What does theology and fantasy literature have in common? Good question! For Andrew D. Thrasher and Austin M. Freeman, the answer is: imagination. This human capacity to envision what is not present to the senses ties the book together. The purpose of this edited volume is

to discuss the confluences between fantasy, theology, and the imagination, drawing out how authors created a fantastic reality that reflects these very beliefs, both implicit and explicit. (4)

Theology, Fantasy, and the Imagination is divided into three sections, following the development of fantastic literature and more. The first section covers the Christian roots of fantasy: George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

As society moved from its Christian roots toward a post-Christian milieu, so did fantastic literature. Section two explores a variety of modern fantasy writers including Ursula K. LeGuin, Terry Prachett, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, David Eddings, and Orson Scott Card. The authors of these chapters demonstrate how the philosophical and spiritual roots of these fantasy writers provide rich ressourcement for their art.

The final section comes as a surprise, moving from literature to gaming with chapters on Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. The theological and hermeneutical perspectives of these games along with their relationship to Christianity are explored.

Theology, Fantasy, and the Imagination is a buffet of perspectives on fantastic literature. While written from a scholarly perspective (with a price tag to match!), the chapters may appeal to Christians with a love for some of the aforementioned fantasy authors.

Note: I have also written an academic review of this work for Practical Theology journal.

Thrasher, Andrew D. And Austin M. Freeman. Theology, Fantasy, and the Imagination. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2023.