Fantasy For Our Time

Behold, mortals and mech-fanatics! Welcome to the very first episode of our theological deep-dive into the grimdark future where there is only war... and apparently, a surprising amount of sacramental symbolism. 🕊️⚔️

In this gloriously over-caffeinated conversation, I (underdressed but spiritually overdressed) sit down with the ever-eloquent Father Deacon Seraphim to unravel the soul of Warhammer 40K — and maybe, just maybe, find a little grace in a galaxy on fire.

We talk Orthodoxy,  Horus Heresy, metaphysical mech lore, the martyrdom of the last priest on Terra, and how wargaming is actually a form of liturgical drama (I said what I said).

Some say Warhammer is just space fascism with skulls. We say: it's an accidental cathedral, built by atheist Britons, that somehow describes actual spiritual awakening better than most Christian fiction.

Yes, there are beards. Yes, there is laughter. Yes, there are Necrons, Imperial Knights, and a barn full of Orthodox dads praying compline before throwing dice. This is not a drill. This is Warhammer meets theosis. This is… whatever this is. You're welcome.

 ⏰ Timestamps:

00:00  The Geeky Deacons? A Bearded Beginning
02:00 First Contact with Warhammer via Flight of the Eisenstein
06:00  The Warhammer Store is a Personality Test (Seriously)
11:00  Orthodox Wargaming & Praying Before Battle
15:00  Narrative Roleplaying as Theology Practice
20:00  A Living Sector Map, Custom Code, and Warp-Fueled Strategy
26:00  Horus Heresy: A Story Written by a Council of Atheist Prophets?
31:00  Worship is Inevitable (And the Monsters Know It)
36:00  From Satire to Shakespeare: The Aesthetic Power of Warhammer
41:00  Theology of Awakening: From Empirical Truth to Divine Encounter
48:00  The Emperor vs. The Last Priest: A Hidden Martyrdom
54:00  Is the Emperor… Jesus? Saint George? The Antichrist?
59:00  The Divine in Warhammer: Still, Small Voices Amid Chainswords
1:04:00  The Rise of Living Saints & Involuntary Miracles
1:10:00  Why This British Atheist Setting Might Be Weirdly Orthodox
1:17:00  Wrapping Up: Pratchett, Tolkien, and a Cathedral in the Grimdark

In this special (and long-promised) episode of Fantasy for Our Time, I dive helmet-first into the final installment of Joe Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy—a.k.a. the Holy Scripture of Grimdark™ (depending who you ask). I wrestle with berserkers, battle ideologies, and gently poke the gnarled problem of evil with a theological stick.

🛡️ What is Grimdark really saying about human nature?
🎭 Can fantasy fiction offer consolation—or only cynicism?
⚖️ What happens when the divine is deleted from the narrative framework?

We talk Logan Ninefingers, the Bastard King (whose name totally escaped me mid-video), and the ever-smirking torturer Sand dan Glokta. But we also unpack deeper themes: spiritual fragmentation, Orthodox Christian views on evil, and whether fantasy has lost the mythic courage to hope.

💬 Expect musings, a bit of rambling (forgive me—I hadn’t had coffee!), and sincere reflections on storytelling, suffering, and the wheel of despair that modern fantasy often rides without brakes.

 ⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Life Update
01:30 Context: Grimdark, Joe Abercrombie, and First Law Trilogy
03:00 The Third Book: Final Reactions and Character Depth
04:30 The Northern War & Logan’s Inner Demon
06:00 Possession, Evil, and Fragmented Identity
08:30 Trial by Combat & Theological Implications
10:00 Evil as Lack: Orthodox and Philosophical Framing
17:00 Myths After Christ: The Hero's Journey vs. Grimdark
20:00 Characters as Pawns: Torturers, Kings & Cowards
25:00 No Catharsis, Just the Wheel: The End of Grimdark
29:00 What’s Next: Warhammer, Narnia & Summer Plans

Greetings, fellow fantasy fanatics and lore lovers! 🧙‍♂️✨

Ever wondered what happens behind the mystical curtain of indie fantasy publishing? In this rare “Craftsman’s Workshop” livestream, I reveal all the spellbinding chaos of my publishing plans for 2025 and beyond—straight from my candle-lit scriptorium (okay, maybe just my desk, but still magical).

From delays with Cantos of Arcadia (curse you, structural edits!) to revealing stunning new cover art, launching Wood Between Worlds Press, and spilling the enchanted ink on my top-secret author coaching program, this video is jam-packed with writerly wizardry, publishing potions, and more than a few epic announcements.

I’m also giving you a sneak peek at the illustrated Raven Son omnibus, new illustrators, Kickstarter plans, and a secret leatherbound edition that’ll make any collector swoon.

If you’re an aspiring author, seasoned storyteller, or just love the backstage drama of fantasy lit, pull up a chair. This one’s for you. 🛡️📜

⏳ Timestamps

0:00 – Welcome to the Workshop: The Madness Returns
1:45 – What’s Up with Cantos of Arcadia? Delay Update
4:22 – Introducing Wood Between Worlds Publishing
6:15 – Our First Authors Revealed
9:01 – Cover Art Magic: Goodbye Stuart, Hello Patrick Knowles
12:30 – The Mission Behind Phase One Publishing
15:48 – Phase Two and the St. Basil’s Writers Pipeline
18:33 – Epic Editions, Kickstarter Collectibles, and The Raven Son Omnibus
20:10 – Illustrators, Leatherbound Legends, and New Publishing Dates
22:00 – Secret Author Coaching Program: Indie Publishing from Zero to Hero
24:10 – Final Teases & What’s Coming Next (Including… Grimdark!)

Imagine this: Catholic aliens show up on Earth, but instead of demanding our surrender, they want to set up a Mass. Yep, you heard that right. In today’s conversation, I sit down with debut author M.R. Leonard, the brilliant mind behind Pilgrims, a sci-fi novel that reimagines St. Augustine’s Confessions with aliens, interstellar drama, and a hearty dose of existential wonder.

We dive into Michael’s journey from corporate law to creative writing, discuss the audacious concept of Catholic aliens, and unpack the philosophical depth and humor baked into his fast-paced thriller. From world religions to the meaning of life in the galaxy, this discussion is out of this world. Literally.

 ⏰ Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & Intro: Forks in the road—Star Trek or spirituality?
5:32 – Reading slumps & finding Pilgrims: A fresh narrative twist.
12:45 – Meet M.R. Leonard: From Boston College to self-published stardom.
18:12 – China, MBA life, and the big creative pivot.
25:10 – Catholic aliens?! The genesis of a groundbreaking premise.
35:47 – Virgil, Augustine, and writing the perfect “airport thriller.”
42:00 – Alien theology: Sacraments in space?
50:15 – The sci-fi genre’s future—grounded yet limitless.

Today, we embark on a perilous journey into the world of Grimdark fantasy, where heroes are fools, victories are tragic, and morality is as murky as a tavern’s back alley.

After years of avoiding the genre, I finally took the plunge and read Joe Abercrombie’s Before They Are Hanged—the second book in The First Law trilogy. And what did I discover? A failed quest that somehow became one of the most unexpectedly profound fantasy narratives I’ve encountered.

Why do we need failed quest narratives? How do they console us in a world obsessed with relentless achievement? And what does this mean for epic fantasy, The Hero’s Journey, and even my own book, The Song of the Sirin? Let’s discuss.

 

⏰ Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome to the Studio: My Grimdark Adventure Continues
2:15 – Why I Avoided Grimdark for So Long
4:38 – Before They Are Hanged and the Quest That (Gloriously) Failed
8:22 – Giselle Dan Luthor: A Fool’s Journey to Something Like Wisdom
12:47 – The Unexpected Consolation of Grimdark
17:02 – Lord of the Rings as a Failed Quest (And Why That’s Brilliant)
20:10 – My Own Novel’s Failed Quest and Why It Matters
22:01 – Final Thoughts & What’s Next in the Grimdark Discussion