Three Days to Darkness: Three days to save the world. Only three people to help. Three lessons to learn.

by David Gittlin

GLOBAL BOOK AWARDS GOLD MEDAL WINNER SCIENCE FICTION/ACTION AND ADVENTURE

Heaven isn’t the reward Darius McPherson expected it to be. For one thing, he’s too young to be there. And now the Archangel Aaron and the Board of Director Angels are telling him he has to return to earth to save humanity from itself and an army of renegade angels. He’s not exactly in the mood after losing everyone he loves, including the lovely Rebecca, the soul mate he was about to marry before he was killed in a drive-by shooting.

No one seems to care that Junior Operative Darius McPherson is woefully short of adequate training and skills for the difficult task ahead of him. The Archangel keeps assuring him he’s the man for the mission, while Darius wonders where the more experienced Senior Operatives have gone.

As his mission briefing draws to a close, the Archangel calmly announces that Darius has three days to defuse what his superiors refer to as “The Big Emergency,” a budding cataclysm that threatens the orderly evolution of consciousness itself.

Reluctantly, Darius accepts his assignment. Immediately after the Hyperspace Conveyor Tube deposits Darius in a run down section of Miami, Florida, Darius meets the first member of his mortal task seventeen-year-old Javon Quincy, a street hustler on the run from a botched robbery attempt.

Genres: Fantasy

Audible Audio

First published December 5, 2012

About the author

Only one thing stood between me and my dream of becoming a creative writer: I couldn’t do two things at once.

Upon retiring from my career in marketing communications, I decided to devote my full attention to writing fiction, thereby solving my multi-tasking challenge.

I began my creative writing journey by enrolling in the online Writers’ Program offered by UCLA. In a series of courses taught by professional writers, I learned how to craft memorable characters, create colorful worlds, and outline suspenseful plots enriched with drama and conflict.

Taking one baby step at a time, I managed to bridge the gulf between writing promotional copy in short bursts to rendering full scale novels. As an interim step, I wrote three screenplays.

My three feature length scripts; "Love Will Find You," “Joshua’s Decision, and "A Prescription for Happiness" have reached the finals or placed in several major screenplay competitions.

My first novel, a Science Fantasy, “Three Days to Darkness,” was nominated to the James Kirkwood Prize for creative writing.

My publishing company, Entelligent Entertainment, has also published "Scarlet Ambrosia" and my latest novel: "Micromium--Clean Energy from Mars."

Reviews

[Ian Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a more or less present-day urban fantasy. Darius has been a noble soul, but was shot accidentally, and in heaven he becomes a junior operative angel. He is sent to Earth in human form and given three days to stop a company from marketing a drug that is a bit like Valium, but seemingly more powerful, and if marketed humanity is predicted to drop into a drug-induced stupor. Opposing him are a bunch of exiles – fallen angels that want back in heaven, although their plan is to get this drug released, and occupy Earth.
The story is quite well-written, although the plot is slightly hindered by the fact the archangel that sends Darius down seems not to be bothered about offering some guidance. Darius needs three helpers, and these are quite well-drawn as characters. How would a person react when they see a human transform into a demon? Gittlin handles this rather difficult task reasonably well, and the characters behave plausibly. Interspersed with this are some quite reasonable philosophical thoughts on free will. Well worth reading if you like fantasy.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a different approach to the afterlife. It was interesting to watch the friendships of the characters develop throughout the story. makes you rethink your beliefs.

[Guy Wheatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, it you are a conservative Christian, you will probably find this book offensive. It belittles everything fundamentalists believe. The main message is that humanity must save itself.
I’ll try to put my beliefs aside and review it only on it’s literary value. Actually, I’m adding a star to offset my visceral response to the blasphemy.
A guy gets killed in a drive by shooting and becomes an angel. He finds all of the senior angels gone. A distant and aloof God, who they call “The Chief.” won’t get directly involved. So, on his first day as an angel he’s given three days to save the world from the most powerful demon in creation.
He picks up three mortals, all with problems of their own, and must forge them into a team.
The author tries to build suspense by having the protagonist constantly at his limits, escaping defeat and disaster by seconds. Unfortunately, the disparity of force is so great the whole thing is complete unbelievable. I buy this novice angel going up against the thousands-of-years-old, most powerful of demons, about as realistic as an ant pushing an Abrams Tank. I could never buy into the premise enough to get emotionally involved in the story.
This is just not one I can recommend.

[Slmarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable rendition of the afterlife

Author David Gittlin’s “Three Days to Darkness” provides an interesting take on heaven and the material world. This Science Fiction novel integrates the theme of life and death as readers embark on a journey through the experience of protagonist Darius McPerson, a young man facing sudden death due to a drive-by shooting. In this novel, readers follow the protagonist out of the material plane of existence and into heaven, whereas Darius awakes among a disarray of angels preparing to solve “The Big Emergency.” As the opening pages unfold, readers learn of the story’s dynamics for heaven and Earth. The tone the author employs to describe heaven and the interactions between the angels is imaginative and quiet humorous. It is advised that readers keep in mind that this is the author’s portrayal of life on heaven. Even the protagonist, Darius is somewhat perplexed by the heavenly interactions not meeting his humanly expectations. Eventually, after exploring the hierarchical structure of several characters in the heavenly realm, readers learn, according to the angels, that the ultimate purpose of existence is threatened by fallen angels seeking to promote humanities use of a pharmaceutical that would alter the organic journey towards peace and harmony. Readers then learn that the protagonist Darius is tasked to go back to Earth in order to stop the pharmaceutical drug from going on the market. Along the way, the protagonist teams up with new characters and the action adventures back on Earth begin as Darius has three days to fix Earth’s projected timeline. Reading Gittlin’s rendition of heaven within the context of an impending doom was both humorous and intriguing. I suggest readers embrace the story for what it is, a fictional tale of heaven and Earth not meant to project what heaven actually may be. Reading the book with this open perspective allows readers to appreciate the entertainment this novel provides. Otherwise readers might find themselves too critical of the way heaven is portrayed and ultimately miss out on enjoying the story itself.

[Marsha Rafalski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three days to save humanity. Three days to find his destined teammates. Three days to save heaven.

Darius McPherson is a recent victim of a drive-by shooting. When he realizes that this has resulted in him becoming a junior operative (angel) he is confused and angry that he will never do the things he planned—like marry his fiancée and live a full life with her. Now he has been selected for a special mission. He has been chosen to return to earth, assemble a team and stop the manufacture and distribution of a new drug that makes humans feel happy and is anticipated to make billions of dollars for its manufacturer. The only problem is that it saps the initiative and will of the people who take it. This will keep people from striving for enlightenment and its development has been aided by all of the Exiles (fallen angels/demons). Did I mention that he has only three days to accomplish this?

The resulting adventure is highly entertaining and the lessons learned along the way provide some surprising observations of free will. I would recommend this book solely for the entertainment value but these philosophical Easter eggs makes it a little more than the run of the mill offering.

This book was received as a Goodreads giveaway and this is a honest review.

[Alejandro Sureda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book "Three Days to Darkness", author David Gittlin gives us the story of Darius who, being in charge of a development center for young people with serious behavioral problems, is murdered while welcoming new entrants to the center. Darius is then in Heaven participating in a meeting that Archangel Aaron has with the Directors of Angels where they discuss sending a representative to Earth in order to stop the launch and distribution of a new drug with characteristics that are totally harmful to humans. This is being sponsored by the group of "The Exiles" who are angels who have been expelled from Heaven. Darius is selected for the mission in which he will be supported by a team of mortals. Thus, this extremely entertaining story begins, which describes Darius' actions in the third person with simple, direct language that allows the plot to develop and ensures the reader's attention and interest to follow the eternal struggle between good and evil with a peremptory period of time that intensifies the tension of the story. Recommended for readers who like the conflict between the divine and the earthly.

[Veronica Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Three Days to Darkness" by David Gittlin is a sci-fi/thriller that follows Darius on a 3-day mission to save Earth.

Darius is a new angel, having just died in a drive-by shooting. He was young, with plenty of life still yet to live. In Heaven, he learns that a new drug is set to change the course of the world and the more senior Angels are missing. The fallen angels/demons are wanting the drug to be distributed and also want to be accepted back in Heaven. Darius is chosen by the Archangel Aaron to thwart this drug and he only has 3 days to do it.

Gittlin provides great detail in the setting and has great character development. The premise of the story is interesting and I enjoyed how he described what the demons looked like and how Darius felt waking up in Heaven. The story reminded me a little of the tv show Supernatural, and I could picture Sam and Dean helping Darius save the world. That would be interesting!

This was a good read and I would suggest it to anyone who likes to read sci-fi, thrillers, and anything about angels and demons.

[Guadalupe Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling!

I love a good thriller. Add fantasy and mystery, and there is a story that will keep me going and not want to put it down. I loved the fast pace of the story, and the fact that the main character is in the after-life. This is not something that I typically see in stories unless the story contains a ghost or something to that effect. Our main character, Darius, goes on one trip of a lifetime. Or an after lifetime. Entertaining, witty, and unexpectedly good, I truly enjoyed this story. We get taken through Heaven and Hell, through other situations that lead Darius to encounter a variety of different personalities. Not to mention that there is a timeframe by which his mission needs to be accomplished in. Darius does not know who he really is, but through his story, he is able to find out. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone who is in it for the ride.

[Saya Jacaranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

tension, curiosity, and the struggle for self-belief

This narrative contains supernatural elements and real-world urgency. Fascinating! The plot is all about a celestial crisis and a contemporary dilemma. This is centered on Aaron, an Archangel. He guides the hesitant Darius McPherson to thwart a dangerous drug from derailing human progress. I appreciated the characters. They are very vivid. Aaron’s frustration and Darius’s doubt is quite palpable. The writing style effectively transported me to a realm. Here metaphysical battles have tangible impacts. The book explores themes of free will, the nature of happiness, and the challenges of leadership. Emotionally, it made me feel a sense of tension, curiosity, and the struggle for self-belief. This narrative really made me reflect on the complexities of purpose and duty.

[Caro Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read!

What I liked the most about this book is the author's writing style. He vividly described every scenario and leads the reader to where the action happens. In this wonderful book, author David Gittlin has done an outstanding job at blending supernatural beings with every day human struggles. Each character is well developed and they all have unique personalities. The tone and storytelling also set the reader for expectation.

Darius McPerson has been given an arduous task which involves leaving heaving and heading to earth to stop it from its own doom. In three days Darius must solve this big problem and he get some human help along the way. He struggles with the human mind and ways but eventually things turn out for the better. Highly recommend this read!

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darius McPherson dies and goes to heaven only to learn that he has to get back to earth in order to save humanity. He doesn’t consider himself fit for the task and reluctantly accepts the assignment. Will he succeed?
This book is fantastic. The author has blended fantasy, action, and suspense in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading. This is a wonderful tale, with mysterious and compelling characters, clever and well-developed dialogues and detailed descriptions of setting and events. The argument unfolds at a fast pace and the twists and turns in the plot make them compelling and thrilling. The protagonist has three days to complete his task and save the world, but I can assure readers that it won’t take that long to finish this excellent novel. I read it in just one sitting.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me hooked till the end.

This exciting story unfolds as a true cinematic thriller from the moment you read the first page of the book.
The 3 main characters become the heroes that save the world but at the same time show you their struggles and their different frustrations that lead them to their own personal growth, this makes the plot real and reaches a great depth.
The author writes in an extremely light way and at an impeccable pace that makes you not want to stop reading. For me the most valuable reasons for this story were the important lessons it teaches us and how to apply it in our day to day lives. This makes this book an adrenaline filled journey, suspense, action and personal discovery that kept me hooked until the very end. I recommend it 100%.

[Gianfranco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely absorbing

This story is loaded with supernatural imagination and emotion. The mission given to Darius Mcpherson to save humans from renegade angels is very striking at first glance, well then, you can imagine the development of that same idea throughout the chapters.
I loved this book; the characters are very well characterized. The humor and the way Darius express himself are without equal. As a reader, you will get hooked really fast, because that process called in the story of defusing The Big Emergency, many things happen that will make each chapter flow at great speed.
Give yourself the opportunity to read a story full of emotion and impressive narrative resources. Congratulations to the author.

[Chico's Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a nicely written sci-fi novel that centers on the themes of spiritual and earthly drama, your average good versus evil story. We see our protagonist struggling to understand his rebirth after an untimely violent death and a mission to save humankind. The vivid descriptions of the ethereal setting bring you straight to heaven, quite an imagination. The weaving of Philosophical themes of happiness, free will, and the human consciousness was interesting. The dialogues between the characters were engaging, which sometimes provided humor and relief even during tense field scenes in the story. Although the novel's pacing is uneven, if you are a supernatural fiction fan, you will enjoy this book, leaving you in between choice and destiny.

[Steven Finkelstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darius McPherson ended up in heaven a lot sooner than he thought he was going to. When he got there, it turned out to be very different than he’d been led to believe. The angels there are pretty bossy, and they’ve got a huge assignment for him: return to Earth to save it from a hoard of upstart angels. Darius isn’t thrilled with the prospect, but he knows that the woman he loved and was about to marry is among the billions of living souls that now need his help.

Now, Darius must stop “The Big Emergency,” and he has only three days to do so. It’s a lot of pressure to put on the shoulders of such an unlikely savior. But Darius may have hidden talents of which even he does not suspect.

[Almiria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Days to Darkness by David Gittlin is an entertaining science-fantasy novel filled with religious concepts such as Heaven, archangels and more, but delightfully entertaining and at times irreverent in style. The story is not exactly new in this genre: an unlikely hero is picked to save the earth and humanity against apparently impossible odds. Fans of fantasy and science fiction with a fun take on traditional religious concepts and notions of heaven as a bureaucratic (and sometimes overly autocratic) place will enjoy this book. The writing style could perhaps benefit from an additional round of polishing and editing, but for readers looking for a page-turner, this is a good option.

[Agustina Sureda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not the first to jump in when someone says "religious talk", but I do love a good mystery that mixes religion and a bit of cult fiction. I am pleased I got to read this book because it has sarcastic moments that light up the story and humors the reader very well.

The characters are well thought out and following Darius through the plot is a great way to create a relationship between the reader and the book that is hard to miss. Gittlin has a great way with words that can make any story feel like one and only. He maintains an atmosphere that is hard to obtain and he provides great descriptions that make you feel within the book. Solid.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and light

Three Days to Darkness is a good book, a fun read with a cool and interesting plot line. I enjoyed the story of a light hearted depiction of the afterlife. I don't think I've read a book with this kind of story before, so I enjoyed the uniqueness of the plot. The writing was ok, it had some humor and was easy to read, some curse words in case that bothers you, and was overall a good way to kill some time if that's what you're looking for. Fun book with some interesting characters and I enjoyed reading it. I'd recommend this book for a light and breezy summer beach type read.

[Daniel Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book; it is a mix between the exciting thrills of a thriller and an adventure full of unparalleled action. I was very hooked by the fact that we were introduced to celestial beings but also beings like us, that is, humans and in the same way, the conflicts they have between them. The book has a good amount of humor plus clarity, which makes this book quite easy to read and entertaining. This book is undoubtedly for those people who enjoy seeing the rise of heroes fighting for their ideologies and who have to face immeasurable challenges to save humanity. For this reason, I highly recommend that all readers buy and read this entertaining book.

[Aneley Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A supernatural story.

I think the characters are as particular as the plot in itself and I must say that at the beginning, it took me a little while to get hooked on the story but I finally could do it and I honestly enjoyed it.
The recently deceased Darius McPherson is not in the mood after losing his loved ones including Rebecca, whom he was about to marry before being killed in a drive-by shooting. However, he finds a Heaven very different from the one he imagined and with very unexpected plans. He must save humanity from itself and an army of renegade angels.
It is a story that invites the reader to enter a supernatural world of light and darkness, good and bad angels. I liked it!

[Jennifer Swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
You know, it wasn’t terrible. The writing itself is pretty good. I had to shift my approach to the book to match the style, as the genre was different than I expected. There was some humor, adequately -developed characters, and plenty of action.
As I heard mentioned in another review, there is some content that directly contradicts fundamental Christian beliefs, but then again, this is a urban fantasy-type book about the afterlife. So just know that going in.

[Maria Paula Castellanos Monroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and fast paced reading!

"Three Days to Darkness" by David Gittlin is a fun and fast-paced read. It blends supernatural elements with action and a bit of humor.
I loved the idea of a reluctant hero like Darius. He’s young, inexperienced. The book’s pace is quick, keeping me hooked. It’s a blend of action, spiritual elements, and quirky moments that made the adventure enjoyable and easy to read. If you enjoy stories with a supernatural twist and an underdog hero, this is a great choice.

[Bobbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was chosen to review this book. I gave the book 2 stars cause it’s a slow start and I had trouble reading the book. It is about a young man gets shot and is sent to heaven where he is then sent back to earth to save the world he has 3 days to complete his job.

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a quick fun read. Would of liked more info and involvement by other Angels. Had some profound quotes that made you think.

[Michelle Pulignani]

Great story

[Jjean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book I was awarded by goodreads for an honest review - the story is an urban Fantasy that is well written - interesting characters - the only thing that kept this from being a 4star, was the calling God "chief" -being a conservative Christian, felt uneasy every time I read that statement....

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detroit, MI. Darius McPherson (A/A, Grambling College track) was a role model & loved to help others.
Allison Turner (35+, supervisor, divorced x 2) enjoyed his enthusiasm.
1-day, Darius watched as a gray Lincoln Navigator cruised by with men in ski masks, BANG!
The 1st shots hit the youth center brick walls.
Darius had been shot/killed.

Archangel Aaron answered the Director Angels question.
Archangel Aaron introduced Darius to the 11 Junior Operatives.
Archangel Aaron read Darius’ life profile.
Glythren (Warrior Lord, Dark Realm) oversaw Kyle Huntilla’s (32, drug manufacturer Chief of Security, retired USMC) consciousness.
Opa-Locka, FL. Javon Quincey was out to rob the pawn shop owner.
Broken glass from Honest Julio’s Pawn Shop & Cash Stop sign was all over the front sidewalk.

Harbot “Anky” Ankroot first heard about Plezenthol on the 11 o’clock News.
Mamongen Pharmaceuticals Building. Hiram Fyrum (CEO, wealthy aristocrat) thought he ruled the world.
Hiram was counting on the American Mental Health Association (AMHA) approving the Plezenthol.
Mamongen Press Conference. In line, Darius McPherson (angelic powers) introduced himself to Vicky Matthews (mortal, WQES Financial News Division reporter).
Patricia Fitzwalter (Mamongen Pharmaceuticals, communications VP) began the presentation. Advances in Nanotechnology…
Hiram Fyrum (CEO, wealthy aristocrat, Harvard U; Buss), Dr. Simon Worthington III Mamongen (Pharmaceuticals R&D, chief chemist, PhD), & Joseph A. Mamon (Mamongen Pharmaceuticals founder/Chairman of the Board of Directors) watched from behind the podium.

The Q & A session followed.

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

An awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very professionally written business thriller book. It was quite easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great business thriller movie, or better yet a mini-TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is an extremely easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Entelligent Entertainment; Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; Amazon Digital Services LLC. Kindle Mobi book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[James W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blending elements of sci-fi and fantasy with the pacing of a thriller, David Gittlin’s ‘Three Days to Darkness’ is a well-paced, thought-provoking ride through the afterlife and beyond.

The story opens with Darius, murdered in a drive-by shooting, waking up in a heaven that hardly resembles the afterlife he’d spent twenty-five years imagining. Dealing with the shock of having died so young, Darius soon learns that he’s been chosen by the powers that be to travel back to Earth on a mission to save humanity. Despite his continued proclamations that they’ve ‘got the wrong man,’ Darius is told time and time again that he is the ‘only’ choice.

Fueled by his desire to protect the loved ones he left behind, Darius finally accepts the mission. With only three days to thwart the ‘big emergency,’ Darius teams up with a seventeen-year-old fugitive named Javon, and together (along with the help of some unlikely friends), they face off against a band of banished angels looking to subjugate Earth and all who inhabit it.

What follows is an oft-fun, sometimes serious action/adventure page-turner that touches upon a myriad of genres. Marrying an intriguing premise with a fresh spin on the idea of heaven and hell, Gittlin manages to write a biblical-themed story that never pontificates. Add to that a cast that are far from your ‘run-of-the-mill’ characters and you have yourself a compelling read that will likely remind you of little else.

While the book features a satisfying conclusion, Gittlin leaves the door open to a possible continuation of this story. As this was first published some seven years ago (back in 2014), a sequel seems unlikely, but whether you've read it or not, ‘Three Days to Darkness’ definitely warrants another visit.

[Mrs Rj · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Gittlin has an interesting premise for this Sci-Fi / Fantasy novel by mixing things up with concepts of the afterlife, angels and demons, good v evil. The story revolves around a fairly recent human-become-angel, Darius, who gets chosen to carry out a dangerous mission back on earth by the archangel for which he is little ready or trained. Finding some unlikely humans to help him, they embark on the mission while trying to dodge The Exiles, mutant and fallen angels.

The story is full of twists and turns, full of suspense and tension and then again there is also some really entertaining parts. However, I found it quite difficult to follow initially, especially through the first few chapters but this did get easier and the unusual concepts became more familiar.

I found many parts of the story frustrating, for example the lack of a God who intervenes didn't really make sense throughout the story given the rest of the afterlife details, and the roles of the senior angels seemed disjointed. The idea of a new untrained angel being sent on a mission was a good one, but the execution of it seemed to lack the bigger picture details to satisfy my enjoyment of the whole story.

[CL Ngwe-Nwi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking sci-fi about an unlikely afterlife adventure
I picked David Gittlin’s ‘Three Days to Darkness’ simply because of the title. I love Angels, demons religious symbolism, and the world beyond type novels and movies. I was really not disappointed. It was both a serious and light-hearted read in a sense. I could be cracking a rib in one turn and then on the next page, I’ll be having a panic attack.
The story takes off really nicely with the murder of the protagonist – Darius. What follows is his arrival in heaven and then being assigned a nearly impossible mission to save humanity in only three days. The war is fierce, facing fallen angels with a dark agenda for Earth, Darius has to team up with an unlikely set of characters.
Indeed, Gittlin has been able to give the reader a fun new perception of heaven and hell. The story was well written -with a rather straightforward plot - and the characters are likable.
Overall, I found this book to be quite an enjoyable read, nicely paced, and quite humorous.
Don't hesitate to buy this piece, you will love it.