Political Writing 101: Creating Compelling Epic Heroes
Part 4 In a New Weekly Column With Advice for Conservative Creative Writers
By Jamie K. Wilson
Welcome to this series on how to write fiction from a conservative point of view. These posts can simply be read, or you are invited to join a guided writer’s workshop to practice and critique with other writers. To join the workshop, please email me, Jamie, at kywrite at gmail.com and request an invitation.
The Greatest Conservative Films: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
BONUS: Why not The Avengers (2012)
By Eric M. Blake
Editor’s Note: In April of 2017 writer Eric M. Blake began a series at Western Free Press naming the “Greatest Conservative Films.” The introduction explaining the rules and indexing all films included in the series can be found here. Liberty Island will feature cross-posts of select essays from the series with the aim of encouraging discussion at this cross-roads of cinematic art with political ideology. (Click here to see the original essay. Click here to see the previously cross-posted entries on Jackie Brown and Captain America: The First Avenger.) If you would like join this dialogue please contact us at submissions [@] libertyislandmag.com.
The Conservatism of Nexus
By Mike Baron
Many superheroes have conservative beginnings. If men were benign there would be no need for superheroes. Life was simpler in 1939 when Bob Kane and Bill Finger created Batman. Batman’s motivation, like that of so many comic book good guys, was to right a wrong, in this case the murder of his parents. Batman’s mission expanded to serving the cause of justice, which has always been a conservative idea. We are a nation of laws. Creators may not have consciously realized their characters had a conservative agenda, and in many cases, subsequent writers have expanded that agenda to embrace more liberal concerns such as intolerance and inequality. That is not to say conservatives are not concerned about such things. As always, it’s a matter of degree.
The Blessed Mother’s Odyssey Through Science Fiction and Fantasy, Part 1
By Alec Ott
About a year and a half ago, I wrote the article The Logos: A Perfect Man’s Odyssey Through Science Fiction and Fantasy, in which I compared the character of Jesus Christ with popular characters in fantasy and science fiction, such as Star Trek, Star Wars, select superheroes and The Lord of the Rings. My conclusion was that if he was considered merely as a literary figure, even in that limited sense, Jesus is a singular character in all of history, one that beats all other heroes at their own game. That is because he is portrayed as the Logos himself, a being incapable of making mistakes—but even more so—the model of perfection itself with unlimited, infinite power. No other figure comes even close—because, as I posited, it’s hard for mere humans to even grasp the existence of someone like that.
I now return with another comparable character, and one who is considered to be the greatest creature of all of God’s creation. Only the Logos, who is God and not a creature, is greater. And he is her son.
The Greatest Conservative Films: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
By Eric M. Blake
Editor’s Note: In April of 2017 writer Eric M. Blake began a series at Western Free Press naming the “Greatest Conservative Films.” The introduction explaining the rules and indexing all films included in the series can be found here. Liberty Island will feature cross-posts of select essays from the series with the aim of encouraging discussion at this cross-roads of cinematic art with political ideology. (Click here to see the original essay. Click here to see the previously cross-posted entry on Jackie Brown.) If you would like join this dialogue please contact us at submissions [@] libertyislandmag.com.
The Caliber of Her Father’s Regard
Runner Up in the Spring contest: Fantastic Fathers & Magical Mothers
By Ken Lizzi
The components of the 9-millimeter automatic lay scattered across her workbench like a three-dimensional schematic. “Keep track of your parts,” her father had told her and that advice, at least, had made sense. The pistol was stock, a low-end brand, and sporting no modifications beyond aftermarket grips and iridescent dots on front and rear sights. No surprise the cheapskate owner required the services of a gunsmith now, she figured. A higher end manufacturer would have employed a better grade of steel for the frame rails, and a gunsmith assembling a custom build would have swapped out the rails and channeled longer tracks into the slide.
Frankenstein, Politician
Grand Prize Winner of the Spring Writing Contest: Fantastic Fathers & Magical Mothers
By David Walls-Kaufman
“Divide the realm! Let Oligarchs own the cesspool Cities! Common and Partisan shall take the rest. Let each govern as they see fit and prove to the other who governs best. Let Partisan crash the tax and sweep away the regulations.” Of course, Oligarchs would hear none of this. Well did they know the discouragement tyranny brings. When rulers are the winners at every turn. Could Oligarchs leave two gardens growing side by side for comparison? No, they must bite out both eyeballs to stop from being seen!
Frankenstein declared for martial law across the Realm. He launched his campaign with the brilliant speech on “The Cancer against Freedom”, given before the army in the Valley of Kings. He warned against disloyalty of not only the bureaucracy, but also some generals for fear the intellectuality of the Oligarchs had beguiled them. “Soft men bring hard times; hard men bring soft times,” Frankenstein quoted.
The Winners of the Spring Writing Contest: Fantastic Fathers & Magical Mothers
By David M. Swindle
Click here to read about our Summer Sci Fi contest. And click here to read about our upcoming Fall and Winter contests so you can get a head start. And the winner is…
New Fiction: The Baton
By Tom Cosentino
Peter looked as instructed and could not find what he was supposed to see until Charlotte’s finger stabbed at the top corner. There was a quarter page advertisement announcing that the Antiques Roadshow, Charlotte’s favorite program, was coming to New York.
“It’s this Saturday, I want to bring in my great Aunt Beatrice’s baton. She said it was very valuable. That it belonged to a famous conductor. This is my chance to find out exactly what it is. Maybe it’s worth enough that I can sell it to pay for my dream wedding.”
Peter looked at the date and time of the show, then forced a smile knowing he had no choice but to accompany Charlotte, even though he and his buddy Fred had tickets to the Rangers and Bruins matinee for the same day.
What To Do When Your Girlfriend Is Secretly a Warrior In Service to a Demon?
Discover the fantastic fantasy of Sidequest, the new novel from Frank J. Fleming
By Frank Fleming
He dazzled you with the science fiction adventure Superego, Liberty Island’s debut title. Now Frank Fleming is back with a fresh, innovative take on fantasy. Order Sidequest today, now available on Amazon.
