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Paradise #1
Showdown
Welcome to Paradise.
Epic battles of good and evil are happening all around us.
Today that battle comes to town with the sound of lone footsteps clacking down the blacktop on a hot, lazy summer afternoon. The black-cloaked man arrives in the sleepy town of Paradise and manages to become the talk of the town within the hour. Bearing the power to grant any unfulfilled dream, he is irresistible.
Seems like bliss . . . but is it?
Or is hell about to break loose in Paradise?
Epic battles of good and evil are happening all around us.
Today that battle comes to town with the sound of lone footsteps clacking down the blacktop on a hot, lazy summer afternoon. The black-cloaked man arrives in the sleepy town of Paradise and manages to become the talk of the town within the hour. Bearing the power to grant any unfulfilled dream, he is irresistible.
Seems like bliss . . . but is it?
Or is hell about to break loose in Paradise?
367 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2005
315 people are currently reading
5948 people want to read
About the author
Ted Dekker
201 books9,857 followersTed 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 594 reviews
August 4, 2007
If there were ever the opportunity to recreate original sin, this may be how it would turn out.
Showdown starts out enigmatic, and continues to keep you guessing through to the end. There were times I had to walk away,thinking "how can things get any worse!", but was always drawn back to find out what happened next.
Read the Circle Trilogy first. Thomas Hunter comes into this story line and you will appreciate the background.
Ted has given us a fantastic story where many what-ifs of mankind and christianity are explored.
This would make a tremendous movie!
Showdown starts out enigmatic, and continues to keep you guessing through to the end. There were times I had to walk away,thinking "how can things get any worse!", but was always drawn back to find out what happened next.
Read the Circle Trilogy first. Thomas Hunter comes into this story line and you will appreciate the background.
Ted has given us a fantastic story where many what-ifs of mankind and christianity are explored.
This would make a tremendous movie!
March 10, 2011
Oh boy...
I picked up this book because it was on someone's 'best Christian reads of..." list. I was sorely disappointed. Dekker is no different than many of the novelists of today. The book has all the marks of the hastily written, sloppily edited pulp that fills the racks of airport bookstores.
The back of the book jacket says that Dekker 'is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil.' I probably should have known at that point this wasn't likely to be the book for me. It certainly was 'adrenaline laced' and I'm unlikely to forget some of the characters, but the plot itself is so ridiculous one can hardly read a page without rolling one's eyes in disbelief.
Dekker's story is like a violent 'A Separate Peace' on hallucinogens. A coming of age moral tale in an altered, doped up, wild west world replete with worm psychedelic worm goop, eye-pulled from your sockets violence, and a magical traveling preacher fitted out head to toe in leather.
All of that might be excusable if there were some significant moral themes that were served or philosophical or religious dialogue of any substance. Dekker certainly is aiming for that, but he really doesn't succeed as these portions are convoluted at best and adolescent at worst. And perhaps most annoying to me, Dekker has a few inane phrases he keeps repeating again and again throughout the book (e.g. "what a trip"). I sincerely didn't understand the purpose of these phrases as they didn't provide any additional narrative coherence or deeper moral understanding.
I picked up this book because it was on someone's 'best Christian reads of..." list. I was sorely disappointed. Dekker is no different than many of the novelists of today. The book has all the marks of the hastily written, sloppily edited pulp that fills the racks of airport bookstores.
The back of the book jacket says that Dekker 'is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil.' I probably should have known at that point this wasn't likely to be the book for me. It certainly was 'adrenaline laced' and I'm unlikely to forget some of the characters, but the plot itself is so ridiculous one can hardly read a page without rolling one's eyes in disbelief.
Dekker's story is like a violent 'A Separate Peace' on hallucinogens. A coming of age moral tale in an altered, doped up, wild west world replete with worm psychedelic worm goop, eye-pulled from your sockets violence, and a magical traveling preacher fitted out head to toe in leather.
All of that might be excusable if there were some significant moral themes that were served or philosophical or religious dialogue of any substance. Dekker certainly is aiming for that, but he really doesn't succeed as these portions are convoluted at best and adolescent at worst. And perhaps most annoying to me, Dekker has a few inane phrases he keeps repeating again and again throughout the book (e.g. "what a trip"). I sincerely didn't understand the purpose of these phrases as they didn't provide any additional narrative coherence or deeper moral understanding.
May 27, 2009
For my English final I chose to read this novel. This was the first novel I ever read by Ted and when I started reading it, I was completely confused. However, my friend who I borrowed the book from told me to keep reading and that I would soon start to love it. I am very glad I listened to him. It took me less than a week to read the book and I can honestly say it is one of the best books I have ever read. The way Ted composed the story, the flipping back and forth between the Monastery and Paradise, kept me on the edge of my seat. Just as something big started to happen in Paradise, Ted took me up to the Monastery and vice versa, which is one reason I could not put the book down. I just had to know what happened next. I also loved the way Ted transformed the monumental battle between good and evil into a struggle between and innocent child and an evil adult. I thought the symbolism was genius.
This book kept me up many nights because I absolutely could not put it down, which is how all of Ted’s books are. Just when you think you have figured something out, he throws a new piece of information at you which turns your point of view 180 degrees around. The book keeps you constantly guessing and asking that never ending question of “what next?”
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, action, adventures, or simply a good read. It will always keep you wondering what trouble the characters will get into next and what situations will be thrown your way. If you like action-packed, suspenseful, heart-pounding, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller movies, then you will absolutely love any one of Ted Dekker’s book.
This book kept me up many nights because I absolutely could not put it down, which is how all of Ted’s books are. Just when you think you have figured something out, he throws a new piece of information at you which turns your point of view 180 degrees around. The book keeps you constantly guessing and asking that never ending question of “what next?”
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, action, adventures, or simply a good read. It will always keep you wondering what trouble the characters will get into next and what situations will be thrown your way. If you like action-packed, suspenseful, heart-pounding, keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat thriller movies, then you will absolutely love any one of Ted Dekker’s book.
August 15, 2013
"The sound of boots crunching into gravel carried across the blacktop while the man who wore them was still a shimmering black figure approaching the sign that read Welcome to Paradise, Colorado. Population 450.
The opening sentence of the first chapter is incredibly vivid and concise. It's all too easy to lose yourself in Ted Dekker's fictional town, and the multiple senses further cement your locale.
And two pages prior, courtesy of a telling and intriguing prologue, I was officially introduced to Marsuvees Black, whose very presence inevitably sent shivers along my spine. Black got into my head. He was about the embark upon a journey of a lifetime. A wild trip, if you will.
The prologue blew me away, rendering me speechless and addicted.
As I delved deeper, however, I found myself strangely underwhelmed. The precision and clarity of such works like Adam and the Circle series simply aren't here. Call it lazy writing or what you will, Showdown is really lacking a lot.
Regarding the unclear (or vague) writing, much of it required me to go back and actually re-read innumerous passages in order to fully grasp them. Admittedly, there were a few occasions where I lost focus, and going back helped clarify what was going on, but sadly those were few and far between.
As Paradise gradually unraveled, key characters like Johnny Drake and Samuel Abraham were forced to find ways of coping with their predicament, and by doing so you'd think the full scope of their characters would come to light. Sadly, that never happened. Though there is minimal growth, most of them were rather flat.
Throughout the novel, Dekker played with a fascinating concept: ignorance as spiritual blindness. With the exemption of a select few, the town's population are completely oblivious to what should be painfully obvious. The rapidity with which Marsuvees works, and especially the extent they're willing to go, are prime examples of this.
But typical of Dekker, he takes things much further, peppering the work with profound statements that consistently astounded me.
"Everything each of us does affects the others. None of lives in a vacuum. We're simply children on a quest to gain the highest forms of wisdom without being compromised in the process. But when one is compromised, the others are compromised. You see that, don't you?"
My absolute favorite aspect of the book was the importance of writing, and the fact that words are indeed powerful. I've always been drawn to stories centered around writing (and, by extension, the craft itself,) but what the author achieved here, and the methods used to pull it off, do not parallel anything I've ever read.. except for the Circle series, which shares similar concepts and is clearly connected. This is a story only Dekker could have written, IMO.
Neither do I believe these elements were merely incorporated for the sake of making it more interesting. I believe it was his intent to explore the power of the written word as a primary theme. As if to help support this, John 1:1-2 was inserted into the text:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. He was with God in the beginning."
Ahh.. the immense power of words. Its utter capacity is truly indescribable.
“Live to discover, as long as discovery leads to a love that comes from the Creator... writing was the mirror to life.”
At the heart of the novel is mankind's struggle of Good v. Evil. It's an interesting take on Original Sin, as seen in Genesis 3. Albeit incredibly cliche, the devil's in the details, as the saying goes. 'Battles are being fought all around us,' after all.
“The battle over flesh and blood cannot compare to the battle for the heart.”
-White
Coupled with flat characters and vague depictions, I found many contrivances throughout, and Samuel's was slightly predictable. For obvious reasons, it's also lacking in originality.
Last but certainly not least (my most passionate critique, in fact,) was the huge discrepancy between the all too brief version of Thomas of Hunter here, and that seen in the four books comprising the epic Circle series. Perhaps I was at a disadvantage, having read the latter first, but why should that make a difference? In the Author's Note, he even tells us Dekkies that they can be read in pretty much any order. He designed them to be read as such. "The Books of History Chronicles are unique because they are circular, not linear."
As the first part of the trilogy thankfully drew to a close, I certainly had my reservations. I wasn't entirely certain that I'd even continue reading them. Yet, the last 100 or so pages pulled me back in with several jaw-dropping twists, relentless suspense, and one profound event that left me breathless.
How could I NOT keep going??
In closing,“There’s different ways to be impacted by truth. One is to read the scriptures. Another is to read other works by other people who have read the scriptures, non fiction for example. Another is to do studies. Another is to go to a place of worship. Another thing is to sit and listen to someone who’s speaking. There’s all kinds of ways. Another way is to write. About the truth. Discover the struggle through your character.”
November 21, 2019
A hidden monastery in the mountains. A small town in the valley. An epic battle between good and evil. Gripping. A book nearly impossible to put down. Shows the salvation story in a different light.
May 9, 2020
The first few pages of this book were interesting but pretty soon it became pretty clear that this story would be turning into a hot mess eventually. And it did.
There are many problems with this novel. Dekker's writing style is clearly inspired by Stephen King and he makes no attempt at hiding that. The small town setting, the many characters who all seem to have some skeletons in their closets, the apocalyptic/supernatural elements, the fact that the book is part of an extended universe... But, unlike King's characters, the ones in this novel are poorly written. We are clumsily introduced to a lot of them in a very short time span very early with the effect that they all kind of blend together. It's hard to care about any of the characters, too. They are one-dimensional and mostly unlikable. Big problem right there. But only one of many.
Another big problem is that the plot itself is, simply put, nonsense. Dekker introduces some pretty wild concepts here that follow very unclear and at times paradox rules. To make it even worse, he presents them as God's doing and explicitly compares them to the biblical accounts of miracles. Theologically, a mess. He undermines the importance and truth of the biblical accounts by putting them on one level with his fantasies, while simultaneously trying to convey a message originating from the Bible. The results are disastrous. Nothing fits. The book sits in a weird and awkward place between blasphemy and preachiness that can only come off as offensive to both Christians and people of different beliefs.
I have to be fair though and give Dekker credit where credit is due. This is a horror novel and in that regard it works to an extent. Some scenes are pretty gruesome and twisted. Unfortunately, that doesn't save the book from being a mess in the slightest.
There are many problems with this novel. Dekker's writing style is clearly inspired by Stephen King and he makes no attempt at hiding that. The small town setting, the many characters who all seem to have some skeletons in their closets, the apocalyptic/supernatural elements, the fact that the book is part of an extended universe... But, unlike King's characters, the ones in this novel are poorly written. We are clumsily introduced to a lot of them in a very short time span very early with the effect that they all kind of blend together. It's hard to care about any of the characters, too. They are one-dimensional and mostly unlikable. Big problem right there. But only one of many.
Another big problem is that the plot itself is, simply put, nonsense. Dekker introduces some pretty wild concepts here that follow very unclear and at times paradox rules. To make it even worse, he presents them as God's doing and explicitly compares them to the biblical accounts of miracles. Theologically, a mess. He undermines the importance and truth of the biblical accounts by putting them on one level with his fantasies, while simultaneously trying to convey a message originating from the Bible. The results are disastrous. Nothing fits. The book sits in a weird and awkward place between blasphemy and preachiness that can only come off as offensive to both Christians and people of different beliefs.
I have to be fair though and give Dekker credit where credit is due. This is a horror novel and in that regard it works to an extent. Some scenes are pretty gruesome and twisted. Unfortunately, that doesn't save the book from being a mess in the slightest.
June 8, 2012
Byyyy the way there's a couple spoilers in here.
Honestly, this book puts me out a little. I don't mind a little blood and gore, but removing warts is considered a miracle? Come on! I'm only half way through, but I figured I'd post while it's still fresh on my mind. Besides the whole wart miracle, some of the plot is plain ridiculous. I find myself laughing aloud in what is supposed to be the most serious places. Dramatic horror scenes designed to revolt the audience as the character plods along innocently. Decently written, to be sure, but the key word here is 'designed'. Some of the plot seems so forced it's like reading a history book. I'll have to see if it gets any better.
* * * *
Aaaaaaaaaand, drum roll please........... I FINISHED THE BOOK!.... and that pretty much sums up my impression of the book. The writing style was the only thing that kept me reading. The plot flowed nicely, but it was kinda ridiculous. Again, it seemed really controlled. The characters felt like puppets being dragged around a stage, with the possible exception of Johnny. But Johnny seemed like he was there to watch the story and dutifully retell it to readers.
Besides the weird plot and awkward characters, it got a little too mushy for me. Anything anyone ever said in the upper parts of the monastery can be boiled down to, "Love rocks! You should totally ignore the rest of the world because love is, like, rad, man!"
The love theme was so overdone that by the end of the book I was ready to switch sides and bludgeon them to death myself.
The end redeemed the book somewhat, condensing itself into fast-paced action that tied itself up nicely, leaving room for the next one. The only complaint I have about this part is Billy's sudden character reversal. He goes from inching by millimeters back to the good side to completely changing his entire view in a second. Granted, he was no longer writing or under the influence of Black and the worm-slime, but not even a remnant of the person he had become was left. Kind of plausible, but a little too tidy.
My overall impression was a semi-enjoyable read that I occasionally dreaded picking up again, but with a good writing style and an interesting, if overdone, premise.
January 15, 2015
WOW, this book was AMAZING to me. A very real & Classic battle of Good vs Evil. It had me, from pg 3, hook, line, and sinker. Dekker has a way with drawing his readers in. It's hard to escape the intensity that practically oozes out of the pages, and wow I got sucked in hard core. And the plot blew me away. I could not put the book down. This is Dekker at his best IMO!
In this story Dekker brings to his readers a small town setting with a low population, but with a high risk of evil. He made it feel like as you read you could walk out your front door and be immersed into the town of Paradise if it weren't for Marsuvees Black running rampant in the streets. What a great character to love to hate? The amount of evil this man possesses will baffle you.
All of the characters in this story were made to feel so real, from the things they said to the emotions they displayed. You really did become a part of the story. My favorites were Samuel and Johnny. Wow they had a plateful for sure. A couple of teenage boys on the brink of devastation. I loved their perseverance and courage.
Billy is another character I will never forget. So many things describe his character. Lost, evil, troubled, powerful, and so many more. Dekker allows you to peek inside his head and can literally see destruction and desperation as it's foundation. A very memorable character.
Dekker draws out all of his reader's emotions with this tale. And when I say that, I don't say it lightly. It was a very profound read that make you feel so much more than you could ever imagine. Almost too much, to a point of having to walk away for a moment or two. Readers won't be disappointed. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy!
Wanna trip like I do? Wanna trip?
In this story Dekker brings to his readers a small town setting with a low population, but with a high risk of evil. He made it feel like as you read you could walk out your front door and be immersed into the town of Paradise if it weren't for Marsuvees Black running rampant in the streets. What a great character to love to hate? The amount of evil this man possesses will baffle you.
All of the characters in this story were made to feel so real, from the things they said to the emotions they displayed. You really did become a part of the story. My favorites were Samuel and Johnny. Wow they had a plateful for sure. A couple of teenage boys on the brink of devastation. I loved their perseverance and courage.
Billy is another character I will never forget. So many things describe his character. Lost, evil, troubled, powerful, and so many more. Dekker allows you to peek inside his head and can literally see destruction and desperation as it's foundation. A very memorable character.
Dekker draws out all of his reader's emotions with this tale. And when I say that, I don't say it lightly. It was a very profound read that make you feel so much more than you could ever imagine. Almost too much, to a point of having to walk away for a moment or two. Readers won't be disappointed. I look forward to the rest of this trilogy!
Wanna trip like I do? Wanna trip?
June 5, 2017
Disclaimer: My rating for this book might not be entirely fair, considering I read only the first few chapters before skimming another 100 pages or so.
The cover had me excited, since I'm generally a sucker for modern Westerns. Unfortunately, SHOWDOWN starts off lousy and only gets worse as the story progresses.
I've read (or at least started) several other Dekker novels, and while he's adept at coming up with some memorable concepts, his writing style is generally sloppy, and he struggles at making his bizarre plot lines even the least bit believable. However, since so few professional authors apart from Frank Peretti are known for writing Christian horror-thrillers without any sex or swearing in them, Dekker has amassed a significant readership among people looking for fiction that is edgy but safe. Problem is, "edgy" and "safe" rarely go hand-in-hand.
Such is the case with SHOWDOWN, a tepid supernatural thriller in which characters say things like "Jiminy Cricket!" when overcome with surprise or terror. The book introduces a memorable antagonist in the character of Marsuvees Black, who is actually just a dime-store version of Randal Flagg from Stephen King's THE STAND. When Marsuvees Black walks into Paradise, Colorado and stirs up mayhem, Dekker is obviously striving to be scary, cool, and thought-provoking. What he actually comes across as, however, is unconvincing, dorky, and lame. Everything about the book seems a bit off, preventing you from becoming invested in the story. Dekker compounds the problem by stuffing in as many Christian themes and religious references as possible, with little regard as to whether or not they truly belong within the context of the story. From the very beginning, the book seemed totally contrived and artificial. After a while, I began to skim, and still nothing jumped out at me as being particularly interesting.
Based on my enjoyment of the book THR3E, I believe Dekker is capable of doing good work. But SHOWDOWN is not a reflection of this. Some may like it for its Christian message and lack of anything objectionable (apart from the violence, I mean), but I personally find it sad that the Christian community doesn't demand a little more from its authors.
The cover had me excited, since I'm generally a sucker for modern Westerns. Unfortunately, SHOWDOWN starts off lousy and only gets worse as the story progresses.
I've read (or at least started) several other Dekker novels, and while he's adept at coming up with some memorable concepts, his writing style is generally sloppy, and he struggles at making his bizarre plot lines even the least bit believable. However, since so few professional authors apart from Frank Peretti are known for writing Christian horror-thrillers without any sex or swearing in them, Dekker has amassed a significant readership among people looking for fiction that is edgy but safe. Problem is, "edgy" and "safe" rarely go hand-in-hand.
Such is the case with SHOWDOWN, a tepid supernatural thriller in which characters say things like "Jiminy Cricket!" when overcome with surprise or terror. The book introduces a memorable antagonist in the character of Marsuvees Black, who is actually just a dime-store version of Randal Flagg from Stephen King's THE STAND. When Marsuvees Black walks into Paradise, Colorado and stirs up mayhem, Dekker is obviously striving to be scary, cool, and thought-provoking. What he actually comes across as, however, is unconvincing, dorky, and lame. Everything about the book seems a bit off, preventing you from becoming invested in the story. Dekker compounds the problem by stuffing in as many Christian themes and religious references as possible, with little regard as to whether or not they truly belong within the context of the story. From the very beginning, the book seemed totally contrived and artificial. After a while, I began to skim, and still nothing jumped out at me as being particularly interesting.
Based on my enjoyment of the book THR3E, I believe Dekker is capable of doing good work. But SHOWDOWN is not a reflection of this. Some may like it for its Christian message and lack of anything objectionable (apart from the violence, I mean), but I personally find it sad that the Christian community doesn't demand a little more from its authors.
March 27, 2022
Wanna trip, baby?
Following the breakout success of The Circle Trilogy, Dekker returned to a book he’d had rejected multiple times, cleaned it up, and pitched it to Thomas Nelson as the first book in a new trilogy—one that also had connections to the world of the Circle. Only one problem: While Dekker’s previous work had either stayed entirely within the accepted boundaries of “Christian Fiction” (see The Caleb Books) or toed the boundary line but in a way that had a safe precedent (see When Heaven Weeps), this new novel was speculative fiction with a dark twist. It was King or Koontz, not something you’d see in the Christian market.
Originally called Storytellers, this novel—ultimately called Showdown—riffed off of the words in the book of John about “the word made flesh.” This connection to a piece of Scripture is thematically similar to a lot of early Dekker novels (see Thr3e and Obsessed). The novel follows a group of children separated from the world and raised in a monastery to test the purity of their faith. (And if this plotline seems familiar, it’s because Dekker uses it in Blessed Child.) Specifically, the children have been raised in the monastery in Paradise so that they would have a pure enough faith to write in blank books that make whatever is written in them come true.
Readers who have read The Circle Trilogy will understand that these are the famed Books of History that disappeared from Other Earth in White. I mention all of these connections to show how the theme of Showdown was present in all of Dekker’s earlier work. He may not have been able to get Showdown published at the time, but it didn’t stop him from exploring those themes in his writing. With the success of The Circle Trilogy, Dekker finally had the opportunity to tell the story the way he really wanted—and the mega-series The Books of History Chronicles was born.
Showdown is about the sleepy town of Paradise, Colorado. The residents are unaware that a secret monastery lies in the mountains outside of town; even more unaware that there’s an experiment going on that could change the world. David Abraham, Project Showdown’s founder, has gathered special children from all over the world and raised them in this monastery for the sole purpose of being able to correct the world’s wrongs by writing in the books that create truth. Only one problem: Marsuvees Black.
Things begin to unravel in Paradise, Colorado, when the polyester-clad Black strolls into town like a charismatic urban cowboy preacher. With his theatrics—and a bit of hallucinogenic worm sludge—he has the town eating out of his hand, offering them a salvation that comes through letting their depraved passions run free. Dekker lets the story play out with all the bizarreness and unpredictability he can muster. Being restrained by the boundaries of Christian Fiction actually makes the actions of Paradise’s residents that much weirder, as Dekker searches to convey the story’s symbolism of sin without going full Stephen King.
Meanwhile, the monastery is coming apart at the seams as well. The children have, to this point, been unaware of the blank books. And when—led by Black—thirteen-year-old Billy discovers them, he leads a fair number of the students into the dungeons to write a story about the desecration of Paradise. His actions, along with the nature of the monastery, present more of a threat than almost anyone at the monastery actually knows.
Showdown is a fast-paced thriller with layers of symbolism heaped into a redemptive story. At times, the symbolism outweighs the plot’s realism, meaning that Dekker’s story, while obviously supernatural, doesn’t always seem believable even within the story. He recreates the fall of humanity into sin through Billy’s temptation by Black into the dungeons. The desecration of Paradise is played out through the stories written in the blank books that affect the town of Paradise in the valley below. While wildly different in tone and genre, Showdown is every bit the retelling of redemptive history that the Circle Trilogy is. Even today, some fifteen years after I first read Showdown and having read it a dozen times since, I still find new nuances and layers to Dekker’s theme.
Marsuvees Black may be the villain of the story, but in 2006 when Dekker brought Showdown to the Christian Fiction market, he was offering to them a Gospel that made them cringe just a bit. Little bit of Grace and Hope, little bit of shaking up the Christian Bookseller’s Association, little bit of portraying evil as truly evil and painting it with dark and black brushstrokes. Dekker, was, in essence, asking CBA publishers and readers if they too wanted to trip.
Showdown was darker and weirder than Christian Fiction got at the time and when it was first released, one review called it “long on fiction and short on Christianity” while another called it “not at all for Christians.” This mirrored some of the criticism Dekker received from publishers when shopping it around. It was “too much like Stephen King and not enough like Beverly Lewis or something like that,” Dekker writes in prologue of The Paradise Trilogy omnibus edition. But the book becomes its own apologist in the first forty pages. Through the voice of his characters, Dekker writes:
“How dare a child of God look away from the pain of evil—doing so undermines the grace that conquers evil. Of course we don’t sin for the sake of grace, but neither do we sweep evil under a rug and pretend it doesn’t exist” (p. 38).
Showdown accomplishes that masterfully. True, I would’ve liked to have seen more depth in characterization of Paradise’s residents. True, Dekker has to really work hard to contrive the story’s setup and how the books came to Paradise. And, true, as the Books of History Chronicles spread, not all the tendrils would connect quite so well. But these things are minor. Showdown is the best book it could have been at the time under the parameters Dekker had to get it published. Even then, it was a bold move that could have tanked his fledgling career. Instead, it gave us his some of his best work and his most iconic villain.
Following the breakout success of The Circle Trilogy, Dekker returned to a book he’d had rejected multiple times, cleaned it up, and pitched it to Thomas Nelson as the first book in a new trilogy—one that also had connections to the world of the Circle. Only one problem: While Dekker’s previous work had either stayed entirely within the accepted boundaries of “Christian Fiction” (see The Caleb Books) or toed the boundary line but in a way that had a safe precedent (see When Heaven Weeps), this new novel was speculative fiction with a dark twist. It was King or Koontz, not something you’d see in the Christian market.
Originally called Storytellers, this novel—ultimately called Showdown—riffed off of the words in the book of John about “the word made flesh.” This connection to a piece of Scripture is thematically similar to a lot of early Dekker novels (see Thr3e and Obsessed). The novel follows a group of children separated from the world and raised in a monastery to test the purity of their faith. (And if this plotline seems familiar, it’s because Dekker uses it in Blessed Child.) Specifically, the children have been raised in the monastery in Paradise so that they would have a pure enough faith to write in blank books that make whatever is written in them come true.
Readers who have read The Circle Trilogy will understand that these are the famed Books of History that disappeared from Other Earth in White. I mention all of these connections to show how the theme of Showdown was present in all of Dekker’s earlier work. He may not have been able to get Showdown published at the time, but it didn’t stop him from exploring those themes in his writing. With the success of The Circle Trilogy, Dekker finally had the opportunity to tell the story the way he really wanted—and the mega-series The Books of History Chronicles was born.
Showdown is about the sleepy town of Paradise, Colorado. The residents are unaware that a secret monastery lies in the mountains outside of town; even more unaware that there’s an experiment going on that could change the world. David Abraham, Project Showdown’s founder, has gathered special children from all over the world and raised them in this monastery for the sole purpose of being able to correct the world’s wrongs by writing in the books that create truth. Only one problem: Marsuvees Black.
Things begin to unravel in Paradise, Colorado, when the polyester-clad Black strolls into town like a charismatic urban cowboy preacher. With his theatrics—and a bit of hallucinogenic worm sludge—he has the town eating out of his hand, offering them a salvation that comes through letting their depraved passions run free. Dekker lets the story play out with all the bizarreness and unpredictability he can muster. Being restrained by the boundaries of Christian Fiction actually makes the actions of Paradise’s residents that much weirder, as Dekker searches to convey the story’s symbolism of sin without going full Stephen King.
Meanwhile, the monastery is coming apart at the seams as well. The children have, to this point, been unaware of the blank books. And when—led by Black—thirteen-year-old Billy discovers them, he leads a fair number of the students into the dungeons to write a story about the desecration of Paradise. His actions, along with the nature of the monastery, present more of a threat than almost anyone at the monastery actually knows.
Showdown is a fast-paced thriller with layers of symbolism heaped into a redemptive story. At times, the symbolism outweighs the plot’s realism, meaning that Dekker’s story, while obviously supernatural, doesn’t always seem believable even within the story. He recreates the fall of humanity into sin through Billy’s temptation by Black into the dungeons. The desecration of Paradise is played out through the stories written in the blank books that affect the town of Paradise in the valley below. While wildly different in tone and genre, Showdown is every bit the retelling of redemptive history that the Circle Trilogy is. Even today, some fifteen years after I first read Showdown and having read it a dozen times since, I still find new nuances and layers to Dekker’s theme.
Marsuvees Black may be the villain of the story, but in 2006 when Dekker brought Showdown to the Christian Fiction market, he was offering to them a Gospel that made them cringe just a bit. Little bit of Grace and Hope, little bit of shaking up the Christian Bookseller’s Association, little bit of portraying evil as truly evil and painting it with dark and black brushstrokes. Dekker, was, in essence, asking CBA publishers and readers if they too wanted to trip.
Showdown was darker and weirder than Christian Fiction got at the time and when it was first released, one review called it “long on fiction and short on Christianity” while another called it “not at all for Christians.” This mirrored some of the criticism Dekker received from publishers when shopping it around. It was “too much like Stephen King and not enough like Beverly Lewis or something like that,” Dekker writes in prologue of The Paradise Trilogy omnibus edition. But the book becomes its own apologist in the first forty pages. Through the voice of his characters, Dekker writes:
“How dare a child of God look away from the pain of evil—doing so undermines the grace that conquers evil. Of course we don’t sin for the sake of grace, but neither do we sweep evil under a rug and pretend it doesn’t exist” (p. 38).
Showdown accomplishes that masterfully. True, I would’ve liked to have seen more depth in characterization of Paradise’s residents. True, Dekker has to really work hard to contrive the story’s setup and how the books came to Paradise. And, true, as the Books of History Chronicles spread, not all the tendrils would connect quite so well. But these things are minor. Showdown is the best book it could have been at the time under the parameters Dekker had to get it published. Even then, it was a bold move that could have tanked his fledgling career. Instead, it gave us his some of his best work and his most iconic villain.
October 27, 2024
I literally loved reading this book! Can't wait to read the 2nd one (Saint). It taught me that you indeed have to know between good and evil. And what's really of God and what isn't. Evil might come off like it's good, and fun, and the easy way out, but in the end, Love wins!!!
August 19, 2024
It was a very good book! Ted Dekker is a very talented author.
February 10, 2011
Showdown - good vs. evil - another epic saga by Ted Dekker. One thing I love about Ted Dekker's book is that he pulls characters from various books of his. Somehow, they all seem to be connected to each other, though they are great stand-alone novels, as well.
Here is the synopsis from the book itself:
"It begins on a lazy summer day in a small, secluded mountain town named Paradise. But in Paradise, nothing is as it seems.
When a stranger named Marsuvees Black appears and announces he’s come to bring hope and grace to Paradise, the town isn’t sure how to respond. He offers dazzling love, hope, faith, and fun . . . the kind of fun everyone desires but is too timid to pursue. He knows the unspoken secrets of each person’s heart–and has the power to grant them.
Tucked deep in the nearby canyons is a monastery long hidden from the world. Within its walls is power beyond comprehension. Yet that power is quickly slipping out of control.
As dark clouds and sandstorms shut Paradise off from the rest of the world, the unthinkable happens. Readers will be shocked as they discover the true secrets of this sleepy town. The ultimate collision between good and evil begins . . . with Showdown."
Here is the synopsis from the book itself:
"It begins on a lazy summer day in a small, secluded mountain town named Paradise. But in Paradise, nothing is as it seems.
When a stranger named Marsuvees Black appears and announces he’s come to bring hope and grace to Paradise, the town isn’t sure how to respond. He offers dazzling love, hope, faith, and fun . . . the kind of fun everyone desires but is too timid to pursue. He knows the unspoken secrets of each person’s heart–and has the power to grant them.
Tucked deep in the nearby canyons is a monastery long hidden from the world. Within its walls is power beyond comprehension. Yet that power is quickly slipping out of control.
As dark clouds and sandstorms shut Paradise off from the rest of the world, the unthinkable happens. Readers will be shocked as they discover the true secrets of this sleepy town. The ultimate collision between good and evil begins . . . with Showdown."
March 17, 2019
I will start off by saying this is perhaps the worst book I have ever read. If I could give it negative stars, I would.
I had read that the author was a spiritual person, and that his books are full of religious metaphors, which I love, so I thought I would give it a try. I was so disappointed in every aspect of this book. It is clear that the writer is trying to imitate Stephen King, the operative word being "trying." He fails completely.
For example, "Come on baby, trip with me!" must have been written a hundred times throughout the book, which is a tactic of Stephen King. The setting is a small town, and a stranger arrives, like in so many works by Stephen King, most notably the TV show, Storm of the Century. You would think this is a good thing, but the writing is just about as boring as it gets.
Every characters sounds exactly the same, and every character sucks. I found nothing interesting about any of the characters. I felt like I was reading about a bunch of high school kids, even though some of them were monks who were supposedly super wise.
In all honesty, I felt like I was reading something that I had written when I was 10 years old, and trust me, that is NOT something worth reading.
I had read that the author was a spiritual person, and that his books are full of religious metaphors, which I love, so I thought I would give it a try. I was so disappointed in every aspect of this book. It is clear that the writer is trying to imitate Stephen King, the operative word being "trying." He fails completely.
For example, "Come on baby, trip with me!" must have been written a hundred times throughout the book, which is a tactic of Stephen King. The setting is a small town, and a stranger arrives, like in so many works by Stephen King, most notably the TV show, Storm of the Century. You would think this is a good thing, but the writing is just about as boring as it gets.
Every characters sounds exactly the same, and every character sucks. I found nothing interesting about any of the characters. I felt like I was reading about a bunch of high school kids, even though some of them were monks who were supposedly super wise.
In all honesty, I felt like I was reading something that I had written when I was 10 years old, and trust me, that is NOT something worth reading.
May 24, 2014
Dekker. Deep. At times disturbing. Always stirring. Dekker centers this book around the significance of writing, which I loved. It has a sinister creepiness from the first page, and it doesn't let up as the suspense (and fear) builds. As with most of his works, I often feel like a fool trying to grasp the secrets of the universe while reading his intriguing thoughts and pondering the subtle and not so subtle knowledge his stories impart on the reader. It's always an interesting experience when I pick up anything with his name on it. This is no different. You'll find yourself changed by the last page. Ignorance is bliss... or is it?
March 18, 2014
Failed the 100 page test. I can't believe it. Ted Dekker is the Stephen King of Christian fantasy writers. While I hadn't read his books before, I didn't think that I wouldn't be engaged. But I wasn't.
A hundred pages in and Dekker still hadn't set the hook. A freaky monk cons a over-simplified Colorado small town and a bunch of genius orphans talk about writing inside an experimental facility that sounded like mad scientists running mice through mazes, not Christians raising children.
I was really disappointed.
A hundred pages in and Dekker still hadn't set the hook. A freaky monk cons a over-simplified Colorado small town and a bunch of genius orphans talk about writing inside an experimental facility that sounded like mad scientists running mice through mazes, not Christians raising children.
I was really disappointed.
April 19, 2014
I read several Ted Dekker books within a month. I found several of the titles, including this one to be quite intriguing, but weak. The author drags the topic at hand on and on and on until suddenly there is a solution to the problem that comes out of left field with no explanation or follow through. Because these are considered Christian books, I expected more teaching from them and was hoping I'd be able to recommend them to friends who are struggling in their faith. Unfortunately, the books are more for recreation and do not offer any theological inspiration.
May 20, 2020
All I can say is wow. This went from me being thoroughly confused in the beginning, to loving every word through the middle, to me feeling OK with the ending. Was the ending bad? No, but it was very predictable. I will say that this book is very unique and unlike other books I have read! I’m so exciting to read the next book!
December 29, 2022
This book caught my interest at about the halfway point. Then I started to see the symbolism and was curious to know what happened with the characters. This is the perfect read if you’re looking for something intense and that will make you think.
February 5, 2021
What in the name of insanity did I just listen to?
Showdown is sort of horror, sort of supernatural fiction that tackles religious themes and draws parallels with the good versus evil construct.
I’ve seen some reviewers claim this story gave them nightmares. I didn’t get that at all. Maybe if I was afraid of worms, I’d have nightmares, but I was never scared. In fact, I was mostly amused by the overblown horror scenes and the building sense of doom.
The story did make me think about things such as the power of words and our tendency to blindly follow perceived authority. The writing has moments of perfection within a sometimes meandering, often heavy-handed narrative.
The unfortunate part, for me, was the lack of complexities with the characters. They all behave exactly as expected, leading us to the climactic scene we see coming at us from early on.
For me, the content had a strong YA feel. This story probably would have scared 12-year-old me, but adult me is left thinking this is weird but lukewarm religious-themed horror.
I listened to this one on audio, and I do have to say that Kevin King does a brilliant job on narration. If not for his ability to bring this story to life, I’d probably have done a whole lot of skimming, if I’d finished it at all.
Showdown is sort of horror, sort of supernatural fiction that tackles religious themes and draws parallels with the good versus evil construct.
I’ve seen some reviewers claim this story gave them nightmares. I didn’t get that at all. Maybe if I was afraid of worms, I’d have nightmares, but I was never scared. In fact, I was mostly amused by the overblown horror scenes and the building sense of doom.
The story did make me think about things such as the power of words and our tendency to blindly follow perceived authority. The writing has moments of perfection within a sometimes meandering, often heavy-handed narrative.
The unfortunate part, for me, was the lack of complexities with the characters. They all behave exactly as expected, leading us to the climactic scene we see coming at us from early on.
For me, the content had a strong YA feel. This story probably would have scared 12-year-old me, but adult me is left thinking this is weird but lukewarm religious-themed horror.
I listened to this one on audio, and I do have to say that Kevin King does a brilliant job on narration. If not for his ability to bring this story to life, I’d probably have done a whole lot of skimming, if I’d finished it at all.
August 24, 2021
This plot is weird. The first half of the book is spent wondering if there is a point or if this is just a spiral into madness. Then when I finally saw some sort of goal, it wasn’t something I could root for.
I felt there was a not-so-subtle parallel to Christ on the cross (though the characters claim it was supposed to be Abraham and Isaac) at the end, but the analogy felt twisted and gross.
One of the characters must die to end the experiment gone wrong, but the father sends the son to be tortured and sits watching and sobbing, hoping (not knowing) that this is the solution. But there is Nothing in the book’s rule that says it must be Samuel. David could have gone in place of his son, and then Samuel could have written him back to life, rather than David needing him to die to test his faith. Written into human characters this allegory becomes disturbing on many levels.
Also, the characters are so focused on what their demons and angels are doing to Paradise that not once do they actually seek help from God.
I felt there was a not-so-subtle parallel to Christ on the cross (though the characters claim it was supposed to be Abraham and Isaac) at the end, but the analogy felt twisted and gross.
One of the characters must die to end the experiment gone wrong, but the father sends the son to be tortured and sits watching and sobbing, hoping (not knowing) that this is the solution. But there is Nothing in the book’s rule that says it must be Samuel. David could have gone in place of his son, and then Samuel could have written him back to life, rather than David needing him to die to test his faith. Written into human characters this allegory becomes disturbing on many levels.
Also, the characters are so focused on what their demons and angels are doing to Paradise that not once do they actually seek help from God.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2024
Interesting book. Ted Dekker has some unique dynamics that he pulled into these books. I feel like these characters have similar names to that of the Circle Series. I'm curious if there is some overlap that I'm unaware of. I mean I see the whole Thomas Hunter thing, but I wonder how far it goes. The ending came really fast. Too fast for me. It felt rushed. The dynamic of the worms was unique to me. I enjoyed the little logic debates that happened throughout the book. It reminds me of people arguing about Christianity today. The power the kids had while handling the books was remarkable. I wonder if there are any plot holes people have teased out. All in all, it was a quick and easy read. Not my favorite Ted Dekker book, but I look forward to seeing where Saint and Sinner will take me next!
October 28, 2023
This book was weird. The only reason I got through the first several chapters was because I wanted an explanation so it would make sense. The ending was also a letdown. After everything that happened with two storylines which converged and multiple characters, it ends with four children chatting casually. It is well written, but it reminds me of a Christian Stephen King. I don’t mean his 80s novels either. If someone is interested in weird fantasy, it might be their type of novel.
March 4, 2024
Oh my. So much going on. It takes half the book to figure out in the slightest what is really going on. And when you do….it starts making sense. A few twists and turns and you get a typical a dekker message. String writing like always. Realistic dialogue. The story is just crazy. But entertaining.
October 24, 2024
3.5 stars....wasn't horrible, and I was definitely hooked, but not as good as some of his other books.
August 1, 2024
3.75 stars
November 17, 2023
An interesting concept marred by weak characters, an uneven perspective split and several last minute twists that don't feel appropriately foreshadowed. An initial cast of relatable characters is discarded for caricatures that exist to be as smart or dumb as the scene requires. The shifts in tone are uneven and stretch the suspension of disbelief. The pacing sags with each perspective shift, as characters you care about act outside of their established behaviors and others are introduced on a whim to fill gaps. Overall a disappointing take on what could have been an amazing moral exploration.
February 13, 2013
When I write about books I really like, I often write long reviews. When I really dislike a book I often write even more. That's because I want to explain the many reasons I disliked it. It seems a funny exercise, because I could just write "I hated it" and move on, but usually the reasons I dislike a book have to do with the assumptions the author makes about certain aspects of life, and I can't live with not saying something about them.
So it is with this book.
Imagine this: A group of children is raised from birth in a loving environment, taught the forgiving ways of Christianity. They are raised in a monastery, where they have no access to the outside world and can therefore not be influenced by the uglier aspects of some people's characters. Every day these children write stories. Writing is a big part of their lives and they become very good at it.
Okay so far. The children are told not to enter the lower level of the monastery, a land of tunnels that has a reputation of being an "evil place", and until they turn 13 they don't even consider it. But then one of the children, Billy, finds a note that urges him to go there and eventually he takes a look. The tunnels are lined with large worms that emit a slime that smells good to Billy. When he gets past the worms he finds a large library that excites him greatly.
When the leaders of the monastery find out about Billy's excursions some of them want to force him back in line. But their leader, who is in fact not a monk but a scientist, says no. Because one of the other tenets of this "experiment" is that the adults will not interfere when any children encounter evil in any form. For the experiment is to find out if good will, in all cases, overcome evil.
Presumably because these children were raised in this Christian place they are considered "pure good". Can they be corrupted? If so, will the good eventually win out anyway?
All right. So we buy this so far. I have difficulty with the definition of "good" as being solely defined by a belief in christianity. We have evolved to know the difference, with or without a religion. It is better for the continuation of the human race if we treat each other decently so we have developed an innate sense of right and wrong, even as toddlers who know nothing of any gods. But we'll accept, for now, that these children have been raised with love.
And yet. Billy is easily converted to a love of "evil". He delights in making bad things happen to others, and he easily persuades others to join him. This is where I have to wonder. What was all that about love? All those years of living a life of love and decency and snap! It's gone. By exposure to evil. Really??
Eventually there is but one child left who has not gone to the "dungeons" to write and enjoy making life hard for others not themselves. This is Samuel, son of the leader of the monastery. I won't complicate this review by describing exactly what Samuel and the others are doing when they write in a large bunch of bizarre blank books - that would be telling! - but I will say that he tries to conquer the evil that Billy and the others have wrought, led in fact by a monk who has gone astray.
Samuel ultimately in effect takes on the role of Jesus. It was impossible to escape the allegory here. He does so to save a town called Paradise from Hell. But it is only the intervention of his father that finally saves the town (sorry if I've blown the story here for some of you). The question is: how in fact did good defeat evil? Was it through the actions of these many children who had been raised in love??
Ultimately, I'd have to say that Dekker has a very pessimistic view of human nature if he believes thirteen-year-olds can change their nature so easily. I believe they would have greater inner strength. If not, what is the point of all this Christian teaching? I think he defeats his own message, which, obviously, I don't share anyway.
So it is with this book.
Imagine this: A group of children is raised from birth in a loving environment, taught the forgiving ways of Christianity. They are raised in a monastery, where they have no access to the outside world and can therefore not be influenced by the uglier aspects of some people's characters. Every day these children write stories. Writing is a big part of their lives and they become very good at it.
Okay so far. The children are told not to enter the lower level of the monastery, a land of tunnels that has a reputation of being an "evil place", and until they turn 13 they don't even consider it. But then one of the children, Billy, finds a note that urges him to go there and eventually he takes a look. The tunnels are lined with large worms that emit a slime that smells good to Billy. When he gets past the worms he finds a large library that excites him greatly.
When the leaders of the monastery find out about Billy's excursions some of them want to force him back in line. But their leader, who is in fact not a monk but a scientist, says no. Because one of the other tenets of this "experiment" is that the adults will not interfere when any children encounter evil in any form. For the experiment is to find out if good will, in all cases, overcome evil.
Presumably because these children were raised in this Christian place they are considered "pure good". Can they be corrupted? If so, will the good eventually win out anyway?
All right. So we buy this so far. I have difficulty with the definition of "good" as being solely defined by a belief in christianity. We have evolved to know the difference, with or without a religion. It is better for the continuation of the human race if we treat each other decently so we have developed an innate sense of right and wrong, even as toddlers who know nothing of any gods. But we'll accept, for now, that these children have been raised with love.
And yet. Billy is easily converted to a love of "evil". He delights in making bad things happen to others, and he easily persuades others to join him. This is where I have to wonder. What was all that about love? All those years of living a life of love and decency and snap! It's gone. By exposure to evil. Really??
Eventually there is but one child left who has not gone to the "dungeons" to write and enjoy making life hard for others not themselves. This is Samuel, son of the leader of the monastery. I won't complicate this review by describing exactly what Samuel and the others are doing when they write in a large bunch of bizarre blank books - that would be telling! - but I will say that he tries to conquer the evil that Billy and the others have wrought, led in fact by a monk who has gone astray.
Samuel ultimately in effect takes on the role of Jesus. It was impossible to escape the allegory here. He does so to save a town called Paradise from Hell. But it is only the intervention of his father that finally saves the town (sorry if I've blown the story here for some of you). The question is: how in fact did good defeat evil? Was it through the actions of these many children who had been raised in love??
Ultimately, I'd have to say that Dekker has a very pessimistic view of human nature if he believes thirteen-year-olds can change their nature so easily. I believe they would have greater inner strength. If not, what is the point of all this Christian teaching? I think he defeats his own message, which, obviously, I don't share anyway.
March 28, 2013
If you are one of the people who believe that Christian fiction is boring, then let me start this review by saying that I used to be in the same boat. To me, Christian fiction was supposed to be a life lesson with meager attempts at action or suspense, usually giving it the same feeling as one of those old Bibleman movies. That all changed, though, when I read Showdown by Ted Dekker. Let’s just get this out of the way: Ted Dekker is my favorite author, and will most likely continue to be my favorite author for a long, long time.
Showdown is the first book in the Paradise trilogy. It begins with a man named Marsuvees Black (yes, I’m serious) walking into a tiny Colorado mountain town named Paradise. He is one of those guys you can spot from about a mile away, since he wears a trench coat and wide brimmed hat. Think of a slightly more modern version of Hugh Jackman’s version of Van Helsing, and turn his coat, hat, and hair black. Mr. Black makes a wonderful first impression by murdering a local, and then proclaims himself a preacher. Not only is he a preacher, but he’s the new Jonah, come to warn Paradise of their imminent doom via Godly wrath so that they may change their wicked ways and save their lives. Throwing in a few miracles for good measure, Black soon has the entire town under his spell. There is a secret he hides, though, that can, and just may, change the world. The question is whether he is what he says he is, or if he has come to destroy Paradise and everyone within it.
Meanwhile, deep within the Rocky Mountains, just a few miles away from Paradise, a monastery lays hidden. This is the home of Project Showdown, an experiment to see if children raised separated from the corruptions of the world would develop Godly faith stronger than the average human being. One of these children has entered the subterranean levels of the monastery (also known as the dungeons) and has found a source of power greater than he could have imagined. What ties him and Marsuvees Black together? You’ll have to read Showdown and find out!
First and foremost, Showdown may have the coolest villain I have ever read, Christian book or not. Marsuvees Black is cold and manipulative, but does it so well that the townspeople (and sometimes you) think that Black is warm and friendly, like a preacher should be. Still, you always have this little nagging doubt in the back of your mind that something isn’t right…
Dekker’s writing is amazing. He describes everything so fluidly and in great detail that you will get gooseflesh as you watch Black march into Paradise. I heard Western showdown music (no pun intended) play in my head as his coat fluttered in the wind, his hat shading his face mysteriously. The image only got clearer when Dekker has one character compare the way he walks to Zorro’s confident, cocky gait.
The story itself is amazing. It will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole thing, and when you finally find out who (or what) Marsuvees Black is, your jaw will literally drop, just like mine did. You will shiver as you see Black perform his unnatural feats, hold your breath as you step into the dungeons, and, at one point, cry your eyes out. No story is perfect, but this is the closest I’ve seen one get yet.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, I recommend you run out to your nearest Barnes and Noble, Christian bookstore, or wherever you buy your books from, and pick this book up immediately. Even if you’re not a Christian, this story will not fail to entertain you.
Showdown is the first book in the Paradise trilogy. It begins with a man named Marsuvees Black (yes, I’m serious) walking into a tiny Colorado mountain town named Paradise. He is one of those guys you can spot from about a mile away, since he wears a trench coat and wide brimmed hat. Think of a slightly more modern version of Hugh Jackman’s version of Van Helsing, and turn his coat, hat, and hair black. Mr. Black makes a wonderful first impression by murdering a local, and then proclaims himself a preacher. Not only is he a preacher, but he’s the new Jonah, come to warn Paradise of their imminent doom via Godly wrath so that they may change their wicked ways and save their lives. Throwing in a few miracles for good measure, Black soon has the entire town under his spell. There is a secret he hides, though, that can, and just may, change the world. The question is whether he is what he says he is, or if he has come to destroy Paradise and everyone within it.
Meanwhile, deep within the Rocky Mountains, just a few miles away from Paradise, a monastery lays hidden. This is the home of Project Showdown, an experiment to see if children raised separated from the corruptions of the world would develop Godly faith stronger than the average human being. One of these children has entered the subterranean levels of the monastery (also known as the dungeons) and has found a source of power greater than he could have imagined. What ties him and Marsuvees Black together? You’ll have to read Showdown and find out!
First and foremost, Showdown may have the coolest villain I have ever read, Christian book or not. Marsuvees Black is cold and manipulative, but does it so well that the townspeople (and sometimes you) think that Black is warm and friendly, like a preacher should be. Still, you always have this little nagging doubt in the back of your mind that something isn’t right…
Dekker’s writing is amazing. He describes everything so fluidly and in great detail that you will get gooseflesh as you watch Black march into Paradise. I heard Western showdown music (no pun intended) play in my head as his coat fluttered in the wind, his hat shading his face mysteriously. The image only got clearer when Dekker has one character compare the way he walks to Zorro’s confident, cocky gait.
The story itself is amazing. It will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole thing, and when you finally find out who (or what) Marsuvees Black is, your jaw will literally drop, just like mine did. You will shiver as you see Black perform his unnatural feats, hold your breath as you step into the dungeons, and, at one point, cry your eyes out. No story is perfect, but this is the closest I’ve seen one get yet.
If you haven’t guessed it yet, I recommend you run out to your nearest Barnes and Noble, Christian bookstore, or wherever you buy your books from, and pick this book up immediately. Even if you’re not a Christian, this story will not fail to entertain you.
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