A Christian friend mentioned recently, in an email, that he didn't read much fiction. Since I imagine he reads plenty of non-fiction I replied, "That's not okay. I was just at a conference with Gay Talese and Philip Yancey, (who both write exclusively non-fiction) and when they named their favorite authors, the ones who held the most truth, all of them were fiction writers." Fiction has lots to offer besides entertainment, which is one reason I'm dismayed that most Christian fiction of the CBA variety is, if not trivial, then at least not very courageous, unique, or grounded in any kind of reality. And meanwhile, mainstream publishers shy from Christian content for fear of offending readers who believe that anyone who takes the Christian faith at all seriously is at best a crank, and more likely a nitwit.