This Present Darkness Mass Market Paperback – March 1, 2002

Decades ago, when I first discovered Christian fiction, one book set the bar for those that followed. I still have my first edition, trade paperback copy of Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness. I’ve reread it numerous times over the years and recently purchased a copy for my Kindle. I’ve enjoyed most of Peretti’s other adult novels (he also writes for children and teens), but This Present Darkness remains my favorite. Some stories just never lose their appeal.I’ve heard it was a hard sell at the time—rejected by fourteen publishing houses before Crossway Books took a chance on Peretti’s remarkable story about spiritual warfare in the small town of Ashton. Long before authors were writing tales about angels, Peretti introduced his readers to warrior angels led by Tal, Captain of the Heavenly Host. Backed by the prayers of believers, Tal’s angelic league battles a congregation of demons, led by Ba-al Rafar, the Prince of Babylon.If this sounds like fantasy, it’s not. The novel is set in contemporary times and involves a secret Society planning to take over Ashton by gaining control of the local college.Marshall Hogan, editor and owner of The Clarion, Ashton’s newspaper, begins to suspect something off-kilter when his lead reporter, Bernice Krueger, is falsely arrested after snapping a photograph at the community carnival. Bernice had the bad luck to catch a clandestine meeting in progress, an incident that sends her and Marshall delving into a conspiracy centered around the college.They soon learn Ashton’s Chief of Police, numerous college regents, a new-agey type pastor, and multiple elected officials are part of the Society, led (locally) by Juleen Langstrat, a psychology professor who espouses a philosophy of occultism and mysticism.Bernice’s nineteen-year-old sister, and one of Langstrat’s former students, died at the college, her death ruled a suicide. Hogan’s daughter, Sandy, is a current student, enrolled in Langstrat’s class.Hogan is a likeable guy, trying to hold his family together while trying to right horrible wrongs. He learns the previous editor of The Clarion was driven out of town after printing unfavorable articles about mismanagement of college funds.Another pivotal character in the book is a young pastor named Hank Busche, who leads Ashton’s Community Church. The demons in the book fear him as “that praying man.”With This Present Darkness, the reader gets three sets of characters—human, angelic, and demonic. Tal, and Rafar are old rivals, with Rafar out to settle a score after his last lost to Tal at Babylon. Unfortunately for Rafar, there is dissension in the demon ranks, namely from an high-positioned underling who wants to see Rafar fall after the other assumes his command.Tal is a strong, heroic character, but also extremely wise and patient. The climatic battles at the end (angels vs. demons; humans vs. humans) are pulse-pounding and riveting. The book is a page-turning thriller from the get-go, but the last quarter reads at a blistering pace.I’ve only touched on some of the plot threads in this book—there are more to be had, each weaving expertly upon the next for a powerhouse ending that carries a spiritual wallop.This is an older title, but it’s stood the test of time. Translated into multiple languages, with over 2.7 million copies sold, it stands as a classic of Christian fiction. It remained on the Christian Booksellers Association Top Ten Bestsellers list for just shy of three years and still enjoys high sales volume. If you’ve never read this riveting thriller/suspense novel steeped in spiritual warfare, you’re missing a stupendous read.

Accessible, powerful, and engrossing - really good read to invigorate the spirits and reflect on the spiritual battles being fought

I devoured this book! It is very well written and exciting to read. I love a story where the good guys win, for once. You will find yourself sucked into the story and on the edge of your seat. I highly suggest this one!

A great book to get picture of what the physical realm is dealing with every day! The battle is in the spiritual world first and has a lasting impact on our physical lives, we need to know who we are fighting, not flesh and blood but spiritual wickedness in high places! We win with Jesus!

I recently came across numerous references to this older book and decided to check it out. The author’s individual theological bent is unabashedly noted, but the writing style, characters, and plot kept me entertained. Not sure that I want to purchase the second book in the series, however.

Love this book/series

This book was great. It will open your eyes to the things that are going on in the spiritual realm. Praying to our LORD is a must. Prayer for others is a must. Never doubt what God can do when you pray. If you read this book, right down the names of people and the angels. At the beginning, it was hard to keep up with the names, but I kept reading and it got easier. I can't wait to read the author's next book.

My pastor has mentioned this series several times so I finally bought it and I am so glad I did. This book is full of action and drama with humor packed in as well. Frank Peretti truly has a gift for describing the spiritual battles and how important prayer is.