Tolkien Meets Science-Fiction

Black: The Birth of Evil (The Circle Trilogy, Book 1)

by Ted Dekker

 

Imagine an apocalyptic scenario in the near future in which, due to a virus, mankind stands on the verge of annihilation. 

Then imagine a Tolkien-nish world with sword fights, ork-like creatures, medieval communities, and brave men. 

Now bring the two worlds together through someone who always wakes up in the one reality when he falls asleep in the other, and who, through his constant travel between the two realities, is the crucial person in both. 

Voila! You’ve got the fascinating premise of the trilogy. 

Some might find this too tall of a tale, but I was enthralled. The first chapter or two left me a little confused. Then, however, the story took on more definite shape and I was served several of my favorite types of literature in one book: classic fantasy, edge-of-your-seat science-fiction, and a supernatural thriller. 

Given this superb combination, possible imperfections of the book faded into insignificance. 

Be warned, though: The book is not a complete novel on its own but only the first third of a story published in three parts. Moreover, it ends with a cliffhanger. So if you only buy the first book of the trilogy and enjoy it at all, you’ll want to pick up the second book right after finishing “Black.”