Randy Alcorn

[CBumpkin]

What are your thoughts on the works of Randy Alcorn? I must admit, I'm not very familiar with his work.

[Inspiewriter]

I loved his book "Heaven." Highly recommend it.

[CBumpkin]

I read Heaven. It's the only book of his that I've read so far. While I did enjoy it, I have to say that I didn't learn anything new from it. I'm hardly a biblical scholar, but my study produced the same results he wrote about. That was comforting at least!

How about his fiction work?

[Pat~]

I've been reading his book Heaven and so far so good. But I'm not a fan of his fiction--which may not be saying much, in that I'm generally not a big fan of Christian fiction, (with the exception of Lewis).

[Plot Device]

Money Posessions and Eternity (non-fiction) is phenomenal.

Deadline and Dominion (2 works in a fiction series) are in my opinion his greatest works. A recent 3rd book in the same series, Deception, only just came out and I haven't read it.

Lord Foulgrin's Letters is his recanoitering of Lewis' Screwtape Letters. I can respect that it's well-written ... but it's STILL Lewis' story and I can't get past that part right there.

In person, he's a deeply humble man with a profound devotion to God.

He knew Frank Peretti only in passing back before Peretti was famous and saw right away after reading some samples of Peretti's (unpublished) work that he had a talent for writing.

[Sean D. Schaffer]

I read Lord Foulgrin's Letters, and I loved it. I agree with Plot Device to an extent about being irked that he used C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters as an inspiration, but I also appreciate his readiness to give a LOT of credit to Mr. Lewis. I don't think from reading Mr. Alcorn's writing in the last couple chapters of Lord Foulgrin, that he believed he ever gave enough credit to Mr. Lewis. That humility made up for a lot of the worry I had about the book itself. He's a good writer, and very deserving of the respect he has been given.

Just my opinion, of course. :)

[Leigh86]

I read the Ishbane Conspiracy last year. The ending was very moving and it made me cry.

[Norman D Gutter]

Never heard of him.

[trickywoo]

I liked Safely Home.

I tend to approach his work as more devotional - I don't think it's exceptionally well-written and some of it is quite wordy. That being said, the themes and content of his writing is well done, even if the execution is so-so.

[Deb Kinnard]

I've been hunting down authors like Alcorn at my local chain bookstores. I find a depressing lack of breadth on the Christian fiction shelves. Can't find too many of the authors whose work I'd like to sample. Example, yesterday, Barnes & Noble: no Alcorn, no Ingermanson, no Morrissey, no Gillenwater, no Angela Hunt. Plenty of bonnet books and Lewis books and Peterson books. Also Lori Wick and Janette Oke. Didn't we read all those in the 80s? Man, I'd give a lot to see more breadth.

I can't say "less romance" though, 'cause they'll find me and jump me for that.

[Inspiewriter]

I've been hunting down authors like Alcorn at my local chain bookstores. I find a depressing lack of breadth on the Christian fiction shelves. Can't find too many of the authors whose work I'd like to sample. Example, yesterday, Barnes & Noble: no Alcorn, no Ingermanson, no Morrissey, no Gillenwater, no Angela Hunt. Plenty of bonnet books and Lewis books and Peterson books. Also Lori Wick and Janette Oke. Didn't we read all those in the 80s? Man, I'd give a lot to see more breadth.

I can't say "less romance" though, 'cause they'll find me and jump me for that.


I've noticed that in some stores, too, with the older romances. But just as many stores seem to carry the new edgier (sp?) Christian fiction.

[Deb Kinnard]

Yes, there's more of the edgier fiction and also the light-tone (we used to say chick lit, but I hear that term is passe) women's fic titles. But there are still a depressing number of re-issues, too many of the same-old same-old writers, and way too many bonnet books to suit me.

And hasn't that Left Behind thing run its course aready? A whole shelf's worth. Sheesh.

[Inspiewriter]

And hasn't that Left Behind thing run its course aready? A whole shelf's worth. Sheesh.



Agreed!