(#33) / This Present Darkness / by Frank Peretti / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

This Present Darkness / by Frank Peretti

ISBN-13: 978-1581345285 / Crossway Books

p. 384 / $10.08 (Amazon)

1986

Body of Content

Summary: This Present Darkness is the first in a series that numbers two titles.  The story follows the residents of a fictional town, Ashton – and how their lives are a part of a larger supernatural story.  Marshall Hogan is a local newspaper editor who teams up with a local clergyman, Hank Busche.  They both become aware of a developing conspiracy, where a New Age group plots a scheme.  But the story has two layers – as the human-level of events is overshadowed by the spiritual realm – as demonic (evil) angels fight in an eternal struggle against heaven’s (good) angels.  The seamless storytelling follows the narratives of angels interacting with humans – filled with supernatural fights between warring angels – and humans trying to uncover seditious plots of conspiracy – not completely aware of all the angelic action that surrounds them.    

Critique (150-300 words): This Present Darkness is a fictional novel – but it does a great job at creating a full-fledge, literary universe – where the existence of angels not only acts as a premise – but actually propels the story forward.  The author tells his story on two fronts – on the human level of affairs – and on the spiritual level through a myriad of angel characters.  The author sidesteps the issue of deity – for the most part – as God or Jesus is not a character within the novel.  Now, the righteous angels do refer to their actions as serving the wishes of “The Lamb” – but Peretti does provide some literary space for himself – as the angels’ actions are not immutable. 

Peretti creates story arches – where backstories are created – which heighten the suspense elements of the story – as some evil angels have fought righteous angels in past historical contexts.  The reader has the vantage point of witnessing both stories simultaneously.  The character dramas played out among human characters are augmented by angelic hosts battling each other – swords drawn – sweeping through the air and through buildings. 

The novel is an extrapolation of passages from the Bible – and although it is not meant as a theological treaty on systematics, Peretti does create a universe believable if the reader allows for a few base assumptions.  And in that way, Peretti creates a thriller – based upon a human conspiracy mixed with angelic battles that tower above.          

Teaser: A writer and a pastor find themselves in the midst of a political and supernatural thriller.

Information about the Author: Peretti has sold a total of 15 million novels to date – with the two-part Darkness series (This Present Darkness & Piercing the Darkness) accounting for 3.5 million sold copies (Peretti, 2011).  Peretti followed these two titles with other titles in the thriller genre – including Prophet, The Oath, The Visitation, and The Monster.  However, the writer also penned a children series, The Cooper Kids Adventure Series along with a pastoral, nonfiction work titled The Wounded Spirit.

In his personal life, Peretti married his wife at the age of 22.  He performed some touring with a music ministry band in the 1970s.  He later enrolled at UCLA – with interests in English and film writing.  At one point, Peretti helped his father pastor a small church affiliated with the Assembly of God denomination.  In 1983, he began working construction jobs – writing the manuscript for his first novel (This Present Darkness) while working in a ski factory (Peretti, 2011).   

Supplemental Material

Genre: Thriller / Christian Fiction / Adult Crossover

Curriculum Ties: Religion – fundamentalism, angelology

Booktalking Ideas: 1) What biblical passages make the framework for Peretti’s angel-filled universe? 

Reading Level:  While the book mostly falls to Christian markets, adults represent the chief audience.  Many Christian teens, though, certainly enjoyed Peretti’s thriller – though, again, older teens – aged 16-19 – comprise a better audience than younger teens. 

Challenge Issues and Defense: Like the Left Behind novels, Piercing the Darkness has some religious and political overtones that might not treat liberal or multicultural ideals fairly or representatively.  Ultimately, the book is fictional – and consistent within the framework of the universe it creates.  This is another title – with a fair amount of violence and suspense-type horror – that is not meant for younger ages.  Some parents might object to this title residing in a YA collection – and librarians (particularly in the public school system because of the religious overtones) need to be prepared for such confrontations.

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: In an age of Twilight, this title represents a title that many supernatural titles owe homage to – as it literally and (almost unilaterally) created mainstream options for the Christian thriller genre. I read this book when I was 18 years old – and it represents one of my favorite novels.

Last Thoughts

References:

Peretti, F. (2011). Frank Peretti: About [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://frankperetti.com/?page_id=13

Listening to (Music):

Artist – FM Static / Album – “Dear Diary”  

(#31) / War of the Worlds / by H. G. Wells / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

The War of the Worlds / by H. G. Wells

ISBN-13: 978-1453603802 / William Heinemann

p. 138 / $6.95 (Amazon)

1898

Body of Content

Summary: The War of the Worlds is a science fiction tale – written as a first-hand account of an Englishman who finds himself at the center of an alien invasion.  While the book is set in late 19^th-century England, mysterious observations on the surface on Mars lead to equally mysterious meteors falling outside London.  From the craters, alien machinery emerges – particularly the giant tripod machines which sweep through the urban settings.  Although the aliens are only seen briefly – and never develop conversations with the Earth inhabitants – their intentions are clear when they begin destroying human civilization and feeding upon people.  The narrator, along with his countrymen, attempts to flee the carnage.  Travelling with his wife, they must flee from a host of dangerous situations in the hopes of finding peace in an increasingly unstable and chaotic world.  

Critique: Few novels deal with characters that are not given names.  But Wells provides a story that is deplete of formal names.  The reader never learns the narrator’s name – though, when the filmmaker’s recently adapted the book to the big screen, Tom Cruise took the narrator’s role as “Ray Ferrier”.

The namelessness of the human characters points to two central themes in the book – 1) the shared agony and fate felt by the characters as a common race at the hands of the alien invaders – 2) and on a more metaphorical level, the trend of imperialism to treat the native peoples indiscriminately.

The aliens in the novel change the environment of the Earth to fit their own purposes.  Such an act mirrors British imperialism, where the local environment became a source of plunder – as resources were shipped back to England – and the selection of crops came from royal decisions instead of local necessities.  The Wars of the Worlds is a science fiction novel – but it contains a measure of social implications – as a commentary on clashes between differing human cultures.          

Teaser: Martians have landed on Earth.  One man seeks to save all that holds dear.  

Information about the Author: Wells wrote many famous science fiction-themed novels including The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Shape of Things to Come, The Invisible Man, and The Time Machine.  A British citizen, Wells was born in 1866 and died in 1946.  After a few odd jobs – including working as an assistant to a chemist – Wells studied biology at the Normal School of Science after winning a scholarship.  Wells came from a humble family – and after graduation – money woes continued to follow him.  He actually married his cousin – Isabel Mary Wells – but the marriage dissolved after a handful of years.  Wells would later marry a former pupil under his tutorage – Amy Catherine Robbins – though she died in 1927, leaving Wells as a widow for the remainder of his years (A&E, 2011).

Wells increasingly wrote and spoke on issues related to social welfare and socialism – with decidedly political tones.  Fellow Englishman and contemporary G. K. Chesterton alluded to Wells’ change in literary direction, saying “Mr. Wells is a born storyteller who has sold his birthright for a pot of message” (Wikipedia, 2011).   

Supplemental Material

Genre: Science Fiction / Adult Crossover

Curriculum Ties: History – imperialism, technology

Booktalking Ideas: 1) Did you know that the book was performed on the radio as a theatrical play. 2) Why do you think H.G. Wells is considered such a hallmark fixture of modern science fiction lure? And what place does War of the Worlds play in the debate? 

Reading Level: A crossover title, Wells’ novel fits well with teens interested in science fiction.  It would take a more advanced reader to detect the political overtones – mostly readable by late teens – 16-19.  

Challenge Issues and Defense: The book is a crossover title – so as a general rule – some parents may want the library to put the book in the adult section versus the YA section.  As one of Wells’ main works, the book is a classic – helping challenges based on the historical acclaim of the title.

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: Even though this is an adult title, I read this crossover book in 8^th grade.

Last Thoughts

References:

A&E Television Networks. (2011). H.G. Wells [Webpage]. Retrieved from

http://www.biography.com/people/h-g-wells-39224?page=3

Wikipedia. (2011). H. G. Wells [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.g._wells

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Brave Saint Saturn / Album – “So Far From Home” 

(#28) / Billions & Billions / by Carl Sagan / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Billions & Billions / by Carl Sagan

ISBN-13: 978-0345379184 / Ballantine Books /

p. 296/ $10.16 (Amazon)

1997

Body of Content

Summary: In Sagan’s work, the scientist looks at a host of social issues – from the perceptive of history and science – attempting to evaluate and comment on a myriad of divergent topics under the umbrella of one title.  The book breaks into three sections – 1) thoughts dealing with cosmology (“The Power and Beauty of Quantification”), 2) thoughts on political matters (“What Are Conservatives Conserving?”), and 3) opinions on human morality (“Where Hearts and Minds Collide”).  A few of the morality chapters are co-penned with writer Ann Druyan.  But otherwise, the physicist looks to explore the external universe of the created world and the inner universe of the human person – in a work that popularizes difficult matters in common language. The book contains a varied approach – taking lessons from different fields – though primarily from history and science – to make its case on the various topics.   

Critique: In one chapter, Sagan outlines how both science and religion can find common ground.  The chapter centers on the issue of environmentalism – and how both sides realize – particularly within Western traditions – certain assumptions and actions have resulted in harm to the natural habitat.  Scientists invent inventions without thinking of the long-term ramifications (1997, p. 164), while the Judeo-Christian tradition often overemphasize humans roles as subduers instead of stewards (1997, p. 165).

Often times, particularly in pop culture, the two fields – of science and religion – are treated as opposites.  While their methodologies differ (as science asks “how” and religion asks “why”), they both seek to understand the ultimate truth of the universe – just on different levels.  While Sagan believes this to some extent – saying that “many religions are now comfortable with an Earth that goes around the Sun, with an Earth that’s 4.5 billion years old, and with the other discoveries of modern science …” (p. 167) – I am not sure that he provides the same courtesy to science learning from religion. 

The Big Bang Theory does not prove a creating act by God – but it does say that the universe once had a definite beginning – a central theme in theist religions.  Although Sagan died before its publication, I wonder what discussion might have emerged – if he ever received the opportunity to read Modern Physics & Ancient Faith – where a leading physicist, Stephen Barr, writes of overlap between recent postmodern discoveries in physics and central tenets of Christianity.  Barr does not exposit religious proofs – but like Sagan – wonders at the possibility of shared presuppositions between the two fields.

Teaser: “Humanity stands at the dawn of a new century – and looking back over the past few millenniums – it’s been a wild ride.”

Information about the Author: Carl Sagan was a professor at Cornell University – dying in his early 60s in 1996.  Sagan is a world-renowned author and scientist – mostly in the fields of physics and areas related to cosmology.  He had a particular interest in planetary studies and the SETI project.  Many of Sagan’s works take difficult scientific theories and place them into metaphorical arrangements that the general public can understand.  Such a case of science “popularizing” resides in his TV series Cosmos.  He is also known in popular culture for his novel Contact – which filmmakers adapted into a movie that starred Jody Foster in 1997.   He even won a Pulitzer Prize for his work entitled The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence (Sagan, 1997).   

Supplemental Material

Genre: Adult Crossover / Nonfiction

Curriculum Ties: Philosophy – morality, human existence / Science – cosmology  

Booktalking Ideas: 1) What would an astrophysicist’s take on abortion look like? 2) The 20^th century marked a milestone in humanity progression – but in what areas does it suggest more of a digression than advancement?  

Reading Level: More a book for early college – juniors and seniors in high school would still have interest in the book.  This book applies the “two years over” rule to collection building – as it is intended for 19 to 20-year-old students, but those 17 and 18-year-old students who are more advanced than their peers may still read it.

Challenge Issues and Defense: The book does talk about various controversial issues like abortion, the environment, geopolitics – but it comes at it from academic vantage points.  The book is opinion-based – but it comes at the issues from a scholarly position and invites criticism.   

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: I wanted to add a few books that were university-level additions that would still fall into the hands of teenagers as cross-over titles. 

Last Thoughts

References:

Barr, S. (2006). Modern Physics and Ancient Faith. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press.

Sagan, C. (1997). “About the Author” [Book biography]. In Billions & Billions.

New York, NY: Ballantine Books. 

Listening to (Music):

Artist – Misty Edwards / Album – “Relentless”  

(#22) / Beneath the Wheel / (authored) by Hermann Hesse & (translated) by Michael Roloff / (Book)

Opening

Bibliographic Information:

Beneath the Wheel / (authored) by Hermann Hesse

ISBN-13: 978-0312422301 / Picador

p. 192 / $11.25 (Amazon)

Reprint 2003 – Original 1906

Body of Content

Summary: The story revolves around Hans Giebenrath and his education.  Residing in a sleepy, German town, Giebenrath’s potential as a studious student is discovered early in his life.  Testing well, the student’s scores allow him to attend a prestigious seminary in Maulbronn – for the purpose of entering the ministry.  Upon arriving at the school, a character foil emerges in the friendship of Hermann Heilner – who lacks the same discipline and self-purpose that Giebenrath embodies.  Inspired by his friend, and eventually overburdened by the course work, Giebenrath drops out of school – after suffering a mental breakdown.  Returning to his home town, he feels like an outcast.  The question becomes how can the once prized pupil find himself after personal failure – and will Giebenrath return to the academic road carved out for him or pursue something more mundane?

Critique: While later decades define the problem novel by examining the drug culture – or by looking more closely at topical issues like abortion, suicide, or drunk driving – the work Beneath the Wheel is in many ways a problem novel.  It is not so much a re-definition of the literary genre as much as it is a coming-of-age story with tragic overtones.

In the work, the “problem” is the school culture – rigid and disciplined – which seeks academic success over personal contentment and happiness.  The instruction is narrow and topical – it does not serve the purposes of self-actualization.  In the early parts of the novel, the main character deals with sickness and ailment – much due to the mental overexertion required by his coursework – and neglect for his physical well-being.  Family members and teachers in the novel are not evil, seditious people – but they do spur the main character to continue in his studies – which only leads to more tests – more examinations – more studying – more academic responsibilities.  The student’s mental breakdown – resulting in his release from schoolwork and return to home life – is a statement about the school culture – more than anything else.  The ending, in particular, highlights the failures of the system – and although it predates the modern educational system – it does show that many of the same flaws (depersonalized education, academic over holistic education) still reside in education today in the West.

Beneath the Wheel may not fit the definition of a problem novel – by modern definitions – but it feels like one.  The novel is about the school culture that produces tragedy as much as it is about a tragic character.   

Teaser: A student pursues the vocational path chosen for him; but he begins to doubt his path when he meets a more whimsical student.

Information about the Author: Hermann Hesse is a European writer – with German heritage on his father’s side and French Swiss lineage on this mother’s side.  Born in the late 19^th century, he wrote his works in the first half of the 20^th century.  Disappointed with German nationalism and the violent wars of the First, and later of the Second, World War, Hesse abandoned his German citizenship in 1923, in favor of Swiss citizenship.

Hesse married twice – with failing health near the end of his life – dying in 1962.  Several years earlier, Hesse received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946.  Hesse major works include Siddhartha (1922), Der Steppenwolf (1927), and a collection of political entries titled Krieg und Frieden (1946) – translated as War and Peace (Hesse, 1946).  

Supplemental Material

Genre: Historical Fiction / Drama / Adult Crossover

Curriculum Ties:  Education – vocations, career advice, school methodology

Booktalking Ideas: 1) What would you do – if others wanted something for your life that you (yourself) have doubts about? 2) Why would a book a hundred years removed from the present still have impacts and relevancy with the modern educational system?

Reading Level: This title is an adult crossover – but the younger age of the protagonist – late teens/early twenties – plus the vocational themes, where characters must decide about work, education, and life, etc. – place this book as a reading choice for later teens – juniors and seniors – as they start to make decisions that will shape the rest of their life.  

Challenge Issues and Defense: There is some sexuality in the book, along with some alcoholic occasions.  The ending of the book could represent a place of contention.  The book is a strong work by a well-known European author.  The book is easier to defend, thus, on the merits of the overall work and the author.

Personal Reasons for Inclusion: The work is a thoughtful book on the vocational choices that shape lives.  It was a book that surprised me.  

Last Thoughts

References:

Hesse, H. (1946). Autobiography [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://www.nobelprize.org

/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1946/hesse-autobio.html

Listening to (Music):

Artist – needtobreathe / Album – “Daylight”