Orbit of Darkness

by Ian MacMillan

A Jesuit priest volunteers to sacrifice his life in place of another inmate in a German death camp, in an unsparing look at the horrors of the Holocaust

305 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1991

Reviews

[Joel Cuthbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Profoundly difficult and overtly graphic in it’s depiction of suffering. A slow and steady stare in the face of human cruelty. I for one can find these wholly unflinching examinations of human suffering to be healthy and philosophically enriching but I did find this book failed to really offer any possibility of take-away. The central string of a priest in a concentration camp gave off the illusion of a difficult hope, but ultimately seemed to be a stronger splash in an infinite pool of cruelty. I’d be possibly more convinced if there was some elaboration of the author’s intent with the book. It feels too sacred to be exploitive but too inconclusive to be fully useful. I’m uncertain with this one.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, I think MacMillan wanted to cause an impression. And he certainly did. Jarringly gruesome descriptions of pain, suffering and unimaginable acts of violence towards innocent people perpetrated by the Nazis.
The stories don't contain a whole lot of substance and seem written purely to make your stomach turn, which they achieve.
I definitely recommend it, these acts of senseless violence have happened and are a black part of our history as a society, which we mustn't forget.