Book Review: This Present Darkness
Book: "This Present Darkness"
Author: Frank Peretti
Available: In most online Bookstores
Background: The novel that rocketed Frank Peretti to the forefront of the genre known as the "Spiritual Thriller," "This Present Darkness" is still a mainstay in Christian fiction. Hailed by many as one of the top works on spiritual warfare, some even put it alongside "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis as one of the most influential books on spiritual warfare of all time.
Summary: In the small town of Ashton, a plot is brewing just under the surface which has the potential to destroy everything God has previously done in that small town. As several key figures in the town (including a reporter, a pastor and others) begin to come together, a second world inhabited by angels and demons, unfolds and soon there is a two-plane battle occurring for the small town of Ashton, one in the physical mortal plane and one in the spiritual.
Mad Parts:
+ The first full, all out angels vs. demons battle and each and every one after that. Peretti constructs scenes that are complex while still staying within the understanding of the reader. It becomes easy to imagine a multi-layered picture of angels and demons battling over humans' safety as events unfold in the mortal plane at the same time.
Mad Props:
+ For Peretti's well-thought out approach to story-telling about spiritual warfare. He obviously put a lot of thought into how to construct the plot to this novel, making it complex and multi-faceted, but also easy to grasp. This easily could have become a convoluted mess.
+ For his attention to "prayer" in spite of the much more visually glamorous happenings going on between angels and demons. It is never in doubt that prayer is a necessity to the success and/or defeat of the angels and demons.
Mad Slops:
+ Theologically, it could be argued that angels have no race or ethnicity. In fact, in some people's eyes (especially those who have not studied up on the subject) the portrayal of various, ethnically-diverse angels could lend credence to the mis-guided belief that people/humans become angels when they die. I can see the argument "for" showing various ethnicities in angelic beings, however I feel that is simply not strong enough to warrant doing so.
+ For once again setting a novel in a small, Walton-esque town! All his books, except for "Prophet" have been set in small towns! Enough already!
Mad Minister's Verdict: Yeah, I know it might sound like I'm nit-picking. I'm not. And even if I was, tough… you can live with it. Anywayz, this book is a good, solid read and I can definitely recommend it to those looking for a good, solid read. However, as I stated above, the "small town" mentality seeps through and at some points becomes overbearing and I have the strong urge to look around for Ma and Pa and their cow… It was cool once, twice and maybe even the third time, but the continuing of the "small town" thing can distance some readers.
Without a doubt this is a ground-breaking novel and one that most, if not all, Christians should read at least once.
Mad Points: 3 outta' 5.