Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle, #1)

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Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle Series #1)

by Ted Dekker (Goodreads Author)

4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 · rating details · 13,470 ratings · 975 reviews

Enter an adrenaline-laced epic where dreams and reality collide.

Fleeing his assailants through deserted alleyways, Thomas Hunter narrowly escapes to the roof of a building. Then a silent bullet from the night clips his head...and his world goes black.

From the blackness comes an amazing reality of another world-a world where evil is contained. A world where Thomas Hunter is...more

Paperback, 432 pages

Published February 1st 2005 by Thomas Nelson Publishers (first published December 31st 2003)

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Ted Dekker Books

1st out of 42 books — 79 voters

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Best Christian Fiction

29th out of 955 books — 1,451 voters

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Jan 31, 2013 J.S. Bailey rated it 5 of 5 stars

More epic awesomeness from Dekker. Since this novel ended on a cliffhanger, I do believe that I will be purchasing the next book in the series very soon; else I might go mad with anticipation!

(Update 1/31/2013)

Slowly closes book. Wipes sweat from brow. Pauses briefly to reflect upon the meaning of life. Reaches for recently-acquired copy of Red.

I'm glad that I decided to reread this before picking up Red because there is soooooo much I forgot about!

Like this little snippet from Thomas's dive int...more

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Nov 25, 2008 Jill Williamson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Someone is shooting at Thomas Hunter. He runs for his life—zig-zagging, hiding, and executing some awesome martial arts—as men chase him through the streets of Denver. But when a silent bullet grazes his head, his world goes black and he wakes up somewhere else.

In darkness. He doesn’t know where he is. Hideous bats chase him, clawing at him until he loses consciousness again and wakes up back in Denver, in an alley. He manages to get to his sister’s apartment, clean himself up, and lies down on...more

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Jun 14, 2013 Steven rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fave-authors, nbrc-2013, wicked-wango-mango-tango, ljb-buddy-reads, reread

The Circle series is a great read. For a religious writer, he's not preachy. Love the fantasy world, love the main characters, and love how long the series is as ONE big story that intertwines with his other book series.

Read them all.

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Jul 14, 2011 Martha rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those who love mysteries, thrillers, fantasy

Shelves: 2011, mystery, thriller, fantasy

I've listed this as Christian fiction, but it really doesn't fall in that category. I'll give this some thought and maybe come up with a new shelf. I did enjoy this book and would have given it 4 stars except for some parts that I found a bit boring and a little ridiculous ... even for this type of story. The pseudo Garden of Eden was a bit hard to take at times ... at least for me. At one point I though these must be the bad guys because they are just too good to be true. Since this is the firs...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I tried to read this book once before, and just couldn't get into it. I put it down, didn't try to review it, didn't comment, I just hadn't gotten into it. BUT, I have friend to whom this is an important book, so I set out to read it again. My take on it is that it could have been a much better book than it is.

Throughout this book I'd say that my estimation of it's rating moved from 2 to 4 stars. It took me FOREVER to care about the characters. I know I should have. I know I was meant to...but i...more I tried to read this book once before, and just couldn't get into it. I put it down, didn't try to review it, didn't comment, I just hadn't gotten into it. BUT, I have friend to whom this is an important book, so I set out to read it again. My take on it is that it could have been a much better book than it is.

Throughout this book I'd say that my estimation of it's rating moved from 2 to 4 stars. It took me FOREVER to care about the characters. I know I should have. I know I was meant to...but it just rambled on. the set up on the 2 worlds within which the action takes place just seemed to stumble along and worse, at times was silly.

In the end there were parts that really started to catch my interest and draw me in. They were a sort of come and go affair and I wish the book had been done better, still, I plan to find Red and follow the series. In the end I split the difference between very good and poor and went with 3 stars. be aware that it does start (in my opinion) slowly.

Okay below there will be a couple of minor spoilers, so if you don't want to find out anything don't read beyond the line. I don't plan to spill a lot, but to discuss why I rate the book as I do I need to reference a couple of things in the book.

(view spoiler)[The set-up for this book has to do with Thomas "flitting" back and forth between 2 worlds that are apparently the present and "a" future or maybe "a possible" future. This seems to happen in dreams as when he's asleep in one place he's awake in the other. The time he sleeps apparently doesn't have any effect on how long he actually stays one place or the other. One of the "key movers" in the story has to do with Thomas finding that "The Histories" in the "future world" tell of a plague that springs from the work of a pharmaceutical company" in the present and wiping out the vast majority of humanity. He decides he's supposed to stop it. So....

In the future world, Tom was met by a "race of giant bats". The evil ones are in a burned forest and the good ones (far fewer in number) live across a river. The dark bats are not allowed to or cannot cross this river across which the humans, who are descendants (apparently) of the few humans who survived live in a beautiful "colorful land (more than just green, vegetation of all colors abounds). The "good" giant white fuzzy bats, explain to Tom about the histories and the plague.

So...what does Thomas do? Does he call the CDC and claim to be a whistle blower from the pharmaceutical company and warm them that the new "air born" vaccine will mutate into a world girdling plague? Does he claim to be a whistle blower and just warn the CDC that there is a problem with the vaccine and it's dangerous and should be looked at? Does he do any of a dozen things that might get the attention of the CDC or a government or the medical community?

No...he goes to the CDC. I mean walks into the office...at 4:30 when the offices are closing, pretends to be chocking and makes a scene so "he will get their attention" and get to talk to someone. Then he informs the CDC that a giant fuzzy white talking bat warned him in a dream about the vaccine.

Right.

It doesn't even work for me within the story...he'd have been carted off when he started his chocking scene. Any half sane person would have had an inkling that talking about dream revelations from giant talking bats (fuzzy or not) wouldn't exactly bring anyone on line to help. The interaction with the man he's talking to is painted as far more civil than I think it could have been

The book is thick with this kind of thing. It didn't draw me in till it was maybe two thirds of the way through and even then the way Dekker wrote personal interaction would almost lose me. (hide spoiler)]

I am by the way a Christian and I know this is a much loved book among many Christians. I have great concerns with it, and wish it could have been better. I hope the series gets better.(less)

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May 27, 2008 Charles rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fantasy and suspense lovers

Recommended to Charles by: Lisa (from NY)

Shelves: fiction, suspense

Few books have such an immersive world that you actually feel like you're living in it when you read it. Although this is true about the first book in the ring trilogy (being Black) by Ted Dekker, the book has some major flaws.

Characters sometimes seem unrealistic and do absurd things for seemingly no apparent reason. I am constantly reminded of this by the stupid comments that the main character constantly throws out in serious conversations. Such as "If they don't help us we should nuke them,"...more Few books have such an immersive world that you actually feel like you're living in it when you read it. Although this is true about the first book in the ring trilogy (being Black) by Ted Dekker, the book has some major flaws.

Characters sometimes seem unrealistic and do absurd things for seemingly no apparent reason. I am constantly reminded of this by the stupid comments that the main character constantly throws out in serious conversations. Such as "If they don't help us we should nuke them," perfectly logical :(

I've read other pieces by Ted Dekker (House and Saint) and they have had half way decent writing and amazing plots. Overall his books have been extremely well put together, or so I thought. You can tell that Black was written early on in his career. The writing is really not that great but the plot does still hold up amazingly well. I'm going to call this the "Harry Potter Syndrome" because JK Rowling's series is very well put together, but terribly written.

Also the theology in this book seems to be kinda wack. I know from being a Christian that God loves us, but Ted Dekker's portrayal of God randomly hugging people and telling them how much He loves them dosen't seem like the greatest way to present God. I know he loves us, but he does more then just give us hugs and say nice things to us. Last time I checked the bible, God did a lot more then just say "I love you" which seems to practically be the only thing that ever comes out of his mouth. Some actual wisdom might be nice for a change.

I'll also mention that the last third of the book picked up an insane amount and a large portion of things were left unexplained. It seemed like the author went "Hhhhmmmm, I don't feel like writing this anymore so I'm just going to skip all the detailed explanations I've been giving so far and sum up the novel in ten pages."

Despite my ranting and raving complaints the book is amazing and plain simple good fun. I think Ted Dekker should have spent more time developing this or maybe started this series down the road after writing a few other stories. It's a shame they were written as badly as they are considering the plot line's amazing twists and turns. O well, I'm looking forward to the sequel Red and Ted Dekker has ounce again proved that there is a reason why his name hovers above other modern day authors.

Take a star off is you don't enjoy fiction (this novel is very fictiony I guess) and add a star if you like action packed suspense(less)

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Jan 28, 2008 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

I would highly recommend this book to anyone I know. This was written about the Chronicles of Narnia on wikipedia.org but applies to the Color Trilogy as well: "The series contains many allusions to traditional Christian ideas,... however, the books can also be read purely for their adventure, colour, and richness of ideas."
Even if you are not a Christian, I believe you will enjoy this book because it IS a metaphor. In fact, even as a Christian, I didn't understand what the metaphor was until t...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Morgan rated it 5 of 5 stars

What can I say, I personally think Ted Dekker is an amazing author and I'm going to apoligizes in advance for my ridiclously long review.

It's obvious Dekker is a christian, but he writes in a way that leaves you breathing room for your own take on religon.

Black was a great book, the charactors where well devoloped and the writing was amazing.
I get attached with charactors easily so their just as likely to annoy me or impress me with what ever you do. There are some moments where you just stop...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Billy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Part 1 of a roller coaster ride of a trilogy - GREAT!,

Black begins The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker. Man what a mind this guy has.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began this book; it was the first book by Ted Dekker that I had read. I am now a true Ted Dekker fan and have started reading the rest of his books.

This book begins the story of a man that wakes in another world when he sleeps in this world. A virus is about to ravage mankind here, while in the other world, evil is being released on...more

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Mar 24, 2012 Julian rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Christian fiction, speculative, supernatural, spiritual warfare

Couldn't put the book down!! I've been desperate for an original, highly engaging supernatural fiction series, and "Black" by Ted Dekker definitely delivered. The character of Thomas Hunter, was well-written, likable and believable.

The allegorical-style telling of the redemption story - the beginning of it, anyway - was reminiscent of C.S. Lewis' space trilogy. Especially "Out of the Silent Planet" with Ransom. Halfway through "Black" I began to compare him to Random from C.S. Lewis' book. The s...more

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Mar 14, 2012 M.G. Edwards rated it 4 of 5 stars

Author Ted Dekker offers an interesting premise in his Circle Trilogy (Black/Red/White) -- that a man can alternate between the present and the future through his dreams and influence one reality by his actions in the other. The series is also a fascinating Biblical allegory. The final book, White, is the best of the three, because it explains clearly in the finale most of the unanswered questions Dekker raises in this thought-provoking series. For fans of fantasy, speculative fiction, and Chris...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Kori Morris rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am not a Christian (although admittedly, I was when I read this book), but despite the fact that most of Dekker's books are intertwined with spirituality to be classified as Christian fiction, the books are a great suspense filled series for anyone that loves psychological thrillers. Honestly, I have loved every book I have ever read from this man, and the few downfalls I would give to any of his books is that when you read to many, you begin to detect patterns - somehow, an incarnation of the...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Sue Wargo rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was intrigued by the idea that this was a trilogy that evolved with a 4th book that could be read before or after the basic trilogy. Okay that sounded a little crazy, but the premise on the cover was good so I decided to get "Black" and begin the journey. The main character goes in and out dreams, back and forth in time, and meet beings and human like animals, and falls in love....all in a period that almost suspends reality. I feel like this is Robin Cook meets the "Matrix" The character brin...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Kasia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ted Dekker is a magician when it comes to creating a book this astounding, this addictive, and this breathtaking. It held a strong grip on me and has left me spellbound from the beginning to the very end. There is no relief at the last page; instead it left me begging for more. The story ends on a high note and only promises a more delectable part 2 that I can't wait to read.

The book starts innocently enough; Thomas is on his way back home in Denver when a shooting brings him down into another r...more Ted Dekker is a magician when it comes to creating a book this astounding, this addictive, and this breathtaking. It held a strong grip on me and has left me spellbound from the beginning to the very end. There is no relief at the last page; instead it left me begging for more. The story ends on a high note and only promises a more delectable part 2 that I can't wait to read.

The book starts innocently enough; Thomas is on his way back home in Denver when a shooting brings him down into another reality. A bullet that grazes his head opens a portal to an alternate world, more magical and enticing than his ours has ever been. This prohibits him from sleeping when he goes to bed; instead he wakes up in a black forest inhabited by black bats with strong wings and with magic water that would give him some unforeseen knowledge and power. It seems to mirror his own world in more mysterious ways that he can imagine. A great plague is about to be unleashed and he must use his wild dreams to find a solution and salvation on Earth, his mother planet and all its unaware inhabitants. Unable to choose which world is really real, the lush green forests with and opposite black side or the threat of biological warfare that is somehow timed to him, Thomas must suspend his entire knowledge of science and reality and swim into an unknown world that somehow knows him.

What is real and what is fiction, who amongst the characters is God and who is really evil? Ted Dekker takes an enormous plunge with this novel and delivers something that is beyond reading, this book shook me to the core and left me panting for more, wonderful, strong and fast and well thought out. The Circle trilogy starts of strong, with the creatures of the black forest and the inhabitants of the colored ones that only seem to exist in dreams, but they know about life and death to the point where Thomas starts to doubt humanity and it's existence, is it all a dream? Part of the book seems like folklore and others are very depend on those imaginary parts, this tale is a fantastic ride for those who love to read.

Very profound and thought invoking this book is a force greater than I can describe, it simply has to be experienced! Ted Dekker should be on top of everyone's list, his books reach into the subconscious lever and bring out the questions and fears that force us to look deep into the limits of our minds and space; it forces us to acknowledge the infinite possibilities of what life really is all about. This book is the first chapter in a whole set of tales so out of this world that they are almost indescribable. This is what reading is all about, juicy stories with non-stop adrenaline pumped action.
(less)

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Oct 07, 2011 Jonathan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: personal-favourites, science-fiction, re-read, thriller

This simple looking cover and basic title was my introduction to the world of Ted Dekker. I picked it up off the shelf of my school library and brought it along with me on an excursion. Without any idea of the powerful wow factor of this novel I began reading and would not have put the book down had it of been for the fact that the bus had to stop and let us out.

Black is the story of a man caught between two worlds. When he dreams in our everyday world he wakes in another world of fantasy appare...more This simple looking cover and basic title was my introduction to the world of Ted Dekker. I picked it up off the shelf of my school library and brought it along with me on an excursion. Without any idea of the powerful wow factor of this novel I began reading and would not have put the book down had it of been for the fact that the bus had to stop and let us out.

Black is the story of a man caught between two worlds. When he dreams in our everyday world he wakes in another world of fantasy apparently set years in the alternate future. In this alternate world evil exists only in the form of the black forest and the evil bats which lurk there. The citizens of the land have been warned not to venture into the forest and eat from its fruit. Sound familiar? Gradually you become aware that this other world is an allegorical land that mirrors Biblical story.

Now I'm sure some people would think that including Christian themes into a story lessens the impact of the novel. I am sure for some they'd see this as a way for Christians to throw in their own beliefs. The irony of course being that I'm certain those same people don't question the beliefs thrown into novels by other writers. The truth is every writer has a set of beliefs as a part of humanity and those beliefs will impact his writing. In Black the Christian themes are simply more prevalent than in other novels. The same can be seen in the Narnia tales. Yet those who are set against such beliefs or see such beliefs as structurally weakening don't have to worry. Like any good writer Ted Dekker creates a tale that can read two ways. The first is as a solid thriller adventure and the second is as an allegory.

And when I say thriller I mean thriller. These books are loaded with suspense and action and so many interweaving threads. Grand themes such as the conflict between good and evil are explored along with romance, gunfights, fistfights, fantasy adventure, prophesy and a race against the clock. I wrote earlier that The Scarlet Pimpernel is a novel loaded with everything. Here is a novel to rival it. Well almost...

Black is the beginning of one of the strongest series or should I say trilogies that I have read. The storyline is edgy, tense and not at all soft. Some may find the first book starts slow or that the beginning is too unbelievable however I did not find this to be the case. This is a solid, hard hitting read that reads almost like a film. Okay so maybe I'm a little melodramatic but hopefully you get the point.

Before I end this let me give a brief synopsis of the brilliant idea that is the novel: 'Black'. Thomas Hunter is a man who's lived his whole life on the edge and as afore mentioned finds himself living on a different edge after a bullet clips his head. Basically he ends up caught between two worlds - when he sleeps in one he wakes in the other. And as a result of this new ability the normal world becomes under threat of a new supervirus which Thomas must act to stop. All of this becomes a hunt for a cure against the clock and across multiple worlds. Incredibly fascinating stuff really... (less)

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Jul 29, 2011 Adam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adreno-thriller, christian-fiction, magical-fantasy

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...more 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.(less)

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Jun 09, 2010 Michelle Hankes rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book is tough for me to write about. There are elements I liked and elements I didn't. His writing style is easy to engage with and is compelling, but it is the first half-fantasy, half-mainstream fiction I've ever read.

I don't really know what to say.

Yes. I do.

This book is intriguing because Ted Dekker has taken an idea and catapulted it into a whole other spectrum of writing. I can see why he is so well loved and has done so well.

The story is about a man who finds himself living in tw...more

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Mar 03, 2010 Terri rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

I would classify this book as an allegorical Christian thriller and I really looked forward to reading it after hearing good things about some of the author's other books. Unfortunately, I was not impressed by Black. It was unnecessarily long and I found myself rather bored at times. The allegorical aspects seemed alternately too obvious and too convoluted leaving me to wonder at the author's intent. The "great romance" allegory struck me as cheesy and, as a Christian, I was left wondering what...more

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Mar 01, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fiction, scifi

In January I was introduced to Ted Dekker through his most recent Circle book, Green. I was fascinated by Thomas Hunter and his dreams in that book and with Black I feel as if they have been taken to a whole new level.

Now, Black was written before Green. And Green is meant to be read as the finale, or as the beginning - it doesn't make a difference really. I will tell you that having read Green first I was able to jump with both feet i to the story laid out in Black and my level of understanding...more

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Jan 07, 2010 Loren rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From ISawLightningFall.com

I don’t remember all that much about my elementary-school days. However, I do recall one art class in particular. My teacher held up a color wheel and pointed out the three primaries. Combining these in varying proportions, she explained, yielded the rest of the colors. Red and yellow made orange, yellow and blue formed green, and so on. This fascinated me, but what really blew my six-year-old mind was how she said we got black -- by combining everything. That couldn’t...more From ISawLightningFall.com

I don’t remember all that much about my elementary-school days. However, I do recall one art class in particular. My teacher held up a color wheel and pointed out the three primaries. Combining these in varying proportions, she explained, yielded the rest of the colors. Red and yellow made orange, yellow and blue formed green, and so on. This fascinated me, but what really blew my six-year-old mind was how she said we got black -- by combining everything. That couldn’t be right, could it? So I did what any doubtful kid would do: I dumped all my Crayolas on the desk and started wildly scribbling with each one on a fresh sheet of paper. A similar sense of unfettered experimentation marks Ted Dekker’s genre-bending novel Black.

Thomas Hunter has gotten himself into a fix. It was bad enough that he borrowed two-hundred grand from the Mob under false pretenses, but the fact that he hasn’t paid it back has made matters even more tense. Fleeing from a posse of contract killers through the backstreets of Denver, Thomas gets clipped on the head by a stray bullet and passes out. When he wakes up, he isn’t in the Rocky Mountain state. Or the USA. Or anywhere on earth, as far as he can tell. Thomas finds himself in a wood black as midnight being attacked by a horde of ferocious bat-like creatures. He soon collapses from blood loss -- and is back in Denver. He quickly learns that he’ll alternate realities every time loses consciousness and that both places are in danger of destruction, one from the bats (dubbed the Shataiki) and the other from a global pandemic (soon to be caused by a virus called the Raison Strain). Only Thomas isn’t sure which location is actually real and if he’s supposed to avert the disasters -- or be their cause.

Let’s admit it up front: Black is a bit of a mess. When it comes to genres, Dekker not only throws in the proverbial kitchen sink, he chucks in the bath tub, the washer and dryer, the dining room table, a chandelier, and some insulation to give things texture. In Black, you can detect a bit of (breath) the higgery-jiggery time-travel paradox of Twelve Monkeys; the viral terrors of The Hot Zone; the mythic strangeness of George MacDonald’s Lilith; the chop-socky fisticuffs from The Matrix; the spiritual allegory of C.S. Lewis’ Narnia series; the bosom-heaving passion of a Regency historical romance; the high-stakes geopolitics informing a Tom Clancy technothriller; and the perspective-bending horror of Silent Hill. Sounds awful, right? It isn’t, though. True, a lot of the novel doesn’t work. (The romantic interludes pretty much always fall flat.) But Dekker goes at it with such gusto that you can’t help reading on to see what combination he’ll try next and cheering him on when he succeeds. Black may not achieve a uniform sheen, but its palette is fun to behold.(less)

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Oct 05, 2009 Spenser rated it 4 of 5 stars

Black by Ted Dekker. My personal opinions.

Black by Ted Dekker is a hard book to describe in a sentence. It has a strange feel that tells you something like "Never put me down!" or "Just read one more chapter." And it surely did to me. Black is about Thomas Hunter, a man is constantly switching between two realities, One is our reality, one is the future. The problem is he cannot tell which one is really the true modern reality. The dreams feel so real, the touch feels like a touch, the air smell...more

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Jun 18, 2009 Adrienne rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, book-count-08

The book started slowly, and I read through many other books between starting this one and finishing it. But right about page 300, things started to pick up, and my attention was piqued. It also helped that I only had about 100 pages to go and needed one more book to get the book count to an even 80. But the final 100+ pages made me want very much to continue the trilogy, so I’ll be reading the other two books in 2009.**

Tom Hunter is a normal guy, just trying to get along in life. He works at a...more The book started slowly, and I read through many other books between starting this one and finishing it. But right about page 300, things started to pick up, and my attention was piqued. It also helped that I only had about 100 pages to go and needed one more book to get the book count to an even 80. But the final 100+ pages made me want very much to continue the trilogy, so I’ll be reading the other two books in 2009.**

Tom Hunter is a normal guy, just trying to get along in life. He works at a coffee shop in Denver and lives with his sister, a nurse. But then he starts having dreams, vivid dreams of another world, one that seems to be in the future. And Tom doesn’t quite belong there, and he’s learning disturbing things about his world, and he’s not sure which one is real, or if both are real. Every time he sleeps, in either world, he finds himself in the other one. It’s slightly confusing for a good portion of the book, but eventually I got it sorted. The trilogy is copyrighted 2004, and there are some very modern ideas/events in the book (September 11th gets a mention, as do the Borg from Star Trek, which made me laugh). Tom is an interesting character, but what I really found interesting was the other world, the future world that he dreams about. It reminded me slightly of CS Lewis’ Perelandra - a world without The Fall. Some of the other characters are interesting too: Tom’s sister Kara is cool, and the villian in our world, Valborg Svensson has some potential to be a compelling bad guy. Other characters, however, are the kind that you yell at in movies or on TV; you know, the “No, don’t do that! Don’t be stupid! Do you even watch the show?” type characters. I don’t have a whole lot of patience for those guys. But the rest of the story has become pretty compelling.

**I started the second book Red but after a while with it, I just couldn't finish. I don't know that I'll ever get back to this trilogy, but I may try and read more Dekker later.(less)

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Apr 28, 2009 Zoe Chang added it

“Black" written by Ted Dekker is the first book of a mind twisting thriller trilogy. As Thomas Hunter, the main character is fleeing from his pursuers, he is shot in the head then finds himself awake in another world where good and evil are separated by a designated river. He soon discovers that when he falls asleep in one world, he has awakened in the other world. In both worlds, something goes terribly wrong and the fate of both worlds is all depended on Thomas’ decision
This book was introduc...more “Black" written by Ted Dekker is the first book of a mind twisting thriller trilogy. As Thomas Hunter, the main character is fleeing from his pursuers, he is shot in the head then finds himself awake in another world where good and evil are separated by a designated river. He soon discovers that when he falls asleep in one world, he has awakened in the other world. In both worlds, something goes terribly wrong and the fate of both worlds is all depended on Thomas’ decision
This book was introduced to me by a friend who has read all of Ted Dekker’s books and has enjoyed them all. He highly suggested for me to read this trilogy because he loved it so much. I admit, in the beginning, I was not excited or the least bit interested in this book and even when I started to read. The beginning was dragging on just a little but towards the middle, the story starts to pick up the pace.
I think that Dekker did an amazing job at the descriptions of the setting where the story takes place since it jumps for one world to another. I was able to mentally visualize a setting and play it out in my head as I read the book to really understand it. I really enjoyed the part where Dekker described Thomas’ first encounter with Elyon in the water. I felt like I was getting drawn into the book and I can feel and relate to Thomas at that very moment.
Ted Dekker is a Christian author so in this book, he alludes to the story of Adam and Eve when Satan tempts Adam to eat the apple from the tree of knowledge where God has clearly given him the directions of not eating from that specific tree. Ted Dekker did a great job at connecting and relating the book with the Adam and Eve story as he connects the two worlds in the book with one another. Half way through the book, Thomas realizes that he can find answers as to how to save each world from the opposite world. I thought that the foreshadowing was really interesting yet it still kept me in suspense. I like my books or movies spoiled because I like to know how things end, so that just my own personal opinion. This book was able to tell me just enough as to what may happen next but not enough to know the entire ending which keeps me drawn and motivated to finish the book. Although this book is only the first book of a trilogy and I haven’t read the last two books therefore I do not know the final ending but I am very interested in finishing this trilogy.

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Apr 14, 2009 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: q-4-2009

I just read the book, Black, by Ted Dekker. This book is a mystery/suspense fiction novel. Tom Hunter is a guy in his twenties who lives in Denver, in an apartment with his sister. He works at a coffeeshop, and has several manuscripts of books he'd like published at home. He also was raised in the Philipines, learned how to defend himself against gangs there, and has borrowed a bunch of money that he has to pay back, which is why he's in Denver. He's running from the lenders. He's found by his l...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

To me, Dekker's writing in "Black" was what I would expect if C.S. Lewis and Orson Scott Card collaborated for a modern religious twit in the realm of fantasy.

Thomas Hunter escapes injury from a gunshot when his mind forces him into another Earth - a futuristic Earth where the line between good and evil is very visible. Those who are on the side of the world that embraces good are full of color, energy and life. Their fruit and water heal, create stamina, and laughter and friendship and LOVE abo...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Evan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't think the "Circles Trilogy" deserved more than an average rating. It wasn't bad, but hardly compelling. If you are a person of heavy "faith" who wants "a pass" for reading magical fiction (sci-fi/fantasy) without violating your beliefs, then an allegory novel series like this or Narnia help. if that's not an issue for you, isn't for me, these are average.

As the series unfolds it becomes increasingly obvious as a biblical allegory God/ Satan/Christ/Judas = Elyon/ Teeleh/ Justin /Johan, e...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Tom rated it 2 of 5 stars

I started off this book not realizing that it has been labeled "Christian Fiction"... or maybe "Christian Science Fiction". I'm not sure if I would have picked it up if I had known that. I think when something is pitched to a narrow audience (whoever that audience is) the writing/story doesn't need to be as good, because that audience is going to be more fanatic and forgiving.

I present as Exhibit A: Christian Rock music.

So I admit that my judgement of this book my be tainted, but for most of t...more I started off this book not realizing that it has been labeled "Christian Fiction"... or maybe "Christian Science Fiction". I'm not sure if I would have picked it up if I had known that. I think when something is pitched to a narrow audience (whoever that audience is) the writing/story doesn't need to be as good, because that audience is going to be more fanatic and forgiving.

I present as Exhibit A: Christian Rock music.

So I admit that my judgement of this book my be tainted, but for most of the book, I was simply not impressed. The concept is good - a man flips between two worlds whenever he falls asleep. The action is good too - the devil and his conspiring minions in World A, spies and deadly viruses in World B. But the overall execution seemed to be lukewarm and kind of naive.

World A (for most of the book) is Garden of Eden style, milquetoast- religious wish fulfillment... Wild lions are tame, friendly beasts! We can breathe underwater! We can fly! In the other world, the hero is trying to head off a deadly virus but with a complete simpleton's approach... Walk up to the front gate of the CDC and demand to speak to someone! In a more realistic story, wouldn't you start out local experts? Make some phone calls or send some emails? Build a solid case? Maybe the author didn't feel there was time. And his sister all too willingly drops her entire life and heads off on a crazy goose chase (does she not have a life and back story of her own?).

In both worlds, story threads get dropped in many places... what happened to the $100k the hero owed the mob and all those mob guys chasing him? And how did his sister walk off and place a big bet on the Kentucky Derby... how did she know who to call and how did she collect her $350,000? And what about that guy Bill on the Eden side who might either be a friend or a complete fiction? If there's no time correlation between the two worlds, why the rush to get knocked out (or put to sleep) all the time to make the transfer? Maybe some of these things will be wrapped up later, but right now it seems like the author is just scrambling as he goes along, covering up flaws in the story as best he can.

Moreover, things are just too bland to be interesting. Our hero falls in love with the very first woman he meets on the Eden world, but its a chaste, "can I hold your hand?" kind of love... blah. In the other world, he consistently tells the truth where at least withholding the entire, unvarnished truth, would serve him (and the story) better. So things don't really get interesting until the bad guys start showing up, doing evil deeds, and misleading everyone, which happens far too late in the tale.

The book completely ends a cliffhanger, so I'll stick around for book 2 and 3 to see where this goes.... maybe I'll change my attitude further along in the story.

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Aug 11, 2011 Caressa rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: couldn-t-finish

This falls into my category of Brilliant Idea Executed Poorly. I have always had wicked vivid dreams, so novels about dreamscapes, dreams vs reality, dreams portending the future, etc, fascinate me. "Black" intrigued me enough that I forced myself to read six or seven chapters, then I was so irritated that I ranted about it to my poor husband for 20-30 minutes.

What didn't I like? Characters who are at once both ridiculously unbelievable AND flat (our protagonist can't focus long enough to maint...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Kyle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Note: this review treats the whole series, of which this book is a part. No spoilers.

All in all, a bit disappointing. Dekker's strength is suspense; he kept me wanting to know what happened enough to read the whole series (Black, Red, White, Green) pretty quickly (~1600 pages). In the end, though, I'm not sure it was worth the time. He isn't a very good writer, his plots are predictable, the Christian imagery is a bit heavy-handed (extremely so at times), and aspects of the story went beyond my...more

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Feb 05, 2011 Rae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, rae-s-usual-haunts

For the first book in a trilogy, as it was when Dekker originally published it, this book was incredible. It was fast-paced, original, creative, and very, very intense. I can remember reading it several years ago when it came out; I was already a Dekker fan, and Black was slated to be something different from his normal fare of suspenseful thrillers as it delved into two different worlds. The result? I was instantly captivated.

Coming back years later to reread it, however, my perspective has ch...more For the first book in a trilogy, as it was when Dekker originally published it, this book was incredible. It was fast-paced, original, creative, and very, very intense. I can remember reading it several years ago when it came out; I was already a Dekker fan, and Black was slated to be something different from his normal fare of suspenseful thrillers as it delved into two different worlds. The result? I was instantly captivated.

Coming back years later to reread it, however, my perspective has changed, especially since I reread it after reading Green. The book was less than stellar following Green, even though I'd forgotten several details of Thomas Hunter's journey into a world where he was to become the man he was famed for being in Green. It's just too difficult for me to wrap my head around the trilogy becoming four books that can be read forwards or backwards almost. It doesn't make sense to me to be quite frank.

However, for what it's worth, Black, when read as the beginning of the trilogy, is an excellent read, full of intriguing plot devices and engaging characters. I spent most of the book when I originally read it and during my reread analyzing the characters' motivations, and I still find myself amazed at Dekker's ability to create Hunter's dream world, which is the world of the future or the histories, depending on how you read it. His world is rich and vibrant, and his depiction of God is one that still makes me smile and adds depth to my own understanding of God.

I would definitely recommend this book as one to be read, but I would caution that it should be read as the beginning of the series and not as the second, following Green. There's something lacking if you read it in that order that I can't quite explain. Even so, it's fast-paced enough that it can be read quickly, and it draws you in quickly, leaving you yearning for the end of the story. That is something Dekker has definitely mastered, and I must admit Black still intrigues me with the myriad implications it has not only for this world but for the forces we can't see. It's--at the very least--a fascinating idea. (less)

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About Ted Dekker

Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.

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Books by Ted Dekker

White: The Great Pursuit (The Circle, #3)

Green: The Beginning and the End (The Circle, #0)

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Quotes from Black: The Birth of Evil

“Come hither, my dear. Come hither, that I mightest protectest thou!” — 25 people liked it

“Some would say the Creator is a lamb. Some would say he's a lion. Some would say both. The fact is, he is neither a lamb nor a lion. These are fiction. Metaphors. Yet the Creator is both a lamb and a lion. These are both truths.” — 13 people liked it

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Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle Series #1)

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