Bible Teacher Daniel Maritz Launches Fantasy Novel and Companion Video Game

Bible teacher and YouTube personality Daniel Maritz has thrown his hat into the ring of biblical fantasy with "Lightborn: Dawn of Darkness." He co-wrote the novel with his brother Hernu, marking the first entry in a saga set before the biblical flood. In this world, ancient history and mythology collide. The protagonist, Uldako, starts life as a slave. He hunts for deeper truths about his heritage and the war behind all wars. His journey involves survival, beast attacks, and a pull toward an ancient prophecy involving the Lightborn.

If the plot sounds like a video game, Maritz and his brother would likely nod in agreement. They are actually planning a companion video game through their company, Ruach Entertainment. Both projects aim to reflect current cultural battles. Maritz told Fox News Digital that the story remains relevant today. "There is not only a battle between light and darkness in Hollywood, but also in education, religion and culture in general," he noted. He argues that darker content distracts from the true value of fantasy. That value lies in imagined worlds and heroes that call fans to a higher ethos.

Maritz’s personal history fuels this mission. Growing up in South Africa as the youngest of five children, he lost two brothers to tragedy. One was murdered in Johannesburg, and another died in a car crash. A pivotal moment occurred while sitting by his brother Etienne’s hospital bed. Maritz heard a voice ask him, "Daniel, where would you have gone if you died?" That question sparked his desire to create stories that look back to biblical lessons. He wanted to offer an alternative in a world saturated with violence.

He criticizes modern media for shifting cultural norms. "So entertainment changes not just the West, but culture as we know it today," Maritz explained. He pointed to shows like "Game of Thrones" and their prevalence of vulgar scenes and cussing. His book draws inspiration from C.S. Lewis’ "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings." Both works are deeply rooted in Christian theology. Lewis famously wrote the character of Aslan to represent Jesus.

Maritz believes society is addicted to the "evil side" of entertainment. He sees politics and education as tools used to reshape culture. "And I think people are waking up and getting tired of it," he said. This fatigue is especially visible when creators alter stories by great writers like Lewis. Maritz wants his interactive experience to serve as a viable alternative to violent video games. The gaming industry is massive, with 3.5 billion players worldwide. It dwarfs the music and film industries combined. Yet, Maritz argues, it is filled with darkness. Many young people use these games as an escape. He insists they must share the Gospel in that space.

Today’s games are just a different form of storytelling, but they let you engage with it."

He argued in his Fox News Digital piece that the core issue isn't whether evil exists. It is whether fantasy creators ask players to fight that evil or practice it. He asked if authors craft stories exposing darkness or if they train an audience to enjoy it.

"To every storyteller reading this: The desire for wonder without wreckage is enormous." He noted that we need worlds worth losing ourselves in for an afternoon. We need heroes worth following into the dark. We trust they’re going to lead us back into the light.