The War in Heaven

Well crafted, entertaining and thought provoking. This book is full of vivid imagery, intriguing symbolism, spiritual insights, and finally, an entertaining plot that keeps you hooked from Chapter One until the end. I was rather impressed with the novel overall. It has depth to it, which is something often missing from Christian novels today. Definitely recommended!

I came as a skeptic of sorts to Theodore Beale's "The War in Heaven." So much of modern "Christian" fiction is neither well done nor Christian. The fact that Beale is represented by the agents who serve a couple of the authors who write some of the books that have given me this negative impression did not speak well to me about the possibility of this book being any different (neither did the cheesy cover artwork-which will soon be thankfully remedied in the forthcoming trade paperback version). How wrong I was...There are indeed things I do not like about "The War in Heaven." Yet rarely has my heart cried out in joy over a book as it has with this one. First, the bones I have to pick...The biggest one is the representation of Kaym. Kaym is the fallen angel that mentors Christopher in the ways of darkness (or light--depending on who is to be believed). Kaym spews all kinds of Nietzschean drivel about power and freedom being beyond good and evil. This is not the part that I dislike. Having subscribed to such folly in my youth, I can see this being a decent angle for a fallen angel to take in the postmodern age. What bugs me about Kaym is his garb. Describing him as wearing Ray-bans is gonna date him, and possibly the book, really fast.My second bone to pick is the way in which Jami and Holli talk. Beale has hit the nail of how American teens communicate on the head. His dialogue is spot-on. Yet restraint is a good thing. Perhaps a little less of the "ohmigod's" and the "like's" would have been a good thing too.Bearing these two minor flaws in mind, I still have to give this book my highest recommendation. Beale proves himself to be a master of imagery. I was surprised to find some truly great moments of what can only be described as mythopoeic storytelling in this book. Ahura Azdha is full of wonders. Beale's remolding of the words from the Bible's second book of Kings about Sennacherib's threats against Hezekiah and Jerusalem in the fictional siege of Chasah is sheer brilliance.There is a whole lot of meat to this book. Biblical allusion, references to Milton's Paradise Lost, Apocryphal tales-"The War in Heaven" is a real treat. This is redemptive fiction at its most imaginative best.I urge you to get this book.

I am not a religious person by most means. I saw the cover of this novel and was intrigued. I decided to buy it after reading the back cover. I was hooked from page one. It is a total action-advernture novel that just happens to have a religious theme. The nice thing about it was that it wasn't preachy. You were given the perspective that Theodore Beale was offering and he was able to craft everything together into one of the most entertaing books I have ever read. The only thing that disappoints me is that the follow-up novel won't be available until sometime in late 2002. I highly recommend this to the faithful and the non alike. Pick it up, you won't be sorry.

Theodore Beale has written a great science fiction story that most Christians would be delighted to find. The story involves the interaction between humankind, both past and present, with demonic spirits and angels. If you enjoyed the Frank Peretti Christian fiction books, then you will enjoy Eternal Warriors, The War In Heaven. I am already anticipating Book 2 in the series which Mr. Beale says will come out next year.

I bought this book not knowing what to expect, I'm not a religous person in fact I'm Native American and have a different belief system then the one the book offers. But the book was fantastic, it captures you and draws you in, I lost all sense of time while reading the book. It is a well told story that gives the reader many issues to ponder and maybe the chance to see people and events in a different light. I would suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a chance to leave themselves behind and see the world around them in a new light.