12 Days of Sci-Fi, Day 11:

 Having stories centered either in outer space or on earth, we now have both. Frankie in space returning to earth…

 Frankie Phones Home by Karina Fabian

 Responsibility

  Editor’s comment: “God’s calling or no, she should have honored her parents by telling them personally what was going on…”

Rather than a story, this is more of an amusing intermission. Carrying on from the story first presented in ISIG volume I, we are to imagine its main character, Frankie, finally returning home. Imagine, after a two year absence in outer space, what it would be like to call mom and try to explain it all to her…well, I’ll let you read for yourself in Infinite Space, Infinite God II http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (Karina Fabian writes a wide variety of fiction involving characters with faith. Her first anthology, Infinite Space, Infinite God I, won the EPPIE award for best sci-fi. Her humorous fantasy involving a dragon and nun detective team, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, won the 2010 INDIE for best fantasy. She’s also written a small devotional with her father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, Why God Matters. Visit her website at http://www.fabianspace.com .)

  12 Days of Sci-Fi, Day 10:

 Earth, space, earth, space, Canada…what? Where are we again? Believe it or not my fellow Americans, Canada is its own country, not a US holding (LOL!)…

 Cloned to Kill by Derwin Mak

 Equality

 Editor’s comment: “Cloned to Kill” goes beyond the ethics of cloning to explore the nature of free will, forgiveness and belonging to community. As such, it’s a story not so much about clones as about us.”

 One of the best aspects of great sci-fi is that it forces the reader to think through their own values and beliefs by presenting these in a new, never-before-imagined situation. Thus Derwin Mak, our author, has forced his reader to deliberate the unthinkable. Should clones be baptized? Are they human like natural-born people? Should they receive the sacraments? Ultimately the reader is forced to question what it means to be human. And mildly, another thread running through the plot involves the hearing of voices…saints have experienced this by God’s grace, yet everyday people suffer it as a result of mental illness. What is sane? What is humane? This is an excellent story for family or book club discussion, as its mere dozen pages leaves much to be discussed. Don’t miss it in the anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God II http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (Derwin Mak lives in Toronto, Canada. His story “Transubstantiation” won the 2006 Prix Aurora Award for Best Short-Form Work in English. His novel The Moon Under Her Feet was a finalist for a 2008 Prix Aurora Award for Best Long-Form Work in English. His second novel, The Shrine of the Siren Stone, was published in 2010. With Eric Choi, he co-edited The Dragon and the Stars (DAW Books), the first anthology of science fiction and fantasy written by persons of Chinese ancestry living outside China. His website is www.derwinmaksf.com .)

  12 days of sci-fi, day 9:

Once again, we’ve taken off to parts of the galaxy that even Spock and Captain Kirk never imagined! Basilica gives an interesting “take” on space ship architecture…

 Basilica by John Rundle

 Good vs. Evil

 Editor’s comment (quoting author): (Rundle) “A hero is the architect of his own salvation; that is the very definition of a hero. If a hero can’t do that, he becomes a supporting character with no one to support, an empty suit.”

 I agree with the editors: Basilica was a great story. Not a syllable wasted in description that created a fast paced adventure in a short amount of “space” (pages, not outer), the protagonist’s moral dilemma only exists because of his strong moral character. Loyalty to authority of admiralty, choosing to protect civilizations from evil even at the cost of their own lives, all of this heightens the dilemma. The characters know from the outset they must sacrifice themselves for the good of all civilizations; acting in a self-serving manner just isn’t a choice for them. As we are flooded with modern entertainment in all forms (film, book, cable, games) that simply offer “empty suits”, it is refreshing to have such a strong hero at the helm of this ship.

 Nine stories, nine excellent reads! Don’t miss them in the anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God II http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (John “Fish” Rundle (“Basilica”): After graduating from college summa cum laude, John turned to writing fiction simply to relieve stress. It became a wonderful outlet for his imagination and he eagerly wrote first plays and then detective fiction then novels and finally short stories. A lifelong Christian, he enjoys writing religious fiction at every opportunity and is no stranger to writing for a Catholic audience. John lives a quiet life in the wilds of Arizona with Iris, his long-suffering wife of almost twenty years.)

  12 days of sci-fi, day 8:

 Back on earth again, we switch gears to a story with a modern day setting that seems it could be straight out of today’s news…except the humanitarian aid workers aren’t quite what they seem to be. Parents should be advised that one of the themes to the plot is the abuse of very human-like female droids as sex slaves.

 Tin Servants by J. Sherer

 Patience

 Editor’s comment: “He’d (the author) read a lot of stories about robots trying to act human, but humans acting as robots?”

 This is a solid, fast-paced action drama set in Ghana nearly 50 years from now. The trauma and tragedy of a war-torn African nation, as well as risk to the protagonist, are realistically told almost as if we were watching an award-winning film. The beauty to reading stories instead of watching them in film is that the reader has the benefit of the character’s self-talk. We sense Paul’s, a/k/a TK-19’s, yearning to help the refugees with every cell in his body. Or at least the ones that are still human…

Don’t miss out. Pick up a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (J Sherer lives in Southern California and works as a marketing supervisor for a large credit union. When he’s not writing, he enjoys playing sports, catching up on his favorite stories, and working with others on business strategies and tactics. His blog, Constructing Stories (www.jsherer.com), is a place where writers of all levels can engage in meaningful dialogue about the writing and storytelling process. He also partners with Nathan Scheck to present a free online science fiction adventure experience called Time Slingers (www.timeslingers.com). J Sherer’s past publication credits include Infinite Space, Infinite God; Dragons, Knights, and Angels Magazine; and the West Wind.)

  12 days of sci-fi, day 7:

 Now in the 2^nd half of the book: our stories provide us many different possibilities for what “outer space” might be like…

 Tenniel by Colleen Drippe’

Contrition

 Editor’s (author’s) comment: “That is the point of the story–that God draws good from our failures, but they remain failures nonetheless.”

 Unlike the story Cathedral in which real people are considered “mundanes” and The Battle of the Narthex where earth and earthlings were seen as inferior (pygmies), in Tenniel, it is the “far and fabulous planet earth”.  Earth is long past and now we are on the Rythar space colony, with our leader Bishop Tenniel, a seer, and a new convert from paganism. The editor’s comment above captures the core of our protagonist’s dilemma perfectly. The issue for Tenniel isn’t how to conquer, kill or escape Wolfbane, although that might seem it on the surface. The real issue is that he took control of the situation rather than leaving it for God’s will to prevail. This contrasts well with Bis’ somewhat-human explanations, an attempt to rationalize Tenniel’s actions. And through all of this, our author provides description and dialogue permitting the reader to feel as if they are in that desolate valley. Picture in your mind this scene in black-and-white imagery. I can almost hear Rod Serling’s voice leaving us to ponder the moral dilemma in the Twilight Zone. All part of the anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (Colleen Drippé has two books set in the “Lost Rythar” universe: Godcountry and Sunrise on the Icewolf, (NovelBooks). She has also written children’s books and many short stories, one of which was about Brother John’s predecessors to Rythar and appeared in our Christian SF anthology, Leaps of Faith (The Writers’ Cafe Press). http://cdrippe.tripod.com/  )

  12 days of sci-fi, day 6:

 Half-way through the book, and it continues to hold interest with ease! Our next story in this anthology is…

 The Battle of the Narthex by Alex Lobdell:

 Honor

  Editor’s comment: “Ready to laugh? Get ready for a lighthearted look at alien technology, power-hungry nobility, supernatural events, and your not-so-average Saturday Evening Mass.”

 Assigned to protect Ves 14, one of the 28 children of the Emperor, a chore for other guards, our protagonist Norr 24 enjoyed him. Hmmm, the description of Ves sounds familiar…sneaking out of his castle at night to give his clothes to the poor. Pious in respect for the dead. Prefers to love nature than kill in battle. Perhaps more intelligent than people thought…

 And so the adventure begins as Captain Norr, with his protege Ves, leave to study the primitive pygmies on earth. Wait, the author is talking about us! LOL! While the story is written with lighthearted, intelligent humour throughout, its messages of honor and virtue give it depth too. Just as we really grow to like Ves and Norr, the action begins. I won’t spoil the story for you, but it couples fun myths of the Bermuda triangle, Yetti and the Loch Ness Monster with some serious action and strategy outwitting the enemy. At the end, our cynical protagonist has a change of heart. An excellent read! Don’t miss it in the anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (Alex Lobdell has a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Notre Dame and is a former editor of The Montana Catholic. He teaches at Chienkuo Technology University in Changhua, Taiwan, which he enjoys immensely because he gets to hang out with people who build robots, work in laboratories, use words like “mechatronoptics,” and own patents. (They also know how to fix his computer when he breaks it.) His work has appeared in Leaps of Faith (Café Press) and Infinite Space Infinite God (Twilight Times Books). His work, more sinisterly, has also appeared in red ink on vast multitudes of student essays. He does, however, endeavor not to be unduly harsh with the red ink, both from a Christian standpoint and because it might be unwise to foster grudges in students capable of designing robots. Vengeful robots.)

 12 days of sci-fi day 5:

 As the anthology progresses, the reader is moved from a character who discovers the Truth about their life (Cathedral) to a character who discovers life without Truth, in this tale where Alice in Wonderland meets the virtual world of Second Life.  Parents of younger readers be advised of a scene where a woman attempts to seduce a priest; the priest holds firm and she is later redeemed.

 Otherworld by Karina Fabian

Right vs. Wrong

 Editor’s comment: “Could the virtual world become so real people would believe it instead? As Catholics, we have the concept of the ‘near occasion of sin’, the idea that some things are just too tempting…”

 We are taken through less than four months of the life of priest given permission to venture into Otherworld, a virtual reality world. Although intended to be places of recreation, some people enter and never return, including his mother. The author gives a strong depiction of the struggle for Fr. Jonas to maintain a grasp on reality while surrounded by excess and temptation, struggling not to fall into despair by what he sees: a Godless society, or worse, reverencing mock-God’s, where right and wrong are relevant to the person’s choice and, thus, irrelevant altogether. The underlying question persists: If it isn’t real, it can’t be wrong, right? To which Fr. Jonas’ reminds us “Just because this is not my real body does not mean I do not still have my real soul!”.

 The message in this story mirrors the cultural relativism in our very real American society today.  Not only is it interesting sci-fi, Otherworld could provide a good conversation topic for families and youth groups. You’ll find it in the sci-fi anthology Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (Author Karina Fabian’s information was provided under day 2, Antivenin, which can be found by scrolling down below. As joint editor of this anthology, her forward reads “In ISIG II, you’ll find stories where the Catholic teachings inform the characters, and faith gives  them the strength to act upon their convictions.” This is demonstrated well in her own story here, Otherworld.)

  12 days of sci-fi, day 4:

 At about 10 pages in length, next is a short, short story but don’t let length fool you. Author Tamara Wilhite succeeds in bringing out a wealth of emotions in Cathedral… 

Cathedral:    Truth

 Editor’s comment: Karina likes to think that, though Katarina may not have realized it, there was someone at the end to catch her.

 Our society today is experiencing the onset of social engineering. The laws no longer assume an inherent right of well being of the citizen, so society no longer strives towards its preservation. Instead, the rights of individuals have been separated and elevated above their well being. As laws are reinterpreted from this view, we transition into a new form of social disorder where, no longer having the legal right to attend to one another’s well being, citizens are forced to merely exist and comply while the government must increase its social services to fill in the gap previously fulfilled by sheer human kindness. 

As moral truths become relevant and absolute standards of right vs. wrong, good vs. evil wash away, we see science begin to transition into defining what is human and what is not through new medical research and genetic engineering. Thus reading Cathedral, written from the perspective of the near-perfect genetically-engineered “human” forced out into the world of mundanes (normal folks), science fiction does not seem to be very far-fetched at all.  “We never let emotions or sleep or relaxation get in the way of work. Just get as much done as possible in your life…” could even describe the lives of many people today as family “quality time” is now spent in the minivan driving from one activity to another, and businesses demand robotic-like perfection from their employees. Read closely and you will hear how the seeds of this fictional society are found in our very real world today. And you might find yourself asking the same question as Kat, our protagonist: “Was I participating in a delusion, trying to enjoy a moment here like I was like everyone else?”.  Pick up a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (About the author): Tamara Wilhite is a professional technical writer and the “IE in IT” blogger for the Institute of Industrial Engineers. She is also the author of Humanity’s Edge; Saving Money, Time, Sanity and Yourself; and Sirat: Through the Fires of Hell. Her work has also been included in the Bonded by Blood, Genres, and Universe Pathways anthologies. Print and Kindle editions of her books are available on Amazon.com. www.myspace.com/humanitysedge )

 12 days of sci-fi day 3:

Nuns are people too, and we are given a view of the diversity of personalities who are called to the religious life as the stories move from Antivenin to An Exercise in Logic. Parents should be apprised that the salty ship commander engages in mild cussing akin to a John Wayne style character, but only a few instances…

 An Exercise in Logic by Barton Paul Levenson

RESPECT FOR OTHERS

 Editor’s comment: “She holds herself with the dignity of her position as both a nun and a diplomat, yet is willing to bend–whether that means by sneaking out in defiance of the mission  commander’s orders or going to her knees to pray when logic seems to fail her. “

 How many times, when trying to get a point across in a conversation with someone of a totally different life experience, we have said it to be alien or foreign to them? In this story, trying to explain Christianity to people raised in secluded colonies is a bit like trying to explain a life of freedom to someone whose lifelong existence has been dictated under communist rule. But even more difficult is being the foreigner…the one who cannot comprehend the faith belief being explained. A nun and expert on alien religions, Sr. Julian is called in to negotiate with a group of aliens whose obedience to the decisions and words of their ancestors is taken to the extreme, and she has a short time to learn their religion in order to prove them illogical.  Aristotle is oft quoted as saying “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”, and this story demonstrates how respectful discourse rather than angry debate can lead to Truth. For those who like stories of intellect and strategy, this one is for you! Pick up the entire anthology at Amazon http://ow.ly/4F48e .

 (About the author: Barton has a degree in physics. Happily married to genre poet Elizabeth Penrose, he confuses everybody by being both a born-again Christian and a liberal Democrat. His work has appeared in Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine, ChiZine, Cricket, Cicada, The New York Review of Science Fiction and many small press markets. His e-novels, “Ella the Vampire,” “Parole,” and “Max and Me” can be downloaded now from Lyrical Press or amazon.com, and his first paperback, “I Will” is available from Virtual Tales (or amazon).   Barton was prohibited from entering the Confluence Short Story Contest again after winning first prize two years in a row.)

 12 days of sci-fi: day 2.

Here we go again! Now from that somber but hopeful story from the past by Andrew Seddon, we move to a more fast-paced view of the future given by Karina Fabian:

 Antivenin by Karina Fabian                      LOYALTY , COURAGE

 Editor’s comment: “While Ann and “Tommie” were born and raised in space, Rita left Earth and joined the Order of Our Lady of the Rescue while in her 30s, and is unsure what she’s doing there.” 

 Nuns in space? Who would have thought it? Karina Fabian, of course; the same type of creative mind that fueled man-on-the-moon stories a century or more past. A religious order whose habit is t-shirt and loose pants…my kind of community! Sr. Rita is realistic with faults and proverbial warts to which we can all relate. Snake-phobic and feeling totally awkward, she doesn’t allow this to overcome her sense of commitment to others. Loyalty to her order breeds courage, and from courage comes healing of self-esteem and doubt. A great story of teamwork and adventure. Don’t miss out on it, grab a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II http://ow.ly/4F48e

 (About the author: Karina Fabian writes a wide variety of fiction involving characters with faith.  Her first anthology, Infinite Space, Infinite God I, won the EPPIE award for best sci-fi. Her humorous fantasy involving a dragon and nun detective team, Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, won the 2010 INDIE for best fantasy. She’s also written a small devotional with her father, Deacon Steve Lumbert, Why God Matters. Visit her website at http://www.fabianspace.com )

 12 days of sci-fi, day 1:

On this Easter Sunday, celebrating the resurrection and embracing the Hope it brings, it is perhaps ironic that the first story to introduce is one of compassion in a time of Christian persecution.

 Carefully selected, inclusion in this anthology required the that “Faith had to be shown as a positive force, and science as a process rather than a threat.” In a genre normally riddled with dark, hopeless societies of dystopia, we are dished up rays of hope. I’ll try to identify the common virtues I see in each story as I move along. So let’s begin our 12 days of sci-fi with: The Ghosts of Kourion by Andrew Seddon, collected in Infinite Space, Infinite God II:

 Ghosts of Kourion by Andrew Seddon:       COMPASSION, CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

 Editor’s comment: “In the end, he realizes that sometimes, it’s not a sweeping change, or even a major action, that we are called to do. Sometimes the smallest actions made in compassion can light the darkness.”

 I love the self-consistency principle: “events in the chronological past are still in your personal future”. Robert, a/k/a Cassius in his 365 A.D. alias, is  a “temporal historico-archeologist”. He experiences history first hand for the purpose of archaeological study. His wife and daughter died tragically but remain ever in the forefront of his mind. Told he cannot change the future of the past, his desire to help those around him is strong.  Perhaps beginning as a passion to somehow change the tragic events of his present life, passion is transformed into compassion founded in his respect for others at all stages of existence.

 Ultimately, the difference a person makes in this world isn’t history-making, it is people-making…making a difference in a moment of time for one person, from one moment to the next. We aren’t here to cause or prevent anything but, rather, to simply be in the moment. Pick up a copy of Infinite Space, Infinite God II yourself at http://ow.ly/4F48e

 (About the author: Andrew Seddon is a native of England, Andrew writes both fiction and non-fiction. He has three novels: Red Planet Rising (Crossway Books, 1995),Imperial Legions (Broadman & Holman, 2000), and Iron Scepter (Xlibris, 2001). He has contributed a chapter to Staying Fit After Forty by Don Otis (Harold Shaw, 2001), short stories to the anthologies Sky Songs and Sky Songs II (Skysong Press, 2002 & 2005), and is co-author of the devotional Walking with the Celtic Saints (Crossroad, 2004). His short fiction appearances include Physician Magazine, Hereditas, St. Linus Review, Dreams and Visions, Lost Worlds, Galactic Citizen, Burning Light, Dusk & Dawn, Time Pilot, Show & Tell, Mediphors, and Writers’ International Forum. His non-fiction articles have appeared in numerous medical and non-medical publications. Andrew, a family practice physician in Montana, and his wife Olivia enjoy travel, classical music, marathon running, and hiking with their black German Shepherd, Finzi. http://www.andrewmseddon.com )

Introducing Karina Fabian!  

 After being a straight-A student, Karina now cultivates Fs: Family, Faith, Fiction and Fun. From and order of nuns working in space to a down-and-out faerie dragon working off a geas from St. George, her stories surprise with their twists of clichés and incorporation of modern day foibles in an otherworld setting. Her quirky twists and crazy characters have won awards, including the INDIE book award for best fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem), and a Mensa Owl for best fiction (World Gathering). In May 2010, her writing took a right turn with a devotional, Why God Matters, which she co-wrote with her father. Mrs. Fabian is former President of the Catholic Writer’s Guild and also teaches writing and book marketing seminars online.

 Let’s hear what Karina has to say about science fiction writing…

 Why Science Fiction?

By Karina Fabian

 Rob and I have a confession to make:  Neither of us likes literary fiction much.  Oh, we can appreciate the classics like Dickens and Twain, and I was impressed by the beauty of the language in the Secret Lives of Bees, but when it comes to angst and personal reflection, we’d like to have that mixed in with some aliens or a rip-roaring space battle.

Too often, however, science fiction gets a bum rap.  People see only the aliens or the fantastic battles in space, or they classify science fiction with “Godless” fiction, and doubt it has any redeeming value beyond entertainment.

The truth is, science fiction is often used to examine the big issues in an entertaining and “safe” environment.  Star Trek, of course, is well known for this, but it’s not unique.  Aldous Huxley’s 1984 is a classic example–an examination of a future world where comfort and security have taken supreme precedence over individuality.  This book, written in 1931, still informs our political decisions, as we balance our own needs for security against letting our government become a “Big Brother.”

Another great example, made into a movie not so long ago, was Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot.  The crux of the story (and of many of Asimov’s other robot stories) were the Three Laws of Robotics:

1.         A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2.         A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3.         A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

At the heart of the stories lie the questions:  Can you legislate morality?  Is Right more than a set of rules to follow?

Science fiction tackles other big issues, too–prejudice (against aliens rather than a particular race–check out the TV show Alien Nation); conflict of cultures and the origin of ethics (Patchwork Girl by Larry Niven); Little Brother by Cory Doctorow looks at the opposite side of 1984–people banding together in reaction to the “Big Brother” state.  Naturally, it also looks at the impact technology has on our lives–a good one for that is Rainbow’s End by Vernor Vinge, where Alzheimer’s patients are cured and must reintegrate into a radically different society from the one they remember.

It is true tha

 Fabian, Karina & Rob, editors. (2010) Infinite Space, Infinite God II. Kingsport, TN: Paladin Timeless Books, an imprint of Twilight Times Books. Author recommended age: teens. Litland.com recommended age: 14+ but appropriate for slightly younger, advanced readers.

Looking for something new to read? New to science fiction? Consider an anthology such as Infinite Space, Infinite God II edited by Karina and Rob Fabian. Twelve short stories, each can excite the mind yet bring it to closure in one sitting. Read it on the bus or in-between classes. Do you find that you cannot sleep at night when reading a great novel because you want to keep reading until its end? Then read short stories: go to bed with your imagine satisfied and mind at rest.

 Anthologies are great for book clubs too. Rather than progressing a few chapters per meeting, the club can complete entire stories together which leads to fuller, more dynamic discussions. This can be especially fun for a family book club, or mother-son/father-daughter reading duos.

 Final thoughts: Just because the stories have virtuous underpinnings, don’t presume these are soft kiddie tales. These stories are core sci-fi taking the reader emotionally from apocalyptic doubt to Flash Gordon-like adventure. Some are thought provoking and some are just fun. Enjoy the trip!

 Let’s begin the trip with a visit by author and editor Karina Fabian tomorrow. For today, a little bit about the book first…

 Publisher’s Description: Infinite Space, Infinite God II The history of the Catholic Church is full of heroes: men and women of courage and conviction.  Not only did these Catholic heroes live and die for their faith, but they saved others, fought valiantly, inspired the masses, and influenced nations.

 Now, Infinite Space, Infinite God II honors that legacy with twelve science fiction stories featuring Catholic heroes.  Meet a time traveler who sacrifices his life to give a man a sip of water, and the nun who faces venomous snakes to save a friend.  Share the adventures of priests who battle aliens and machines in order serve the greater good. 

 Infinite Space, Infinite God II spans the gamut of science fiction, from near-future dystopias to time travel to space opera, puzzles of logic to laugh-out-loud humor and against-the-clock suspense.  A great read for any science fiction fan!

 (Litland’s Note: Tomorrow we’ll hear from author and editor, Karina Fabian. During the book tour, Amazon has kindle and hard copy editions on sale for both the original ISIG and the new ISIG II…don’t miss out! Buy here: http://ow.ly/4F48e )

Born and raised in Waterford, Michigan, Ann Margaret Lewis attended Michigan State University, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She began her writing career writing tie-in children’s books and short stories for DC Comics. Before Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes, she published a second edition of her book, Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Alien Species, for Random House.

 Ann is a classically trained soprano, and has performed around the New York City area. She has many interests from music to art history, to theology and all forms of literature. She is the President of the Catholic Writers Guild, an international organization for Catholic Writers and the coordinator of the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE. After living in New York City for fifteen years, Ann moved to Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband Joseph Lewis and their son, Raymond. Together they enjoy their life in the heartland.

 Now for some questions for this author!

 Interview with the Ann Lewis

 First, tell us a bit about Murder in the Vatican!

Ann: I have a tagline I like to use that also appears in the trailer: “A sudden death in the Vatican. An international incident over stolen artifacts. A priest’s wrongful imprisonment for murder.” But really, Murder in the Vatican is a collection of three stories (novellas) that tell “untold tales” from the Sherlock Holmes canon. “Untold tales” are stories that Watson mentions, but never gives us the details. With this book, Watson alluded to three Church-related cases, two of which deal directly with the Pope of his time, Pope Leo XIII. “The Vatican Cameos” is mentioned in The Hound of the Baskervilles, “The Case of Cardinal Tosca” is mentioned in “The Adventure of Black Peter,” and “The Second Coptic Patriarch” is mentioned in “The Retired Colourman.” So fans of the original stories can go back and find those references if they are so inclined.  

 Has anyone ever tried this sort of story before?

A: “Pastiche” writing, or writing Holmes stories in imitation of Conan Doyle’s style, has been done by many authors. Nicholas Meyer, Isaac Asimov and even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s own son Adrian have given it a try. There are literally thousands of these kinds of stories published. (Curious folks and find an exhaustive database of Holmes-related fiction here: http://www.michael-procter.com/holmes/_index.html .) Many of these are takes on “untold tales” and all three of these very church mysteries have been tackled by other authors independently. But no one has written all three of the church mysteries mentioned in the original stories and collected them together in one volume.

 It’s obvious that you imitate Doyle’s voice in this book (it wouldn’t be a Holmes story otherwise), but you also write in the voice of the Pope.  What did you do to create a “voice” for someone who really existed?

A: You mean Holmes isn’t real? {Big cheesy grin} Seriously, though, Pope Leo was a writer himself, in fact one of the most prolific popes in history. So I read his writing—encyclicals mainly.

Welcome to Ann Lewis! I just reviewed Ann’s latest book against our character education criteria: Murder in the Vatican: The Church Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes. Three entertaining novelettes make for a quick yet entertaining read. It also provides opportunity for creative homeschooling, some ideas for which Ann gives us in her guest post below:

Presenting…

 Ann Lewis!

  Holmes-schooling

 When Conan Doyle sat down to write the first Sherlock Holmes stories, his intended audience was teenage boys. Despite what he intended, girls jumped on them as well. Holmes had so many fans, and Doyle wrote him so convincingly, that many readers wrote the detective letters asking for help in solving problems as well as proposing marriage. I, like those the teens of yore, read him first at the age of 16 and have been hooked ever since.

 The Sherlock Holmes books can still be read by teenagers, and they fit well into a reading curriculum. The character is a master of observation and deduction, and he solves crimes using the scientific method. Before there ever could have been a CSI, there was Sherlock Holmes. He is a great literary lead-in for learning about logic, clear-thinking, how science now helps solve crime, as well as part of a reading unit on authors from the Victorian period.

 Now—most of the short stories are indeed fine for teens (especially as they were, for the most part, the intended audience), though there are a few caveats. With “A Scandal in Bohemia” one may need to explain to their teens what an “adventuress” was. And both “The Adventure of Black Peter” and “The Cardboard Box” deal with marital infidelity. Holmes is also a smoker and a drug user, this latter characteristic being one his friend Watson criticizes repeatedly. The good doctor eventually manages to get his friend off the stuff in later stories. Perhaps parents can use these character flaws as a point of discussion when focusing on developing virtue rather than vice.

 Where should one start with reading Holmes?  While the first one I read as a teen was the great classic everyone knows, The Hound of the Baskervilles, I recommend starting with the short stories, that way a young person can get a taste before diving into the deep end. You can print the stories out one at a time as they are available online here with the original illustrations: http://www.ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/index.html . Some kids might need a little help with vocabulary, especially since it is British literature, but most of it is pretty accessible.

 For first-time readers, the stories I recommend the most are: “The Red Headed League,” followed by “The Blue Carbuncle” (especially around Christmas time), “The Speckled Band,” “Silver Blaze,” “The Greek Interpreter,” and “The Dancing Men.” After these, “The Final Problem,” and “The Empty House” can be read as a set. One could then progress to other stories and the novels, of which The Hound of the Baskervilles is the best.

 Holmes is most known for the observations he makes of the people around him. He can look at someone and determine much about their life and what they do. For example, after examining a man’s hat in “The Blue Carbuncle,” he deduces that the owner had no gas jets in his house, that he had fallen on hard times, and that his wife had ceased to love him. In “Red Head League,” he can tell, at first meeting his client Mr. Wilson, that he is a Mason, that he was once a laborer, that he had