Male

1. Do you read speculative fiction—science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural thrillers, etc.?

Yes, both Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Not so much horror.

2. What authors are you reading in speculative fiction?

Neal Stephenson and Orson Scott Card are at the top of the list. An order of magnitude below them are James P Hogan, Robert L Forward, Larry Niven, J Michael Straczynski, Corry Doctorow, Neil Gaiman

3. Do you find that there is not enough speculative fiction available?

No plenty of it out there, and (accounting for Sturgeon’s law) at least some of it is good.

4. What concerns you about the themes and morality displayed in the speculative fiction you read?

I am somewhat concerned with fiction in which actions are not shown to have realistic consequences. I’m comfortable with stories where characters do “bad thing”, and do not expect immediate (and unrealistic) “lightning strikes from God” to show that they did wrong. However, there are natural consequences of immorality and all other things being equal; I prefer fiction where that is depicted. It doesn’t have to be “preachy” (the writer doesn’t need to draw big cause-and-effect arrows in the text) � it can be handled in a very matter-of-fact manner.

However, having said that, morality is only one of many factors in my selection of what to read. I tend to read SF&F for ideas � things to make me think. I’ve enjoyed fiction that challenged my faith because it forced me to come up with answers. I also read some authors (Stephenson for instance) because of their skill with the English language. As someone who aspires to be a writer, I have a great deal of respect for the true wordsmiths among us.

5. Would you read more speculative fiction if more titles by Christian authors were available?

Honestly, no. First because I can not imagine doing more reading than I do now (I already read a lot); and second because I am unlikely to read an author “just” because they are Christian. If they are a good writer, I will read them because they are good.

Yes. SciFi and Fantasy.

2. What authors are you reading in speculative fiction?

Lately it has been, C.J. Cherryh, Vernor Vinge, David Brin, Andre Norton, Arthur C. Clark, John Barnes, Julie Czerneda.

3. Do you find that there is not enough speculative fiction available?

There is enough secular speculative fiction for me.

4. What concerns you about the themes and morality displayed in the speculative fiction you read?

Themes I am concerned about: “God” is meaningless or non-existent; relativistic worldviews; humans have equal moral standing with animals; sexual rules are non-existent

5. Would you read more speculative fiction if more titles by Christian authors were available?

Probably not, but I would read more speculative fiction written by Christians and less by secular writers.