Adam's Reviews > Black: The Birth of Evil

I've been trying to think about what I could say about this book. And I know that's a horrible way to start off a review. I also think that it hits at the core of what could be said. Do I tell you, that as a Christian, I actually dislike a great deal of Christian books? That even though I did like this book -- that I really don't mind this series too terribly much -- that it does nothing to change my opinion of the state of Christian publishing. Should I tell you that while Ted Dekker holds true to his renown as a action-packed best-selling adrena-author persona and that this same persona undermines a potentially epic story? And that despite all of that, I'm tearing through these books like a mad man.

The originality of the story -- well, to be more precise -- the concept of the trilogy is what kept me going. I had an idea of what Dekker intended, the direction he was headed, but there were parts that had me stop to think; but then of course my instincts were right. I tried to keep my expectations even keeled on this read. I knew it wasn't going to be that great but enough people who's opinions matter had enjoyed it so it couldn't be that horrible. And rather it come through as a three star, Dekker's tale rose a rank if only for his ability to describe what life before sin must have been like. The use of the water works out cleverly.

I wasn't so keen on Thomas, though. Albeit, this is more of a problem I find at the root of most Christian fiction. He's a decent character for best-selling adrena-thrillers. But what I don't understand is how these protagonists who don't believe in God come waltzing onto the scene embued with any number of supernatural gifts and yet they lack any real flaws. I don't understand how Thomas can be given the inkling of a backstory in which he's clearly made a hard detour away from God, yet he can so casually put all that aside to believe in Elyon. It's weird how he jumps between realities, is so certain God is real in one and doubting in the other, and then before you know it -- he's reconciled his belief with no more than a shrug. There's no inner turmoil over what to believe, no sudden epiphany. The only hint of promise is Thomas's realization that he may have died and come back to life. But he doesn't want to think about it. He's got to save the world. There's no time to struggle. He's the hero. He accepts whatever's put in front of him and saves the day. Which is good, because I might have slowly my adrenaline induced page turning. I might have had time to process something beyond a thrill. I might have even waited to pick up the next book (had the series not been given to me as a gift). And might I ask when a trilogy came to mean that the story screeches to an abrupt halt until the next book comes out? Sorry.

I really did enjoy this book. I'm currently reading "White." I have a lot to decry about the books, but it really has more to due with the style and its systemic lack of substance. But to his credit, Dekker does a great deal with what substance there is.