This Present Darkness (Paperback)

~ Frank E. Peretti (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti, is among the classic novels of the Christian thriller genre. First published in 1986, Peretti's book set a suspenseful standard in spiritual warfare story-telling that has rarely been met by his contemporaries. Set in the apparently innocent small town of Ashton, This Present Darkness follows an intrepid born-again Christian preacher and newspaper reporter as they unearth a New Age plot to take over the local community and eventually the entire world. Nearly every page of the book describes sulfur-breathing, black-winged, slobbering demons battling with tall, handsome, angelic warriors on a level of reality that is just beyond the senses. However, Christian believers and New Age demon-worshippers are able to influence unseen clashes between good and evil by the power of prayer. Peretti's violent descriptions of exorcisms are especially vivid: "There were fifteen [demons], packed into Carmen's body like crawling, superimposed maggots, boiling, writhing, a tangle of hideous arms, legs, talons, and heads." This book is not for the squeamish. But for page-turning spiritual suspense, it's hard to beat.

From Library Journal

The small town of Ashton is the scene of a terrific battle between evil demons led by Rafar and angelic forces let by Tal in this Christian suspense tale by a best-selling author. Leaders of the human participants are Marshall Hogan, editor of The Clarion, Pastor Hank Busche, their friends, and groups of praying Christians. The battle wages fiercely, working up to a thrilling and satisfying climax. However, the superbly fiendish reading by Jack Sondericker, employing an incredible range of voices, reaches greater heights of horror than does the author's prose. Recommended for popular collections with a wide Christian audience.?Sister Avila, formerly with Acad. of the Holy Angels, Minneapolis
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 375 pages
• Publisher: Crossway Books; 35th printing edition (August 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0891073906
• ISBN-13: 978-0891073901
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (230 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #189,432 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Page-Turner, March 4, 2002

By	Michael Janke "www.xanga.com/mikeknaj" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, Frank Peretti broke onto the scene by graphically tearing back the veil between our world and the spirit world. Descending upon the small town of Ashton, angels, demons, and strongmen engage in vivid spiritual battle and we, the reader, are able to see it all unfold. Ever wonder what exactly a guardian angel might do? Here's one possible scenario.

While Peretti's theology on the subject may not be perfect (many of his ideas are pure speculation, but that's why it's "fiction"), he does most definitely give us a bold reason as to why prayer is so vital. Why prayer does, in fact, move mountains and can turn the tide in unseen spiritual battles that are taking place around us (as happens in the book of Daniel). For that reason alone, THIS PRESENT DARKNESS is worth reading.

To be fair, this is not Peretti's best written book. THE OATH and THE VISITATION are both more sound, from a literary perspective (real character development, for example, isn't the best here). But before the LEFT BEHIND series, no other Christian novels were as widely read as this and its sequel. It is a true Christian fiction classic and a real page-turner that will have you burning the midnight oil. FOUR 1/2 STARS.

56 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual Battles Brought To Life, November 27, 2000

By	Michael Erisman (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a wonderful book! Frank Peretti writes in a style that is engaging and suspensful. He weaves together a plot involving both a human struggle of philosophical and political agendas, and the spiritual battle occuring at the same time between the spiritual forces of good (Angels) and evil (Demons).

It is this weaving of the plot between everyday issues and spiritual long term agendas that is the most compelling reason to read this book. The spiritual battles come to life in such a vivid way, that you may never view your life in the same way again! The images of how the spiritual battles are waged between God's Angels and the principalities of darkness, and how people are used for purposes beyond thier personal agendas, are presented in a manner which turns the perception of current events into something perhaps more than they appear to be.

The book starts a bit slow, seemingly the day in the life of a small town, but once the plotlines start coming together you won't be able to put it down. The main characters are developed well, and are presented as real people who could be our neighbors. It is fiction all the way, so don't expect an academic thesis on the supernatural and Biblical themes of spiritual realms, simply enjoy the story and the message.

I have given copies of this book to dozens of people and have not had anyone, Christian or Athiest, not enjoy the story. I highly recommend this book, as well as it's sequel: "Piercing The Darkness".

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pulp fiction confused with theology, November 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: This Present Darkness (10th Anniversary Limited Edition) (Hardcover)

Peretti relies heavily on standard "thriller" techniques not to be confused with theology. I am especially botherd by his portrayal of mainline Christians as the tool of the devil. I don't think this is healthy at all for the church or the gospel. The only thing I find more disturbing than Peretti's theology is the evangelical church's response to it. Some say it is a "revelation from God." It must be a new revelation because I don't see Peretti's world portrayed in the bible.

I am also dumbfounded that people consider this the best book ever written. For me, it's not even close to Dickens, Hemmingway, Bronte, Fitzgerald and other writers of that caliber.

Peretti has reminded us of the power of story. A well told story can be more powerful than centuries of systematic theology and biblical studies.