Title: This Present Darkness
Author: Frank E. Peretti
First published January 1, 1986
376 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781581345285 (ISBN10: 1581345283)
Rating: 4.23
Overview
In the town of Millwood, strange occurrences are taking place. When a doubtful journalist and a faithful pastor begin to investigate, they uncover a sinister plan to enslave the townspeople and ultimately the world.
As the forces of good and evil clash in both the physical and spiritual realm, the importance of prayer and the reality of spiritual warfare become clear. This Present Darkness is a riveting tale that offers profound insight into the battle between darkness and light.
With over 2.7 million copies sold, this classic is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the power of prayer and the battle for the soul. Piercing the Darkness, the companion volume, continues the epic saga of the war between the forces of darkness and light.
About the Author
Frank Peretti is a very successful author, with over 12 million copies of his novels in print. Many people consider him to be America’s most popular Christian novelist.
Peretti has always been a natural storyteller, and when he was young, he used to gather the neighborhood kids for storytelling sessions. He pursued his passion for music after high school and played banjo with a bluegrass group.
He married his wife in 1972 and started a modest Christian music ministry. Later, he studied English, screenwriting, and film at UCLA and helped his father pastor a small Assembly of God church.
In 1983, Peretti gave up his pastoring position and started taking construction jobs to make ends meet. While working at a ski factory, he began writing his first book, This Present Darkness.
The book faced many rejections from publishers and had a slow start in sales. However, word-of-mouth enthusiasm eventually turned the book into a bestseller.
This Present Darkness stayed on Bookstore Journal’s bestseller list for over eight years. Peretti’s two spiritual warfare novels, This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, sold over 3.5 million copies.
The Oath won the 1996 Gold Medallion Award for Best Fiction.
Peretti also wrote The Cooper Kids Adventure Series, which has sold over a million copies and remains a best-selling series for children. In 2000, he released Wild and Wacky Totally True Bible Stories, a hilarious children’s audiocassette series in which he reprised his role as Mr. Henry, the offbeat substitute Sunday School teacher from two Visual Bible for Kids videos.
In 2000, Peretti released his first non-fiction book, The Wounded Spirit. The book quickly became a best-seller and deals with the pain of “wounded spirits” which Peretti experienced due to his painful childhood.
Despite his sudden fame, Peretti still leads a simple life. He lives in the Western U.S. with his wife, Barbara Jean, and enjoys activities like carpentry, banjo making, sculpturing, bicycling, hiking, and flying planes.
Editoral Review
Frank E. Peretti’s This Present Darkness is a mesmerizing work of Christian fiction that is a must-read for anyone interested in the battle between good and evil.
Peretti, a New York Times bestselling author, penned this book in 1986. This Present Darkness is a supernatural thriller that takes place in a small town named Ashton.
It tells the story of a newspaper reporter named Bernice Krueger and a pastor named Hank Busche who discover that dark forces are at work in their town. As they investigate, they uncover a network of demonic forces led by a fallen angel named Verchiel who aims to destroy Ashton and take over the world.
Meanwhile, a group of dedicated Christians led by Marshall Hogan, an editor of the local newspaper, are fighting to expose the truth and defeat the darkness that has taken over their town. Peretti masterfully blends elements of suspense, horror, and drama to create a gripping storyline that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.
The character development in this book is superb, with each character having a unique voice and personality that makes them come to life on the page. The pacing of the story is also top-notch, with constantly rising stakes that keep the reader engaged and invested in the outcome.
Peretti’s ideological writing style explores the inner workings of spiritual warfare and the power of prayer in overcoming the forces of darkness. He also ventures into unusual territories that reflect the complexities of modern life, such as the dangers of the media and the effects of fear on society.
The book’s underlying themes of faith, hope, and redemption resonate and make it a thought-provoking read. The writing is rich with imagery and emotive language which draws the reader in and allows them to visualize the scenes as they unfold.
However, the book has some limitations, such as its tendency to lean towards a simplistic morality tale, which may not appeal to readers looking for a more nuanced portrayal of the human experience. The book’s faith-based narrative may also limit its appeal to non-Christian readers.
Overall, This Present Darkness is a fantastic read that is both entertaining and edifying. Its blend of supernatural thrills, relatable characters, and powerful themes make it a classic of the Christian fiction genre.
Even if the book is almost 40 years old, its strong sense of humanity continues to resonate today. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story and wants to explore deeper spiritual concepts.
It is the book that will grip you in the story and keep you turning the pages until the very end. A must-read.
Rating: Four and a half stars out of five.
