A Dusk of Demons is a young adult science fiction novel written by the British author John Christopher and published in 1993.

[1] The story is set in a post-apocalyptic future in England where it is believed that demons rule Earth.

Paddy warns Ben that the villagers are planning to harm him and they flee with the help of a fisherman named Joe.

They part with the gypsies and continue to try and catch up with Mother Ryan but are taken captive by an enemy general who sacrifices criminals to the demons.

Ben wakes up on an airplane where his rescuer tells him that the demons were fabricated by a secretive group in an attempt to keep people from becoming violent.

The Master had been a member of this group but was exiled for speaking out against the terror caused by the pretended demons.

Mother Ryan came to Old Isle with the Master from Ireland and agreed to take care of his son.

John Christopher is known for using the genre of science fiction to explore deep questions and changes in the world.

It is later emphasized that, despite the darker side of human nature, people should be allowed access to knowledge and have choice in how they want to live.

Other themes in the book deal with coming of age, the importance of being willing to act, and the fallibility of human nature.