Black (The Circle Trilogy, Book 1) (The Books of History Chronicles) (Hardcover)

by Ted Dekker (Author) "IT ALL started one day earlier with a single silenced bullet of nowhere..." (more)
Key Phrases: colored forest, fifth gene, black bats, Raison Strain, Thomas Hunter, Raison Vaccine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Dekker just keeps getting better and better, and this trilogy is his most daring plot yet. -- Robin Parrish, Fuse Magazine, February 9, 2004

Review
"With teasing wit, ever-lurking surprises, and adventurous new concepts, this guy could become a real vanguard in fiction."
- Frank Peretti --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849917905
• ISBN-13: 978-0849917905
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (164 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #209,235 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be careful what you dream about!, July 31, 2004

By	Alan Attebery (Arlington, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ted Dekker has proven time and time again that he can write a story that will capture and captivate us from start to finish. This first book of his new triology is no exception.

When we first meet Thomas Hunter, he is on the run from some hitmen. It seems that he borrowed some money from the mob and never quite managed to pay them back. A bullet grazes Thomas' head and he is knocked unconcious.

As Thomas regains conciousness, he finds that he has no memory of who he is or even where he is. He touches his throbbing head and finds that it is bleeding. There is also some blood on the rocks where his head was. He thinks he must have fallen and knocked himself out. Unfortunately, Thomas is in the middle of the Black Forest, which is filled with thousands of big, ugly, black bats. When one of them bares his yellow fangs at the confused man, Thomas passes out.

When Thomas comes to, he finds himself face down in a pile of garbage. He manages to make his way to his sister's apartment. After cleaning himself up a little, he passes out on the couch from sheer exhaustion.

As Thomas wakes up, he finds himself surrounded once again by the big, ugly, black bats. Worse yet, he still has no idea who he is or where he is.

Thomas Hunter is trapped between two realities. Everytime he falls asleep or goes unconcious in one of them, he wakes up in the other. But these realities seem more like dreams to Thomas. And to make matters worse, he doesn't know which one is the dream and which one is real.

Unfortunately, both realities are in grave danger. And Thomas is the only one who can save both worlds. But before he can do that, he must accept the reality of both worlds. If he doesn't, neither reality stands a chance of surviving.

At the time of this writing, the first two books of this trilogy ("Black" and "Red") have already been released this year. The final book ("White") is to be released later this year. Ted Dekker has shown us before how he can blindside his readers with plot twists and turns that no one saw coming. So far, this trilogy is off to a very twisty start.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Birth of Evil, January 18, 2005

By	Brian G Hedges (Niles, Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is a fascinating story about the power of evil and the consequences of human choice. Centered around a central character whose dreams propel him back and forth between two realities, this is an exciting and suspenseful book with a powerful theological sub-plot. I greatly enjoyed it!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haven't had this pleasure since... The last Ted Dekker Novel, March 29, 2004

By A Customer

Every time I pick up one of Mr. Dekker's novels, I wonder if it can live up to the last. I have not yet been dissapointed. His books can fill you with angst at the evils of this world while painting a vision of beauty and hope that surpasses all evil and leaves you longing to become part of that vision.

There are few authors I have read who can so well portray the narrow gap between heros and villains of humanity, while at the same time drawing a clear line between the two.

Having a penchant for Fantasy/ Science fiction novels, I was pleased to discover Mr. Dekker was trying his hand at this genre with BLACK. Would he be able to bring his unique style to this type of story? All I can say is Wow!

Start to finish was a pleasure to read. If you have enjoyed the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R Donaldson, you will find a similar sense of mystery about which reality is the real reality. If you've read the swashbuckling style of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Men of Mars novels, you will find that heroic pace and imaginative landscape.

I have read a few novels since finishing BLACK, and when I turn the last page, instead of contemplating what I've just read, find myself asking, "I wonder if RED is out yet?"