Robert Don Hughes
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Don Hughes is an American educator and writer, author of both mainstream fantasy
and science fiction
and evangelical non-fiction
.
from California Baptist College, his M.Div.
from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
, and his Ph.D.
from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
, also studying at the University of Redlands
.
in Louisville, Kentucky
as Associate Vice President for External Programs and associate Professor of Communication and Mass Media. He is currently Professor of Missions and Evangelism at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
as Professor of Missions and Evangelism. He has also worked as a missionary
in Africa
.
.
Hughes' most extended body of work consists of his two fantasy sequences about a magical country split into three states by a two-headed dragon's occupation of the mountain pass linking each region with the others. As a result, the magical potential of each region has developed differently. The "Pelmen the Powershaper" trilogy tells of the end of the dragon's reign and its consequences; The unfinished "Wizard and Dragon" sequence, also projected as a trilogy, is set earlier in the country's history and deals with how the dragon was originally created.
Hughes' powerfully imagined dragon Vicia-Heinox with its two bickering heads has set a pattern for the portrayal of similar creatures in other media, including the animated film Quest for Camelot
(1998) and the public television children's program Dragon Tales
(1999 onward).
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and evangelical non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
.
Education
Hughes received his B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from California Baptist College, his M.Div.
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary is one of six official Southern Baptist seminaries. The main campus is located in Mill Valley, California.- History :...
, and his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
, also studying at the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
.
Educational career
Hughes was formerly employed at the Southern Baptist Theological SeminarySouthern Baptist Theological Seminary
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary , located in Louisville, Kentucky, is the oldest of the six seminaries affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention . The seminary was founded in 1859, at Greenville, South Carolina. After being closed during the Civil War, it moved in 1877 to Louisville...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
as Associate Vice President for External Programs and associate Professor of Communication and Mass Media. He is currently Professor of Missions and Evangelism at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College is a religious institution of higher education located in Pineville, Kentucky. CCBBC provides a Bible-based education focusing on Christian service. The college is accredited with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and...
as Professor of Missions and Evangelism. He has also worked as a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Literary works
Hughes' fiction tends to deal seriously with religious themes, particularly in The Fallen and its sequel The Eternity Gene. Of his non-fiction, Satan's Whispers has the distinction of having been adopted for use by the Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationBilly Graham Evangelistic Association
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is an organization started by Billy Graham in 1950. The main focus of the BGEA is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible...
.
Hughes' most extended body of work consists of his two fantasy sequences about a magical country split into three states by a two-headed dragon's occupation of the mountain pass linking each region with the others. As a result, the magical potential of each region has developed differently. The "Pelmen the Powershaper" trilogy tells of the end of the dragon's reign and its consequences; The unfinished "Wizard and Dragon" sequence, also projected as a trilogy, is set earlier in the country's history and deals with how the dragon was originally created.
Hughes' powerfully imagined dragon Vicia-Heinox with its two bickering heads has set a pattern for the portrayal of similar creatures in other media, including the animated film Quest for Camelot
Quest for Camelot
Quest for Camelot is a 1998 animated feature film from Warner Bros. Animation, based on the novel The King's Damosel by Vera Chapman, starring the voices of Jessalyn Gilsig, Cary Elwes, Gary Oldman, Eric Idle, Don Rickles, Jane Seymour, Pierce Brosnan, Bronson Pinchot, Jaleel White, Gabriel Byrne,...
(1998) and the public television children's program Dragon Tales
Dragon Tales
Dragon Tales is an American animated pre-school children's television series chronicling the adventures of two siblings, Max and Emmy and their dragon friends Cassie, Ord, Zak, Wheezie, and Quetzal...
(1999 onward).
Pelmen the Powershaper
- The Prophet of Lamath (1979)
- The Wizard in Waiting (1982)
- The Power and the Prophet (1985)
Non-fiction
- Plays That'll Preach (1985)
- A Real Live Missionary (1990)
- Talking to the World in the Days to Come (1991)
- Satan's Whispers: Breaking the Lies That Bind (1992)
- Questioning God (2002)
- History: Think for Yourself About What Shaped the Church (2008)