Damien: Omen II

The Omen #2

by Joseph Howard

Little by little, one of the world's most powerful families is being destroyed. And no one seems to know why. Those who suspect the truth do not live to reveal it. — Only thirteen-year-old Damien Thorn seems immune from the bizarre accidents claiming the lives of those around him. Damien, whose own father tried to kill him seven years ago... Damien, whose loving foster family is learning the meaning of hellish fear... Damien, who is leaving behind the seeming innocence of youth to fulfill the terrifying prophecy foretold long ages ago... Damien, who is discovering that it is not, after all, the meek but the master of ultimate evil who shall inherit the earth!

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller, Supernatural, Media Tie In, Horror Thriller

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Nayra.Hassan · Rating 3 out of 5]

سلسلة النذير هي الاكثر رعبا و اصالة ببن افلام رعب القرن العشرين

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute must read if you know the first part! One of the all time horror classics. What can I say? It's pretty scary, pageturning, the eternal good vs evil. After the book please also watch the movies. Books and movies are very close. The interesting thing is things omitted in the movies are discussed in the boos. Clear recommendation. You won't regret reading this story!

[Nicole Seremeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read!!!

[emanumela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
Il romanzo di Seltzer resta il migliore, come tutti i primi romanzi da cui viene tratta una serie.
Tuttavia questo sequel è sorprendentemente ben strutturato.
Potrei prendere in considerazione di leggere il terzo volume. Così, per passare del tempo in tram.

[Rissa (rissasreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another novelization of the screenplay for the film Damien: The Omen II, and once again I enjoyed reading this story a lot more than I did watching it. I really appreciated having seen the film prior to reading this because I was easily picturing everything as it happened. I enjoyed imagining everything more and having to read through the events more than watching it because the movie is rather slow, but worth the wait. The ending is *chef's kiss*, Damien is formidable

[Ishraque Aornob · Rating 4 out of 5]

বড় হয়ে গিয়েছে ডেমিয়েন। যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের শিকাগো শহরে চাচার কাছে থাকছে সে। অর্থ পড়া প্রাচুর্য্যের মধ্যে ভালোই কাটছিল জীবন। ছোটবেলার দুর্ঘটনার কোনো প্রভাব নেই। বাঁধ সাধল তেরোতম জন্মদিনের পর। একের পর এক ভয়াবহ ঘটনা ঘটতে লাগল তার আশেপাশের মানুষের সাথে। সেইসাথে উদয় হয়েছে ভয়ানক অশুভ এক দাঁড়কাক। আবারও কি শয়তানী সত্ত্বা জেগে উঠেছে? কে রক্ষা করবে এবার?

দ্য ওমেন সিরিজের দ্বিতীয় বই দ্য ওমেন টু। লেখক ভিন্ন। এবারের কিস্তির লেখক জোসেফ হাওয়ার্ড। প্রথম কিস্তি যেখানে শেষ হয়েছিল দ্বিতীয় কিস্তির শুরু সেখানেই। তবে প্রথমটার থেকে এবারে কাহিনী একটু অন্যরকম। প্রথমটা ক্লাসিক অকাল্ট থ্রিলার হলে এইটা সাসপেন্স টাইপ। আগেরটায় কাহিনীর ডেভেলপমেন্ট করে ফেলায় এবারে দ্রুত এগিয়েছে কাহিনী। কিছুটা মডার্ন হররের ফ্লেভার পাওয়া গেছে দ্বিতীয় কিস্তিতে। ক্রিপি কিছু দৃশ্য রয়েছে এটাতে। যা ভালোই অস্বস্তি সৃষ্টি করে। বিশেষ করে দাঁড়কাকটা। এবার শয়তান ভিত্তিক তাত্ত্বিক আলোচনা কম। সেটা মিস করেছি। তবে সাস্পেন্সটাই এবারের কাহিনীতে প্রধান জোসেফ হাওয়ার্ড সেটা শেষ পর্যন্ত ধরে রেখেছেন। একেবারে শেষে ছোট্ট টুইস্ট আছে। তবে কাহিনীর সমাধান এবারও হয়নি। তৃতীয় কিস্তিতে আশা করি সেটা হবে।

দ্য ওমেন (দ্বিতীয় পর্ব)
জোসেফ হাওয়ার্ড
জনরা: অকাল্ট হরর

[(shan) Littlebookcove · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I was on the second book of one of the most famous fiction antichrist Saga's known the Damien Omen saga there was 6 book's written by different authors i'm not going sit here and say the book's were based on the film or vice versa when I don't know. The thing I do know is though, is the sega is amazing, it has that kind of retro Horror feel about it that has been copied a lot, but this is the original and it's held it's craze as a classic.

Damien is now 13 in this book. And for some reason doesn't actually know he's the Antichrist. To me that seemed a bit out of place as I'm sure in the 1st book he is actually told.

The polt, it's self was fantastic, it didn't quite focus on the main protagonist Danien but mainly on those around him and for the family he was adopted into the 'Thorns' and the Thorn's corporation it had a quite of up to age feel that I liked considering this book was written by the author in 1978! It didn't have a drudging polt and the paperback was slim and easy to read. I'm actually so hyped I now own this whole collection! As it really is classic horror read. I just have to watch the films now!

[Dystopian · Rating 3 out of 5]

প্রথমটার মত ঠিক অতটা জমলো না! দেখা যাক পরের টা কেমন হয়!

[Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an older book penned in the late 70's. I've always been a rabid fan of the Omen trilogy (I leave out the abominable fourth), and have over the years located the original movie-to-book adaption. When I saw this one I also had to have it to follow continuance in book form. Interestingly this book had advertisements for cigarettes in the center, which I haven't even seen before in books older than it.

Anyway, if you're familiar with the movie, you already know the book's story, for of course it closely follows the film's form, almost word-for-word. Damien is almost thirteen and about to come of age to where he inherits the bulk of his power and the realization of what he is. He has .. accomplices along the way to guide him to the right realization and protection, as in the first movie/book. There are some minor inclusions in written form where the movie didn't have , such as the two minions getting a mark they've been waiting for, and more explanation on the aunt turning bad toward the end. With the movie I always figured she was basically on Damien's side all along and hiding it, but with the book it wasn't that way. Hmmm not sure if it was supposed to be like that with the movie too or not.

I wish they could have included more...I mean, there's a wealth of scenarios out there, and the book is a bit short, but I suppose they try to follow the film as much as possible.

As an adaption from a movie, it's good if you're a fan. Amazon describes the authors as : by Joseph Howard (Adapter), Stanley Mann (Author), Michael Hodges (Author), Harvey Bernhard (Author). The writing is easy to follow and addictive to read, while the story is as interesting as the movie's was. Sadly we can't include the great Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack here though, *sighs*

[Dyuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had bought this book from a second-hand book shop ages ago. It was one of those quaint and dark little bookstores, at the corner of the road, you never knew existed until someone brought it to your notice. So, the experience of buying it from such a place definitely added to the creepiness of the book.

I remember I was still in my pre-teens or early teens when this happened, and I ended up liking the book quite a lot. I had the seen the first movie, so I could comprehend the flow of events quite well. And, I was thoroughly spooked out.

I don't know whether it'll have the same effect on me now or not, as I see most GR reviewers have said that the writing is sloppy. But back when I was still a kid, which an over-active imagination, it did manage to play tricks with my mind. Compared to the other R.L.Stine horror books that was available in my school library(which I liked as well), this book was RAW!

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a direct sequel to The Omen, this entry into the four book series largely accomplishes what it sets out to achieve; moving the Damien/Demon narrative forward and filling the timeline between the first and third installments. However, the horror was distinctly non present for a large portion of the story; corporate politics and bit part characters consumed too much text, making for bland reading.

Until the last two chapters which captured the embodiment of Damien's demonic capability and truly instilled a real-time sense of urgency and fear into the reader as a series of events raced head on to a terrifying collision.

Well worth reading for the satisfying ending alone.

[Noctvrnal · Rating 1 out of 5]

This sequel should not have been written. While "Omen" is a strong novella and still remains captivating even today, despite being a novelization of the movie (and not vice-versa), "Damien" fails to further the story in any significant way. These two stories have different writers and it is felt majorly throughout this one. Characters are not fleshed out, the horror is only in the fact how gruesomely characters are dying off, and Damien himself, who original author managed to bring to life pretty decently is nothing like that in this book.
Overall, while novelizations of movies usually fall short, "Omen" actually is a good novella, and "Damien" is just a bad bad follow up of that.

[Avishek Bhattacharjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

এ বইটাকে অনেকটা রিভিলেশন বলা যায়। ইবলিশের বাচ্চা ডেমিয়েন বড় হচ্ছে চাচার পরিবারে। ১৩ বছর পূর্ণ হবার সাথে সাথে তার ক্ষমতার বহি�� প্রকাশ হতে থাকে। আর তার আশেপাশে আসতে থাকে শয়তানের অনুচরেরা, তাকে রক্ষা আর প্রশিক্ষণের জন্য। পথের কাটা যেই হোক না কেন, তাকে খতম করে এগিয়ে যেতে থাকে ডেমিয়েন।

[Lilet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read the Omen I, but i can say that without reading the first book you can easily cope up with this second book. And the story is so thrilling!!!

[David Veith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25. Almost as fun as the 1st, but just a bit too fast paced. Also lots more deaths, as to be accepted in a sequel.

[E. D. Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 ⭐
Not as good as the first book and follows the continuity of the film version of the first but also retcons a little. It's a little slow during the first half but picks up and gets more exciting. There are some differences from the film, but not many, and it's interesting to get into Damien's mind a little.

[Rachael Gathercole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this but am now regretting not picking up the next one when I saw them for free outside a house nearby last year!

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

May I refer you to my Omen#1 review? I really don't have much to add. These books are just so much fun to read.
On to ...
(Dun, Dun Duuun) The Final Conflict

[Laima Jurijutė · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kiek kebloka vertinti knygą perskaičius ne originalo kalba, nes nesupranti, ar čia šiaip prasta knyga, ar prastas vertėjo žodžių pasirinkimas. Gali būti, jog aš kaip skaitytojas nesu pratusi prie pompastiškai dramatiško tokio žanro knygų. Vis dėlto, kai didžiosiomis raidėmis į tave klykia, kad DABAR ČIA ĮTAMPA, tai gan juokinga. I will give them that.

[David Nicholls · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never seen the films or read any of the other books, so I have no real frame of reference as far as the wider story goes. But, all in all this was an enjoyable little read. I had to take a trip to hospital and found Damien: Omen II in a charity shop for the princely sum of 50p, and it is safe to say that I got my money's worth.
The story follows Damien Thorn as he comes to the realisation of who he really is (the Anti-Christ), it isn't particularly scary and doesn't capture the creepiness of books like The Exorcist, there are few grisly deaths which I couldn't help notice felt too much like the book is based on a screenplay (as it is).
But all things considered it is a solid little read.

[Kenneth Starcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to finally go past the first OMEN story. After reading David Seltzer's original novel, I decided to read all the OMEN books, even though the second and third ones are novelizations of the films. I really enjoyed this second book, and I felt in many ways it was actually better than the film it was written after. Damien is now approaching the age of 13, and he his learning about who he really is. Meanwhile, mysterious, "accidental" deaths keep happening to those who try to go against him. This novelization helps to explain some details the film doesn't elaborate well enough on.

[Thomas Amo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in high school after I had seen the film starring William Holden and Lee Grant. I read the book because I wanted more insight on the characters, but it was basically a rehash of the screenplay. Hollywood was doing this a lot in the late 1970s with films, turning them into books after the fact. I remember this with was the same with The Hindenburg, Omen III, Halloween, Escape from New York. Regardless, I bought them all, because I loved the films. So not much of a review, but 5 stars for happy memories.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Вторая книга трилогии по определению ни рыба ни мясо. Рыба была в первой части, а мясо должно быть в третьей. Вторая - чисто для связки.
Дэмиен наконец осознаёт о себе всё и теперь причиняет зло сознательно. Интересно, как он убил свою приёмную мать (первую): сознательно или нет? В смысле, мне неясно, управляла ли актом убийства няня или это действовали адские силы в целом? И кто управляет вороном, что он всегда в нужном месте в нужное время попадает? Тогда ворон как-то даже сильнее Дэмиена, более того, можно было бы одним вороном обойтись, без Антихриста же.

[Matias Cerizola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Más que respetable continuación del clásico La Profecía. Es un muy buen complemento de la historia original, nos cuenta cómo sigue la historia del pequeño Damien, ahora adolescente.

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

NO! NO!! NO!!!
You just can't do that! F**k!! What the hell? This was sh*t, total deep sh*t - I SAY. Why the Devil? Why the Satan? I demand an answer for God's sake!!!

A PERFECT CLASSIC MIND BLOWING HORROR!!!

I want to argue! Oh yes, I want to. Tell me why Carl Bugenhagen was dead and after Robert Thorn been dead for many years and couldn't kill Damien why on earth it has to be that difficult to summon the devil. It was too much, just too much to bear through my mind. It affected me to the core and so powerful the read that made angry and frustration at the same time scared me to death...

Damien now living with his uncle Robert's brother in Richard Thorn's house and his 2nd wife Ann. Richard's son Mark who happened to be came from Richard's first wife Mary, Mary who been killed in a tragic accident. The story soon picked his hype with total tense moment. Aunt Marion knew and tried to warn Richard the future is not quite bright for them until he take the necessary action about those boys. The journalist Joan Hart knew too and she tried to Richard but all in vain. I was terrified by the time all the help being turned down by Richard and his wife, getting more frustrated as they don't want to believe not even a single word. I have to admit that sick Raven bird did pushed my nerve in the end where I almost freaked out by reading it's horrifying act. Jesus!...

But you just couldn't deal with the Devil if you haven't committed your sould in the hand of Jesus and in His faith. You can't be heal or saved until you do that. So if you believed in God you have to understand there's the Devil too exist in the verse of our existence. Be careful, very careful. The Devil not dead yet, it masterminding everyone alongside with it's evil companion. The Devil itself conjuring everyone with its own power...

& I HATE THAT ENDING FROM THE CORE OF MY HEART...

Nothing much to say...

[Kendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before you read this review, please acknowledge that I've actually never seen the film, so this will be based strictly from the content presented in the novel. Damien: Omen II is odd, mostly-lackluster sequel to the first book by David Seltzer. Joseph Howard takes the writing reins in this adaptation, and in comparison, it shows. The writing style is so much more different and way less detailed than Seltzer's style. However, I did enjoy how the death scenes were written, as Howard's description shined in these portions; the deaths felt just as real and terrifying as if you had witnessed them.
Some of the plot points, however, are intensely flawed. For example, what was the significance of the raven, and why did no one do anything about it? One could compare it to the dog in the first book, but that loose end was tied. Also, a lot of characters and events seemed to be cloned directly from the first book with names and deaths changed. Joan Hart was this book's reporter, Charles Warren was this book's Bugenhagen, and Ann's character read very similarly to the Damien's mom from the first. It feels unoriginal or like a loose adaptation of the first book. In addition, parts of the novel focused too much on the business aspect of Thorn Industries - which led to boring filler content - and not enough development was put into certain characters, like Sergeant Neff. He was supposed to be a crucial part to Damien's success yet he was written in very nonchalant, forgettable manner. Lastly, the ending felt too rushed. Things built very quickly around four chapters to the end, and the ending skipped most of the suspense for the final execution.
Joseph Howard's adaptation of Damien: Omen II is rich in violent, bloody description is ultimately a lesser clone of the original, but this time, with a rushed ending and focus in the wrong sections. Read the first one for enjoyment, then leave this one alone unless you're just looking for a time-killer.

[Richard Hiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph Howard’s novelisation of Damien: Omen II follows the film’s plot closely, although it still adds and changes scenes, providing an interesting insight into how the script was developing during filming.

Howard focuses on the happy, privileged, yet socially responsible lives of the Thorn family, before that all falls apart, just as the culture of its multinational company collapses under the pressure of those who are using it for their own ends. We get a stable background for the Thorn family going back to Damien’s self-made billionaire industrialist grandfather, and we see Paul Buher, the executive (quite literally) from hell paving the way for Damien Thorn’s future. Howard handles all of this very subtly.

However, Howard struggles at times with the dramatic death scenes that punctuate the plot. In particular, the deaths by raven, falling lift and runaway train seem far less rounded than their film counterparts. I suspect that (like the film’s original director, Mike Hodges) he preferred the more insidious nature of the plot: the idea of two-faced people saying or portraying themselves in one way, before behaving quite differently.

His writing on the archeological, philosophical, business, family and political themes is superb. He skilfully pushes the dramatic scenes forward as well. He even achieves a master stroke in making the ill-fated character of Joan Hart far more integral to the plot from the opening chapters.

Additionally, towards the middle of the novelisation, he helps us to sympathise with Damien, particularly as the devil boy realises that he has a choice about whether to use his unique powers for good or for evil (something that the film avoids altogether).

Overall, if you like the film, you’re bound to like this book, because it hits very similar notes whilst giving you a bit more time to appreciate things.

[Ida Bolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The wind died just as quickly. The car drifted a little bit farther on momentum, then gradually coasted to a halt in the middle of the road. There was absolute silence. Joan could neither hear nor see any other living thing—no people, no animals, no houses, not even another car in the distance.”
*****
I know I was complaining about one part of this book that grossed me out, but I have to say it did not happen again after that part. Wow! I thought the first book of this series was great, the second one is insane! There’s so much more gore and so much more involvement with the main character. Damien is just turning 13. He has no idea he is the anti-christ yet, until a loyal servant of the dark lord comes to him and tells him to read The Book of Revelations to “learn about himself”. Damien does so, and realizes who he is, what he is.
*****
I dont want to spoil it, so I wont say much more. I’m VERY VERY excited to find a copy of book 3 and see how the story unravels. 5 stars for this gory, creepy, and classic horror novel.

[Marissa Ibarra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sigo con ésta maravillosa trilogía. A pesar de ser considerada la más lenta de las tres, me ha gustado mucho como ahondan en los personajes, sobre todo en Damien, por supuesto, es exquisito entrar en su mente y ver su confusión al principio, su lucha, y finalmente su aceptación y gozo al comprender quién era, lo que era en realidad. Claramente es una calca del libro, según tengo entendido, al rehusarse el autor del primer libro el escribir continuación, agarraron a quien pudiera y quisiera hacerlo y de ahí tomaron el guión, e hicieron igual para la tercera, a mí no me parece que lo haya hecho mal, me parece que es una digna escuela, aunque por supuesto, no llega al nivel de excelencia de la primera historia, ni en el libro, ni en la película.
Pero yo enamorada de ésta historia y personajes, leeré algo diferente para limpiar el paladar y después voy por la tercera 😊

[Jim Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok I read the first Omen book when I was a kid got it for 25 cents at a yard sale and could not put it down. Big fan of the movies also. So I finally got this one and dove right in. Now I absolutely loved it. Now I do have to say that I did make the mistake of watching the movie while reading it. All I have to say is it is as good as the movie pretty much almost word for word lol. But if you just read the book then watch the movie I suggest it. Great story though and now it made me want to read all of them and get the whole set!!!