327. Why Should Fantasy Fans Learn to Love Classic Fiction? | with Katherine Briggs

As students return to school, some can’t help dreading their assigned books. Even good readers in good schools will feel burdened by reading classic novels. So how can we remind ourselves and others that we’re not made to read as a duty to adults, but made for reading as part of our joy in Christ? Katherine Briggs, author of The Threshold Duology and part of the upcoming Classics Rebooted series, will teach us how fantasy fans can learn to love timeless classic fiction.[1. Photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash.]

Episode sponsors

1. Enclave Publishing: Winter’s Dawn by Morgan L. Busse
2. Realm Makers fundraiser for ongoing defamation lawsuit
3. The Talismiths: The Secret Saboteur by M. L. Hodder
4. King Justice: The Legend Begins by Evelyn M. Exley

Mission update

• New at Lorehaven: new review of Winter’s Dawn
• Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild

Backstory: Katherine Briggs

Katherine Briggs crafted her first monster story at age three. Since graduating from crayons to laptop, she continues to devour and weave fantasy tales while enjoying oolong or chai tea. She, her coadventurer husband, and rescue dog reside outside Houston, where she classically educates amazing middle school students, teaches ESL to adults, and studies other languages. Katherine is the author of The Eternity Gate and The Immortal Abyss from Enclave Publishing as well as Hunting the Forgotten Planet in Volume II of the upcoming Classics Rebooted collection.

1. How to learn the dutiful joy of reading

• How Katherine found biblical truth and fantastical imagination.
• Career choice to become a classical educator and a novelist.
• Reviewing any differences between “literary” and “genre” fiction.
• Discerning definitions of “dutiful” versus “joyful” reading of books.
• This dutiful joy is unique to reading, starting with Scripture itself.

2. Tips to help anyone read more deeply

• We can say that yes, reading books gives greater joy than screens.
• Alas, attention spans are hard to practice for more complex books.
• On this podcast we often hear guests tribute read-aloud parents.
• Start small with abridged/illustrated versions, but don’t end there.
• Practice hard habits of digital device limitation, except audiobooks.

The Kickstarter for Classics Rebooted begins in September 2026.

3. Enjoy ‘remixes’ like Classics Rebooted

• This new series retells literary classics in YA sci-fi settings.
• More about Katherine’s story in Volume II of this collection.
• And more about every other author who’s contributed to this.
• Support the Kickstarter fundraiser that begins in September!
• More about the future for Katherine and her own fantasy creations.

Com station Top question for listeners

• Which classic story would you like to read rebooted?

Next on Fantastical Truth

Last summer the new He-Man movie kind of failed at theaters. Stephen enjoyed the film! Others did not care so much, especially if they didn’t grow up in the 1980s. But then last month, Masters of the Universe wielded the power of Grayskull to rule streaming media. And no matter your age, big franchises from forty years ago have shaped the fantasy worlds we know today. How can Christians look back on this era with discernment and appreciation for good nostalgia?