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Star Chosen: A Science Fiction Space Opera for the Whole Family
Joe Chiappetta dares to write apocalyptic science fiction for the whole family! Think "your-favorite-sci-fi-show" meets the Bible.
Deleting history was just the beginning. Blast off with STAR CHOSEN, a family-friendly space opera! After war, heartbreak, attacks to your faith, and the erasure of all history and culture, whose side will you fight on: the Proud... or the Chosen?
Xeric Award winner and Ignatz Award nominee Joe Chiappetta crafts "Star Chosen," a science fiction epic for all ages. In a time yet to come, the high-tech Faith War threatens to destroy all religions across the universe. The term "Christian" has been completely eradicated from all culture in a war-torn galaxy.
One small yet bold group, known as "the Chosen," survives due to a miraculous favor from a mysterious military man--and the providence of God. In intergalactic combat and matters of destruction, this military man knows no equal. Yet on the home front, his family is falling apart. Unlike most families of the future, torn to bits by addiction to virtual reality game products, this man's family crumbles under his terrible involvement with weapons of experimental technology.
As the man continues to cross paths with the kind-hearted Chosen people, he dreams for a chance at redemption with his wife and daughter, who have disappeared to an unknown planet. He's all too aware that his journey may be shattered by a futuristic conspiracy full of intrigue and high-tech secrecy.
Themes infused into this biblically inspired sci-fi journey include prejudice, perseverance, technology obsession, fighting to follow God's word, effective and accountable leadership, overcoming deceit, the great commission, great faith, courage, godly division, and not conforming to the foolish patterns of this world.
This is action packed, thought provoking Christian science fiction with a message to inspire and convict. Be prepared to read this faithful adventure cover to cover, as readers say they can't put it down. As biblical speculative fiction goes, Star Chosen will take you on a space flight that will challenge your faith and entertain you at the same time.
Deleting history was just the beginning. Blast off with STAR CHOSEN, a family-friendly space opera! After war, heartbreak, attacks to your faith, and the erasure of all history and culture, whose side will you fight on: the Proud... or the Chosen?
Xeric Award winner and Ignatz Award nominee Joe Chiappetta crafts "Star Chosen," a science fiction epic for all ages. In a time yet to come, the high-tech Faith War threatens to destroy all religions across the universe. The term "Christian" has been completely eradicated from all culture in a war-torn galaxy.
One small yet bold group, known as "the Chosen," survives due to a miraculous favor from a mysterious military man--and the providence of God. In intergalactic combat and matters of destruction, this military man knows no equal. Yet on the home front, his family is falling apart. Unlike most families of the future, torn to bits by addiction to virtual reality game products, this man's family crumbles under his terrible involvement with weapons of experimental technology.
As the man continues to cross paths with the kind-hearted Chosen people, he dreams for a chance at redemption with his wife and daughter, who have disappeared to an unknown planet. He's all too aware that his journey may be shattered by a futuristic conspiracy full of intrigue and high-tech secrecy.
Themes infused into this biblically inspired sci-fi journey include prejudice, perseverance, technology obsession, fighting to follow God's word, effective and accountable leadership, overcoming deceit, the great commission, great faith, courage, godly division, and not conforming to the foolish patterns of this world.
This is action packed, thought provoking Christian science fiction with a message to inspire and convict. Be prepared to read this faithful adventure cover to cover, as readers say they can't put it down. As biblical speculative fiction goes, Star Chosen will take you on a space flight that will challenge your faith and entertain you at the same time.
360 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2010
About the author
Joe Chiappetta
30 books14 followersJoe Chiappetta is an American author and cartoonist, grateful to be married with three children. Currently living in California, his formal education was from Northern Illinois University, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis in painting.
While trained in the more traditional arts, his lifetime creative focus has been in writing and cartooning. As one of the key members of the Independent Comics Movement of the 1990s, Chiappetta’s work is respected around the globe. He is best known as the man behind one of the longest running autobiographical comics, SILLY DADDY, which has been a rewarding creative endeavor since 1991. The series has received the following professional recognition:
- Xeric Award Winner
- Ignatz Award Nominee for Outstanding Story
- Harvey Award Nominee for Best New Series
Joe is also the author of a number of action-packed and thought-provoking Christian sci-fi novels, most notably Star Chosen. From his work, one can tell that he enjoys spending time with God, family, science fiction, and corny jokes. Also, at a moment's notice, he's usually up for a Bible study, a good game of chess, bike riding, building forts in the woods, wrestling, finding a big score of free samples while grocery shopping, and foam sword fighting.
While trained in the more traditional arts, his lifetime creative focus has been in writing and cartooning. As one of the key members of the Independent Comics Movement of the 1990s, Chiappetta’s work is respected around the globe. He is best known as the man behind one of the longest running autobiographical comics, SILLY DADDY, which has been a rewarding creative endeavor since 1991. The series has received the following professional recognition:
- Xeric Award Winner
- Ignatz Award Nominee for Outstanding Story
- Harvey Award Nominee for Best New Series
Joe is also the author of a number of action-packed and thought-provoking Christian sci-fi novels, most notably Star Chosen. From his work, one can tell that he enjoys spending time with God, family, science fiction, and corny jokes. Also, at a moment's notice, he's usually up for a Bible study, a good game of chess, bike riding, building forts in the woods, wrestling, finding a big score of free samples while grocery shopping, and foam sword fighting.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 26, 2025
Wow, what a journey!
This book offers a fresh perspective that guides readers through some of the most challenging issues we face today—both as Christians and as a society—beautifully framed within a captivating sci-fi parable and stunning art.
I found myself identifying with more than one character, and every chapter felt like a revelation!
It was genuinely hard to put down.
What an extraordinary experience—far beyond entertainment. This is a book that imparts wisdom and understanding, portraying movements of faith better than anything I’ve read before. Its honesty, depth, and clarity moved me deeply.
I’m truly grateful I picked it up, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
This book offers a fresh perspective that guides readers through some of the most challenging issues we face today—both as Christians and as a society—beautifully framed within a captivating sci-fi parable and stunning art.
I found myself identifying with more than one character, and every chapter felt like a revelation!
It was genuinely hard to put down.
What an extraordinary experience—far beyond entertainment. This is a book that imparts wisdom and understanding, portraying movements of faith better than anything I’ve read before. Its honesty, depth, and clarity moved me deeply.
I’m truly grateful I picked it up, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
October 25, 2018
An amazing book that dives into the future with such creativity that the reader cannot but help to feel apart of the pages. Written in a complex narrative, this book is not for a reader who isn't up for adventure. Definitely recommend!
February 15, 2026
Ambitious, heartfelt, and worth the journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook of Star Chosen by Joe Chiapetta, and I appreciated it enough to purchase the print edition to experience the fun illustrations as well. The novel combines imaginative future technology with thoughtful spiritual reflection, grounded in characters who feel authentic and relatable.
The spiritual themes resonated with me personally. While the story occasionally leans into a more overtly didactic tone, the message feels sincere rather than heavy-handed. At moments, it brought to mind Robert Heinlein in its glimpses of evolving society, and a key plot turn evoked echoes of Perelandra by C. S. Lewis.
An ambitious and heartfelt work. Not flawless, but deeply worthwhile and sincerely imagined.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook of Star Chosen by Joe Chiapetta, and I appreciated it enough to purchase the print edition to experience the fun illustrations as well. The novel combines imaginative future technology with thoughtful spiritual reflection, grounded in characters who feel authentic and relatable.
The spiritual themes resonated with me personally. While the story occasionally leans into a more overtly didactic tone, the message feels sincere rather than heavy-handed. At moments, it brought to mind Robert Heinlein in its glimpses of evolving society, and a key plot turn evoked echoes of Perelandra by C. S. Lewis.
An ambitious and heartfelt work. Not flawless, but deeply worthwhile and sincerely imagined.
June 12, 2011
Concept/World
This tells you straight out that it’s going to be a Christian sci-fi, which is fine. (I’m not a Christian myself but open to reading about other people’s beliefs.) It is also very strongly evangelising which I don’t have a problem with in itself since the writer is entirely up front about that, as he says “Think Star Trek meets the Bible”. I love the C S Lewis Narnia series which is also, though rather more subtly, evangelical. However, there is an aspect to Star Chosen which I did not like at all – the fact that the only other religious leader of a “rival faith” turned out to be a terrorist suicide bomber. Regardless of whether this character is meant to be Muslim, Jewish or of any other faith, that just isn’t something I find acceptable. Evangelising your own faith is fine, but demonising that of others crosses a line for me into being offensive.
Story
The sci-fi element to the story starts off very well with dramatic events written in a very lively, “Ka-Boom!” cartoon style. It does then become very directly evangelical for the rest of the book, following the process of conversion to The Chosen by two of the villain characters. The sci-fi element is not sustained strongly enough for readers with little interest in the religious aspect. Towards the end of the book there is a lecture on the “specialty” of the Bible which also names Mormons as a “false religious group”.
Characters
The characters are well drawn.
Presentation
The front cover is eye-catching. Spelling, grammar and formatting are excellent and the book is of a high professional standard.
Overall
The quality of the writing and presentation are unquestionably a 5. However, the offensive nature of the attitude towards other beliefs does mean that I have to rate this, honestly, with a 1 star review, because I could not in good conscience recommend this book.
This tells you straight out that it’s going to be a Christian sci-fi, which is fine. (I’m not a Christian myself but open to reading about other people’s beliefs.) It is also very strongly evangelising which I don’t have a problem with in itself since the writer is entirely up front about that, as he says “Think Star Trek meets the Bible”. I love the C S Lewis Narnia series which is also, though rather more subtly, evangelical. However, there is an aspect to Star Chosen which I did not like at all – the fact that the only other religious leader of a “rival faith” turned out to be a terrorist suicide bomber. Regardless of whether this character is meant to be Muslim, Jewish or of any other faith, that just isn’t something I find acceptable. Evangelising your own faith is fine, but demonising that of others crosses a line for me into being offensive.
Story
The sci-fi element to the story starts off very well with dramatic events written in a very lively, “Ka-Boom!” cartoon style. It does then become very directly evangelical for the rest of the book, following the process of conversion to The Chosen by two of the villain characters. The sci-fi element is not sustained strongly enough for readers with little interest in the religious aspect. Towards the end of the book there is a lecture on the “specialty” of the Bible which also names Mormons as a “false religious group”.
Characters
The characters are well drawn.
Presentation
The front cover is eye-catching. Spelling, grammar and formatting are excellent and the book is of a high professional standard.
Overall
The quality of the writing and presentation are unquestionably a 5. However, the offensive nature of the attitude towards other beliefs does mean that I have to rate this, honestly, with a 1 star review, because I could not in good conscience recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews