This Present Darkness

This Present Darkness is a Christian novel by suspense, horror, and fantasy author Frank E. Peretti. Published in 1986 by Crossway Books after first being rejected by fourteen publishing companies, This Present Darkness was Peretti's first published novel for adults and shows contemporary views on angels, demons, prayer, and spiritual warfare as demons and angels interact and struggle for control of the citizens of the small town of Ashton. It is critical of Eastern and New Age spiritual practices, portraying meditation as a means of demonic possession. Sales were initially slow but jumped dramatically after singer Amy Grant promoted the book. The book has sold in excess of 2.7 million copies worldwide as of 2013 and remained on the Christian Booksellers Association top best-sellers list for over 150 consecutive weeks after its release. As of 2021, it continues to sell approximately 8,000 copies per year. Its title comes from Ephesians 6:12 (RSV): "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Peretti followed This Present Darkness up with a sequel in 1988, Piercing the Darkness.