Introducing The Bones of Makaidos

Third on our alphabetical list of 2010 nominations is The Bones of Makaidos by Bryan Davis (Living Ink/AMG Publishers) Oracles of Fire series, book 4.

Genre.
Young adult Christian contemporary fantasy/supernatural suspense

Description.

As the fiery wall of Abraham dies away, the people of Second Eden wait for the coming war. Giants and dragons will soon break through the barrier and attack, powered by the hatred they have stored up for four years. Although they have prepared for the onslaught, a spy has come among them, one who learns their weaknesses.

Meanwhile, Bonnie, Shiloh, and Sapphira leave their protective hideout deep in the heart of Hades. Equipped with a new secret weapon, they are now ready to join Billy, Walter, Ashley and the others in second Eden to help them and the good dragons fight the invading army.

As the battle rages, a new helper arises, the only one who knows how to use Bonnie’s secret weapon, but the spy is ready to destroy him the moment he arrives. And with Devin the dragon slayer in their midst, proving that more evil forces have descended upon their world, the people of New Eden don’t know whom to trust.
– from Christianbook.com

What others are saying:

From the time that Billy Bannister and Bonnie Silver fled the dragon slayer in the Dragons In Our Midst books, I fell in love with this series. Bryan Davis captures the wonder of discovery and teaches biblical truths along the way. The Bones of Makaidos ended the story of Billy and Bonnie in a way that I found completely satisfying. I loved the character Abaddon. Bryan Davis has a knack for powerful dialogue that teaches truth without ‘preaching’ to the reader. If you have not read his series . . . you are missing out on a great tale!
- Scott Appleton, Flaming Pen Press

Learn More
Read or listen to interviews with Bryan Davis at Blog Talk Interview, Incredibooks, Write Big, Yodeling Dwarf, 4 the Love of Books.
Read reviews of The Bones of Makaidos at Newbie Critics, Incredibooks, The mind and soul of Ian, The Insanity of a Homeschooler.
Read the first chapter.

Obtain a copy of The Bones of Makaidos
from the author
from Amazon
from Barnes & Noble
from Christianbook.com

Other Formats.
(Unabridged) Audible Audio Edition available

Request a copy at a bookstore near you (ISBN# 978-0899578743)
Ask your local library to order a copy.

Introducing Blaggard’s Moon

Second alphabetically on our list of 2010 nominations is Blaggard’s Moon by George Bryan Polivka (Harvest House).

Genre.
Adult pirate fantasy

Description.

From the author of highly praised Trophy Chase Trilogy comes this exciting swashbuckling tale of a pirate sentenced to die for the crime of mutiny. As he awaits his fate, this pirate (none other than the delightful Smith Delaney from the Trophy Chase Trilogy) ponders his life and the events that have brought him to this fate. In the process of remembering, and in grappling with mercy and justice as they have been played out in his life, a tale is spun, a tale of true hearts wronged, noble love gone awry, dark deeds done for the sake of gold, and sacrifices made for love. In the end, our pirate will come face–to–face with himself, with his own death, and with a God who promises grace where none is deserved.
- Publisher

What others are saying:

Gruesome death, heart pounding violence, terrible crimes, wild adventure, romance, gifted storytelling (by author and characters), vivid pictures playing on the reader’s mind-screen, a totally believable fantasy world filled with a wide assortment of convincing people, pirates, unscrupulous business men, daring marines, the ubiquitous mermonkeys, and one little girl. All this, and more, are yours when you open Blaggard’s Moon …

A satisfying fantasy, which remains true to its world while ably reflecting ours and our struggle to cope with Christian values, Blaggard’s Moon will be enjoyed by all capable readers of any age. It is good escapist reading, which also leaves you with a wide variety of seed thoughts.

– Donna Eggett, http://www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

Learn More.
Download the first chapter.
Read interviews with George Bryan Polivka at Novel Journey and Harvest House
Read CSFF Blog Tour posts – see list of participants and links to all articles
View a video trailer of Blaggard’s Moon

Obtain a copy of Blaggard’s Moon.
From Harvest House
From Amazon.com
From Barnes & Noble
From Christianbook.com

Request a copy at a bookstore near you (ISBN# 978-0736925372)
Ask your local library to order a copy.

Introducing the Nominees – A Star Curiously Singing

In keeping with Read Christian Speculative Fiction Month, I thought it would be appropriate to introduce (starting in alphabetical order) the books that have been nominated for the CSACSF. This way you’ll have more than a title at your disposal when you consider what books you wish to read.

Primarily I’ll provide you with links so you can learn as much or as little as you need about each book and author in order to make a decision.

Today we’ll start with A Star Curiously Singing by Kerry Nietz (Marcher Lord Press).

Genre.
Adult Christian futuristic science fiction

Description

Sandfly is a debugger. He is property. Bought and paid for by his master, a relatively benign lord in a future Earth living under sharia law.

All other faiths but one have been banned. And the word of the great Imam is supreme.

Sandfly just wants to debug his master’s robots and avoid the mental pain shocks sent from the remote triggers owned by all the masters. But now he’s been called into Earth orbit. Apparently the masters have a new spacecraft—one capable of interstellar flight. And on its maiden voyage, the only robot on board went mad and tore itself limb from limb.

Why? Better question: does it pose any risk to humans?

When Sandfly reviews the bot’s files and replays its last moments, he hears something strange playing in the bot’s ears as they orbit Betelgeuse.

He hears singing.

Is it just solar winds interfering with the robot’s wiring? Or is it something else?

As Sandfly pieces together the clues, the masters spread the trap before his feet. Everyone is racing to the same conclusion, but only one side welcomes what that singing represents.

- from Amazon.com

What others are saying:

A Star Curiously Singing resonates with me the way Asimov did. Its social issues are carefully considered, informing the sci-fi plot. In the grand tradition of science fiction, the story turns on societal worldview … I am so refreshed to see a revival of the grand tradition of author speaking to reader, done in a futuristic way, no less. The spiritual element is slowly revealed, and again, very organic, very piquing, with a tug of the heart and a shiver down the spine. It is not overstated, but it is clear.

- C.L. Dyck, reviewed at Christianbook.com

Learn More.
Read a sample chapter
Find interviews with author Kerry Nietz
Find reviews of A Star Curiously Singing

Awards.
Finalist – Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Religious Fiction and Science Fiction categories

Obtain a Copy of A Star Curiously Singing:
from Marcher Lord Press
from Amazon
from Barnes & Noble
from Christianbook.com

Other Formats.
Kindle version

Request a copy at a bookstore near you (ISBN# 978-0-9821049-8-9)
Ask your local library to order a copy.

The 2010 Nominations

Here is the final list (in alphabetical order by title) of Nominations for the 2010 CSA. I’ve designated July the Read Christian Speculative Fiction month, then in August, the voting will begin. Remember, only those who have read at least two of the nominations will be eligible to vote.

*A Star Curiously Singing
Kerry Nietz
Marcher Lord Press

*Blaggard’s Moon
George Bryan Polivka
Harvest House

*Bones of Makaidos
Bryan Davis
AMG Publishing

*By Darkness Hid
Jill Williamson
Marcher Lord Press

*Curse of the Spider King
Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper
Thomas Nelson Publishing

*Enclave, The
Karen Hancock
Bethany House

*Eternity Falls
Kirk Outerbridge
Marcher Lord Press

*Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter
RJ Anderson
HarperCollins

*Firstborn, The
Conlan Brown
Realms

*Hunter Brown and the Consuming Fire
Christopher and Allen Miller
Warner Press

*Last Cordate, The
Alison Pickrell
OakTara

*Lost Mission
Athol Dickson
Howard Books

*Lunatic
Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill
Thomas Nelson

*Muse, The
Fred Warren
Splashdown Books

*North! Or Be Eaten
Andrew Peterson
WaterBrook Press

*Offworld
Robin Parrish
Bethany House

*Starfire
Stuart Vaughn Stockton
Marcher Lord Press

*Vanishing Sculptor
Donita K Paul
WaterBrook Press

*Word Reclaimed, The
Steve Rzasa
Marcher Lord Press

Nomination Additions

Here are the latest nominations, garnered from this site and at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. If you don’t see yours, check to be sure the book you nominated meets the award criteria and that you included the required information (same link).

*The Firstborn
Conlan Brown
Realms

*Offworld
Robin Parrish
Bethany House

*Lunatic
Ted Dekker and Kaci Hill
Thomas Nelson

*The Enclave
Karen Hancock
Bethany House

*Lost Mission
Athol Dickson
Howard Books

*Starfire
Stuart Vaughn Stockton
Marcher Lord Press

*Eternity Falls
Kirk Outerbridge
Marcher Lord Press

*The Word Reclaimed
Steve Rzasa
Marcher Lord Press

*Curse of the Spider King
Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper
Thomas Nelson Publishing

Nominations Are Coming In

Nominations have begun to come in at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. Readers and authors alike may add a nomination there or here at the award site. Below is the list so far, in the order the nominations have come in:

*Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter
RJ Anderson
HarperCollins

*Vanishing Sculptor
Donita K Paul
WaterBrook Press

*Hunter Brown and the Consuming Fire
Christopher and Allen Miller
Warner Press

*North! Or Be Eaten
Andrew Peterson
Waterbrook Press

*By Darkness Hid
Jill Williamson
Marcher Lord Press

*Blaggard’s Moon
George Bryan Polivka
Harvest House

*A Star Curiously Singing
Kerry Nietz
Marcher Lord Press

By the way, we’ve made one change to the Readers’ Choice voting. Voters will be eligible only if they have read two or more of the books nominated. We want this to be a selection by readers of Christian speculative fiction, not just the fans of particular authors.

So here’s the key for the authors. Encourage fans to read one or more of the other books that have been nominated.

Clive Staples Award – 2010: Accepting Nominations

It’s that time of year again – book awards are beginning. The Christy Award nominations came out recently. The ACFW Book of the Year judging is underway. I’m sure there are a host of other fiction awards soon to be made as well.

In 2007 a group of Christian speculative fiction writers conceived of an award to draw attention to our genre and especially to call attention to the best books being published in that category.

Because of organizational issues, the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction took nominations for two years without choosing a winner. However, in 2009 the award turned to a Readers’ Choice format, and Donita Paul became the first winner.

Once again it’s time to accept nominations.

The books that are eligible are those considered Christian because of overt Christian content or a Christian worldview, published in English by a royalty paying publisher from January 2009 through December 2009 in the science fiction/fantasy/allegory/futuristic/supernatural/supernatural suspense category.

Of course, we’re not looking for an exhaustive list but the books readers believe to be the best in the category. Below are standards to consider.

If you would like to nominate a book, please leave a comment including the title, author, and publisher.

Nominations for the Clive Staples Award should be evaluated in these categories:

Writing Style/Mechanics

Does the quality of the author’s prose (syntax, tone, voice, pacing etc.) enhance the story?

Do concrete and particular details appeal to various senses and strengthen each scene?

Is there a balance between exposition and dramatization (telling and showing)?

Are there errors in word use, spelling, grammar, paragraphing, and punctuation?

Setting

Is the setting well established and realistic?

Are the speculative elements believable and necessary to the story?

Characterization

Does the main character have clear internal and external goals?

Are the characters complex, with both strengths and weaknesses?

Are the characters believably and realistically motivated?

Is dialogue natural and does it contribute to characterization so that each person possess a unique voice?

Is there discernible and appropriate character development?

Plot

Is the story structured with a clearly recognizable arc of conflict, crisis, and resolution?

Does the narrative flow, or does it tend toward the disjointed?

Are the obstacles to be overcome sufficiently challenging to the protagonists?

Are the complications and the protagonist’s efforts to overcome them unpredictable?

Is the resolution innovative? Credible? Authentic?

Theme

Does the story contain a central or dominating idea?

Does the theme arise from the characters and events of the story?

Is the theme consistent with a Christian worldview?

Does the theme overwhelm the story, or is it well integrated into the story?

We Have a Winner!

The votes for the first ever Readers’ Choice – Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction are in and counted. We have a winner!

Some important pieces of business. Special thanks to each person who voted. Your participation made this award possible!

A few well-meaning folks filled out the survey, indicating in the first question that they had not read any of the books. Because the sole requirement for participation was reading at least one of the nominations, those ballots were discarded.

In addition, a number of ballots marked as a second and/or third choice the same title they marked as a first choice. We counted the first choice but ignored the vote for second and/or third (since it’s not possible to consider a book your second or third choice when you’ve already declared it your first).

Despite the fact that 15 books were nominated, our winning novel claimed over 35 percent of the total number of first place votes. What’s more, the winner finished with over 50 votes more than the second place book.

Taking into consideration selections as the second or third choice, our winner received votes on over 50 percent of the surveys.

Clearly, readers have spoken.

The winner of the 2009 Readers’ Choice – Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction is

DragonLight by Donita K. Paul (WaterBrook)

I can’t help but think how fitting it is for Donita’s concluding book in the Dragon Keeper Chronicles to be the first winner of the CSACSF since one of her earlier volumes was the first book featured by CSFF Blog Tour.

Congratulations for this reader recognition, Donita!

*Cross posted at A Christian Worldview of Fiction.

Readers’ Choice – The 2009 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction

Thanks to those who nominated books for this year’s award and who participated in the practice survey.

Our readers’ choice survey to determine the 2009 winner of the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction is ready.

To be eligible to vote, you must have read at least one of the nominated books and leave a valid email address (which will not be shared or revealed or used in anyway apart from any necessary verification of eligibility). You may vote once (with the option of including a second and third choice in case no clear winner is selected as a consensus first choice). Voting will run through the end of November.

As a reminder, the nominations, in alphabetical order, are listed on the Nominations page (titles will be listed randomly in the survey).

Click here to vote for your choice.

- – -
Please note, votes for a book as a second or third choice after it has been marked as a first choice will be disregarded.

Certainly fans and friends and family want to see their favorite authors do well. However, the only Readers’ Choice Award worth winning is one that truly reflects what book the majority of readers participating in this process identify as best.

Any endeavors to “stack the deck” turn this award into a popularity contest, not recognition of quality fiction. In short, they undermine the goals and purposes of the award. Please “play fair.”

Nominations for 2009 Award

Let’s see if we can select a book to receive the 2009 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction. We need nominations.

These must be Christian worldview science fiction/ fantasy/allegory/furturistic/supernatural novels published in English by a royalty paying press between January 2008 and December 2008.

You may post the book title, author, and publisher you think is qualified for this award in a comment here or at Speculative Faith or at A Christian Worldview of Fiction.

Looking forward to seeing this list develop.

Cross posted at Speculative Faith and A Christian Worldview of Fiction

Clive Staples Award Update

I had forgotten that PollDaddy not only creates polls but it allows for surveys as well. I think the survey might answer a lot of the concerns voiced in our last discussion.

I’ve made a practice survey for those interested. I’d love to have feedback on things like requiring a name and email address as well as adding second and third choices, so if you have a minute, would you mind taking this non-survey survey?

BTW, I was thinking the second and third choices could either be weighted, or they could factor in if there is no clear winner.

I’m also thinking we should have a first round and a final round, with just the top three finalists on that last survey.

What else should be included?

Do you think the survey will eliminate some of the concerns about cheating?

So here it is: The Practice Readers Choice Survey for the 2009 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction.

Thoughts on the Clive Staples Award

The idea to create an award for Christian speculative fiction came about two years ago when the Christy Awards omitted the speculative category. After considerable discussion here and at Speculative Faith, we settled on the Clive Staples Award as the name for this reader-initiated recognition of top Christian speculative fiction.

For the last two years we collected nominations, using the same guidelines as the Christy Awards. However, in both years, the actual awarding of a winner bogged down because we have no sponsor, no agreement with publishers to provide judges with books, and no judges.

The most serious problem was this latter issue. While I say “no judges,” that’s not completely accurate. We had a handful of people who volunteered to help judge, but no one who volunteered to head up the judging—requesting books, sending them out to judges, tabulating judge sheets and/or spearheading discussions to arrive at a consensus regarding finalists.

Beyond that, we agreed the award, if it was to carry any significance, would need finalist judges of some standing. I preferred someone outside the publishing business to avoid the appearance of partiality, but well informed about speculative fiction. Unfortunately, the people I contacted for that role declined to take part.

So where does that leave the award? Is it over before it actually began?

I’m thinking, this may be the kind of thing that needs to build momentum, to gain in popularity, and thus garner more support as a result. So my current thought is, why not start with a reader award? Not only do readers nominate but readers vote for the three books they want to see in the finals. Then maybe those volunteer judges, if they are still willing to participate, can pick a winner. Or readers can vote again between the three finalists.

We’d need to conduct this contest over several months to get the word out and to give readers time to check out the nominations they haven’t yet read.

We’d have to set some ground rules in an effort to curtail popularity voting (I haven’t read his book, but I sure like so-and-so, so I’ll happily vote for his novel). I can’t think of a way to eliminate that sort of thing completely, but if the award becomes linked with “readers” right from the start, it might alleviate campaigning among non-readers.

Some time ago I set up a site for the award as a kind of home base, but with no activity, there’s been no real reason to send people there. If you’d like to take a look at it, go to the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction.

Since WordPress and PollDaddy make it so easy to include polls, I’m thinking it would be easiest if I started a series of polls to get your feedback. I’ll also need your help passing the word on to anyone else you know who has interest in this genre and particularly in creating this award. Let me know what questions you have, and we can find out what others are thinking about any number of subjects related to making this award work. If there’s still interest in doing so. Which actually is the first question.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

Clive Staples Award Nominations – 2008

Nominations for the 2008 Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction are:

Auralia’s Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet (WaterBrook)
Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee (NavPress)
DragonFire by Donita K. Paul (Waterbrook)
Father of Dragons by L.B. Graham (P&R)
Fearless by Robin Parrish (Bethany House)
Flashpoint by Frank Creed (The Writers Cafe Press)
Isle of Swords by Wayne Thomas Batson (Thomas Nelson)
Landon Snow and the Volucer Dragon by Randy Mortenson (Barbour)
The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka (Harvest House)
The Restorer by Sharon Hinck (NavPress)
The Restorer’s Son by Sharon Hinck (NavPress)
Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)
A Wine Red Silence by George L. Duncan (Capstone Fiction)
Wind Follower by Carole McDonnell (Juno Books)