Wolfe...

This is much quoted now, but I think that it's well worth repeating here. Gene Wolfe, whom these following words were written by, is a Christian and self-consciously writes Christian SF. With this in mind, and even if it weren't true, the following have a clear sacramental ring that I joyfully affirm.

"We believe that we invent symbols. The truth is that they invent us; we are their creatures, shaped by their hard, defining edges. When soldiers take their oath they are given a coin, an asimi stamped with the profile of the Autarch. Their acceptance of that coin is their acceptance of the special duties and burdens of military life--they are soldiers from that moment, though they may know nothing of the management of arms. I did not know that then, but it is a profound mistake to believe that we must know of such things to be influenced by them, and in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic. The would-be sorcerer alone has faith in the efficacy of pure knowledge; rational people know that things act of themselves or not at all."
The Shadow of the Torturer, Gene Wolfe.


I just linked on the sidebar to a great unofficial Wolfe webpage that I copied and pasted this from. The webpage also has a long interview of Wolfe conducted by James Jordan.

I've only read The Shadow of the Torturer that this quote is from and several short stories. Abigail, after I introduced him to her, has devoured nearly everything he's published.