Source: mormontimes

MORMONS LIKE SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY

Science fiction and fantasy stories are popular among readers who are also members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as demonstrated by statistical evidence, a panel of writers and editors said Friday.

The panelists expressed their opinions on why so many Mormon authors are writing in the genre, at the 28th annual Life, the Universe and Everything 28: Marion K. Smith Symposium on Science Fiction & Fantasy, a three-day conference at Brigham Young University.

Book sales of that kind of fiction are disproportionately higher in Utah than other states, fiction writer Brandon Sanderson said. Additionally many of the LDS fiction writers are from Utah.

“We’re reading it a lot, so there will be more writers,” he said.

Read more here…

Source: psychologytoday

DOUBLE CHECKING FOR HAPPINESS WITH HARRY POTTER

I’m working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone’s project will look different, but it’s the rare person who can’t benefit. Join in — no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday’s post will help you think about your own happiness project.

One of my passions in life is children’s literature, and of course, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. My four-year-old loves the HP movies (yes, I know they’re scary, but they don’t bother her, so I let her watch them), and I’ve seen them all several times, and a few nights ago, we were watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for the tenth time.

In the movie, a particular moment passes in a flash, and that disappoints me, because I think this moment is one of the emotional highlights of the entire series. I looked up the passage to re-read it, and I realized that – surprise! – it has tremendous relevance to a happiness project.

Read more here.

What are your thoughts about those of the Mormon faith exploring various ideas in the world through science fiction? Does it surprise you?

Have you ever started a Happiness Project? What did you think of the article?