This Present DarknessThis Present Darkness
Score Classic
What it's about
In the small college town of Ashton, a local newspaper editor and a pastor separately notice that something is wrong: a strange takeover of the town and its college is under way. Above them, unseen, angels and demons are fighting for the town, and the prayers of its few faithful people may decide the battle.
Why it's worth reading
It was voted onto PBS's Great American Read and is one of the best-selling Christian novels ever. It's a fast spiritual thriller that many evangelical readers love.
You'll love it if you liked
The Stand
Angels & Demons
Swan SongGood to know
It's written from an evangelical Christian viewpoint, and its villains include New Age religion and academia. There's demonic possession and violence.
By the numbers
- Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller41 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #122 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #263 of the 762 classics we rank
- #854 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
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Seventh SonExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is This Present Darkness worth reading?
Yes. It was voted onto PBS's Great American Read and is one of the best-selling Christian novels ever. It ranks #854 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 74.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is This Present Darkness about?
In the small college town of Ashton, a local newspaper editor and a pastor separately notice that something is wrong: a strange takeover of the town and its college is under way. Above them, unseen, angels and demons are fighting for the town, and the prayers of its few faithful people may decide the battle.
How long does it take to read This Present Darkness?
About 13 hours (532 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after This Present Darkness?
If you liked it, try The Stand by Stephen King, Angels & Demons by Dan Brown or Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon.