Rating: 
Summary: Good narrative, horrible theology, rampant paranoia
Review: I have to hand it to Frank Peretti, he is a good storyteller, and the person reading this book will not be bored. Unfortunately, it is terrible theology, and the author is so paranoid and bitter toward New Agers and mainline Protestants, that this book deserves a place in hate literature alongside the "Turner Diaries." I am afraid that some unstable person will read Peretti's books and firebomb a New Age bookstore. New Agers may be irrational and on the wrong path, but I cannot believe they are as "demon possessed" as Peretti thinks they are. It really scares me that so many reviewers here said they believe everything they read by Peretti.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and Original
Review: With this book, Peretti has shown himself to be one of the very few authors able to write a satisfying Christian thriller. Breaking into the fascinating realm of the supernatural, Peretti gives us a breathless view of the daily war waged between angels and demons.Where this novel fails is in its stereotypical view of angels and demons. While most Christians believe demons are fallen angels who have teamed up with Satan, Peretti makes the angels seem almost human while the demons seem more like dark, dirty renditions of the slimy green ghost in the hotel in "GhostBusters". And the demons seem woefully inferior to the angels. Still, those moments are few, and Peretti's deft writing (which does get a little bogged down in the middle) keeps the action moving and doesn't allow such low-points to have much affect on the flow of the story. Highly recommended if for no other reason than as a prelude for the second book which is even better.
Rating: 
Summary: A Lighthouse Beacon
Review: I marvel and am in awe at how God opened up this man's imagination so that he might personify evil within a realm that we can understand. Reading this book allowed me to see demons, spiritual wickedness in high places, principalities, and rulers of the darkness with their personal names. Anger was called Anger, a spirit being! Confusion was called, "Confusion! " He took what has been written to us biblically in spiritual terms and translated it so that we could see into the heavenlies a depiction of how spiritual warfare may be taking place! If you are a Christian, this book can raise your awareness and can help you to recognize these unclean spirits and stand prepared in prayer to rage war. Let God be praised! Let His enemies be scattered!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible book!
Review: This novel will change how you think about God, demons, and angels. It uses a fiction story to show how spiritual warfare really takes place. The novel is a page turner and you will love every minute. I highly recommend this book. It is bibically based and very thought provoking.
Rating:
Summary: This Present Darkness - a critical, but fair review
Review: At the outset, I'll tell you that I've become a Peretti fan. I've read The Visitation, The Oath, as well as the sequal to this book - Piercing The Darkness. In this book, as well as it's sequel, Peretti takes the reader in-and-out of both the seen and unseen worlds. I especially enjoy the way he weaves the real, but suttle, agendas of God-hating Leftists and "I'm a god too!" New Agers into his story. The reason I gave a rating of 4-stars instead of 5 is the fact that I found myself wanting to skip-over much of the unseen world content so that I could continue the story of the seen world. I realize that this defeats the purpose of Peretti's intent in having the reader experience both sides, however, I did find it aggrevating at times that so much space was given to the gropings and carryings-on of imps and demons. I would rather have only known that the demons were there behind the scenes, without all the intricate details. Another reader may see this differently, however. All in all though, this book is indeed worthy of your reading time.
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening! ! ! !
Review: I was given this book by someone who knew of my search for spiritual answers to the mysteries of the world in which I live. . . This book is awesome! ! ! It started me on a quest for identifying and utilizing God-given powers to make changes in situations that appear to be untenable. That's just what I got out of it. Buy the book - read it - then find your own truth. . . The book is a fun ride - from start to finish. . . I found myself caring about the characters, liking some, loving some, disliking others and having a personal preference for what needed to happen to others. Read the book - you won't be sorry.
Rating:
Summary: Frighteningly realistic!!
Review: Have you ever known that you are supposed to do something, but you can't seem to motivate yourself? Have you felt like the whole world is against you? Have you ever felt like what you were doing just wasn't what you wanted? If you answered yes, then you should definitely give "This Present Darkness" a try. This book gives a possible reason as to why we have these feelings. Frank Peretti gives us a tale of a small college town that has a war going on in it. It's not a war with guns and bombs, but a spiritual war. There are demons all over the town, making people turn away from God. The demons plan to take the entire town and rid the town of the angels that have come to help. It is a wonderful tale of good versus evil. It is very gripping and as my title tells, "Frighteningly realistic". I'm sure everyone has felt like they should be doing something, but there is something that is holding you back. This book gives a very unique idea as to why that happens. Read it and you might look at things a little differently. I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Visible Spiritual Warfare
Review: I have read this book, as well as many of Peretti's other books (Piercing the Darkness, Prophet, The Oath). Of them all, this one is the grand-daddy that "started it all." (I will eventually review the others also.) The thrust of the book is Spiritual Warfare, including both "the big picture," and how it affects individual people, and the power of prayer. The reader can see and listen to the people, demons, and angels, while the people in the story cannot see the spiritual battle going on around them, though it influences them and vice versa. In a nutshell, it brings home Eph. 6:12 ("We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but... against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.") I would definitely NOT treat it as a textbook for spiritual warface, as this IS a fiction book, so some liberties are taken. But it is a good reminder that we don't see everything going on around us, and we need to be on our toes--after we've been down on our knees. I would also not recommend the book to young readers as some parts may be scary, or the concept too overwhelming. But junior highers and up would be fine, though I'd be sure to talk with them before, during, and after they've read the book about "the reality" of spiritual warfare, and that it's not just a fictional concept. As a side note, the second book, "Piercing the Darkness" dwells much more on the spiritual side. So much so that the angels and demons take on more of the "main character" roles than in this first one.
Rating:
Summary: Wow.
Review: This book is really incredible. Peretti has done a wonderful job at creating a ficticious book with a gripping plot and great characters, while painting a picture of spiritual warfare that is so true. It really made me think, and changed my perspective on the entire subject as a whole. Peretti's imagery of angels and demons is incredible, and though some may think its a little out there, I think he hits the nail on the head. I've yet to have any trouble recommending it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Totally awesome!
Review: Peretti is on track with this work of art. It's worth a whole lot more than 5 stars. Pure entertainment! I couldn't put it down. Well I've got to go, i'm going to the book store to purchase the next one. "Piercing the darkness."
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