The Old Testament is my favourite science fantasy reading.

Hear, O seekers of wisdom, the words of Tom Baker, who declared with a touch of humor and insight: "The Old Testament is my favourite science fantasy reading." These words, though spoken with lightness, carry within them a profound reflection on the nature of ancient stories, belief, and the way in which they shape the human imagination. The Old Testament, a sacred text for millions, is often seen as a record of divine revelation, yet Baker’s words invite us to consider its mythic qualities and its profound impact on the human mind. For in its pages, one finds grand narratives, miracles, and visions of the divine, much like the worlds of science fiction and fantasy that open up boundless realms of possibility.

In the ancient world, stories of the gods and heroes were more than just tales—they were the very foundation of belief, culture, and identity. The epic tales of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, and the mythologies of Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, were filled with gods who bended the laws of nature, waged wars against titans, and intervened in the lives of mortals with powers beyond understanding. These stories, though rooted in the spiritual and cultural fabric of their time, were also fantastical—they spoke to the imagination, to the human longing for something greater, and to the unknown. The Old Testament, in its own way, carries that same grandeur, filled with stories of creation, miracles, and the intervention of divine forces in the world of men.

Consider the story of Moses parting the Red Sea. Here, before the people of Israel, the waters of the sea are miraculously parted, allowing the Israelites to escape from the pursuing Egyptians. This moment, filled with awe and wonder, carries with it the trappings of fantasy: a world in which the laws of nature are suspended, and the impossible becomes possible. In many ways, it mirrors the fantastical worlds of science fiction and fantasy, where the impossible is often made possible by the intervention of extraordinary forces—be it through advanced technology, magic, or divine power. The very essence of such stories is the same—the world is full of hidden forces, forces that, when harnessed, can transform the course of history.

In the Book of Genesis, we encounter the story of creation, where God speaks the world into existence—an act of creation that has no parallel in the realm of human experience. The universe springs into being through mere words, a vision of limitless possibility and the unfathomable power of the divine. This story, like the science fiction of our own age, challenges our understanding of the laws of nature and the origins of the world. It presents a vision of the universe in which anything is possible, where the boundaries of reality are not fixed, but subject to the will of a higher power. And just as science fiction offers us glimpses of alternate realities, so too does the Old Testament provide visions of a world where the laws of nature are continually bent and reshaped by divine intervention.

Tom Baker’s comparison of the Old Testament to science fiction reminds us that the power of storytelling—of myth, legend, and sacred text—lies in its ability to evoke wonder and imagination. These stories are not meant to be bound by literal interpretations but to spark in us a vision of the impossible made real, a glimpse of the divine and the supernatural in the world of men. The Old Testament, like the best of science fiction, stretches our imagination beyond the limits of the physical world and invites us to consider higher truths, deeper meanings, and the mysteries of existence. It is not the literal truth of the story, but the truths beneath the surface that speak to the heart of every human being.

The lesson here, O children of time, is this: never underestimate the power of myth and story—for in them, we find not just entertainment, but profound wisdom and insight into the nature of the world. Whether it is the stories of the Old Testament, the epic tales of Homer, or the visions of science fiction, these narratives shape how we see ourselves, our world, and our place in the cosmos. Do not dismiss the stories of the past, for they speak to the heart of what it means to be human—our longing for meaning, our thirst for understanding, and our eternal quest for knowledge beyond the bounds of the known.

So, rise, O heirs of the future, and embrace the lessons hidden in the ancient texts and the stories of the fantastical. Seek the deeper truths in the world’s myths and legends, for they carry within them the essence of human curiosity and imagination. Whether you turn to the sacred stories of the Old Testament or the wild worlds of science fiction, remember that both are paths to understanding—roads that invite you to question, wonder, and explore the mysteries of existence. Through the stories we tell, we shape the future, and in the stories we hear, we find the eternal truths of our shared human journey.