There’s something sinister happening in the quiet little town of Ashton. Behind its peaceful streets and ordinary storefronts, a battle is raging that most of its residents cannot see. Angels and demons clash, unseen forces manipulate the lives of unsuspecting people, and an ancient war between good and evil unfolds in the shadows. It sounds like the perfect setup for a Halloween horror story, but it’s actually the premise of one of the most captivating Christian novels ever written: This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti.
Originally published in 1986, the book celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and remarkably, its story feels just as captivating and relevant today as it did when I was a teenager.
Back then, I was slightly obsessed with Christian books about the occult, demons, spiritual warfare, and the supernatural. I devoured books that explored the darker side of the spiritual world, especially those that approached the subject from a biblical perspective. Peretti’s novel fit right into that fascination, but it offered something different. Rather than simply discussing spiritual warfare, it brought that unseen conflict to life through a gripping fictional story.
Recently, Spotify suggested the audiobook, and I couldn’t resist revisiting it. More than three decades after reading it for the first time, I’ve found myself listening intently, eager to finish the story once again. There’s something wonderfully nostalgic about returning to the fictional town of Ashton, with its ordinary people, hidden corruption, sinister schemes, and extraordinary spiritual battles unfolding just beyond human sight.
A Small Town with a Very Big Problem
At the center of This Present Darkness is Ashton, a seemingly ordinary small town where something deeply sinister is taking place. A local pastor, Hank Busche, and newspaper editor Marshall Hogan begin uncovering a conspiracy involving powerful individuals, a mysterious organization, and forces seeking to control the community.
But the real story unfolds in the invisible world. Peretti takes readers behind the curtain, revealing angels and demons engaged in fierce battles over the lives and souls of the town’s residents. Demonic forces manipulate, deceive, intimidate, and corrupt, while heavenly warriors fight against the darkness. The story moves between the physical and spiritual realms, showing how ordinary events are connected to a much larger supernatural conflict.
It’s a fascinating combination of mystery, suspense, Christian theology, and supernatural fiction. Even after 40 years, the story remains remarkably compelling. What makes the book particularly memorable is how Peretti portrays the relationship between prayer and spiritual warfare. The prayers of ordinary believers matter, and the battle between good and evil is presented as something far more significant than what people can see with their physical eyes.
More Than Just a Supernatural Thriller
Of course, This Present Darkness is a novel, not a theology textbook. Peretti uses creative license in depicting angels, demons, and the mechanics of spiritual warfare. We shouldn’t assume that every fictional encounter or supernatural event in the book accurately represents how the spiritual world operates. Nevertheless, the central biblical truth behind the story is undeniable.
Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
That’s what makes Peretti’s story so thought-provoking. Beneath the fictional battles and supernatural encounters is a reminder that the Christian life involves spiritual realities we cannot always see or fully understand.
Scripture also tells us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Satan isn’t merely a fictional villain invented to frighten people during Halloween. Scripture presents him as a real adversary whose weapons include deception, temptation, and destruction. Yet the Bible also makes clear that Satan is not God’s equal. He is a created being, and his power is limited by the sovereign authority of God.
A Different Kind of Halloween Story
As Halloween approaches, I find it interesting how easily our culture turns the supernatural into entertainment. Demons become costumes, witchcraft becomes a party theme, and evil becomes something to laugh about or celebrate.
This Present Darkness approaches the subject from a completely different direction. Rather than glorifying darkness, it portrays evil as something dangerous and deceptive while emphasizing the importance of faith, prayer, and dependence on God. That doesn’t mean Christians need to become obsessed with demons or search for Satan behind every unfortunate circumstance. Our attention should always remain on Christ, not on the enemy.
James 4:7 gives us a wonderfully straightforward instruction: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The Christian response to spiritual darkness isn’t fascination or fear. It’s submission to God, discernment, prayer, and confidence in the victory of Jesus Christ.
Forty Years Later, Still Worth Reading
Returning to Ashton after more than 30 years has been a surprisingly captivating experience. The characters, the atmosphere, and the constant tension between the visible and invisible worlds have reminded me why I enjoyed the book so much as a teenager. Yet what strikes me most is that the story hasn’t aged. I’m not listening to it simply for nostalgia. I’m every bit as immersed in the story today as I was when I first picked up the book decades ago.
What makes This Present Darkness such an enduring classic is how remarkably timeless Peretti’s writing remains. Although the novel was published in 1986, nothing about the storytelling feels dated or tied to a particular era. Peretti writes with such immediacy that the events in Ashton could just as easily be unfolding today. The characters, the deception, the corruption, and the spiritual battles feel every bit as real and relevant now as they did 40 years ago. That’s the mark of a truly great novel. It transcends the decade in which it was written and continues speaking to new generations of readers.
It’s entertaining, suspenseful, imaginative, and filled with reminders about the importance of prayer and the reality of spiritual opposition. Few Christian novels have managed to make the unseen spiritual world feel quite so vivid.
If you’ve never read This Present Darkness, October might be the perfect time to pick it up. If you read it decades ago, as I did, perhaps it’s time to revisit Ashton. Forty years later, the story still reminds us that darkness is real, spiritual warfare matters, and the greatest hope for humanity isn’t found in understanding the darkness but in knowing the Light that overcomes it.
John 1:5 says, “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
That’s a truth worth remembering, especially during a season when the world seems so fascinated with the dark.
