Newton's Third Law of Motions states that "For ever action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Michael Cale's latest novel, As the Darkness Deepens, is an interesting study in this universal law as it relates to the forces of good and evil. While this is a common storyline, Cale's strong characterization and the powerful climax give an otherwise trite subject substance to formulate a solid story.
We first meet the unassuming Christopher Jones walking his seven-year-old daughter, Sally, to school. After hugs and a kiss, Christopher sends his child across the street, when suddenly a careening car slams into Sally, mortally wounding her. In the terror of the moment, Christopher draws upon a mysterious power to heal his daughter, saving her life. This act of love creates an equal and opposite reaction that literally births the story's primary antagonist.
Christopher discovers a renewed sense of self and direction. He transforms from a soft-spoken pushover to a man filled with the need to use his new power for the good of humanity. Eventually, word of his powers spread, and he attracts hundreds and thousands of the hopeless, the infirm, and the insane. Christopher becomes nothing more than a pinball, bouncing off those who want to help to those wanting to take advantage and back again.
Cale, whose 2001 novel, The Room of Shrunken Souls, was an Eppie Finalist, knows how to construct a solid story. Here he does a satisfactory job of blending the good and evil in greedy entertainment executives, religious cults, and the Catholic Church. When all three of these groups collide in the dramatic finale, the reader is given a powerful overview of the morale fallacies harbored in day-to-day dogma. Effectively using the dingy backdrop of south Los Angeles, he builds an array of vivid character that overflow from the 150 page novel.
Despite several annoying dialogue tics and a sometimes sloppy narrative style, Cales nails the characters and setting. I would recommend As the Darkness Deepens to readers as a study in the evil side of morality bringing destruction to good.
Published by LTDBooks
ISBN: 1-55316-138-6
150 Pages
$14.95 Hardback, $5.00 eBook
http://www.ltdbooks.com
Jason Sizemore is the publisher of Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest, a quarterly magazine of dark science fiction, interviews, book reviews, and essays. You can read more about Jason and his writing at http://members.iglou.com/jasonb/index.html. Apex Digest has its own website at http://www.apexdigest.com
Somebody once said there are more book titles beginning with... Read More
Bebe Moore Campbell weaves a tale of unrelenting love and... Read More
Win-Win Partnerships ? Be on the Leading Edge with Synergistic... Read More
This land is my memories. For two thousand years this... Read More
Excellent! The best children book of this genre that I... Read More
"Personal research references, especially for families who once lived in... Read More
"The dedication in this book is a work of poetry... Read More
Alan Heywood writes a stimulating, though sometimes improbable, adventure novel... Read More
In a profound and provocative work of scholarly detection, best-selling... Read More
By now most of you realise that Google can give... Read More
This large (about 378 pages), fantasy-adventure novel should give best... Read More
Local Atlanta Pastor known for his charity work such as... Read More
Chapter one: Baby on the doorstep.It was one of those... Read More
When the topic of family history comes up, where do... Read More
In his book, "Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a... Read More
The author of Be the Leader: Make the Difference, a... Read More
When America's foremost literary critic, Harold Bloom, professor emeritus at... Read More
Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind A Phenomenal... Read More
This very fun, exciting, fast-paced, warm novella - Bob the... Read More
When I reached the top of the driveway after getting... Read More
May-Day!The school bus had long since disappeared over the last... Read More
Book Release: Gina's Poems -- Adventures in Love Written... Read More
Newton's Third Law of Motions states that "For ever action,... Read More
This beautifully laid out trade paperback has a gorgeous and... Read More
I've discovered a new favorite author, and his name is... Read More
Finite Capacity Scheduling by Gerhard Plenert PhD and Bill KirchmeirI... Read More
Now add ten more car wash trucks, with the corresponding... Read More
With this all possible the price could be lowered to... Read More
Author/Publisher Christmas in Dairyland by LeAnn R. Ralph Published by... Read More
Title: Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely... Read More
Karmic Relationships: Healing Invisible WoundsCharles Richards, Ph.D. Jodere Group P.O.... Read More
Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: How To Do Business In... Read More
MONEY WITHOUT MATRIMONY: The Unmarried Couples Guide to Financial Security,... Read More
Somebody once said there are more book titles beginning with... Read More
Bebe Moore Campbell weaves a tale of unrelenting love and... Read More
Win-Win Partnerships ? Be on the Leading Edge with Synergistic... Read More
This land is my memories. For two thousand years this... Read More
Excellent! The best children book of this genre that I... Read More
"Personal research references, especially for families who once lived in... Read More
"The dedication in this book is a work of poetry... Read More
Alan Heywood writes a stimulating, though sometimes improbable, adventure novel... Read More
In a profound and provocative work of scholarly detection, best-selling... Read More
By now most of you realise that Google can give... Read More
This large (about 378 pages), fantasy-adventure novel should give best... Read More
Local Atlanta Pastor known for his charity work such as... Read More
Chapter one: Baby on the doorstep.It was one of those... Read More
When the topic of family history comes up, where do... Read More
In his book, "Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a... Read More
The author of Be the Leader: Make the Difference, a... Read More
When America's foremost literary critic, Harold Bloom, professor emeritus at... Read More
Blue's Clues for Success: The 8 Secrets Behind A Phenomenal... Read More
This very fun, exciting, fast-paced, warm novella - Bob the... Read More
When I reached the top of the driveway after getting... Read More
May-Day!The school bus had long since disappeared over the last... Read More
Book Release: Gina's Poems -- Adventures in Love Written... Read More
Newton's Third Law of Motions states that "For ever action,... Read More
This beautifully laid out trade paperback has a gorgeous and... Read More
I've discovered a new favorite author, and his name is... Read More
Finite Capacity Scheduling by Gerhard Plenert PhD and Bill KirchmeirI... Read More
Now add ten more car wash trucks, with the corresponding... Read More
With this all possible the price could be lowered to... Read More
Author/Publisher Christmas in Dairyland by LeAnn R. Ralph Published by... Read More
Title: Unbelievably Good Deals and Great Adventures That You Absolutely... Read More
Karmic Relationships: Healing Invisible WoundsCharles Richards, Ph.D. Jodere Group P.O.... Read More
Kiss, Bow, Or Shake Hands: How To Do Business In... Read More
MONEY WITHOUT MATRIMONY: The Unmarried Couples Guide to Financial Security,... Read More
Book Reviews Book Reviews |