Frank E Peretti

Frank Edward Peretti, born in 1951, is a New York Times best-selling author whose novels often delve into supernatural themes and spiritual warfare, earning him recognition for pioneering the Christian thriller genre. With over 15 million copies of his works sold worldwide as of 2012, Peretti is best known for his novels "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness." He has held ministry credentials with the Assemblies of God and previously performed with a bluegrass band.

Peretti's early life included overcoming a childhood facial tumor that affected his speech. After high school, he played banjo in a bluegrass band and married his wife, Barbara, in 1972. He later studied at UCLA and assisted his father in pastoring an Assembly of God church, an experience that reignited his passion for storytelling. His writing career began with a children's adventure story, followed by "This Present Darkness," which, despite initial rejections, gained popularity through word-of-mouth and became a significant success, remaining on best-seller lists for an extended period. He continued to write, releasing several more novels that explored similar themes and achieved commercial success, with some being adapted into films.

Peretti's literary contributions are heavily characterized by themes of spiritual warfare, aligning with an older tradition of depicting cosmic battles between angelic and human forces, akin to writers like C.S. Lewis and John Milton. His narratives frequently explore a worldview where societal institutions such as education, government, and media are depicted as corrupted by New Age or Satanic conspiracies aiming for control over society and individuals. The New Age movement is often portrayed as a unifying force for villains in his novels, promoting demonic activity and seeking to undermine Christianity. This conflict is frequently shown manifesting within the public education system, positioning it as a battleground between good and evil. Peretti's works also touch upon the concept of a simpler, peaceful rural life as an ideal.

A recurring element in Peretti's fiction involves protagonists facing false accusations of sexual abuse, often attributed to demonic possession in the narrative. Reviewers have noted this theme as potentially mirroring a problematic willingness within some American evangelical circles to dismiss accusations from women and children if the accused is perceived as powerful. Furthermore, these narratives sometimes cast individuals in helping professions, such as teachers and social workers, in antagonistic roles, portraying them as villains. This narrative choice has drawn criticism for its depiction of those who work with vulnerable populations.

Frank E. Peretti has been widely recognized within Christian literature, hailed as "America's hottest Christian novelist" and compared to Stephen King, though Peretti distinguishes his work by introducing supernatural good to counter supernatural evil. His books have generally received positive reviews from Christian critics for their engaging stories and intricate plots. Theologically, his fictional explorations of spiritual warfare resonate with his background in the Assemblies of God and contemporary Neo-charismatic interests in the demonic realm. Concepts like territorial spirits and spiritual mapping found in his novels parallel non-fiction works by Charismatic writers. His fiction is also seen as reflecting aspects of the New Christian Right and has significantly influenced evangelical, charismatic, and pentecostal communities regarding the subject of spiritual warfare.