Down in Yon Forest
~ by Michael J. Carroll A blanket of crisp yuletide snow caresses the hamlet. Smoke rises up from the chimneys of the wooden houses nestled in the Valley of the Teign. The dawn is…
Category: Best of F&F Archive
Winter Warrior: A Tale of Saint Nicholas
Snow fell unseen in the moonless night air, each flake making its journey without notice or proclamation. Nick liked the snow on nights like this. It went about its business anonymously, as he did…
In Defense of Santa Claus: A New Understanding of a Timeless Tale
I was a firm believer in Santa Claus until I turned eleven years old. After all, it was always the villains or grumps who doubted the Christmas magic, never the characters I admired and wanted…
Scour the Horse Anew: An Analysis of G.K. Chesterton’s Epic Poem “The Ballad of the White Horse”
For years, friends urged me to read The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton, which I proceeded to put on the back burner for far too long. It was the poem said to…
The Crossing of Christopher: A Golden Legend
There once lived a man named Darrick, with strong arms and bulging muscles, a smith by trade, accustomed to hammering down metal and bending it to his will. In the village, he was renowned…
Northernmost: The Tale of Santa’s Greatest Helper
Santa had a favorite helper who went around the globe with him every Christmas Eve. Her name was Irene. She was a very bright, cheerful little Elf who enjoyed her job, especially since she always…
I Am with You: The Active Love of Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee is one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s most beloved characters. He is loyal, brave, and selfless. At the mere mention of his name many images rise to the minds of fans and pull…
I Am a Jedi: Luke Skywalker’s Journey of the Soul
On a remote desert planet overlooked by the rest of the galaxy, the pensive figure of a young farm boy watches the twin suns sink below the horizon. As darkness settles over the barren landscape,…
The Catholic and the Convert: The Spiritual Influences Behind J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia
Both J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are known to have been committed Christians for most of their professional lives (all of Tolkien’s professional life, actually), and it is also well known that this…
Mon Père’s Plan
On the morning of March 4th, 1943, I was a twenty-four-year-old sergeant in the United States Army Air Force, serving as a Crew Chief on a B-17. Her name was The Lucky Gal and my…