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Neal Otto Hively

Goodreads Author

Born

in Williamsport, PA, The United States

Genre

Science Fiction, Religion, Fantasy

Member Since

May 2026

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Neal Otto Hively spent more than fifty years in ministry before turning to fiction. Now he writes science fiction about the one question a lifetime of preaching kept asking: what would you do if you were entrusted with real power, but only to serve, never to rule?

An ordained ELCA pastor, Neal served Pennsylvania and Florida parishes across five decades, including twenty-two years as Senior Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

His two dozen published works range from the Original Pennsylvania Land Records Series — twenty volumes over twenty-two years, colonial surveys traced first by hand, later through digital cartography — to Pets and Heaven, a work of comfort for grieving animal lovers.

CHOSEN: Not for Power, bu ...more

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Neal Otto Hively’s books

Average rating: 4.63 · 8 ratings · 3 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	VOICEs of HOPE: A Faith-Based Science Fiction Fantasy 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	CHOSEN not for Power but for Purpose: Many Seek Power, Few are trusted with purpose. really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Neal Otto Hively's Blog

Why write a faith-base, scifi saga?

Why would a Lutheran pastor, after fifty years in the pulpit, write a science fiction novel?

Fair question. Here's my answer: Jesus taught in parables. He wrapped eternal truths in stories about seeds and sons and Samaritans, because a story slips past our defenses and takes root where a lecture never could.

Science fiction, I've come to believe, is the parable language of our age. It lets us stand Read more of this blog post »

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Published on July 23, 2026 13:46 • Tags: faith-based, fantasy, science-fiction

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Aug 12, 2026 07:49AM · Be the first to ask Neal Otto Hively a question
Neal Hively has read CHOSEN not for Power but for Purpose: Many Seek Power, Few are trusted with purpose. by Neal Otto Hively (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The technology fascinated me. The moral questions stayed with me. There are some remarkable ideas in CHOSEN, but the most interesting thing about the book isn't what its technology can do. It's what people should be permitted to do with it. That's wher ...more
Aug 12, 2026 07:36AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of CHOSEN not for Power but for Purpose by Neal Otto Hively. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — CHOSEN not for Power but for Purpose by Neal Otto Hively <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Neal Hively has read VOICEs of HOPE: A Faith-Based Science Fiction Fantasy by Neal Otto Hively (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 28, 2026 03:48PM · like