“I believe Christian fiction in general is now at least as good as all the other genres. I think this is slowly becoming an accepted fact, even among publishers and critics outside the Christian world. In fact, it seems to me most of the opinions one still reads to the contrary are from Christian writers who have not managed to get published, and one suspects their motives, to say the least. I say this as an extremely demanding reader. I do not finish about half of the novels I start, because I cannot bear poor craftsmanship or boring stories, regardless of the message. I will not support a Christian artist simply because he is a Christian. That would demean Christianity itself. But these days I find myself abandoning non-Christian novels with about the same frequency as Christian ones, so yes indeed, we have come a long, long way.” Thus spake Athol Dickson earlier this year.
I suspect Christian fiction for two rather simple reasons: I was told by an editor that Christian publishers aren’t interested in edgy or “literary” fiction, and Christian-published books tend to be marketed only to Christian readers (purposefully isolating us from the mainstream dialog.)
That said, I rejoice whenever I hear that the Christian subgenre is progressing. I honestly think that Christians have been awoken to the need for genuine artistry, and I think this interview is just another bit of evidence that complaints about the lack of Christian art are becoming less and less valid or necessary.
I agree that some Christians are awake. I volunteer in a church bookstore and what fiction we carry is mostly Romance or Left Behind type stuff. It’s easy readism that wins the day. (No different than most of the ABA fiction out there.) I just wish fiction of the quality produced by Athol Dickson were the norm.
Feeling like a malcontent on this issue, I think pointed encouragement must continue so authors/editors/publishers don’t feel justified in resting on their laurels with the little progress made so far.
Robert,
There are still a few Christian publishers who are clinging to the past, just as a few churches might continue to outlaw contemporary music, but by and large I believe most Christian publishers are now VERY interested in “edgy” or “literary” fiction, if by that we mean well written stories that explore real life in honest ways, and stories that avail themselves of all of the novelist’s tools, including symbolism, allegory and etcetera. They just don’t want fiction that wanders off into pornographic, sadistic, or profane territory. Those who equate honesty or “edginess” with realistic depictions of those kinds of things should avoid the CBA, because that is not going to happen. Even if they found an editor foolish enough to buy it, no one would read it, so what would be the point?
As for being isolated from the “mainstream dialog,” I’m not sure what you mean. Certainly no topic is tabu in the CBA anymore. Recent CBA novels have addressed everything from alcoholism to homosexuality to doing hard time in prison. Certainly, they do this from a Christian perspective, but how could it be otherwise in Christian fiction?
Susan,
When it comes to “easy readism” (a nice expression by the way), I agree that is the norm in the CBA, but it is also the norm in the ABA, which was the point I made in the initial quote. We’ve reached a point of parity. I also agree we must not rest upon our laurels by saying, “At least we’re no worse than them,” because in fact God expects us to exceed parity, and be better.
Thank you for the indirect compliment about my writing. I do believe there are many other novels out there you might enjoy as much as mine (or more). You might want to try Tom Morrisey’s recent IN HIGH PLACES, or Dale Cramer’s LEVI’S WILL, as a start. Even if those particular stories don’t win you over, I believe you will find both authors are working at a very high level of craftmanship.
Athol
Athol–
A late response, I know. In being isolated from “mainstream dialog,” I mean nothing more or less than the fact that Christian fiction tends to be marketed and sold in physical locations that work against being read by the majority of those who buy secular literature.
It’s not about what CBA *says*, it’s about how CBA is sold.
Or to put it another way: the local SF bookstore has a shelf of “best picks” that prominently features a Chesterton novel. The quite atheistic Neil Gaiman quotes Lewis and Tolkien, and wrote a whole short story dedicated to attacking a single detail from Lewis’ The Last Battle. Therefore those (secularly-published) authors are in “mainstream dialog.” Unfortunately, contemporary Christian stories just don’t tend to find their place there.
Perhaps that’s just a result of perception-lag, and once Christian lit gets perceived as better it will make waves again. I argue that perhaps it’s due to the marketing process that places it only in Christian sections or Christian bookstores.