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Baal
A woman is ravished...
and to her a child is born...
unleashing an unimaginable evil upon the world!
And they call him BAAL in the orphanage, where he leads the children on a rampage of violence...in California, where he appears as the head of a deadly Manson-like cult...in Kuwait, where crazed millions heed his call to murder and orgy.
They call him BAAL in the Arctic's hellish wasteland, where he is tracked by the only three men with a will to stop him: Zark, the shaman; Virga, the aging professor of theology; and Michael, the powerful, mysterious stranger.
and to her a child is born...
unleashing an unimaginable evil upon the world!
And they call him BAAL in the orphanage, where he leads the children on a rampage of violence...in California, where he appears as the head of a deadly Manson-like cult...in Kuwait, where crazed millions heed his call to murder and orgy.
They call him BAAL in the Arctic's hellish wasteland, where he is tracked by the only three men with a will to stop him: Zark, the shaman; Virga, the aging professor of theology; and Michael, the powerful, mysterious stranger.
335 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1978
343 people are currently reading
2980 people want to read
About the author
Robert McCammon
167 books5,737 followersPseudonyms: Robert R. McCammon; Robert Rick McCammon
Robert McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. Among his many popular novels were the classics Boy's Life and Swan Song. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.
His newest book, Leviathan, is the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series. It was published in trade hardcover (Lividian Publications), ebook (Open Road), and audiobook (Audible) formats on December 3, 2024.
McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
Robert McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. Among his many popular novels were the classics Boy's Life and Swan Song. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.
His newest book, Leviathan, is the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series. It was published in trade hardcover (Lividian Publications), ebook (Open Road), and audiobook (Audible) formats on December 3, 2024.
McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
May 18, 2022
"The prophets had been right. Their skulls and sticks, their writing across the sky had foretold the coming of the end. It had only been a matter of time."
Initial Thoughts
After blasting through the majority of Stephen King's bibliography I was looking for another author to scratch that itch and tried the likes of Peter Straub, Dan Simmons and Clive Barker. Although all are really good, none quite hit the mark like Mr Robert R McCammon.
So far the books of his I've read include the fantastic Wolf's Hour, the brilliant novella collection of I Travel by Night, the stupendous historical fiction series that is Mathew Corbett and possibly my favourite book ever...the post apocalyptic brilliance that is Swan Song. McCammon really is an amazing author and not just with horror. But he definitely started out cutting his teeth in that genre, and after deciding to read his entire collection I quickly snapped up a copy of his debut book...Baal.
"Baal was the disease of madness, carried through the bodies of once-sane men to infect the world; he was the end of man."
It's worth noting that Baal was straight up McCammons first ever attempt at writing a full novel, while working in a department store, and a one he harboured some negative feelings toward. In fact he pulled his first three novels from publication as he felt he was learning to write in the public eye and that they were not a positive reflection on who he was as a writer. Let's face it, this is an author who went on to win multiple awards including the Bram Stoker Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. But after consultation with his publisher he was eventually convinced to put these original three books back into print. Lucky for me as it gave me the chance to see how much he's progressed as an author.
Anyway, on with the review!
The Story
Baal is a raw, pulpy horror story of an epic, global scale that's told in three acts. It kicks of in the sixties when a young woman is savagely raped by a guy who burns his handprints into her skin. Not something you see every day. She's left with child and if you've seen movies like the Omen and Rosemary's Baby then you know what's coming. Nine months later and out pops a little bundle of satanic joy.
The story jumps forward and in no time at all our lovely little antichrist has lost both parents and is causing mayhem in the local orphanage. He's older now and is imposing himself on the priests and nuns while picking up disciples, all the while planning his escape into the big wide world.
A number of years pass and we then get to the meat of the story when Baal is set up in Kuwait as a dark prophet with his own cult following. We then see the entrance of our main protagonist, professor of theology, James Varga who's on the hunt for a missing colleague. And that's way too much I've given you already, you'll have to find out the rest for yourself.
The Writing
Having experienced a wealth of McCammon's work already it's extremely interesting to go back to his first book and take a look at how much he has improved. And boy has he improved!
Don't get me wrong, this was extremely good for an author's first attempt at writing a novel and a testament to his skill that it was published. The promise is there and McCammon has a real grasp at the ability to show the reader what he wants, without explicitly telling them, with some fantastic use of language.
"He could not see the man’s face quite yet; it was covered by a broad band of shadow. But he could see clearly the man’s hands, skeletal and white as if carved of either ivory or ice. They never moved, but as Virga approached he was aware of the man’s head turning slightly, very slightly, to watch him. He was aware of eyes cutting into his brain, though he couldn’t see them at all. He felt open and defenseless."
But there is some issues that a mature McCammon would never make. There's a lot of metaphors used at certain points that can miss the mark and some awkward POV switches. Like I explained already, the key protagonist doesn't come into the story until the second third of the story, which is a little bit strange.
However, the biggest problem for me was the time jumps in the narrative and the complete lack of distinction between them. Twenty years pass and the general backdrop doesn't really change, which made me feel that time hasn't really moved on. This is a book of epic scale and this lack of detail really does hinder the books ability to impact this on the reader.
The Characters
Robert R McCammon is second only to Stephen King in his ability to craft vivid, believable and relatable characters. Don't believe me? Then check out his Matthew Corbett series.
In the afterword McCammon discusses how he creates his characters. A process of observing others, picking out interesting aspects and injecting his own personality into the finished product. Fascinating stuff. But even he admits that when writing Baal he was just learning how to do this. Again there's real promise in this novel, with some varied and distinct characters. But the way they were presented did mean they felt slightly undeveloped.
The character of James Varga was one I really connected with and began to care about. A man of faith who had some intriguing internal monologue. But because of his late introduction it was slightly confusing that this was the character I needed to get invested in.
Final Thoughts
Ok, so I've been really harsh on this novel...so I'm giving it four stars! The reason for that critique is I know just how good McCammon can be. But I rate a novel first and foremost on how much I enjoy it. And god damn, send me straight to hell I did enjoy Baal.
It's a very imaginative and involving story that reminded me a lot of the Omen. Only in parts it was even better and had me gripped. It certainly is better than a large majority of horror novels out there, which is staggering for a first attempt.
"And everywhere, in every language, he saw magazines and newspapers with front-page photographs of murders and bombings and faces eager for war. Baal, though hidden perhaps from even the eye of God, was still at work."
This book is jam packed with ideas and it feels like it wants to be truly epic. McCammon just does not spend the time developing everything fully. I certainly felt like I wanted a lot more. It's certainly something he's learned to do later in his career and I'd love to see him tackle this novel now. There's an idea, instead of taking these novels out of publication why not have a go at rewriting them? Remakes are all the rage these days after all.
But I'm rambling again. So to draw a line on it. A novel that is at times amateurish, but I still had a lot of fun reading. If you're just starting your McCammon journey there's often a temptation to read an author's bibliography in publication order. But I strongly suggest not to do this. Read something like Boys Life, Swan Song, Wolf's Hour or Gone South. Then you'll know what this authors about. You can always read his early stuff later and reflect on how much better he is.
Thank me later. Cheers!
A very young, and cool as a cucumber, Robert R McCammon
December 15, 2023
It is hard to believe Baal was McCammon's debut novel. This is written with the finesse of a seasoned storyteller. Spectacularly horrifying.
Narrator Ray Porter brings the written words to life in a way that reading alone never could. He succeeds in elevating the terror to maximum overload. Took me awhile to get my pulse back to normal after its conclusion. Highly recommend.
Narrator Ray Porter brings the written words to life in a way that reading alone never could. He succeeds in elevating the terror to maximum overload. Took me awhile to get my pulse back to normal after its conclusion. Highly recommend.
February 14, 2023
"Call me BAAL" 👹
I thought BAAL was very similar to the stories Rosemary's Baby and The Omen, I'm not saying it's an act of plagiarism; I believe he was influenced and there's nothing wrong with some influence.
But the same goes for Swan Song, I found that similar to Stephen King's The Stand, but I guess any author would want such a brilliant book in their bibliography.
Robert McCammon is one of my favourite authors and I've enjoyed all of the books I've read of his.
There's no exception with BAAL but it's probably my least favourite of the bunch.
If you're just starting with his books, I wouldn't recommend this one first - go for They Thirst or even better Swan Song.
If you like the stories Rosemary's Baby and The Omen, give 'BAAL' a try!
I thought BAAL was very similar to the stories Rosemary's Baby and The Omen, I'm not saying it's an act of plagiarism; I believe he was influenced and there's nothing wrong with some influence.
But the same goes for Swan Song, I found that similar to Stephen King's The Stand, but I guess any author would want such a brilliant book in their bibliography.
Robert McCammon is one of my favourite authors and I've enjoyed all of the books I've read of his.
There's no exception with BAAL but it's probably my least favourite of the bunch.
If you're just starting with his books, I wouldn't recommend this one first - go for They Thirst or even better Swan Song.
If you like the stories Rosemary's Baby and The Omen, give 'BAAL' a try!
May 29, 2019
What a phenomenal debut novel and horror classic! A woman is raped by an extremely eerie man and the son she bears is different from the very beginning. The children in the orphanage are afraid of Jeffrey, also the nuns and fathers. He soon calls himself Baal, like the ancient demon and god the Canaanites worhipped. Years go by. Baal is gathering a lot of followers in Kuweit, he is regarded as the true Messiah. Virga, a professor of theology, is looking for a colleague, who wanted to research this new phenomenon and who's missing now in Kuweit. Donald wanted to write a book about this new prophet, Baal. When in Kuweit chaos, violence and bloodshed occur among the fanatic followers of Baal's cult. Then Baal, their leader, alledgedly is shot by a Jewish person. But was he really assasinated? Virga wants to hunt Baal down and gets help by a strange fellow named Michael. Who is this Michael and what's his connection to Baal? There is a fantastic showdown in the Arctic. Who will come out as winner, the forces of good or those of evil? This is a breathtaking and compelling piece of fiction. You get lots of background knowledge on Baal and are within a nailbiting story full of good, evil and mysterious going ons. The novel was written in 1978 but the seed of Baal is still in full grow if you have a look at Kuweit or the Middle East. This gives the novel an eerie relevance to our modern age. An absolute classic. McCammon's first is a must read pageturner you won't regret!
September 3, 2018
Not quite as exciting as I hoped it would be, but not terrible either. Realizing this was Mr. McCammon's first book, I felt like I could sense the not-quite-realized talent that shows so well in the other books of his I've read. Lots of potential in the story and the characters, just not quite enough there. But, glad I read it! 3.0/5.0 stars is where I would land.
March 30, 2021
I’ve heard many McCammon fans say this is a bad book. As a result, I dove into the novel with very low expectations. Well, I’m here to say my piece after feverishly devouring Baal in two days. I’m officially going to bat for this book. I promise not to “low Baal” my rating.
Is this upper tier McCammon? No. But keep in mind, we are talking about a master writer who has honed his skills for decades; one of the best in the business. What it is is a damn good debut novel that is a bit rough around the edges in some ways, surprisingly effective in others. There are definitely sections of this that earn my full 5 stars.
In Baal, McCammon clearly took inspiration from some of the major horror heavy-hitters of the 70s (there are some big-time Omen/Rosemary’s Baby/The Exorcist vibes), while putting his own unique spin on things. It’s a sprawling story, spanning several decades and a variety of locations around the globe (Boston, Kuwait, Greenland).
The horror elements are well done. In particular, the section at the child orphanage was supremely creepy. Baal is not the kind of guy you want to invite to your cookout. There were a ton of striking visuals in this book that will stick with me for awhile.
That said, the story does feel a bit disjointed at times. It feels less like a novel and more like several novellas tied together. It works well enough, but I’m willing to bet the older, wiser McCammon could have connected the dots more effectively.
The pacing is also inconsistent. The first 80 or 90 pages are super compelling, and then the story takes a bit of a left turn and slows down substantially for a large chunk of the book before picking up speed again toward the end. Dealbreaker? No way! But again, the McCammon we know now would have probably been much more consistent (his pacing is pretty much perfect in most of his books).
Overall, though, this was impressive for a debut novel. It’s enjoyable all the way through with occasional glimpses of genius peaking through. You can really see the beginnings of a great writer here. That alone makes it worth the read, but it’s also just an effective horror novel in its own right. A friend of mine said he’d love to see what the McCammon of 2021 could have done with this concept, and I agree. I think he would hit a grand slam with this if he wrote Baal at this point in his career. Perhaps a sequel one day? Who knows. Stranger things have happened.
3.75/5, rounded up to 4 stars.
I actually thought this was a much better book than The Night Boat, which he published a couple years later. It is definitely worth a read if you are a McCammon fan. It certainly exceeded my expectations! McCammon goes Baals to the Waal in this one.
Is this upper tier McCammon? No. But keep in mind, we are talking about a master writer who has honed his skills for decades; one of the best in the business. What it is is a damn good debut novel that is a bit rough around the edges in some ways, surprisingly effective in others. There are definitely sections of this that earn my full 5 stars.
In Baal, McCammon clearly took inspiration from some of the major horror heavy-hitters of the 70s (there are some big-time Omen/Rosemary’s Baby/The Exorcist vibes), while putting his own unique spin on things. It’s a sprawling story, spanning several decades and a variety of locations around the globe (Boston, Kuwait, Greenland).
The horror elements are well done. In particular, the section at the child orphanage was supremely creepy. Baal is not the kind of guy you want to invite to your cookout. There were a ton of striking visuals in this book that will stick with me for awhile.
That said, the story does feel a bit disjointed at times. It feels less like a novel and more like several novellas tied together. It works well enough, but I’m willing to bet the older, wiser McCammon could have connected the dots more effectively.
The pacing is also inconsistent. The first 80 or 90 pages are super compelling, and then the story takes a bit of a left turn and slows down substantially for a large chunk of the book before picking up speed again toward the end. Dealbreaker? No way! But again, the McCammon we know now would have probably been much more consistent (his pacing is pretty much perfect in most of his books).
Overall, though, this was impressive for a debut novel. It’s enjoyable all the way through with occasional glimpses of genius peaking through. You can really see the beginnings of a great writer here. That alone makes it worth the read, but it’s also just an effective horror novel in its own right. A friend of mine said he’d love to see what the McCammon of 2021 could have done with this concept, and I agree. I think he would hit a grand slam with this if he wrote Baal at this point in his career. Perhaps a sequel one day? Who knows. Stranger things have happened.
3.75/5, rounded up to 4 stars.
I actually thought this was a much better book than The Night Boat, which he published a couple years later. It is definitely worth a read if you are a McCammon fan. It certainly exceeded my expectations! McCammon goes Baals to the Waal in this one.
January 12, 2025
Wow, this was my second time reading this book and it was absolutely great. This was Robert McCammons first published book and it’s done really well.
We follow BAAL as a kid and the horrible things he does to people around him were actually really scary. Books don’t really scare me much anymore but this book really makes you think “what if”.
I really loved the showdown/huntdown between Michael and Baal. If you have any sort of biblical knowledge, you will know what Michael I’m referring to. Some might say that’s lame but I really don’t think it is. Especially nowadays with all the conspiracy-spiritual-warfare happening today. It stays true to the story and I ate every bit of it up.
***Beyond This Point ***Possible Spoilers***
The ending was quite ambiguous and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thought it was the perfect way to tie everything up. It really floored my imagination and made me question what really did happen after all of that?
Part of me hopes Michael stood on business. The other part of me thinks most likely Baal prevailed. If McCammon ever made a sequel, this is the one I want. Rumor has it, Robert pulled this book from any further publications. I hope he didn’t. I REALLY hope some day he says what the hell and writes a sequel to this.
Please Mr. McCammon!
We follow BAAL as a kid and the horrible things he does to people around him were actually really scary. Books don’t really scare me much anymore but this book really makes you think “what if”.
I really loved the showdown/huntdown between Michael and Baal. If you have any sort of biblical knowledge, you will know what Michael I’m referring to. Some might say that’s lame but I really don’t think it is. Especially nowadays with all the conspiracy-spiritual-warfare happening today. It stays true to the story and I ate every bit of it up.
***Beyond This Point ***Possible Spoilers***
The ending was quite ambiguous and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thought it was the perfect way to tie everything up. It really floored my imagination and made me question what really did happen after all of that?
Part of me hopes Michael stood on business. The other part of me thinks most likely Baal prevailed. If McCammon ever made a sequel, this is the one I want. Rumor has it, Robert pulled this book from any further publications. I hope he didn’t. I REALLY hope some day he says what the hell and writes a sequel to this.
Please Mr. McCammon!
January 27, 2016
Reading the two-page afterword that followed this book, I learned that Robert McCammon considers this his "Angry Young Man novel", and that this was his first full-length publication. The story was born from feeling surrounded by powerless circumstances - in the twenties with little money, a dead-end job catering to under-appreciative employers, little respect from peers. Baal rose up to form a story that has been told and retold in so many ways before. It's not new, but as far as these types of tellings go, it's damn good.
The thing I appreciate most is that McCammon stuck to the viewpoints of a select few, staying with them a good length in between, not head-hopping too much, something that drives me bonkers with these types. It was subtly apocalyptic until the end, where it still felt sheltered and isolated, but that was the trick of the hand and the weight over the eyes. Focal settings help the story succeed well - told through the POV of the unlucky parents for the first segment; Baal's interesting choice of carriers to fame through the boy's home as a teenager; Virga, the quiet and subtle hero at the college; the destruction and desolation as Baal gains power in the middle east; and ultimately the long, perilous journey that three heroes bear on the ice. Each of these segments drew out to highlight the power of the story, not needing to jump around, and in staying amidst themselves and having respect/importance for each scene, making each segment count as much as the first and the last - well, that is where this story truly succeeded.
Virga was such an awesome hero because, like in so many biblical stories and lessons, he was an ordinary man. Aged, not strong in stature, not particularly brave, he helped as best as he could but was not saved in any way through good fortune, talent, luck, or skill. He couldn't fight, he couldn't shoot weapons, he couldn't track, and he was the slowest of the group in the ice, slowing them down. An unassuming hero with his own brands of flaws. Baal was truly evil, yicky with his intents and his purposes, a one-dimensional foe. While I usually prefer my heroes AND villains with grey spots, Baal could be nothing but pure black to be convincing considering what he is supposed to be.
McCammon writes well with his pacing and scenes. At over 350 pages, this novel doesn't need trimming or editing. He especially excelled with convincing dialogue, especially when Baal either speaks or bellows. There is a small twist at the end (but it's not surprising) and the battle is almost anticlimactic - perhaps a little weak - but ultimately it works with the subtle, apocalyptic story.
No real flaws, but a three-star rating is earned because the story only entertains semi-far due to it's content. Plotting structure is fine and well constructed, but the story's material is simple.
The thing I appreciate most is that McCammon stuck to the viewpoints of a select few, staying with them a good length in between, not head-hopping too much, something that drives me bonkers with these types. It was subtly apocalyptic until the end, where it still felt sheltered and isolated, but that was the trick of the hand and the weight over the eyes. Focal settings help the story succeed well - told through the POV of the unlucky parents for the first segment; Baal's interesting choice of carriers to fame through the boy's home as a teenager; Virga, the quiet and subtle hero at the college; the destruction and desolation as Baal gains power in the middle east; and ultimately the long, perilous journey that three heroes bear on the ice. Each of these segments drew out to highlight the power of the story, not needing to jump around, and in staying amidst themselves and having respect/importance for each scene, making each segment count as much as the first and the last - well, that is where this story truly succeeded.
Virga was such an awesome hero because, like in so many biblical stories and lessons, he was an ordinary man. Aged, not strong in stature, not particularly brave, he helped as best as he could but was not saved in any way through good fortune, talent, luck, or skill. He couldn't fight, he couldn't shoot weapons, he couldn't track, and he was the slowest of the group in the ice, slowing them down. An unassuming hero with his own brands of flaws. Baal was truly evil, yicky with his intents and his purposes, a one-dimensional foe. While I usually prefer my heroes AND villains with grey spots, Baal could be nothing but pure black to be convincing considering what he is supposed to be.
McCammon writes well with his pacing and scenes. At over 350 pages, this novel doesn't need trimming or editing. He especially excelled with convincing dialogue, especially when Baal either speaks or bellows. There is a small twist at the end (but it's not surprising) and the battle is almost anticlimactic - perhaps a little weak - but ultimately it works with the subtle, apocalyptic story.
No real flaws, but a three-star rating is earned because the story only entertains semi-far due to it's content. Plotting structure is fine and well constructed, but the story's material is simple.
October 20, 2023
Let me preface this review by stating how much I enjoy McCammon's work. Baal, however, was his first work, written when he was 25, and it really shows. Further, after reading this, I can really appreciate how much McCammon evolved as an author!
Our main protagonist, Dr. Virga, teaches theology at a university in Boston. The book starts with a prologue from ancient times where the main towns of Baal worshipers were wiped out by Devine means. Then we flash forward to the 50s in NYC, where a woman is raped by some sleazy tramp and leaves 1st degree handprints all over her. Needless to say, she gets pregnant and gives birth to one evil little tyke who starts calling himself Baal.
Baal grows up in a catholic orphanage but no one ever adopts him until finally, he leaves after burning the place down, taking some disciples with him (kids). Then we finally switch to the heart of the story. Baal is in the middle east-- Kuwait City to be exact-- and Dr. Virga goes there to see what the fuss is all about. Thousands of people from all over are flocking to Kuwait City to see Baal, and killing/raping one another at his 'services'. After some trials and tribulations, Dr. Virga is 'saved' by one Michael from the desert and they go to hunt Baal down...
McCammon's smooth prose is decidedly missing here, as are his typically excellent pacing and nuance. Baal has the nuance of a rock to the head. You pretty much know how this is going to go down pretty early, so do not expect any twisty plot turns. As McCammon notes in his afterward to the 1988 edition, this was his 'angry-man' novel. Baal is the embodiment of evil and badness; an antichrist. It took awhile before McCammon's novels had their own voice; his early work is all pretty derivative of existing, prominent horror tropes. In the 1970s, with The Omen and others, religious horror was all the rage and McCammon jumped on that bandwagon here for sure. Good versus evil, the long war between God and Satan. Yada, yada, yada. I put off reading this, knowing it would probably not compare favorably with his later work, and in that regard, I was not too disappointed. Recommended for McCammon completists, but that would be about it. 2 Baals.
Our main protagonist, Dr. Virga, teaches theology at a university in Boston. The book starts with a prologue from ancient times where the main towns of Baal worshipers were wiped out by Devine means. Then we flash forward to the 50s in NYC, where a woman is raped by some sleazy tramp and leaves 1st degree handprints all over her. Needless to say, she gets pregnant and gives birth to one evil little tyke who starts calling himself Baal.
Baal grows up in a catholic orphanage but no one ever adopts him until finally, he leaves after burning the place down, taking some disciples with him (kids). Then we finally switch to the heart of the story. Baal is in the middle east-- Kuwait City to be exact-- and Dr. Virga goes there to see what the fuss is all about. Thousands of people from all over are flocking to Kuwait City to see Baal, and killing/raping one another at his 'services'. After some trials and tribulations, Dr. Virga is 'saved' by one Michael from the desert and they go to hunt Baal down...
McCammon's smooth prose is decidedly missing here, as are his typically excellent pacing and nuance. Baal has the nuance of a rock to the head. You pretty much know how this is going to go down pretty early, so do not expect any twisty plot turns. As McCammon notes in his afterward to the 1988 edition, this was his 'angry-man' novel. Baal is the embodiment of evil and badness; an antichrist. It took awhile before McCammon's novels had their own voice; his early work is all pretty derivative of existing, prominent horror tropes. In the 1970s, with The Omen and others, religious horror was all the rage and McCammon jumped on that bandwagon here for sure. Good versus evil, the long war between God and Satan. Yada, yada, yada. I put off reading this, knowing it would probably not compare favorably with his later work, and in that regard, I was not too disappointed. Recommended for McCammon completists, but that would be about it. 2 Baals.
August 2, 2022
Another day another classic.
This was my first book by Robert McCammon (I think) so, why not start at the beginning...
For his first book It's amazing and really showcases his epic-storytelling that I've always heard a lot about. Think - Rosemary's Baby meets The Omen and throw in a bit of Armageddon for good measure..
The storytelling and prose shine brightest in the second half of the book - when the action starts, and the pacing picks up exponentially. Written back in 1978, around the time every book seemed to be the size of a door-stop, I can't help but feel that this book would have worked even better if it was a bit longer, or perhaps spilt into a trilogy. It's only 300+ pages and the story just feels bigger than that to me.
Anyway... overall, a thoroughly enjoyable, action-packed, supernatural epic.
4 Stars.
This was my first book by Robert McCammon (I think) so, why not start at the beginning...
For his first book It's amazing and really showcases his epic-storytelling that I've always heard a lot about. Think - Rosemary's Baby meets The Omen and throw in a bit of Armageddon for good measure..
The storytelling and prose shine brightest in the second half of the book - when the action starts, and the pacing picks up exponentially. Written back in 1978, around the time every book seemed to be the size of a door-stop, I can't help but feel that this book would have worked even better if it was a bit longer, or perhaps spilt into a trilogy. It's only 300+ pages and the story just feels bigger than that to me.
Anyway... overall, a thoroughly enjoyable, action-packed, supernatural epic.
4 Stars.
October 30, 2021
Early McCammon, this novel has all the late seventies' fascination with the antichrist and has a LOT of the feel of Rosemary's Baby and the Omen -- at least at first -- and it transforms nicely into a sprawling drama of an older version of the evil in Omen, as well.
Where it diverges is in how it becomes a Middle East curiosity, with cultists in Kuwait, as well as going to the cold reaches of the north, eventually turning into a pretty epic battle of good versus evil, albeit relying on traditional Christian motifs (and some Jewish!).
While it DOES appear to be a book of its time, I think it held up quite well. It nods to both the old mythologies and the more common, but together, it makes a rather flavorful novel full of rich ideas.
Granted, I loved this less than almost all of his other works, to date, but that's not saying that much. I have liked almost everything he's written.
Where it diverges is in how it becomes a Middle East curiosity, with cultists in Kuwait, as well as going to the cold reaches of the north, eventually turning into a pretty epic battle of good versus evil, albeit relying on traditional Christian motifs (and some Jewish!).
While it DOES appear to be a book of its time, I think it held up quite well. It nods to both the old mythologies and the more common, but together, it makes a rather flavorful novel full of rich ideas.
Granted, I loved this less than almost all of his other works, to date, but that's not saying that much. I have liked almost everything he's written.
March 17, 2023
Oh boy, I wonder if I will ever learn and just re-read Boy's Life whenever I feel the compulsion to read some McCammon. This, his first book, came with quite a few warnings upfront by friends and others, but honestly not enough.
For a late 80's horror and including the atrocities, this is just so boring. I wonder what the cardboard god wanted with the cardboard characters? I wonder why Baal is affected by the cross that he predates by a couple of millennia at least - and that is a man-invented symbol of a god he predates by a thousand years at least. A god he does not seem very impressed with to begin with? I wonder how many times you can write out the first names of two protagonists? I wonder why I finished this?
For a late 80's horror and including the atrocities, this is just so boring. I wonder what the cardboard god wanted with the cardboard characters? I wonder why Baal is affected by the cross that he predates by a couple of millennia at least - and that is a man-invented symbol of a god he predates by a thousand years at least. A god he does not seem very impressed with to begin with? I wonder how many times you can write out the first names of two protagonists? I wonder why I finished this?
September 11, 2018
To say that I like Robert McCammon's writing is like saying fish kind of like water. He is, without a doubt, my favorite author that ever put ink to paper. His writing has wrung out every emotion possible from within my soul and has helped shape who I am as a reader, writer and as a person. Yes, his writing is simply magical. So, it was a no-brainer when the opportunity came around to participate in the Robert McCammon Challenge. The RMC is where you read his work in chronological order, one a month, until you've completed them all.
Baal is McCammon's first novel published way back in 1978. Many authors would kill for their first novel to have this level of quality. You can see that it doesn't quite live up to the standard he set with his later works. Baal has shades that bleed through of the gifted storyteller that was to mature. McCammon was only in his mid-twenties when he wrote it.
It starts off well enough, with the rape of a woman in an ally who later gives birth to a child that is not quite like every other child. As you can imagine, this child grows up to be the demon, Baal. The story has three seperate parts. The first is rape and the life of Baal being shuffled in and out of every orphanage school you can imagine. This is where McCammon shines. Baal is Damien from the Omen to the tenth power. Throw in a little Isaac from Children of the Corn and you get the idea as he round up his minions to do his bidding.
The second part has Baal as a man leading some religious building/gathering in the Middle East. The bleak atmosphere radiates from the pages. You literally feel like your dying of thirst and your skin is blistering, but the transformation into Part III is hurried and muddled.
The last part again uses McCammon's uncanny ability to build the setting and atmosphere to it's fullest height. The arctic landscape pictured here makes you shiver and your hands go numb as you follow the characters chasing Baal. Then there's the ending. Not my favorite. In fact, it felt like McCammon had spend all of his energy on creating the journey that he didn't quite know what to do with the ending. While it's not bad - I've definitely read much worse from other "masters" of horror - it feels very anti-climactic. Michael's ability to control Baal without much trouble what-so-ever seemed like a stretch. You'll see what I mean once you read it. Overall, still a very solid read that lets you have a glimpse of a newborn master storyteller learning how to walk.
3.5 Mangled Hands out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Baal is McCammon's first novel published way back in 1978. Many authors would kill for their first novel to have this level of quality. You can see that it doesn't quite live up to the standard he set with his later works. Baal has shades that bleed through of the gifted storyteller that was to mature. McCammon was only in his mid-twenties when he wrote it.
It starts off well enough, with the rape of a woman in an ally who later gives birth to a child that is not quite like every other child. As you can imagine, this child grows up to be the demon, Baal. The story has three seperate parts. The first is rape and the life of Baal being shuffled in and out of every orphanage school you can imagine. This is where McCammon shines. Baal is Damien from the Omen to the tenth power. Throw in a little Isaac from Children of the Corn and you get the idea as he round up his minions to do his bidding.
The second part has Baal as a man leading some religious building/gathering in the Middle East. The bleak atmosphere radiates from the pages. You literally feel like your dying of thirst and your skin is blistering, but the transformation into Part III is hurried and muddled.
The last part again uses McCammon's uncanny ability to build the setting and atmosphere to it's fullest height. The arctic landscape pictured here makes you shiver and your hands go numb as you follow the characters chasing Baal. Then there's the ending. Not my favorite. In fact, it felt like McCammon had spend all of his energy on creating the journey that he didn't quite know what to do with the ending. While it's not bad - I've definitely read much worse from other "masters" of horror - it feels very anti-climactic. Michael's ability to control Baal without much trouble what-so-ever seemed like a stretch. You'll see what I mean once you read it. Overall, still a very solid read that lets you have a glimpse of a newborn master storyteller learning how to walk.
3.5 Mangled Hands out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://intothemacabre.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
April 22, 2020
Baal was McCammon's first novel, and lacks the subtlety of style and pacing of most of his later work. It's also more violent and extreme, and there's a rape near the very beginning that many readers will want to avoid. There are different segments and scenes that eventually all tie together around a religious theme that is quite effective, though, again, it lacks the subtlety of his subsequent novels. It's a good spine-tingling good vs. evil plot, and stands up better now than most books from the 1970s.
June 23, 2023
**** 4 STARS ****
A very good debut from a master storyteller.
For a while I'd been putting off reading Robert McCammon's debut novel, Baal, thinking it's not gonna be very good. I was wrong. Baal has everything a horror and adventure fan could want.
Baal reminded me of McCammon's other book, and I'm my opinion one of his best, They Thirst, with some aspects of Frankenstein.
My favourite parts were certainly the opening and last thirds; and Baal was a great character.
A very good debut from a master storyteller.
For a while I'd been putting off reading Robert McCammon's debut novel, Baal, thinking it's not gonna be very good. I was wrong. Baal has everything a horror and adventure fan could want.
Baal reminded me of McCammon's other book, and I'm my opinion one of his best, They Thirst, with some aspects of Frankenstein.
My favourite parts were certainly the opening and last thirds; and Baal was a great character.
January 22, 2018
Wanting to read all of McCammons works in the next couple of years means that i have the pleasure of reading his very early novels. These books are the ones that the author himself has kind of disowned. BAAL is the first, and whilst nowhere near as bad as McCammon made out, it still isn't great.
Whist more serious and mature in tone than another one of his early works, Bethanys sin, BAAL never quite knows what it wants to be. What starts out as quite a strong character study about a family dealing with rape and an unwanted pregnancy, soon morphs into a vast tale spanning across different continents, trying its best to feel epic and failing pretty badly. Its like Mccammon had an idea and then couldnt quite pull it off so changed it. The book is a mess, with three parts that are completely different in tone and dont quite match up. We have the said family tragedy and BAAL as a youngster with a certain omen feel to it, and then we are thrust into a story about a priest looking into a massive cult following with no idea how and why this has come about, and then, finally, the last third, whilst being atmospheric and creepy, does not match up with anything that has come before it and ends with a whimper. It doesnt help either that the title character goes missing for around 2/3rds of the book.
Worth reading for the strong beginning and the creepy ice maze at the end. Everything in between kind of falls flat.
Whist more serious and mature in tone than another one of his early works, Bethanys sin, BAAL never quite knows what it wants to be. What starts out as quite a strong character study about a family dealing with rape and an unwanted pregnancy, soon morphs into a vast tale spanning across different continents, trying its best to feel epic and failing pretty badly. Its like Mccammon had an idea and then couldnt quite pull it off so changed it. The book is a mess, with three parts that are completely different in tone and dont quite match up. We have the said family tragedy and BAAL as a youngster with a certain omen feel to it, and then we are thrust into a story about a priest looking into a massive cult following with no idea how and why this has come about, and then, finally, the last third, whilst being atmospheric and creepy, does not match up with anything that has come before it and ends with a whimper. It doesnt help either that the title character goes missing for around 2/3rds of the book.
Worth reading for the strong beginning and the creepy ice maze at the end. Everything in between kind of falls flat.
February 1, 2021
This was McCammon's first published novel (1978).
It held up very well even with today's standards. IMO
Summary:
Baal:
Born Jeffrey Harper, and conceived by rape, Baal ended up in a catholic orphanage very young. He is different than the other troubled children in that he defies authority and scares the children (as well as the adults). Highly intelligent, yet a loner, who is often seen clenching and unclenching his fists as he walks alone in the playground during lunch. He is hiding something deep within, a secret mission.
Dr. Vigra (Theology professor) goes to Kuwait in search of a colleague who is late returning from his trip researching a developing "prophet" or possible cult. In Kuwait, Vigra encounters Baal, said "prophet," who people claim to be Muhammad incarnate. He also meets up with Michael, who has been tracking Baal for years. Later. the two encounter Zarak, an Eskimo Shaman who comes to have a personal vendetta against Baal.
Great world building as McCammon takes us from the heat searing deserts of Kuwait to the below zero temperatures of Greenland. What impressed me was his stating in his afterword, that although most young writers are told "write what you know," he defied that "rule" and wrote this novel about places he didn't know. He did spectacular. So much for rules.
He must have done quite a bit of research into the Old Testament, not having read it, I can only assume his accuracy.
Kept me on the edge of my seat with action and suspense. My only negative point (and it's minor) is that I didn't feel as connected to the MC Vigra as I should have. I felt Naughton, Michael and the Zarak were better developed. Maybe a better way of saying it is I found them more interesting.
The ending was a bit unfulfilling although very exciting. It left room for a sequel but ended well enough that it isn't necessary.
Content concerns:
It held up very well even with today's standards. IMO
Summary:
Baal:
Born Jeffrey Harper, and conceived by rape, Baal ended up in a catholic orphanage very young. He is different than the other troubled children in that he defies authority and scares the children (as well as the adults). Highly intelligent, yet a loner, who is often seen clenching and unclenching his fists as he walks alone in the playground during lunch. He is hiding something deep within, a secret mission.
Dr. Vigra (Theology professor) goes to Kuwait in search of a colleague who is late returning from his trip researching a developing "prophet" or possible cult. In Kuwait, Vigra encounters Baal, said "prophet," who people claim to be Muhammad incarnate. He also meets up with Michael, who has been tracking Baal for years. Later. the two encounter Zarak, an Eskimo Shaman who comes to have a personal vendetta against Baal.
Great world building as McCammon takes us from the heat searing deserts of Kuwait to the below zero temperatures of Greenland. What impressed me was his stating in his afterword, that although most young writers are told "write what you know," he defied that "rule" and wrote this novel about places he didn't know. He did spectacular. So much for rules.
He must have done quite a bit of research into the Old Testament, not having read it, I can only assume his accuracy.
Kept me on the edge of my seat with action and suspense. My only negative point (and it's minor) is that I didn't feel as connected to the MC Vigra as I should have. I felt Naughton, Michael and the Zarak were better developed. Maybe a better way of saying it is I found them more interesting.
The ending was a bit unfulfilling although very exciting. It left room for a sequel but ended well enough that it isn't necessary.
Content concerns:
August 29, 2012
Robert McCammon is one of those horror authors influential to me as I delved into horror fiction from the mid-to-late 80's, not only as a reader but as a writer. In a word, I love his work. Even lately, with his Matthew Corbett series, which is a bit of a diversion from his more well-known modern horror works, McCammon stands up there, to me, as strongly as the big heavy-hitters of horror, like Stephen King.
BAAL was his debut novel way back when and it shows. Not his strongest novel (but hey, I think most agree that neither was CARRIE) but had definite glimmers of brilliance and a talent to be reckoned with.
The novel opens in the 70's in NYC as a young couple struggles to make it during a tough economy. After leaving her dead-end job as a waitress she is attacked and raped by a mysterious stranger, and later, much to her husband's dismay, decides to keep the baby. Their marriage dissolves into drunken despair after she gives birth to a boy with startling adult awareness and seemingly uncommon intelligence, and during an argument, the wife murders the husband and then commits suicide. The novel flashes forward to an orphanage where the boy frightens the nuns, priests, and begins to attract a following of fellow student/orphans, who call him by his preferred name: Baal, a demonic entity.
Years later, Baal has grown in power and influence, and soon gathers murderous followers in the Middle East, all converging in Kuwait, awaiting to see him. Theology professor, Dr. Virga, travels to Kuwait to find out what happened to a colleague who mysteriously vanished while researching the cult-like power of Baal. And soon, he realizes he's too late for his friend, and for himself.
Needless to say, the narrative of BAAL, moves swiftly and didn't lag as the story moves from the Middle East to the frigid Arctic, as those intrepid few attempt to thwart Baal before his power grows too large for any mortal to stop. My only issue is that Michael and Zark (Virga's would-be accomplices in their quest to stop Baal) didn't share enough page-time...and the somewhat "too easy" explanation for Michael, as well as lack of explanation as to who the attacker/rapist (Baal's father) was and the why. Still, worth reading for McCammon's fans who haven't checked this out.
BAAL was his debut novel way back when and it shows. Not his strongest novel (but hey, I think most agree that neither was CARRIE) but had definite glimmers of brilliance and a talent to be reckoned with.
The novel opens in the 70's in NYC as a young couple struggles to make it during a tough economy. After leaving her dead-end job as a waitress she is attacked and raped by a mysterious stranger, and later, much to her husband's dismay, decides to keep the baby. Their marriage dissolves into drunken despair after she gives birth to a boy with startling adult awareness and seemingly uncommon intelligence, and during an argument, the wife murders the husband and then commits suicide. The novel flashes forward to an orphanage where the boy frightens the nuns, priests, and begins to attract a following of fellow student/orphans, who call him by his preferred name: Baal, a demonic entity.
Years later, Baal has grown in power and influence, and soon gathers murderous followers in the Middle East, all converging in Kuwait, awaiting to see him. Theology professor, Dr. Virga, travels to Kuwait to find out what happened to a colleague who mysteriously vanished while researching the cult-like power of Baal. And soon, he realizes he's too late for his friend, and for himself.
Needless to say, the narrative of BAAL, moves swiftly and didn't lag as the story moves from the Middle East to the frigid Arctic, as those intrepid few attempt to thwart Baal before his power grows too large for any mortal to stop. My only issue is that Michael and Zark (Virga's would-be accomplices in their quest to stop Baal) didn't share enough page-time...and the somewhat "too easy" explanation for Michael, as well as lack of explanation as to who the attacker/rapist (Baal's father) was and the why. Still, worth reading for McCammon's fans who haven't checked this out.
September 1, 2018
3.5 🌟 Sterne
Kein schlechtes Debüt, aber es reicht nicht ganz für gute 4 Sterne.
Weitere Gedanken folgen später.
🇬🇧 Review to come.
Kein schlechtes Debüt, aber es reicht nicht ganz für gute 4 Sterne.
Weitere Gedanken folgen später.
🇬🇧 Review to come.
August 26, 2022
El Príncipe De Los Infiernos.- Robert McCammon
"La espada escribía rojos pasajes de carnicerías y violencias que parecían pesar mucho más que las negras palabras sobre páginas blancas. Pronto, se dijo, pertenecería al pasado el acto de pensar, y los hombres; como autómatas, empuñarían armas para garabatear sus firmas en las carnes ajenas."
Al salir del restaurante en dónde trabaja como camarera, Mary Kate sufre una espantosa violación perpretada por un desconocido de características casi sobrenaturales. Producto de este aberrante hecho, Mary Kate da a luz a un bebé que parece influir negativamente en los comportamientos de quienes lo rodean, sembrando el mal en sus cuerpos. Y esto es sólo el comienzo.
El Príncipe De Los Infiernos (Baal) se publicó primera vez en el año 1979 y es la primer novela escrita por el autor norteamericano Robert McCammon (1952-).
Ambiciosa (en el buen sentido) en su desarrollo, El Príncipe De Los Infiernos tiene un comienzo vertiginoso y violento, centrándose en la unidad más pequeña, una casa y sus ocupantes, un matrimonio y un hijo, para de a poco ir escalando en cantidad de personajes y escenarios, para desembocar en un final épico, digno de un libro de Brandon Sanderson (salvando las distancias de género obviamente). Todo lo anterior sin perder en ningún momento el estilo crudo y muy bien construido del autor, cómo tampoco el tono oscuro y maligno de la historia. Siempre el ceño fruncido, no hay lugar para una sonrisa en este libro.
Excelente elección de lectura para el mes de agosto del grupo Maestros Del Horror , primero del autor para mí, pero ya buscando otros títulos para seguir leyendo. No por nada el nombre de Robert McCammon siempre surge a la hora de hablar sobre libros de terror.
🤘🤘🤘🤘
"La espada escribía rojos pasajes de carnicerías y violencias que parecían pesar mucho más que las negras palabras sobre páginas blancas. Pronto, se dijo, pertenecería al pasado el acto de pensar, y los hombres; como autómatas, empuñarían armas para garabatear sus firmas en las carnes ajenas."
Al salir del restaurante en dónde trabaja como camarera, Mary Kate sufre una espantosa violación perpretada por un desconocido de características casi sobrenaturales. Producto de este aberrante hecho, Mary Kate da a luz a un bebé que parece influir negativamente en los comportamientos de quienes lo rodean, sembrando el mal en sus cuerpos. Y esto es sólo el comienzo.
El Príncipe De Los Infiernos (Baal) se publicó primera vez en el año 1979 y es la primer novela escrita por el autor norteamericano Robert McCammon (1952-).
Ambiciosa (en el buen sentido) en su desarrollo, El Príncipe De Los Infiernos tiene un comienzo vertiginoso y violento, centrándose en la unidad más pequeña, una casa y sus ocupantes, un matrimonio y un hijo, para de a poco ir escalando en cantidad de personajes y escenarios, para desembocar en un final épico, digno de un libro de Brandon Sanderson (salvando las distancias de género obviamente). Todo lo anterior sin perder en ningún momento el estilo crudo y muy bien construido del autor, cómo tampoco el tono oscuro y maligno de la historia. Siempre el ceño fruncido, no hay lugar para una sonrisa en este libro.
Excelente elección de lectura para el mes de agosto del grupo Maestros Del Horror , primero del autor para mí, pero ya buscando otros títulos para seguir leyendo. No por nada el nombre de Robert McCammon siempre surge a la hora de hablar sobre libros de terror.
🤘🤘🤘🤘
April 12, 2011
Works well enough on its own terms; jettison expectations of originality and depth and settle for a fast-moving evil-messiah tale with many gore set pieces and a suitably vile villain and you'll be fine. Somewhat superficial research ensured that I caught all the resonances and hints quite early on, as well as a few factual errors here and there. The prose is functional but occasionally aspires to more; sometimes it gets there. Not at all bad for a first novel. But it's more gross and sickening than awe-inspiring; McCammon fails to exploit the numinous potential of this tale with his emphasis on viscera and profanity.
November 1, 2021
Notes:
The setup has a great 80's horror vibe. That part was great! The rest of the story was a funky mess for a predictable and messy end. Not a bad story for an author's early works. A fun choice to read on Halloween. =)
The setup has a great 80's horror vibe. That part was great! The rest of the story was a funky mess for a predictable and messy end. Not a bad story for an author's early works. A fun choice to read on Halloween. =)
April 4, 2025
*4.5
"Baal" is a great addition to the satanic panic horrors of 1960s and 1970s. Very similar in theme to Rosemary's Baby or The Omen. The books takes us on a globetrotting adventure and is quite fast paced and action filled. A classic tale of good vs evil. Like many of McCammon's books of this period it's quite violent and nasty at times and could be seen as proto-splatterpunk novel. Despite it being his first novel it is actually very well written and is definitely one of the best novels I have read lately. Very enjoyable and well recommended for fans of classic horror novels.
"Baal" is a great addition to the satanic panic horrors of 1960s and 1970s. Very similar in theme to Rosemary's Baby or The Omen. The books takes us on a globetrotting adventure and is quite fast paced and action filled. A classic tale of good vs evil. Like many of McCammon's books of this period it's quite violent and nasty at times and could be seen as proto-splatterpunk novel. Despite it being his first novel it is actually very well written and is definitely one of the best novels I have read lately. Very enjoyable and well recommended for fans of classic horror novels.
August 7, 2020
I should start off by saying this is not a masterpiece-it feels a bit rough, a talented writer just beginning to put his stories on paper. However, the writing isn’t that bad, at all. It surprised me in many positive ways; I would even consider this book superior to and written better than Bethany’s Sin, a slightly later novel.
The story is Omen-esque, but it follows Baal’s entire journey. It starts off dark, violent and engaging, and keeps up the pace for a good 100 pages before mellowing our a bit. It changes its setting a lot-it wants to be sprawling and epic so bad, and as Ratty may say, I can dig it, but I don’t think McCammons writing chops were up to the task quite yet. If he had written this a decade later, this could be the most epic and definitive Antichrist novel out there. Even in its current form it’s superior to the entire steaming pile of dookie series Left Behind....but I digress. We go from gritty back alleys in NYC, to the scorching sands of the Middle East, to the frozen wastelands of the Great White North and trek across Greenland. It was a fun adventure!
Overall, worth a read. It wanted to be something it’s author couldn’t quite do yet I believe, but the writing is solid, the story is interesting, engaging, and dark. It held my interest the entire time, and quite frankly I wish it were longer and more elaborated on. There were good characters here and I just want to know MORE! More character development, more imagery, more pages. I wish RRM would revisit this one, but I don’t see it happening. Worth the couple hours it takes to read. Very short book that I purposely stretched over a few days.
3.7/5
The story is Omen-esque, but it follows Baal’s entire journey. It starts off dark, violent and engaging, and keeps up the pace for a good 100 pages before mellowing our a bit. It changes its setting a lot-it wants to be sprawling and epic so bad, and as Ratty may say, I can dig it, but I don’t think McCammons writing chops were up to the task quite yet. If he had written this a decade later, this could be the most epic and definitive Antichrist novel out there. Even in its current form it’s superior to the entire steaming pile of dookie series Left Behind....but I digress. We go from gritty back alleys in NYC, to the scorching sands of the Middle East, to the frozen wastelands of the Great White North and trek across Greenland. It was a fun adventure!
Overall, worth a read. It wanted to be something it’s author couldn’t quite do yet I believe, but the writing is solid, the story is interesting, engaging, and dark. It held my interest the entire time, and quite frankly I wish it were longer and more elaborated on. There were good characters here and I just want to know MORE! More character development, more imagery, more pages. I wish RRM would revisit this one, but I don’t see it happening. Worth the couple hours it takes to read. Very short book that I purposely stretched over a few days.
3.7/5
October 6, 2023
First published in 1979, when I was 15, I remember reading this book and thinking that I had never read anything like it. Definitely my first grownup horror novel. This is a classic that I wanted to reread. I liked the building of the story, how we see Baal as a baby, through his childhood and into adulthood. There is a lot of dread and violence in the story. I found the whole thing very interesting. I liked that the ending took place in the isolation of the arctic. I enjoy reading books by McCammon.
July 7, 2019
That started out good.
Then got boring....really boring.
I'm so glad this wasn't my first McCammon book, otherwise I wouldn't read any more, and would never know the glory of Swan Song and Boys life.
2 stars for the first third, and 1 star for the fact that it was very well written....just didn't hold my interest.
Then got boring....really boring.
I'm so glad this wasn't my first McCammon book, otherwise I wouldn't read any more, and would never know the glory of Swan Song and Boys life.
2 stars for the first third, and 1 star for the fact that it was very well written....just didn't hold my interest.
October 26, 2024
Overall, it was a pretty good read with some standout moments, especially the horror scenes. I enjoyed the writing style. However, I didn't really connect with the story or the characters, and the ending didn't grab my attention. 3.25*
December 31, 2011
One of my first books on my huge collection of almost 2000 books was Swan Song by McCammon. I heard it was like Stephen King’s The Stand so I bought it. But as the The Stand it was a massive book of more than 800 pages. So I put the book on the shelf next to Stephen King’s and others large books of 800 pages and they have been there for years. Why didn’t I read it since both those two books have top ratings? Because they are massive and I get scared about their length. But one day I will read it…
So I bought in second hand some other books by McCammons; Baal, Blue World, They Thirst, Usher’s Passing and Bethany's Sin. So I grabbed Baal and Blue World and I read it.
This is McCammon’s first book so I guess it’s not his best. The story begins with the birthing of Baal (which is also the name of a daemon), from a raped woman, and as the story progress we get to know how he lived and how he gather together believers. At the same time we get to know the “good” guys. One is a theology professor, other is an half Eskimo hunter/shaman and a mysterious personage called Michael (name of an angel). Their plain is simple: thwart Baal’s plans.
The pace is not that good and in my opinion quite slow and only in the latter half we are presented one of the major characters. I think the first one hundred pages almost made me wanna quit but I tried and in the end I was pleased by the book. The rating is fair because of the beginning. The images are pretty good and the characters are well portrayed.
You ask me if I would recommend it to you? If you can read past the first one hundred pages, and enjoy horor books, most improtant if you liked those movies/books from the 70’s about an antichrist then I think you will be for a treat.
Even after reading Baal and Blue World (who weren’t the best books I’ve read) I will continue to read McCammon books. Because I believe he can do a lot better. Do not forget that this was his first book so you can’t expect him to be perfect.
I guess Swan Song will be there on my shelf a couple of years more… Maybe I will read it on a long holiday…
So I bought in second hand some other books by McCammons; Baal, Blue World, They Thirst, Usher’s Passing and Bethany's Sin. So I grabbed Baal and Blue World and I read it.
This is McCammon’s first book so I guess it’s not his best. The story begins with the birthing of Baal (which is also the name of a daemon), from a raped woman, and as the story progress we get to know how he lived and how he gather together believers. At the same time we get to know the “good” guys. One is a theology professor, other is an half Eskimo hunter/shaman and a mysterious personage called Michael (name of an angel). Their plain is simple: thwart Baal’s plans.
The pace is not that good and in my opinion quite slow and only in the latter half we are presented one of the major characters. I think the first one hundred pages almost made me wanna quit but I tried and in the end I was pleased by the book. The rating is fair because of the beginning. The images are pretty good and the characters are well portrayed.
You ask me if I would recommend it to you? If you can read past the first one hundred pages, and enjoy horor books, most improtant if you liked those movies/books from the 70’s about an antichrist then I think you will be for a treat.
Even after reading Baal and Blue World (who weren’t the best books I’ve read) I will continue to read McCammon books. Because I believe he can do a lot better. Do not forget that this was his first book so you can’t expect him to be perfect.
I guess Swan Song will be there on my shelf a couple of years more… Maybe I will read it on a long holiday…
December 22, 2017
I’ve been a Robert McCammon fan for quite a while now but had never read his first published novel. And so it was that I turned to this one, not only this author’s first published novel, but also the very first novel that he ever worked on.
The plot really morphs into different forms as it moves along, from a brutal rape story in Boston, to a sort of “Omen” subtle horror story as the character Baal grows from infant to terrible teen. And then it morphs again into a religious thriller in the Middle East followed by an action-packed finale in Greenland. I can see this novel as a learning effort for the young 25 year old Robert McCammon but in the end it is also easy to see the framing of what would become the master writer of later years.
While not his best novel, this is still very much worth the read, especially for McCammon fans.
The plot really morphs into different forms as it moves along, from a brutal rape story in Boston, to a sort of “Omen” subtle horror story as the character Baal grows from infant to terrible teen. And then it morphs again into a religious thriller in the Middle East followed by an action-packed finale in Greenland. I can see this novel as a learning effort for the young 25 year old Robert McCammon but in the end it is also easy to see the framing of what would become the master writer of later years.
While not his best novel, this is still very much worth the read, especially for McCammon fans.
October 10, 2013
OMG! Robert McCannon is my new love, this story was an awesome adventure & I cannot believe this was his debut novel from 1978! Please read this scary fastpaced & still viable in this day & age novel. I cant say enough about this work or this author but these truthful words: A true genius & master @ this most difficult of crafts where so many are called but few chosen & fewer sti;; who possess the raw talent fiction & the horror genre demand. I recommend this novel as a Must Read=+=
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