Light at the Edge of Darkness (Lost Genre Guild Books) [UNABRIDGED] (Perfect Paperback)

by Cynthia MacKinnon (Editor)
Key Phrases: dark dimension, The Daemon, Mama Borden, The Alien (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Light at the Edge of Darkness is a compilation of 28 short stories, including 3 novelettes that cover the Biblical speculative fiction spectrum from horror and spiritual thriller to sci-fi to fantasy. Headlining the book is Undeniable, a riveting, chilling tale from Canadian horror writer, A.P. Fuchs. When forced to the edge of darkness, there's only one way back: embrace the Light. Light at the Edge of Darkness tells stories written from a Christian worldview intended to inspire and entertain readers. The showcased Biblical specific fiction sub-genres are: science fiction, dystopia, cyberpunk, fantasy, time travel, and supernatural. The stories have been organized into subgenres with some versatile authors writing in more than one category. Readers will find the serious, the light, the parody, and the heart-stopping.

About the Author

Light at the Edge of Darkness is an anthology with 17 contributing authors. Some of the contributors are: A.P. Fuchs (Axiom Man, 2006; Still About a Girl, 2005; A Dark Red Night, 2004; A Stranger Dead, 2003); Frank Creed: 1st place, UW Whitewater Literary Contest, ELFIE (2007) for Best Novel (Flashpoint, to be released June 2007); and Donna Sundblad (Pumping Your Muse, 2005; Windwalker, 2006).

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Writers Cafe Press, The; 1 edition (June 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934284009
• ISBN-13: 978-1934284001
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #346,301 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SPECULATIVE CHRISTAIN FICTION WITH AN EDGE!, May 23, 2007

By	Timothy A. Hicks (Owensboro, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Light at the Edge of Darkness brings together speculative fiction stories guaranteed to make you confront your faith.

In the very first story, Undeniable, the modern day character finds just how much suffering he is willing to face rather than deny God.
In Adam Graham's science-fiction story, Your Average Ordinary Alien, an ultimate SciFi fan gets his wish to meet an alien, but finds it's nothing like the movies.
Another story by Adam Graham, The Agent, tells the story of a writer ready to do what ever it takes to get ahead. But is he willing to pay the ultimate price?
Alisha K. Moore's story, The Marks, involves a time travelling hit-woman. What happens when she must decide between killing evil or killing the innocent?
In Guilty, by Daniel I Weaver, Francis is on the run from his ex-fiancee's father. Their final confrontation in a spooky old house will change both of their lives.
Fair Balance, by S.M. Kirkland, involves a modern gothic girl who no longer attends church with her mother and brother since starting college and making new friends. But who is right? The answer will surprise you.

This book is a very enjoyable read. It runs runs the gambit of fantasy and science-fiction to suspense and even westerns.
Best of all, the stories within will make you stop and think long after you have finished reading.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much Needed addition to the Field, May 25, 2007

By	Terry L. Main "Terri Main - Editor WayfarersJ... (Reedley, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of the advantages of having an online presence is that you sometimes get perks. One of those perks arrived in my mailbox a few months ago. It was an advance copy of this book. The book features "Biblical Speculative Fiction" which the book defines as " speculative fiction that is written from a Christian world view intended to inspire and entertain readers.

The book covers a wide spectrum of speculative fiction including horror, fantasy, supernatural and science fiction. The mood ranges from light hearted parody, as in Stephen Rice's "At the Mountains of Lunacy" with a light tip of the hat to H.P. Lovecraft and Andre Norton to "Undeniable," a haunting, horrific story of martyrdom and triumph.

Several of these stories project dark times ahead for Christians. Even though, I personally tend not to fall for the more paranoid prognostications of repressive western governments stifling Christianity. Mostly, I believe this because, Satan doesn't need to resort to such extreme measures. The popular media, the greedy televangelists, and the politicizing of Christianity has been doing the job nicely for him over the past 75 years or so with Europe having a head start on the U.S. No one needs to ban the Bible in America. There's one in every home but hardly anyone reads it anyway. Spiritual apathy among non-believers, and secularization of believers has done more in America to neutralize the Christian witness than the persecution of Nero did in Ancient Rome.

However, these apocalyptic tales are powerful, with strong characters, and lots of action. They are not my favorites, but that is a matter of personal taste. The craftsmanship in these stories is superior and the equal of anything to be found in the major science-fiction magazines.

Beware, though, as you read through these stories many may be disturbing because they cause you to see the world differently. You will meet greedy aliens, doubting martyrs, and a righteous man rewarded for his righteousness ... well, I don't want to give that one away, but it may mess up your theology when you read it.

It is important to remember, that these are works of speculative fiction. That means they are unrealistic by nature. In some ways they are the parables of the 21st century. If you spend too much time nitpicking the theology of aliens or even the ethics of militaristic martyrs, you will miss the power of these stories. So, kick back, relax, and enjoy these stories of Light at the Edge of Darkness.

Terri Main
Editor
WayfarersJournal.com: Science Fiction with a Difference

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Defining Edges and Pushing Boundaries, May 23, 2007

By	Jamie A. Hughes (Jacksonville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

British theologian Dean Stanley once wrote, "The true call of a Christian is not to do extraordinary things, but to do ordinary things in an extraordinary way." That is precisely what the authors culled together by editor Cynthia MacKinnon have done in the anthology "Light at the Edge of Darkness". Using fantasy and science fiction, genres that were once closed to Christian writers in the minds of many, these wordsmiths have crafted stories that are as meaningful as they are entertaining. Because of their efforts, the genre of Biblical speculative fiction has a new work by which to define itself.

The opening story, "Undeniable" by A.P. Fuchs, instantly lets a reader know that this anthology means business. It is a tale of determination and sacrifice that slaps shackles on a reader's wrists and allows him or her to experience the demands of faith under extreme circumstances. From page one, a reader is compelled to ask him or herself, "Would I do the same for my God? Is my faith strong enough?" Soul-searching questions indeed. However, not every piece is as emotionally demanding. For example, Deborah Cullins-Smith's "The Rider" is a refreshing visit to the Old West that redefines the classic image of "The Man in the White Hat." In a story which is accurate even to the dialect, geography, and mise-en-scene of the setting, Cullins manages to weave in elements of fantasy so seamlessly that not only do they not seem incongruent, one wonders why other authors of western fiction have never taken the time to do the same.

For the historical buffs, Steve Doyle's "The Waking of the Dead" is a pleasing piece, and science fiction fans will relish tales such as "Small and Simple Things," a new take on space travel from new author Alethea Knight, "Your Ordinary Average Alien" by Adam Graham, and "Chairman" from the Frank Creed, an author who grows more original and uplifting with each story he writes. For those who prefer narratives from the here and now, Daniel I. Weaver's "Guilty" and Stephen L. Rice's "One Taken, the Other Left" will more than wet one's literary whistle. In short, reading this anthology cover to cover is akin to visiting a revival tent of itinerant preachers. Each author shares his or her testimonial tales, and the result is nothing less than a blessing.

Readers will run the gamut when reading "Light at the Edge of Darkness," not only of genre, style, and subject matter, but also of emotion and spiritual growth, which is only fitting. After all, each Christian who comes to know God arrives at His feet via very different paths, and no two stories of salvation are identical. That is why this anthology could not have come at a better time, for, in addition to helping define a new genre, it can reach out to modern readers and touch those who might never otherwise be exposed to any aspect of the Christian faith.