THOUGHTS…

Red continues Ted Dekker’s epic tale of good versus terrifying evil. The story of the fantasy world is much faster-paced and more exciting this time around, and it dominates the volume. By contrast, the storyline taking place in the modern day is uninspired and more of the same. Far from carrying the story as it did in the first book, the action here is derivative, feeling like an over-long extension of the first book more than anything else. Once again, the fantasy world is incredibly well thought-out, and the translation of spiritual concepts into the physical is excellent. If you think about it too hard, as I am prone to do, there are a few points which do not quite add up, but they do not detract significantly from the overall world. As to characters, the treatment of them is uneven. Many of the newcomers are developed with care through their actions and words while others rely on exposition for the reader to understand their attitudes, biases, and skills. Even Thomas, the main character, falls prey to this sometimes, with the book telling the reader how much he has changed, but he rarely speaks or acts differently than in the first book. Finally, I once again have gripes, as tedious as ever, with Mr. Dekker’s lack of knowledge about the military. For example, while it is unlikely a scientist could catch a ride on a military fighter jet, it is even less likely for said ride to be taken in an F-16. With only one seat, the passenger and the pilot are going to become very well acquainted before the trip is over. These inaccuracies are not story breaking, but they are a pet peeve of mine. In the end, the fantasy world dominates this story, making for a good read, not quite as good as the first book in the series but still well worth the time.