This week on Listen Up: Science Fiction. It’s not just about aliens and space ships any more. We're

boldly exploring the genre at the spiritual frontier.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What kind of God do you want? Write to us at listenup@listenuptv.com.

Context

Sometimes known as speculative fiction - or simply 'sf' - the genre today has inspired an outpouring of Web sites, books, TV shows and movies. Whether it's the mega hit TV series "Lost," the redundant "Terminator Salvation," or the still to be released movie "Moon," the stories they tell and the issues they probe are shaping the imaginations of our culture.

Even those who explore our universe for real, are fans. The crew aboard the International Space Station were recently treated to the ultimate viewing experience, when the newest Star Trek film, was beamed into outer space just for them. And since the old Star Trek TV franchise got it's most recent movie make over, fans have been showing their gratitude in box office receipts.

As a literary genre, sci-fi often looks at the future – with stories rooted deep in humanity’s past. Critics write that science fiction is the principal place in our culture, where it’s normal - and even expected - to discuss matters of theology and philosophy.

Guests

Robert J. Sawyer
Science fiction writer, Hugo Award winner
www.sfwriter.com

Rob is one of the world’s leading science fiction authors today and he makes his home in Canada. Toronto recently held a book launch for his newest novel, Wake: a story about technology gaining consciousness. It’s the 18th novel for the award winning author, who's about to become even more influential as a new prime time North American TV series starring Joseph Fiennes, and based on Sawyer’s novel, Flash Forward, will be hitting the airwaves this fall.

Debbie Gaudet
Penguin Group Canada
www.penguin.ca

Bob Wilson
Science fiction writer, Hugo Award winner
http://robertcharleswilson.com
Author of: Julian Comstock, Spin, Axis and other novels

Mark Askwith
Producer, SPACE
www.spacecast.com

Gabriel McKee
Author, blogger
www.sfgospel.com

Gabriel says science fiction is a place where our culture explores new religious ideas. Gabriel is a writer and blogger and author of the book, The Gospel According to Science Fiction.

John C. Wright
Science fiction author, Nebula Award nominee
http://www.sff.net/people/john-c-wright/

John has been called "one of the most exciting American SF and fantasy writers to emerge in the current decade." He has written three great science fiction books and then, at 42, decided to abandon atheism and convert to Christianity.

Dr. Peter Kazmaier
Scientist, Science fiction author
http://peterkazmaier.com/

Peter is a scientist who holds over 100 U.S. patents. His latest invention allows paper to self-erase after a day, and he still has enough imagination left over to write science fiction. His novel, The Halcyon Dislocation, was recently shortlisted as a finalist for The World Guild's Canadian Christian Writing Awards. To get his book, The Halcyon Dislocation - http://essencebookstore.com/ http://wolfsburgimprints.com/
 

Resources

Sci-Fi's Brave New World
How the genre draws us to its own views of redemption.
James A. Herrick

James A. Herrick is the Guy Vander Jagt Professor of Communications at Hope College and author of Scientific Mythologies: How Science and Science Fiction Forge New Religious Beliefs and The Making of the New Spirituality

LORNA'S WRAP

One of the authors featured today, John C. Wright, is on record as saying almost all fantasy literature contains themes found in the Christian story. But he cautions that of all the many volumes of science fiction and fantasy, only one is a stated allegory to the Christian story. C.S. Lewis; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

His point is that you won’t find the facts about God in science fiction, or fantasy. For that, there is another book that tells the story of a cosmic battle between good and evil. Of humanity’s downfall and mortal peril. Of an extra-terrestrial being who breaks through the dimensional barriers of time and space to inhabit our planet. A being who offers our species salvation and a hope for the afterlife.

We keep a few extra copies of that epic story on hand around here. It’s the Bible. And if you’ve never read one, we have a copy of the Bible for you, a street language version, that's free for the asking. The Message - request your free copy and we’ll beam one right over. Others out there – send in your questions about God and what He might have in store for your universe – and we’ll do our best to help you discover that frontier. 

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