Of the flurry of pop/pulp books on possession that flourished about twenty

Of the flurry of pop/pulp books on possession that flourished about twenty years ago, this one remains in print, and for good reason. Though the title might evoke horror books and films of The Exorcist variety, the content demands and deserves serious attention. Fr. Martin, a former professor at the Pontifical Biblical Institute, had access to taped transcripts of the exorcisms, and was able to interview the participants. What emerges is a narrative that bears a powerful sense of authenticity, conveying a chilling encounter with ultimate evil. It forever dispels the superficial, silly caricatures of the evil one that travel abroad in popular culture, and compels us to accept the reality of that presence. Not to be neglected are the appendices to the actual case studies, perhaps the most valuable part of the book, in which Fr. Martin articulates an eloquent statement of Christian anthropology. This volume concludes with the Roman ritual of exorcism. 477 pp.