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Summary: A Keeper for the library
Review: I have read and reread this book often. It is the first book that I have read that dealt with spiritual warfare. I looked for references to this warfare in the Bible and found that there is a solid Biblical base for this story. Mr. Peretti takes the reality of spiritual warfare and comes up with a gripping story from it. It in an entertaining book and one that I always find hard to put down, even after all the times that I have reread it. Mr. Peretti is a very gifted writer. He makes the story so real that it is hard to NOT come up with the images from his work. I love this book immensely and have no problem recommending it to anyone. Even if they are not Christian or if they do not think that spiritual warfare is real. This one is a keeper for anyone's library.
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Summary: Spiritual Warfare a little sensationalised?
Review: This is a Christian novel which has sold over one millioncopies. Although the story is fictitious, it brings home the starkreality of what believers face and encounter in everyday life.The scene is set in an American town called Ashton. Seemingly insignificant to most people, but to the strongman and his demons, there were great plans for this town. Yes, this is a book about Spiritual Warfare, angels and demons and good triumphing over evil. Enter the good guys: Hank Busche, a 26 year old Pastor of the Ashton Community Church. Marshall Hogan, editor of the local newspaper, the Ashton Clario; and last but not least, Tal, Captain of the angelic warriors, planning to thwart the assignment of the strongman and his demons. This book brings mome the importance of prayer cover, the reality of a common enemy and his schemes and deceptions, and the need of "having done all to stand". By the same token, the vivid imagery and fight scenes described may be a little "over the top". On the whole it is good reading and once you start, you'll find it difficult to put down.
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Summary: Something rotten in the town of Ashton
Review: THIS PRESENT DARKNESS is the story of something sinister in the town of Ashton, and two men who are concerned enough to find out more about it. This book is an account of what happens on two levels, the physical and the spiritual, the battles that take place in both realms, and the dependence each realm has on the other. Frank Peretti weaves an intricate web of characters, intrigue, and tension in this spiritual thriller. I was reminded of John Grisham's THE FIRM in terms of the numerous characters, the sheer number of problems and situations that arise, the insidious nature of the enemies, and the severe tension in this book. This book was packed with action, nevertheless information necessary to solve the ever-widening puzzle was doled out very slowly and only as necessary; there were many twists and turns of plot, and the spiritual aspect of the book was downright intriguing. Through all, Peretti manages to convey to the reader the vast importance of the spiritual realm beyond the scope of the book. Entertaining, yes. Eye-opening, even more so.
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Summary: A crackling good thriller without the heavy hand
Review: This is a nifty little thriller, the Christian Fiction answer to all the mainstream thrillers that use conservative christians as villians. A local pastor and a newly arrived, and troubled, newspaper editor slowly become aware of some evil forces working to take over a small college town. On another plain angels and demons wage a vicious and graphic battle for the souls of those involved. Filled with quite a bit of suspense and a conservative message that, thankfully, is not so heavy handed that it hampers the story. Recommended.
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Summary: This Present Darkness
Review: An awesome combination of a high-profile newspaperman and a humble pastor who unite to fight the forces of evil in a fast action-packed drama.
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Summary: Powerful!
Review: This book is simply amazing, Peretti is definatly the master of Christian Fiction. In this book he weaves together the Supernatural and the Natrual in a way that will make keep you up late into the night. With edge-of-your-seat action, and plotting that makes John Grisham look like a baby, this novel grips you from the very beginning. Yet it offers more than excitement, it is a book that will litarely change the way you look at the world Riveting, Suspensful, Fiction at it's best. Peretti is the man!
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Summary: This Present Darkness
Review: This book was an eye opener to me. I always knew and believed in the spirit realm, and that it effects our everyday life, but untill someone put this into a novel, I Could not relate the degree. Some of the things in this book arent 100% biblical, however the spirit of the book rings true. Christians need to start realizing why things are taking a turn for the worse and get on their knees and do something about it. It sure kicked me in the pants.
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Summary: Not to be taken literally
Review: An excellent piece of fantasy writing. However its content is not suitable as a basis for any Christian doctrine on spiritual warfare as it goes way beyond what the Bible says on these matters
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Summary: Interesting...
Review: Interesting that people are saying his characters are "predictable." A sure sign of bad writing is "unpredictable" characters, which means, more likely than not, a weak plot and underdevelopment. I don't understand why people didn't just stop reading the book if it was below their literary caliber. What literary caliber that is I don't know, as the plot progressed so well and smoothly, with perspectives from so many different characters, not once losing the reader, that I'd call that some first-class writing. What I love about this book was the way it held me in suspense until I finished it all! You know it'll be a happy ending, but how that will come about keeps you riveted. Undoubtedly, it's dangerous to take the book as a Biblical parallel. It's a fictional work and uses convenient Biblical truths for illustration. But insightful-reminded me of the Screwtape Letters
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Summary: Scary because it's real
Review: I've read a lot of Frank Peretti's books. They have all healped me to believe in God more and more. A lot of devosions seem to go right into my ear and out the other, but Peretti's books set up a thrilling, fiction setting dealing with spiritual warfare. This Present Darkness, even though one of his oldest, is his best. It kept my attention the whole time. I felt like I was watching a movie. It doesn't matter where you are in life, if you're a strong christian who shows up to church every Sunday or a lukewarm christian. This book will effect anyone. My prayers have really increased ever since I finished reading this.
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