In Running with the Demon, Terry Brooks does nothing less than revitalize fantasy fiction, inventing the complex and powerful new mythos of the Word and the Void, good versus evil still, but played out in the theater-in-the-round of the “real world” of our present. On the hottest Fourth of July weekend in decades, two men have come to Hopewell, Illinois, site of a lengthy, bitter steel strike. … lengthy, bitter steel strike. One is a demon, dark servant of the Void, who will use the anger and frustration of the community to attain a terrible secret goal. The other is John Ross, a Knight of the Word, a man who, while he sleeps, lives in the hell the world will become if he fails to change its course on waking. Ross has been given the ability to see the future. But does he have the power to change it?
At stake is the soul of a fourteen-year-old girl mysteriously linked to both men. And the lives of the people of Hopewell. And the future of the country. This Fourth of July, while friends and families picnic in Sinnissippi Park and fireworks explode in celebration of freedom and independence, the fate of Humanity will be decided . . .
A novel that weaves together family drama, fading innocence, cataclysm, and enlightenment, Running with the Demon will forever change the way you think about the fantasy novel. As believable as it is imaginative, as wondrous as it is frightening, it is a rich, exquisitely-written tale to be savored long after the last page is turned.
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I fell in love with the characters and had to continue the related books.
This first book in Terry Brooks’s Word & Void series (written before Brooks decided to officially merge it with the Shannara series) doesn’t get as much attention as it deserves. It’s one of Brooks’s more original works, and does a fantastic job of blending a fantasy world with the modern world–in this case, a small town in Illinois–a …
Prototype of the pre-fantasy world story. A more adult perspective than the original Brooks stories. Well worth the read.
Terry Brooks is an amazing story teller. Sucks you right into another world.
I’ve read worse, I guess. Honestly, I’m surprised I finished it.
You cant miss with Terry Brooks fantasy !
Another great book from Terry Brooks. Only negative is there aren’t enough in the series. Left me wanting more.
Excellent as always
Excellent listening. Very well performed
Terry Brooks writes an atmospheric tale. I could feel the heat of July as I listened to this story. Not necessarily a bad thing since I listened to it during a Colorado January.
There was the grim, grimy, creepy evil that surrounded the story. Evil in men’s hearts, brought on by the visiting demon or just plain ol’ evil that they acted on because …
This was an amazing book with great characters and breathtaking scenes. A must read.
Read well with a “wanting to keep reading story line”.
this book ties into terry brooks shannara series, its set bascally before everything
Read this book before and wanted to own it I got it for my birthday this year
I wish there was another one or two about the what happens next.
Real page turner. Hard to put down.
Outstanding!
I am a Terry Brooks fan and the running with the demon series was much different then his other work. I really liked the story line that develops.
Loved this book! Very different than the others I have read. Much scarier because it takes place in the present.
A change of pace from the author’s past fantasy tales. Intriguing story line with “reluctant hero” type main characters. Slow moving at times but a real page-turner towards the end. Highly recommended for Brooks fans.