This Present Darkness (ISBN 0891075895)

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.

Gross Ignorance and scare mongering at it's worst:
This book shows a complete and utter ignorance of the spiritual realm. Worse still, it targets another religon, and makes it out to be evil, and the cause of all the said towns problems. Religious intolerance is the ONLY evil in this book! And I am so grateful to God that the spirit realm is none of the tripe, that this book purports. Nothing is more harmful than ignorance, except for the fear it creates. Surely the burning of innocent people at the stake, in the dark ages, by the church, should have taught us all, that religious ignorance, superstition and fear of the spiritual, only causes pain, suffering, religious wars and death! And then tell me where the real evil lies.

impressed:
I WAS SKEPTICAL IN ORDERING THIS COPY BECAUSE IT'S AN OLDER BOOK, BUT; THIS BOOK WAS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, NO DOG EAR MARKS, TORN PAGES OR YELLOWING OF PAGES. ALTHOUGH, I HAVE YET TO READ IT, I HAVE READ PIERCING THE DARKNESS, WHICH WAS VERY GOOD.

Pretty Good:
This book is pretty good. The author has a very nice, readable style and good storytelling abilities. The book is somewhat long, but fast-paced. It would probably offend non-Christians (and even some Christians, for that matter) but if it is accepted as an entertaining work of fiction rather than a theological treatise to be analyzed, that shouldn't be too much of a big deal. Also, the book is "clean:" it's not full of profanity and perversion. However, the depictions of angels and demons are a little bit corny, for lack of a better word. Brief summary: A big-city editor moves to a small town and begins to develop problems with his wife and college-aged daughter. He develops a close friendship with one of his reporters, whose sister died under mysterious circumstances. The two of them begin to discover that there is an evil occult-like conspiracy at work in their town. At the same time, the local pastor and his wife are discovering the same thing. These main characters get into all sorts of trouble while searching for the truth and trying to decide what to do about what they learn. In the end, of course, the good guys win. The reporter gets some closure and the editor reconciles with his wife and his daughter, who was nearly killed by the bad guys, and they all decide to develop a closer relationship with God, and all the demons are expelled.

Disturbing images of spiritual warfare:
Very good and disturbing Christian fiction of the unseen spiritual warfare swirling around a small town. Peretti takes the risk of giving the spirits (evil and heavenly) names, faces, and personalities, but shows how God is in control acting through the intense prayer life and straightforward faith of simple Christians. And Peretti tells a good story, keeps action moving, and has a good feel of dialogue and humor.

Classic!:
This is a religious fiction classic! The story is gripping (though a little slow to start), and a very interesting take on the unseen world around us.