Article: why I don't read Mormon fiction


KCGrant
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Not a fan of fiction in general, but even more so with Mormon fiction. I like to learn and although some are based in fact, they are liberal in their interpretations of what might have happened, or what will happen, and more times than not it will come up in Gospel Doctrine as fact. These books may be entertaining, but too many people use them as a source of doctrine. I say stick to the scriptures and *sound* scholarly material. We have enough amateurs writing "doctrinal" books that even though they say what we want to hear, usually are full of flaws. When it comes to fiction, it is not so much the writers fault as it is the gullibility and ignorance of the readers.

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Goodness, I just sent you a PM about this very subject!

I don't read a heck of a lot of Mormon fiction and I do sympathize with this article. I do think there are some fantastic exceptions to LDS fiction I love. I find a lot of it poorly written and in mind is only published because it fills the LDS fiction niche. Frankly, I despise most of the fictional writings of Gerald N. Lund!

And yes, there are two extremes! It's either safe fluffy blahness or some guy trying to be edgy and controversial.

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I would like to write someday and am a big fan of Orson Scott Card and Brandon Sanderson. Lost Boys by Orson Scott Card is a great book that does not feel like a stretched out article from the New Era. I'm interested in writing myself and started a book where the main character is LDS. I believe it can work, but I was discouraged by friends and family to keep religion out of it. Perhaps religion could bring more depth to a character.

What if Bella from Twilight was LDS and the books described the added isolation one feels not just being new to a school but having different beliefs and values then everyone else. How would it add to her struggle and understanding that beings such as the undead and werewolves exist? As she started a relationship with Edward how would the girls from Church treat her? I could go on and on.

Personally I wouldn't change the books, but there are some real struggles there that could be interesting to explore if faith is added to the picture. This reminds me of another topic I'd like to explore on here some time. Perhaps another thread.

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The problem I find in most Christian fiction books is that it always ends up sounding too preachy.

The extra problem with LDS books is that it goes through Deseret and they will not publish books that dwell on harsh realities of life. This makes it difficult to write a book that is engaging, etc.

For example, you won't be able to sell Twilight as LDS fiction even if you make Bella LDS because vampires will not pass Deseret. So, take out vampires and your left with a boring book.

I want fiction to be a reflection of real life (yes, Star Wars is not real but it reflects real life very well) and magnified. Where people get hit by major temptations, fall hard, then crawl their way out tooth and nail, sometimes having to compromise to survive. This will have to deviate from LDS standards because people who lead perfect Mormon lives is difficult to make interesting...

Edited by anatess
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KC, sometimes people get books get labeled as "mormon fiction" incorrectly or writers get labeled as "LDS Authors" instead of LDS autors. For example, my wife, who is LDS writes fiction. Her characters are mostly LDS. But they are not "about being LDS". She is often mistaken as being an LDS Author instead of an author who is LDS. Her books are not marketed to LDS specifically, and are not likely to be found in Deseret or Seagull. However, she has received lots of great reviews, especially for the 3rd in the series, which is an allegory of the atonement. One person said it changed her life and compelled her to return to church after many years inactive. Another, who is NOT LDS said it helped him to give a better understanding of Mitt Romney and the perception of him being "always on" than anything Mitt has said or done. My wife was also a speaker at the Sunstone Symposium in Provo last year. Her books are mostly read by non-members, but also by members as well.

So, you can be an LDS author of fiction, with LDS characters, and that does not mean you are an LDS Author.

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For example, you won't be able to sell Twilight as LDS fiction even if you make Bella LDS because vampires will not pass Deseret. So, take out vampires and your left with a boring book.

Leave in Vampires and you're left with a boring book ^_^

I've only been a member for two and a half years now, so I haven't had too much of a chance to read 'mormon fiction.' What I have read has been mixed reviews- exactly like non-LDS books.

I appreciate the idea that LDS books are like the starwars prequels, but with many of them, it can't be helped. We know Joseph Smith gets martyred. We know Jesus comes back.

Some are able to get past this. For example, the Tennis shoes series has been a fun read and 'Messiah' and 'Master', take a pretty conservative look (as far as interpretation) at the Gospels.

Then there is the 'Millenial Glory' series and 'the work and the glory,' as well as Orson Scott Card's trilogy on the wives of the patriarchs. All of them are exactly like the article describes. Even so, though, they have their place, and are not completely worthless just because they are predictable and preachy.

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Here's my problem with Mormon Fiction: The writers suck. The attempts are generally very weak. Most of them could never get published out in the real world.

Orson Scott Card occasionally writes for the LDS audience, and he is a master of character development, but if you've ready everything he's written, you'd never want him associated with the LDS church.

Go read a book or two from Chaim Potok in order to understand just how amazing religious fiction can be. And LDS writer of this magnitude could have a great long-term effect on the public's perception of LDS life.

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Orson Scott Card occasionally writes for the LDS audience, and he is a master of character development, but if you've ready everything he's written, you'd never want him associated with the LDS church.

I have heard this for at least twenty years, probably more. I don't know if I have read literally everything Card has published, but I've read a whole bunch of it. Most of it I have enjoyed; some of it I have found unpleasant, even a bit scandalous (e.g. Songmaster), but I've never read anything from him that makes me want to disassociate him from the LDS Church.

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I have heard this for at least twenty years, probably more. I don't know if I have read literally everything Card has published, but I've read a whole bunch of it. Most of it I have enjoyed; some of it I have found unpleasant, even a bit scandalous (e.g. Songmaster), but I've never read anything from him that makes me want to disassociate him from the LDS Church.

Hart's Hope hope features, among other things, the brutal public rape of young girl. Wyrms has a great scene involving a human having sex with a dragon. If you haven't read these, it's probably because they're out of print and he's asked the publisher not to re-release them. Then there's all of his short stories. Reading all of his books, there are a very large number of references to pedophilia... a disturbing amount. Even in the Homecoming series, he has to throw in a sex scene involving Nafai and Luet as VERY young teenagers. He has a short story where a guy gets to go back in time to have sex with an underage girl, as his biggest regret in life was not doing it when he had the chance. I'm not making any accusations, but it would not surprise me in the least to learn that OSC was either a pedophile himself, was molested as a child, or has some very sick tendencies that come out in his writing.

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Hart's Hope hope features, among other things, the brutal public rape of young girl. Wyrms has a great scene involving a human having sex with a dragon. If you haven't read these, it's probably because they're out of print and he's asked the publisher not to re-release them. Then there's all of his short stories. Reading all of his books, there are a very large number of references to pedophilia... a disturbing amount. Even in the Homecoming series, he has to throw in a sex scene involving Nafai and Luet as VERY young teenagers. He has a short story where a guy gets to go back in time to have sex with an underage girl, as his biggest regret in life was not doing it when he had the chance. I'm not making any accusations, but it would not surprise me in the least to learn that OSC was either a pedophile himself, was molested as a child, or has some very sick tendencies that come out in his writing.

Didn't know any of that. I was put off of his books by his explanation for why he chose to include some things and leave others out in 'Sarah'.

Thanks for the info.

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Didn't know any of that. I was put off of his books by his explanation for why he chose to include some things and leave others out in 'Sarah'.

Thanks for the info.

You'll also notice that Sarah isn't actually published by Deseret Book, but a subsidiary called "Shadow Mountain" in order to further distance him.

Don't get me wrong, I still think he's a fantastic writer, and I warn my wife regularly that I'm going to name out first son Ender, but he's definitely not a good example of an LDS Author. Really, in my opinion, there are none at this time.

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So are we going with authors who are LDS or fiction with a strong connection with LDS culture/doctrine/history?

Frankly, I am a huge fan of Shannon Hale. I find her to be an awesome writer. She is LDS.

But I agree... the majority LDS fiction, what I've seen of it, is lousy and poorly written.

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To find great LDS Fiction, I think we'll have to look outside the norm, and definitely not waste time looking in Deseret Book. A movie reviewer once called "Napoleon Dynamite" the best LDS movie of all time, and I agree. It's not billed as an LDS movie, the references to it are very obscure... but it is most definitely an LDS movie.

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Hmm, I thought this article in the Millennial Star could create some interesting debate! Being an LDS author I want to have an open mind and try to look objectively at my craft.

Why I Don’t Read Mormon Fiction The Millennial Star

Well I like most of Orson Scott Carde's stuff, and a lot of Weis and Hickmans stuff.

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