*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

Complete Darkness, by Matt Adcock

10 January 2020

John Saxbee considers a post-apocalyptic vision of hell

WHAT if Dark Matter, the 90 per cent of the universe which we know noth­ing about at all, is actually hell? What if, 300 years from now, the Prince of Dark Matter imposes his terrifying, high-tech-fuelled will on our post-apocalyptic world, includ­ing the en­forced unification of all religions into his own Great World Church in which “everyone believes the same thing so it must be right”?

But what if everyone doesn’t be­­lieve the same thing, and an Elijah v. the Prophets of Baal-type show­down sees Cleric20, “a hedonistic loner with a chequered past”, over­come the forces of darkness, at least for now? This religion-meets-sci-fi-meets-computer-gaming geekdom is a gory, witty adventure with more than a passing nod to H. G. Wells, C. S. Lewis, and Douglas Adams.

If you see the drama of salvation as a continuous feedback loop hold­ing out hope for humankind even in the most dystopian of futures, then this is for you. But if not, don’t worry: the mystery of Dark Matter may be solved before Matt Adcock’s hyperactive imagination delivers Complete Darkness 2, 3, 4, or more.

Dr John Saxbee is a former Bishop of Lincoln.

Complete Darkness
Matt Adcock
Burton Mayers £7.99
(978-0-9573387-7-7)
Church Times Bookshop £7.20

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Church Times Bookshop

Save money on books reviewed or featured in the Church Times. To get your reader discount:

> Click on the “Church Times Bookshop” link at the end of the review.

> Call 0845 017 6965 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm).

The reader discount is valid for two months after the review publication date. E&OE

Forthcoming Events

Women Mystics: Female Theologians through Christian History

13 January - 19 May 2025

An online evening lecture series, run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times

tickets available

 

Festival of Faith and Literature

28 February - 2 March 2025

tickets available

 

Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

The Church Times Archive

Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention.

FREE for Church Times subscribers.

Explore the archive

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)