pondering paper topics

[sigerson]

Do any of y'all know of speculative fiction/scifi/fantasy novels that involve multiple faiths? I seem to be able to name ones that have One Big Church but an imagined world with multiple faiths isn't quickly jumping to mind. I must be missing something.

ETA: Wow. I must have had my brain turned off not to remember Small Gods. Thank you guys so much for these! (Now I have new reading material that doesn't involve the word "discourse"!)

Comments

[pseudosilence.livejournal.com]

People have already mentioned all the authors that first come to mind: Mercedes Lackey, Carey (Kushiel books author whose first name I can't remember), Guy Gabriel Kay (most especially Lions of Al-Rassan), George R.R. Martin (who I love, but the Song of Ice and Fire is mighty long).

If you need to read something quickly, though, go with Pratchett. Not only does he tackle a lot of religious issues head on, they're fast reads, and I think you'll really enjoy them. In fact, his sense of humor is so up your alley, I'd be surprised if you're not already a fan.

What's the context for the question?

[sigerson.livejournal.com]

Not entirely-idle curiosity; I'm thinking about a paper that talks about how other, multiple narrative lenses superseded the Bible as the primary narrative through which Americans saw their lives.

The context is this: If SF is one of the arenas where we project out our thinking about issues such as what it means to be human, what societies are capable of, and how we face the realities of the universe, then it's an arena where authors and readers ponder questions about faith (among other things, of course). As the US becomes more and more religiously diverse, how do SF authors extrapolate/interpret/imagine new worlds from this starting point?

Pratchett's a key example, partially because I think his books--especially all Ankh-Morpork related ones--reflect some of the UK's growing diversity and how well (or poorly) people deal with it.

So it's not a paper topic yet, but it might become one.

[ltlbird.livejournal.com]

Okay. You are so cool for thinking about this. This makes a lot of sense and fascinates me.

Another suggestion is Tamora Pierce's books, and they are quick, fun reads, too.