help reassure you to tell you the name Mythic Orbits was simply intended to suggest both science fiction and fantasy and to identify these books in a distinctive way, along with any that follow after in the series.
Just as these anthologies represent a wide variety of genres, there is no common theme to these tales, though the subject of empathy or lack thereof does come up in them repeatedly. This is most definitely not an anthology about orbits which are somehow mythical.
These anthologies are a showcase for the best stories submitted in the general field of speculative fiction by Christian authors. They represent a wide variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal.
The main goal of these anthologies was to demonstrate that Christian authors can write speculative fiction well. Stories with a wide range of appeal are included here, mostly serious, some with humor, some with “happy endings†and others clearly not so happy. All of them worth reading.
Some of these stories feature Christian characters in speculative fiction worlds, some make use of Christian themes either subtly or overtly, while some have no discernible connection to Christianity at all. Christian authors are featured in this collection rather than specifically Christian-themed stories.
So, is it widely known all over the world that Christians write speculative fiction?
Well, clearly Christians who themselves are speculative fiction writers know what they write. But does everybody else?
Especially when we’re talking about theologically conservative Christians, Evangelicals of some sort, professed Bible-believing Christians, do people know about their works? Is it legitimate for people to wonder if writers with personal convictions along these lines produce speculative fiction, that is, science fiction and fantasy and related genres like LitRPG, paranormal, and horror?
These books provide an answer: Not only do Christian writers produce speculative fiction stories, they write some great ones.
Enjoy these examples!
Travis Perry (Editor and Publisher) Travissbigidea.blogspot.com http://bearpublications.com/
Description:
Fourteen of the best speculative fiction stories by Christian authors, spinning science fiction, fantasy, horror, and paranormal genres into worlds of intrigue and delight. Featuring “Graxin” by Kerry Nietz, author of Amish Vampires in Space and A Star Curiously Singing, Mythic Orbits 2016 has something for every speculative fiction fan.
Description:
In a series praised by Tosca Lee, Kathy Tyers, and Kerry Nietz, this anthology of eleven speculative fiction stories by Christian authors shines in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and LitRPG genres. Featuring Kat Heckenbach’s “Mark the Days,†this collection has something for every speculative fiction fan.
Featured Authors & Links:
Mark Venturini (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Venturini/e/B00G14LU1W
Jill Domschot (Mythic Orbits 2016) http://jilldomschot.com/
Richard New ( Mythic Orbits 2016) http://www.richardnewauthor.com/
Kirk Outerbridge (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.amazon.com/Kirk-Outerbridge/e/B002RXBRUK
Cindy Emmet Smith (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Emmet-Smith/e/B00GFY8IF4
Lisa Gefrides (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.lisagodfrees.com/
L. Jagi Lamplighter Wright (Mythic Orbits 2016) http://www.ljagilamplighter.com/
Joshua M. Young (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.amazon.com/Joshua-M.-Young/e/B00OM8RLJE
Matthew Sketchley (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15611197.Matthew_Sketchley
R. V. Saunders ( Mythic Orbits 2016) http://bearpublications.com/our-authors/ Sherry Rossman (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://sherryrossman.com/
Kerry Nietz (Mythic Orbits 2016) https://www.nietz.com/ Linda Burklin (Mythic Orbits 2016 & Vol. 2) https://steadfastscribe.wordpress.com/
Kat Heckenbach (Mythic Orbits 2016 & Mythic Orbits 2) http://www.katheckenbach.com/
Steve Rzasa (Mythic Orbits 2) https://www.steverzasa.com/
Donald S. Crankshaw (Mythic Orbits 2) www.donaldscrankshaw.com
CW Briar (Mythic Orbits 2) http://www.cwbriar.com/
Cindy Koepp (Mythic Orbits 2) https://ckoepp.com/
C. O. Bonham (Mythic Orbits 2) http://www.cobonham.com
Kristin Janz (Mythic Orbits 2) https://kristinjanz.com
William Bontrager (Mythic Orbits 2) https://soundcloud.com/william-bontrager
A. K. Meek (Mythic Orbits 2) http://www.akmeek.com/
Keturah Lamb (Mythic Orbits 2) http://keturahskorner.blogspot.com
Blog Tour Schedule
Oct. 7th–C.O. Bonham (kick-off) www.cobonham.com
Oct. 8th–Kristin Janz (spotlight)Â https://kristinjanz.com
–Travis Perry (Empathy or lack thereof in Mythic Orbits)Â Travissbigidea.blogspot.com
Oct. 9th–Josh Smith at The New Authors’ Fellowship (review) newauthors.wordpress.com
Oct. 10th–L. Jagi Lamplighter (guest post by Cindy Koepp)Â http://www.superversivesf.com/
–Julia Menard (interviews/spotlight)Â https://writersblockandapotoftea.wordpress.com/
Oct. 11th–Sherry Rossman (guest post by C.O. Bonham) https://sherryrossman.com/
–Laura A. Grace (interview with C.O. Bonham)Â https://unicornquester.com/
Oct. 12th–Kristen Stieffel at The New Authors’ Fellowship (guest post by Cindy Koepp on Gamer Lit) newauthors.wordpress.com
Oct. 13th–Linda Burklin (review)Â https://steadfastscribe.wordpress.com/
Oct. 14th–Laura Storm Hancock (spotlight) https://storystorming.wordpress.com/
Oct. 15th–Mysterion (interview with Travis Perry)Â http://www.mysteriononline.com
–Hillary Koenig (interview with Keturah Lamb)Â http://www.godlygirlsforgod.com/interviews.html
Oct. 16th–Josh Smith at The New Authors’ Fellowship (interview with Travis Perry) newauthors.wordpress.com
Oct. 17th–Keturah Lamb (review) http://keturahskorner.blogspot.com/?m=1
–H.L. Burke (spotlight)Â hlburkeblog.com
Oct. 18th–Travis Perry (guest post by C.O. Bonham) Travissbigidea.blogspot.com
Oct. 19th–Donald S. Crankshaw (review)Â www.donaldscrankshaw.com
Oct. 20th–Joshua Young (Mythic Orbits 2 review)Â http://www.superversivesf.com/