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

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

• 04.18.2024

  Samson, Pistolfist, & Creature Tech: 3 Christian Comics – Are They Worth Reading?

  To answer the title’s question: yes. In this episode, Ben takes a look at three comic books created by Christians because he thinks they deserve to be seen by more people! You should absolutely check out this graphic novels! Want to...

  
• 04.03.2024

  DUNE PART TWO REVIEW

  Ben and Evan saw Dune Part Two. Ben and Evan LOVED Dune Part Two. Ben and Evan talked about Dune Part Two. Ben took a long time editing their Dune Part Two episode, so he has the wrong number when he did the...

  
• 03.16.2024

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

  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;...

  
• 02.29.2024

  MADAME WEB Road Trip Review – SA415

  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.

  
• 02.10.2024

  2023 In Review – SA414

  Ben and Evan discuss the movies and streaming highlights (and lowlights) of 2023!

  
• 12.24.2023

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

  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*...

  
• 10.26.2023

  Watching NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU with John Harju – SA412

  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 . ....

  
• 10.08.2023

  EVAN’S ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY – SA411

  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...

  
• 09.29.2023

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

  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...

  
• 09.18.2023

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

  When 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...

  
• 08.04.2023

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

  Is 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...

  
• 07.21.2023

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

  Ben 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...

  
• 06.22.2023

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

  This 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...

  
• 05.26.2023

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

  It’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....

  
• 05.11.2023

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

  Ben 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?...

  
• 04.29.2023

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

  Picard 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...

  
• 04.15.2023

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

  A 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...

  
• 02.22.2023

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

  Recently, 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...

  
• 02.15.2023

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

  Episode 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...

  
• 01.20.2023

  AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER Road Trip Review – SA399

  It’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...

  
• 01.11.2023

  2022 in Review – SA398

  it’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...

  
• 12.24.2022

  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

  We 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”,...

  
• 12.16.2022

  A CHRISTMAS CAROL – SA396

  Inspired 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...

  
• 12.07.2022

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

  Two 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....

  
• 11.21.2022

  Interview w/ BLACK BLOSSOM Creator Evan David – SA394

  Evan’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...

  
• 11.17.2022

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

  Ben 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...

  
• 11.04.2022

  BLACK ADAM – SA392

  Ben 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...

  
• 10.28.2022

  Watching SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES with John Harju – SA391

  Ben 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...

  
• 10.01.2022

  Currently Streaming – Fall 2022 – SA390

  Television 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...

  
• 09.05.2022

  PREY – SA389

  Ben 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...

  
• 08.20.2022

  NO MAN IN EDEN by H.L. Myra: Is It Worth Reading? (Exploring Christian Sci-Fi) – SA388

  Ben finally did it! He found an OLD (if not quite as old as the Space Trilogy) Christian sci-fi book, NO MAN IN EDEN. NO MAN IN EDEN is not a Christian romance or a commentary on Genesis 1-3, it’s...

  
• 08.11.2022

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

  What 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...

  
• 07.31.2022

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

  Buy 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,”...

  
• 07.26.2022

  Watching NOPE with John Harju – SA385

  Jordan 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...

  
• 07.16.2022

  The First Half of 2022 in Review – SA384

  Evan, 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...

  
• 05.29.2022

  Words of Encouragement from DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS – SA383

  There are a lot of opinions about the latest Marvel movie, DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Most of them are valid and understandable, whether extremely positive or extremely negative. Case in point: Ben really liked the movie, and...

  
• 04.15.2022

  Reflections on Easter – SA382

  This is the weekend we celebrate Easter, and in this episode we release an episode that is meant to encourage us to take the time to reflect on Easter, Good Friday, and the Last Supper. Ben is joined by his family...

  
• 04.07.2022

  MORBIUS – SA381

  MORBIUS has arrived! Finally! Ben goes solo on a spoiler-free review . . . Sort of a preview of his thoughts on the movie, Evan and Steve told Ben they couldn’t get to this movie, and Ben told them that it...

  
• 03.30.2022

  SAMWISE GAMGEE & SIMON OF CYRENE – SA380

  What happens when . . . * Ben, Steve, and Evan have a hard time getting together to record?* Ben’s been rewatching Lord of the Rings?* Ben’s been studying Simon of Cyrene?* Ben wants to get some episodes out?* Ben has...

  
• 03.02.2022

  Watching MOONFALL with John Harju – SA379

  The moon is falling . . . and they made a movie. Was it worth seeing? Was it worth making? Ben, Evan, and John Harju went to see this disaster flick. They were all surprised. John was surprised it wasn’t a...

  
• 01.28.2022

  MARVEL’S ULIMATE COMICS – SA378

  In the early 2000s, Marvel tried an experiment – restart the stories of fan favorite characters in a new universe. A universe that does not have all the baggage of decades and decades of thousands of issues. A universe that...

  
• 01.15.2022

  2021 In Review – SA377

  2021 was an interesting year for pop culture. We take a look at the movies we saw and some of the other pop culture items (TV and books) we took in during the past year. We used Letterboxd as a partial...

  
• 12.09.2021

  DUNE PART ONE review (re-upload) – SA376

  We moved to a new server, which resulted in the loss of this post . . . we apologize for any inconvenience. DUNE hit screens big and small, and it made a huge impact on us! Ben and Steve discuss the...

  
• 12.03.2021

  ETERNALS Road Trip – SA375

  Ben and Evan take a road trip to see the latest MCU movie, ETERNALS!!! It’s a movie that tries hard to go big, but does it succeed? PART ONE: The Trip There – talking about expectations and other random thingsPART TWO: The...

  
• 11.22.2021

  CELEBRATING 10 YEARS: “Why Sci-Fi?” (SA374)

  To celebrate 10 years of the Strangers and Aliens podcast, we’re reposting our first episode! In this episode, Dr. Jayce, Steve, and Ben talk about the question: “Why Sci-Fi?” This is the episode that started it all. Well, started it all...

  
• 10.21.2021

  Watching the CUBE Franchise with John Harju – SA373

  The CUBE franchise consists of three movies from the 90s and early 2000s. Each of these movies features strangers . . . moving through a strange setting consisting of rooms that are CUBES . . . and some of those...

  
• 09.23.2021

  PERELANDRA (C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy Part 2) – SA372

  Steve and Ben explore Venus via the second book in C.S. Lewis’ celebrated “Space Trilogy,” Perelandra. Published in 1943, Perelandra is the story of a man, Ransom, who is transported to Venus and thrust into a battle he feels ill-equipped to...

  
• 09.10.2021

  SHANG-CHI Road Trip – SA371

  A road trip to see Shang-Chi, featuring Ben, Evan, and Evan’s sister-in-law! Road trips include three segments: spoiler free discussion on the trip to the theater about what we’re expecting; a spoiler free reaction after the movie in the parking lot;...

  
• 09.02.2021

  FREE GUY Road Trip! – SA370

  Ben and Evan reunite for a good ol’ fashioned ROAD TRIP EPISODE!!! The movie this time? FREE GUY! An original concept, science fiction movie? In the summer? More importantly . . . is it any good?

  
• 08.26.2021

  OLD: a spoiler-free review, plus thoughts about M. Night’s filmography – SA369

  Ben wants to talk. Ben wants to talk about M. Night Shyamalan. He wants to talk about M. Night’s style. M. Night’s risk taking. M. Night’s filmography. M. Night’s twist endings. And he wants to talk about OLD. Which features M. Night’s style....