The Associate and Black

[ScottL]

In the past, I have communicated that I love to read fiction books, mainly of the suspense and fantasy genres. Recently, I finished two works that fall in both genres. The first was John Grisham's new novel, The Associate, and the second was Black, authored by Ted Dekker.

With regards to my love for suspense-crime novels, one of my favourite authors has been John Grisham. I have actually read all of his books, all 22 so far, though I have just found out yesterday that he has a new book coming out today - Ford County. I guess it's hard to keep up with the current output of books in the modern age.

My interest in Grisham's novels started back in 9th grade (age 14) when I did a book report on A Time To Kill (though I actually hated to read back then, but book reports were required). And now, at age 30, I have just finished The Associate.

In the vein of Grisham-esque writing, this novel follows suit as it is set within the life of lawyers and law firms. The young Kyle McAvoy has just graduated from Yale Law School and, full of desire to use his degree for good, he wants to offer public service rather than rough it out in a competitive law firm. Unfortunately, McAvoy is forced into a situation not of his choosing - working massive amounts of hours in a massive law firm. How was he forced? Blackmail. A couple of people enter his life, threatening to release a video tape related to a rape accusation of five years previous when he was in college. McAvoy, thus, finds himself giving every extra moment to finding out who is behind this blackmail.

I like Grisham, as I guess one would imagine knowing that I've read all his books. But this was not my favourite novel of his. It wasn't his worst (I think that belongs to either Skipping Christmas or A Painted House), but it wasn't his best, at least from my perspective.

The reason why I don't put it at the top of the list of Grisham books? There wasn't enough resolve at the end of the book, not enough closure. But I must leave it at that so I don't give too much away. In all, I will give the book a 6.5 or 7, but, as I said, I wouldn't declare it his best work.

Next, for the first time, I dipped into a Ted Dekker novel - Black. Many Christians have been drawn into reading Dekker, he now being one of the most popular Christian, suspense-thriller novelists.

I haven't read too many Christian fiction novels, outside of C.S. Lewis and recently reading through The Last Disciple series (an alternative to Left Behind). But, when visiting the States in September and browsing through the religious section of Barnes & Noble, I picked up some of the Ted Dekker novels, just to see what he had.

Black is one book in what is known as The Circle Trilogy. There are actually four books to this series - Black, Red, White and Green. But, the catch is that Green is known as Book O (zero, that is). Readers are told that Green could stand as both the last book of the series or the first book. I guess this must be a new device of modern trilogy writing. Or maybe it's an old trick in the book. I'm not that up to date on these things, but I think it quite interesting.

Within the novel I just finished, Black, we find the fate of not just one world, but two worlds, in the hands of young (early 20's) Thomas Hunter. One of those worlds is basically our present world, meaning 21st century planet Earth. Specifically, Hunter lives in Denver, Colorado, though his travels take him half-way around the world. In this world-like-ours, he is trying to save the planet from a deadly virus, the Raison Strain, that will be released very soon.

The other world?

Every time Thomas Hunter falls asleep in 'our world', he finds himself in another world. Specifically he awakes in The Black Forest, which is ruled by the evil Teelah and his minions, the Shataiki. This other world also has another more beautiful part to it - The Green Forest where perfect humans live. Tanis is the firstborn and Elyon is their God. Thus, The Green Forest becomes a picture of life as if the fall of man had never happened, as recorded in Genesis 3.

But, unfortunately, the fall is inevitable even for this world. Tanis, the firstborn, desires to have knowledge of The Histories, information concerning the times and centuries past. Interestingly enough, Thomas Hunter somehow already knows certain bits from The Histories. With such a desire, the evil Teelah cunningly deceives Tanis into eating the fruit and drinking the water of The Black Forest, promising him information from The Histories. Following such, all hell literally breaks loose. Now, Thomas finds himself trying to save this world as well.

As I mentioned, every time Thomas Hunter falls asleep in one world, he wakes up in the next. But there is no time parallel between the two worlds. He might only sleep a few hours in one world, but it could be equivalent to numerous days in the next.

Most can see the parallel between Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and Dekker's The Circle Trilogy. The latter is somewhat of a modern version of the former. I'm not too bothered by the similarities, though some might be in the name of literary authenticity. But I know there truly is 'nothing new under the sun', as one wise sage said it thousands of years ago.

I think Black was decent, but nothing that has captured me too much. I liked it more at first, but found myself losing interest after the half-way mark. I'm not sure why, but I think it was because another book had caught my interest at the time.

I suppose I will finish out the other three books at some point, but I'm not jumping to purchase the books. My one biggest complaint (though that is a strong word here) is the underlying eschatological belief that seems to come forth in the book - premillenialism. I'm not sure if I am recognising a trend or not, but it seems that most Christian, suspense-thriller writers hold to a premillenial eschatology.

How do I come to such a conclusion? Well, as one works their way through the novel, it becomes clear that the world of The Green Forest and The Black Forest is the future of Thomas Hunter's 'real world' (that is, back in Denver). And when the people of The Green Forest refer to The Histories, they frequently speak of a major event of the past known as The Great Deception. Not only that, but The Great Deception in The Histories of this one world corresponds to the release of the Raison Strain in Hunter's own world. Both represent life-shattering events, one that has already taken place in one world and one that is about to take place at any moment in the other.

I'm not sure if you're able to pick up on the premillenial eschatology here.

Most premillenialists, especially dispensational premillenialists, believe that there will be a final, evil period on earth known as the Great Tribulation (usually the focus is that this period will be 7 years in length). One of the major teachings about this period is that it is highlighted by evil, cataclysmic events.

So, going back to Dekker's Black, The Great Deception, which is connected to the release of the deadly Raison Strain in Thomas Hunter's real world, seems in line with such premillenial eschatological beliefs about a Great Tribulation.

Of course, this isn't a biggie. I simply note one small 'quirk' about the book, at least from my perspective. I'm just not convinced of the premillenial belief, especially that of the dispensational strand.

Still, as I mentioned, I am not sure why it is that most Christian, suspense-thriller novelists seem to be in that eschatological camp. I am saddened by what seems to be a 'scare tactic' employed by such authors, especially in places like the Left Behind series. I am not sure if that is Dekker's intent, but, if so, I don't believe it is the healthiest approach to drawing people to Christ. But that is simply my opinion.

So, this ends my review of two fiction books I have recently read. As I mentioned elsewhere, I am currently reading Dan Brown's new novel, The Lost Symbol. I have a review coming forth by the end of 2009, but that is for another day.

[Marv]

Scott, not at all on your subject, but only tangential. Having lived in Europe and in the U.S., I have found two profoundly discouraging experiences--for totally opposite reasons: (1) going to a Christian bookstore in France; (2) going to a Christian bookstore in the U.S.

[ScottL]

I have not yet been to a Christian bookstore in the Brussels area. There are 2 or 3, like the one headed up by YWAM, but I suppose it will have an American feel. But, yes, most Christian bookstores aren't that great in the US, but they can be ok. But I don't like walking in most, heading to the 'prophecy' section and finding volumes on the 'end times' and nothing on the reality of prophecy for the body of Christ. Things like that can sadden me.

[Marv]

Well, what I had in mind is the relative scarcity of material available in Europe, at least in the French language. You see some 60s-era popular-level stuff that you'd have a hard time digging up in the U.S. but is still hanging on faute de mieux in France. Then in the U.S. you find an explosion of utter schlock in Christian publishing. I do enjoy a good Christian-based work of fiction, but the flood gates have been opened (post-Perretti, I suppose) to such gosh-awful stuff that it bloweth the mind. Then there's the non-fiction...

[ScottL]

What good Christian-based fiction is available in the modern day?

[Marv]

I hope you are not asking me that. You seem to have a handle on some good stuff. I haven't read Dekker, but it sounds interesting. But beside the thriller category you mentioned, there is a plethora of romance genre, which is churned out at an alarming rate... not that I have read it... so maybe I do not know whereof I speak... but the same is churned out in secular circles as well... Someone out there is making a fair amount of money by making c--p. I suspect there is not that much difference in the "secular" market versus the "Christian" market in the percentage of quality in the mass of the whole... Or I wonder if anyone would suggest that Christian publishers are less discerning than secular ones... ??

[ScottL]

I tried to get into one of George MacDonald's fiction works, but he typed out the British cockney accent as how it should be typed out phonetically. It hurt my head so much interpreting that tongue, so I didn't get past the first few pages. I might check out another of his, or try a Chesterton fiction book, or the Lewis Space Triology (though I tried it before and it was too sci-fi at the time for me, though I like fantasy). But those are all 'older' works. Just thinking if anything modern exists.

[Rey Reynoso]

People tell me to read Dekker but I get nervous. I didn't like the Left Behind series (that everyone told me to read) and I would rather things like Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia and the Space Trilogy (Scott, go back and read it; it is awesome). Your review doesn't necessarily make Dekker jump out for me so I think I'll wait until someone buys me the books.

Any takers?

[ScottL]

Rey -

We could do a book trade - post each other a different book each month. :) I was surprised how dang expensive the paperback copy of Black was. Like $15 if I remember correctly. I can get most popular paper backs for $10 or less. Do you want me to send you Black?

[Marv]

How far did you get in the Lewis trilogy. I do like these, although the three books end up being very different from each other. That Hideous Strength is a little more like the tribulation-era or even the Perretti books...though not at all set in the tribulation... Anyway, it veers toward the dystopic novel.

I think someone out thare rewrote some of the MacDonald stuff to make it palatable for contemporary readers... Not necessarily an approach I would applaud. Sometimes you have to grit your teeth and slog through...

A year or two ago I read The Worm Ouroboros, which is even hard to find now, but was Tolkien's Tolkien. (It is not at all a Christian-based novel). I mention it because it is written in a deliberately archaic English that is initially difficult going, but once you get used to it is fine.

That said, I've never delved into MacDonald either, though I understand Lewis treasured these.

[ScottL]

I got half-way through Out of the Silent Planet. Again, I love fantasy (Lord of the Rings, Chronicles of Narnia, Eragon Triology, Harry Potter), but not too up on sci-fi. So, I was just feeling it was too sci-fi, and I remember having to interpret the language of those walruses, or whatever they were. :) But, yes, I will go back to them. How could I not?!

I have Tolkein's Simarillion and The Children of Hurin, but I've heard they might be too over the top.