Strangers and Aliens: Science Fiction & Fantasy from a Christian Perspective

  • Review: THE DAY THE SUN STOOD STILL – Exciting Used Bookstore Find! – SA416

    Review: THE DAY THE SUN STOOD STILL – Exciting Used Bookstore Find! – SA416

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS A $3 book with a catchy title bought on a whim became the best book Ben has read all year! And definitely the best $3 he has spent in a long time… This book involves four giants of science fiction; spiritual ideas; a unique writing challenge; and…

  • 2023 In Review – SA414

    2023 In Review – SA414

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS Ben and Evan discuss the movies and streaming highlights (and lowlights) of 2023!

  • THE 25 GREATEST SCI-FI-ISH CHRISTMAS MOVIES – S&A 413

    THE 25 GREATEST SCI-FI-ISH CHRISTMAS MOVIES – S&A 413

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS It’s a Christmas Weak Connections extravaganza!!! Ben walks through his top 25 science fiction/fantasy movies with Christmas connections. Along the way, he talks about movies from:* Star Trek* Marvel* DC* The Alien franchise There’s also:* B-Movies* Two movies from Terry Gilliam* Two movies from Tim Burton* Two…

  • Watching NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU with John Harju – SA412

    Watching NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU with John Harju – SA412

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS Around October almost every year, Ben is joined by John Harju to talk about some sort of scary movie and this year is no exception! This year’s movie: NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU, an alien invasion movie that’s . . . different. You can listen to John’s…

  • EVAN’S ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY – SA411

    EVAN’S ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY – SA411

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS Ben takes some time to “interview” Evan about his new job working with Focus on the Family and their Adventures in Odyssey media team! They also take some time to talk about some TV shows they’ve been watching. Evan’s links:Adventures in Odyssey – https://www.adventuresinodyssey.comAIO Facebook Page –…

  • THE FRANKENSTEIN BOOK OF PRAYER – Interview with Author Steve Case – SA410

    THE FRANKENSTEIN BOOK OF PRAYER – Interview with Author Steve Case – SA410

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS You can buy The Frankenstein Book of Prayer here: https://amzn.to/3RDUm86 (an affiliate link – we receive compensation if you use the link, but it will not affect the price of your order) What if the monster of Frankenstein began a spiritual journey of self-discovery? And what if…

  • Star Trek and the Transfiguration: SCI-FI DEVOS (Weak Connections) – SA409

    Star Trek and the Transfiguration: SCI-FI DEVOS (Weak Connections) – SA409

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSWhen Star Trek Strange New Worlds had its crossover with Star Trek Lower Decks it got Ben thinking about other Star Trek actors appearing in their sibling shows. And THAT got Ben thinking about a Bible story: Jesus’ transfiguration. There’s a connection . . . albeit a WEAK…

  • INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (and the Rest of the Franchise) – SA408

    INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (and the Rest of the Franchise) – SA408

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIs it the end of a franchise? And it is a GOOD end to the franchise? Does Indy finally get the sendoff he deserves? Or does this franchise simply belong in a museum? Ben is joined by an old friend and super-Indiana-Jones-fan Eddie Medina to talk about the…

  • THE FLASH vs. SPIDER-MAN ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE – SA407

    THE FLASH vs. SPIDER-MAN ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE – SA407

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen and Evan talk about two big comic book multiverse movies featuring multiple versions of superhero characters and packed with nostalgia. It’s not really a fight – they definitely thought one was “better” than the other – but the two movies, released so closely in time with such…

  • Asking “Is It Worth Reading?” about Two Book Series: JEWEL OF THE STARS and FLIGHT OF THE ANGELS – SA406

    Asking “Is It Worth Reading?” about Two Book Series: JEWEL OF THE STARS and FLIGHT OF THE ANGELS – SA406

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSThis episode post has LOTS of links! Links to the books Ben talks about (Amazon affiliate links – it doesn’t change the price for you, but it does give us a little kick back – VERY little); links to the videos on Youtube that Ben recorded that this…

  • THE DARK TOWER (C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy Part 4) – SA405

    THE DARK TOWER (C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy Part 4) – SA405

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIt’s a mystery in the canon of C.S. Lewis’ library. The unfinished manuscript that may or may not have been written by C.S. Lewis. It’s created controversy. It’s created confusion. And it’s a possible glimpse into a path not taken. This would have been the sequel to OUT…

  • SUPER MARIO BROS. and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Road Trip Double Feature – S&A 404

    SUPER MARIO BROS. and DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Road Trip Double Feature – S&A 404

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen takes a road trip to see Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, but also takes the opportunity to talk about another gaming movie (albeit a different kind of gaming): The Super Mario Bros. Movie! Which one gets a thumbs up? Which one gets a thumbs down? Does…

  • Picard Season 3 w/ Special Guest Adam David Collings – SA403

    Picard Season 3 w/ Special Guest Adam David Collings – SA403

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSPicard season 3 has come and gone . . . and if you’ve seen it you probably have opinions! So does Ben and his guest host, sci-fi writer Adam David Collings. Join them as they explore season three’s ups and downs and ups and more ups . .…

  • Streaming Sci-Fi on Peacock & Review of The Ark – SA402

    Streaming Sci-Fi on Peacock & Review of The Ark – SA402

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSA few years ago, Ben subscribed to Peacock but it wasn’t until a few months ago that he discovered that the streaming service is actually a pretty strong source for old Sci-Fi TV . . . and when he started watching the OLD stuff, he found a new…

  • STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan and William Shatner Live – SA401

    STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan and William Shatner Live – SA401

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSRecently, Ben joined his friends William and Nathan Marchand to see a theatrical showing of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, which also had William Shatner do a live stage performance that was sort of a Q&A session. But it was really just an excuse for Shatner…

  • “Sci-Fi Vs. Fantasy”: Revisiting Episode 7 – SA400

    “Sci-Fi Vs. Fantasy”: Revisiting Episode 7 – SA400

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSEpisode 400 is here, and to celebrate this milestone we’re taking a look backwards at an early episode featuring Ben, Steve, and Dr. Jayce! It’s a fun conversation that serves as a nice time capsule to a time before the MCU dominated everything. A conversation just exploring the…

  • AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Road Trip Review – SA399

    AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Road Trip Review – SA399

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSIt’s a ROAD TRIP! Ben thought he would have a chance to talk to Evan about AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, but things didn’t go their way. Evan got sick . . . and then went on vacation. But on a lark, Ben decided to record his solo…

  • 2022 in Review – SA398

    2022 in Review – SA398

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSit’s that time again! Time to talk about last year’s pop culture releases! Taking our cues from Evan’s ranked list of movies from the year, we talk about our viewing experiences from 2022 as we step into the year 2023! The first half of 2022 was covered in…

  • SHADOW and SUBSTANCE 3 – A TWILIGHT ZONE CHRISTMAS QUARTET: “The Night of the Meek”, “Five Characters in Search of an Exit”, “The Changing of the Guard”, and A CAROL FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS – SA397

    SHADOW and SUBSTANCE 3 – A TWILIGHT ZONE CHRISTMAS QUARTET: “The Night of the Meek”, “Five Characters in Search of an Exit”, “The Changing of the Guard”, and A CAROL FOR ANOTHER CHRISTMAS – SA397

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSWe continue our series about THE TWILIGHT ZONE (which only has two episodes, but that’s actually not too shabby) by covering three Christmas themed episodes of the show (“The Night of the Meek”, “Five Characters in Search of an Exit”, and “The Changing of the Guard”), plus A…

  • A CHRISTMAS CAROL – SA396

    A CHRISTMAS CAROL – SA396

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSInspired by re-reading the book and watching the new movie on Netflix, Ben, Stephen, and Evan take to the microphones to appreciate the spiritual themes and fantastical ideas of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. From time travel to redeemed lives, from movies to radio to books, from…

  • THE FORCE OF STAR WARS: Is It Worth Reading? – SA395

    THE FORCE OF STAR WARS: Is It Worth Reading? – SA395

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSTwo options for this episode: You can listen to the audio above OR watch the video below! Ben takes a look at a book that has been in his library for over forty years: Frank Allnutt’s THE FORCE OF STAR WARS. This book is special to him for…

  • Interview w/ BLACK BLOSSOM Creator Evan David – SA394

    Interview w/ BLACK BLOSSOM Creator Evan David – SA394

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSEvan’s new comic book BLACK BLOSSOM is now part of a KickStarter campaign to collect and publish the first 6 issues (plus an annual) into a graphic novel. Ben interviews Evan about the superhero sci-fi tale. The links mentioned in the episode: KICKSTARTER: inked.pub/blackblossomPATREON: patreon.com/evandavidcomicsINSTRAGRAM: instagram.com/blackblossomcomic And here…

  • DICK TRACY: Post-Batman Pulp Hero Movies Pt. 1 – SA393

    DICK TRACY: Post-Batman Pulp Hero Movies Pt. 1 – SA393

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen is joined by John Harju for the first part of a multi-part series rewatching some superhero movies that came in the wake of 1989’s Batman! We are starting with DICK TRACY, which entered production before Batman hit theaters, but it was still influenced by the superhero juggernaut…

  • BLACK ADAM – SA392

    BLACK ADAM – SA392

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen and Evan went to see BLACK ADAM! This episode opens with a spoiler-free discussion of the movie and then, after the spoiler warning, they talk about spoiler-y things. Things like:The big thing everyone is talking aboutHow Ben liked almost all the superheroes who are not The Rock…

  • Watching SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES with John Harju – SA391

    Watching SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES with John Harju – SA391

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen and John Harju team up again for an October spooky movie! The movie: SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES! Along the way they talk about:Ben’s love for Ray BradburyJohn’s dislike for Ray BradburyBoth of their like for this movieArt and messagingGood and evilTwo Stephen King books they were…

  • Currently Streaming – Fall 2022 – SA390

    Currently Streaming – Fall 2022 – SA390

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSTelevision is dead . . . long live television! But long live it on our smart TVs! And devices! And computers! Add to that we have had a long string of high profile (and low profile, really) science fiction and fantasy television series, with short seasons, continuing stories,…

  • PREY – SA389

    PREY – SA389

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBen and Steve review PREY, which is not about prayer but they joke about it anyway. This episode features:* Thoughts about PREY* Thoughts about PREDATOR* Thoughts about the franchise* Thoughts about Walt Simonson’s run on the THOR comic Our Youtube channel can be found here: http://youtube.com/strangersandaliens – subscribe…

  • THE DARK TOWER by C.S. Lewis: Is It Worth Reading? (Exploring Christian Sci-Fi)

    THE DARK TOWER by C.S. Lewis: Is It Worth Reading? (Exploring Christian Sci-Fi)

    Buy THE DARK TOWER here via Amazon: amzn.to/3jd0wwK (As an Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.) Ben takes a look at a controversial chapter in C.S. Lewis’ writings: the post-humous novel fragment, THE DARK TOWER. Found in the volume THE DARK TOWER AND OTHER STORIES, this is the book that could have been the…

  • “Fear Is the Mind Killer”: Biblical Focus in the Midst of Fear – SA387

    “Fear Is the Mind Killer”: Biblical Focus in the Midst of Fear – SA387

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSWhat do Frank Herbert, Dune, the Fear Litany, Jesus calming the storm, Ben’s all time favorite verse, and 80s Christian pop music icon Carmen all have in common? They are all used by Ben to point to where our focus should be in the midst of tough situations.…

  • THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH (C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy Part 3) – SA386

    THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH (C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy Part 3) – SA386

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSBuy THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH here via Amazon: amzn.to/3YtMYxg (As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.) Steve and Ben return to Earth with Ransom and a large cast of characters in the third book in C.S. Lewis’ celebrated “Space Trilogy,” THAT HIDEOUS STRENGTH. Published in 1945, THAT…

  • Watching NOPE with John Harju – SA385

    Watching NOPE with John Harju – SA385

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSJordan Peele has two highly successful suspense/horror movies under his belt, and NOPE hit the public conscience with a vague trailer that revealed next to nothing. A second trailer revealed something that looked like a modern spin on Close Encounters . . . and while it’s potentially true…

  • The First Half of 2022 in Review – SA384

    The First Half of 2022 in Review – SA384

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSSEvan, Steve, and Ben are together again! For this episode, we take a look at some of the movies and TV series we’ve been watching in 2022! Using Evan’s LETTERBOXD account (he’s found here: https://letterboxd.com/moviemanev/– you should follow him) we take a look back at some movies and…

  • MADAME WEB Road Trip Review – SA415

    MADAME WEB Road Trip Review – SA415

    Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: RSS Ben takes a solo roadtrip to see MADAME WEB. The question: is it as bad as they say? The other question: can he find a weak connection? At least one of those questions has “yes” for an answer. At least.

  • NEW CONTEST! Enter to win a copy of C.S. Lewis’s SPACE TRILOGY!

  • “Thanos, Bison, and God’s Words to Moses (and You!)”: SCI-FI DEVOS (Weak Connections)

    “Thanos, Bison, and God’s Words to Moses (and You!)”: SCI-FI DEVOS (Weak Connections)

    So what in the WORLD could Street Fighter (the movie) have to do with Moses? So what does Thanos have to do with God’s message from the burning bush? Probably not much . . . BUT they did get Ben thinking. Thinking about his own thoughts. Thinking about God’s words. And thinking about God’s thoughts.…

Got any book recommendations?