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| The Empyrion Trilogy |
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 Stephen Lawhead is not well known among american christian book readers...and that is a shame. His talent is of such that I leave the books of more well known authors as paretti (spelling?) and tenney, of whom I enjoy off to the side. His writing style is so graphic and detailed that you can hear the characters voice, you can almost feel the heat of their breath.
There is no question of scene or plot and you feel like you are in the room with them. The impossible science fiction characteristics of his writings are possible. I am not an avid book reader but I will not put his books down. You cannot read one book of his trilogies (about 5 of them) and walk away..they are addictive so beware.
In all of his books that I have read (close to 20), the message of Christ is made clear by the time the story closes. I am aware of some criticism towards him that his books are graphic, and they are. These books are not for young kids or young teens even. When someone is killed, you are there and the nature of his death is obvious. But it has never, in my opinion, been out of line.
The Empyrion trilogy is to me a great way to get into his books. A paperback will go for about $10. The Empyrion series begins with the major character Orion Treet, an itinerant writer, being obducted at gunpoint...then offered 8 million dollars to go and observe and chronicle the growth of a new extra-terrestrial settlement, Empyrion. The expeditionary team left several months before and contact had been lost. So Treet and his team was going to re-establish contact and report.
Upon arriving, Treet discovers that the "team" was now a civilization in decline, fragmented by hatred, and 3000 years old. Mysterious? Absolutely.
It is a must read. |
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| Wow, you almost compel me to read this! Almost... It is a question of time, not desire. Laura has read several of Lawhead's books, she has great things to say as well. ~mike |
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| Yeah, me too. When I get into a book a I can't get away from, all kinds of priorities go to the dumps. I really can only enjoy them during vacation times. But they are definitely awesome! I knew you married well!~! Go Laura! |
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Bubbles |
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February 07, 2008 at 5:13am |
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| That sounds like my kind of reading. I had found the Babylon Rising series and did he same thing, could not put it down until I had read them all. |
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| Awesome, I'll look him up! Thanks! |
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Yes Ruth, he is very captivating in his writing.
Phyllis, I wouldn't recommend them otherwise. |
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Coreena |
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February 09, 2008 at 5:48am |
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I am a voracious reader and sci fi is a favorite genre of mine. I am excited to have someone new to read. Have you ever read any of Angela Hunt's books? I love her stuff. I have read most of the books on this page: Angela Hunt Contemporary Books . She really gets me thinking because of the things she writes about. Most of what I have read of hers I consider science fiction set in the present day--fiction based in scientific research or discovery such as cloning, communication w/ apes, etc.
I will make one of Lawhead's books my next fiction purchase! |
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If sci-fi is your lot, you will be happy. He is very educated (phd's) in celtic mythology...his celtic trilogies are unbelievable...his space based books...too much to handle even speaking about it I must now stop lest I explode in excitement.
Dreamthief is another excellent way to get in without a trilogy
I have not read any Angela Hunt;s books, I will have to check them out |
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Coreena |
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February 09, 2008 at 8:06am |
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| I read a lot of fantasy and sci fi before I got saved. Ever read any of Isaac Asimov's books or stories? How about Ray Bradbury? If Lawhead can write half as well as Asimov then I will LOVE his stuff. I can't wait to get my hands on one of the books. You seem so excited about his writing I am eager to see it for myself. Enthusiasm is a wonderful thing! |
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I have read bradbury's stuff, don't know of the other guy...lawhead is much better than bradbury |
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Paul |
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February 10, 2008 at 11:24am |
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| Pat and I have spoken about him before. Awesome writer! I am most fond of the Dragon King Trilogy. Also, if you like this type of writing then CS Lewis' Space Trilogy is a must! |
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I had a difficult time deciding which one to recommend first...they are all good.
Thanks for the comment Paul |
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Gene |
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February 12, 2008 at 3:49pm |
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Patrick, at last I have the chance to read over your blog on "the book." I must say that I am very interested.
My mother brought me up on the A, B, C's of science fiction - Asimov, Bradbury and Clark. Asimov wrote the "Foundation" series (a great read about how society can be understood in it's growth and development and decay). He also wrote the "I Robot" series from which the movie was [heavily] adapted. Unfortunately, Asimov was definitely not Christian in anything he wrote.
My latest "C" has been Orsen Scott Card. If you've read the "Ender" series you know what I'm talking about. Card was raised and is a practicing Mormon. He puts tidbits into his books that make it clear that he believes that there is something greater than man in the Universe. In the "Alvin Maker" series, God is alluded to as the Great Maker.
The last series I've read in the sci-fi area was the "Dune" series. Heinlein recognized religion in the world and included it in his works. I especially enjoyed the way Heinlein wrote. If Lawhead is anything like that it will be a great read! Thanks for the recommendation. It's tough to find sci-fi that has any Christian foundation. |
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Coreena |
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February 12, 2008 at 4:59pm |
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Gene, I too read the A, B, C's of sci fi with Card instead of Clark--I'll have to look Clark up. I love the Ender series. After I got saved I stopped reading sci fi for a long time. I have only recently picked it back up again. I loved Asimov back then. He was by far my favorite sci fi author. Huge intellect! He definately has very New Age ideas about the universe the whole Gaia thing. It has been about twenty years since I read any of his stuff.
Patrick, I went to my local Christian bookstore today and the only series they had by Lawhead is the King Raven Trilogy. I bought Hood and can't wait to dive in. I love historical fiction too. So I am going to start with this trilogy and have them order the other one for me. I use Bradbury in my classroom when I am teaching. One of his short stories is a favorite of mine because I relate so well to the main character. I asked if you read either him or Asimov so that you could compare Lawhead to them which you did. I am excited to hear you say Lawhead is better than Bradbury. |
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Gene!!! You made it ey? Excellent. Like I said, it can be dificult finding his books b/c everybody wants the bandwagon (christian) stuff which I find...lacking a little? But everybook store can order his books from the Christian to the Barnes and Nobles or CBD (where I got started) to online.
Coreena, I believer you will enjoy the Raven King Trilogy. What do you teach? Well I guess english...there is after all such thing as the stupid question...let me rephrase...short stories...so you teach high school? |
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Coreena |
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February 13, 2008 at 7:27am |
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Paul, I have read Lewis' space triology--loved it! I love Lewis. He is one of my favorite authors. I am doing my best to read everything he ever wrote--lectures included.
Patrick,
Yes, high school literature. I am homeschooling my kids full time right now (ages 14, 14, 15). We belong to a homeschool co-op so I am teaching a class there this year--The Works of Jane Austen. Next year I plan on doing the Bronte sisters or maybe I'll teach a sci-fi class. I can choose to teach whatever I want to or not teach at all. I love to teach though so I will definately choose something to teach.
I have taught in three private Christian schools--I don't have to have a degree to teach in that setting. Argh! I have been a senior in college forever. Someday I hope to finish my English degree, when I am not so tied up with homeschool and we have a couple of bucks to use for me to take classes. At this point I am self-taught to a Master's level. I can take a class through the college I go to (when I have time and money happening simultaneously) to teach me how to write a portfolio to get experience credits. Once my undergrad is done I should be able to get out of about half (or more!) of my grad classes because of my teaching experience. It is a shame there is not more recognition in the world for self-education. One must have initials behind one's name to be taken seriously. Well, I want to be taken seriously, so I will have to pay the price. ;-)
I love teaching high school kids, but I think someday I would like to teach at a college or university. We'll see--whatever God wants. |
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Hey Coreena, I would also encourage you to get those credentials. There are alot of people out there who FEEL they have the knowledge adequate to do what others do and end up making a mess out of things so bad that those that actually have the talent (like yourself) and ability without the formal training get lumped into the fire with them. In our lovely state we have a bunch of non-credentialled teachers and most of them are a mess when it comes to subject knowledge mastery and more importantly classroom management.
Though there are many withe credentials that are as much screwed up as those without, the pure numbers prove the better point...study to show yourself approved. The papers say nothing more of your ability than that you would go the extra mile to ensure mastery and that makes you more teachable and adaptable in any principal's eyes.
I do not speak as one looking on, I taught for 6 years (math and disciplinarian) and my biggest issues were with teachers who hadn't a clue. Math teachers who failed the exams repeatedly giving wrong info or no info to students...or worse...due to inability to practically communicate the subject matter, the classrooms were out of control and most of the disciplinary problems were caused by the teacher. All that being said, I absolutely loved teaching and will return to it when I can be in a better financial position. That will happen...business is good.
ps take every advantage of the life credit thing...that experience is priceless. There is not much more lost a person can be than a 22yr old teacher standing in front of his or her first class. Your experience in life alone, not alone all of the teaching you have done has given you very valuable experience that college itself can't provide. The preparation for actual teaching an education degree provides is dissappointing. |
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Coreena |
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February 15, 2008 at 3:20pm |
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Classroom management is extremely important. Two of the Christian schools I taught in had wonderful disciplinary systems in place so it was easy to walk in and work the system. The kids had consistency in the classrooms. We had very little behavioral issues because of it. The other school had a great system in place, but the principal moved in the gift of mercy beyond what was healthy for some of the kids. ;-) Wonderful man, but some kids needed a stronger hand than others.
Yeah, I want the credentials. I can almost taste them. I understand that they are necessary to be taken seriously in this present age. This blog actually got my husband and I talking again about when I can start taking a class or more. I need, if I remember correctly three gen eds and the rest are English classes--Teaching Grammar, Shakespeare, etc. Maybe this summer I can knock out a couple of classes.
The life credits are a saving grace to me. I hate the thought of having all this experience and not being able to use it for credits! I am so thrilled that the University System here takes the life credits. Even now, because I homeschool my three daughters, close to the same age, but very different ability levels, I am teaching a differentiated classroom at home! My two adopted daughters both have learning issues. One has learning disabilities in math and language. The other has a language issue. I took a Master's level Special Education class the summer before I started homeschooling them so that I would be prepared to teach them--that makes one less Master's class later. :-)
"The preparation for actual teaching an education degree provides is disappointing." I could not agree more. The undergrad "class" I took was a joke. I learned more from being out on the field than anything we discussed in class. I can't say enough about my first teaching mentor. She was awesome! Her counsel was more valuable and helpful than anything I ever learned from my ed teacher. She was killed in a car accident. Her funeral and memorial service were so full people stood outside the church. Over five hundred for one of those services. Talk about a life of impact. She was just one little lady, teaching fifth grade at a private Christian school. Not famous, not a mover or a shaker, she was just a woman walking out her faith in our Lord and fulfilling His plan for her life. Her example has left and indelible mark on my life.
I always worked with wonderful teachers, so I am happy to say my experience here has not been like yours. My bigger issues were with parents. Things like, "Not mychild". Yeah, your precious Johnny, Suzie, whatever. I only spend eight hours a day with your kid, I definitely don't know what I am talking about. Oooo, sarcasm! The kids always knew I loved them, even when I gave them strikes (disciplinary marks) or detention. I have a couple of kids that will come by and visit me at home even now. They FAILED my class but they know I love them!
I am happy to hear you want to teach again. There are too few good roll models for children and teens. I pray you are financially prosperous enough to go back even sooner than you expect. |
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Well hopefully, I will get some church out there that has a school so I can do all of the things I love.
Aside from family and of course God
1) Music Ministry (to all ages)
2) Personal Ministry (ditto but heavy focus on youth and young adults/married coups)
3) Teach...I love it. One of my students I led to the Lord I failed and had expelled the first year he took me. One of the most instrumental fundamentals of my classroom management was every day is a new beginning. Whatever happened yesterday is forgotten unless you (the student) remind me of it.
4) Maintenance...yep I said it. I am a contractor at heart. I love working with my hands and cannot fathom sitting behind a desk for the sake of sitting. In all of the positions I held, the only time you would find me in my office was if I needed to be there (counseling, preparation, meetings, etc) Otherwise, find what was broken in hte church and I would be there. Some accused me of sabotage just for the sake of needing somehting to fix. I will never admit to that haha.
To give you hope...the doctors told my mother due to my birth whatevers that I would be completely unable to comprehend math or english nor carry on social relationships. Well, I do have at least 3 severe learning dissability...but I also have 2 degrees (Math and secondary education) as well as a minor (have enough credits that is just need to have it officially documented) Psych as well as a very successful career in language and the social world as the church may be called (songwriter&performer/pastor). Not to say any of it was easy and that everyone close to me had to really help me along the way at some points but if your daughter so desires to be successful there is nothing that they cannot do...it just may take more time and need different assistance than the usual.
I chose math b/c I was told I could never do it. I failed Alg 2 (New Yorks version of it) 3 times. I rememberd my frustration and the frustration of others around me...and I wanted to help the ways several teachers helped me. This many years later, my myspace is full of contacts from former students I got to see God's glory through in the change of their lives and their whole perception of the education system and process. |
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Coreena |
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February 26, 2008 at 7:06am |
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I think I forgot to come back and thank you for your words of encouragement where my daughters are concerned. You have no idea how much it blesses me to think of your testimony when I am having a "bad" day homeschooling. I am going to share your testimony with my daughters to encourage them that they can do anything they choose to.
Back to the books for a moment. I had to order the rest of the King Raven Trilogy and all of the Empyrion. Thankfully I have coupons and the bookstore I buy from is running a buy three get one free special so I will get both series for about what one would cost. I loved Hood. It was a wonderful take on the Robin Hood legend. I am eager for the other books to come in. It can't happen fast enough for me!! |
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| I am glad that I can offer some encouragement...that makes me glad |
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Coreena |
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September 21, 2008 at 6:35pm |
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| So about a million years ago we were having a conversation about the Empyrion series. It took forever to get the books--so long in fact I actually read the first one via interlibrary loan and waited very impatiently for my book to finally come in. I only got them about three weeks ago. They now come bound in one cover. I LOVED them!! Thanks so much for the recommendation. I have been reading a boatload of Sci Fi in an effort to chose books to use in my class. Were it not for the extreme difficulty in obtaining this one I would say it made my list. I have to see if it is now readily available as that my students have to purchase it themselves. I really enjoyed The Seige of Dome. Of course, that is probably because I like things to be all tidy when they end. ;-) |
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