In my early adult years I read many, many fantasy series including some with 9, 12, 14 or more volumes. The Wheel of Time, Thomas Covenant, The Sword of Truth, etc. But despite the engrossing worlds and action, they were always a bit of a letdown. Why was Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings so superior? And why didn’t these books make me feel the way I had as a child reading C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia or Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time?
It took me a while but I finally figured it out. My three favorite fantasy/sci-fi books were all written by great authors who were also Christians. Their faith and Christian worldview infused their writing, determined their themes, and marked their heroes as characters motivated by great love and great self-sacrifice.
I had been learning about God and his love for me even as a child, through the pages of my favorite books, and I didn’t even realize it. It wasn’t until many years after I gave my life to Him that I finally understood how books had helped pave the way, like steppingstones.
Do not underestimate the importance of introducing great books by Christian authors to the young readers in your life.