The Be(k)nighted

There are some books that are made with the sole purpose of pure entertainment. Some are designed as window dressing for insights into the human condition, while others seem to linger in the realms of paperback pink stickers. Given the sheer volume of literature produced each year, it can sometimes be hard to find true works of such striking excellence as this gem of a book.

The Be(k)nighted by Mark Harbinger leads the reader along with the tried and true world of high science fiction. A small grouping of characters, including the standout leads Marshall and Palla, unite to save the world from demons of darkness. The ingenious twist here is that the villains are not some violent band of aliens coming to enslave our race. They are formed from the pain and shame of humanity. Our main character is a man suffering and sometimes succumbing to mental illness.

There is a transformational quality about the author’s text. The voices that spring out of every page seem to come from the mist of time and the furthest reaches of the human experience. Some of the book’s greatest strengths are its attention to detail, the author’s deep knowledge of his creation, and its many-layered characters. There are parts of this book that feel like space opera like you are suddenly knee-deep in a sweeping narrative that only the most ablest of fiction writers could manage to stitch together. The author found a way to miraculously bridge the gap between our time and his created fictional world.

The book is told on a grand scale, everything about it is epic, from its vast structure to its complicated subject matter. This is thoughtful and deep fiction for both young adults and their parents to pore over as a family. The dialogue is both genuine and striking, never forced. The descriptive details in the general flow of the book all add to a profound sense of immersion for the reader. It is all so believable and often reads like an aged historical scroll of some distant global conflict or the fevered dream of a childhood game. Harbinger is commanding with his writing, and this now complete series will continue to prove engrossing and enchanting for years to come. If you’re looking for a book that focuses on character development and is written in compelling prose then The Be(k)nighted is the book for you.