Robert McCammon is an extremely influential horror author for me. Since I got into horror fiction from the mid-to-late 80's, not just as a reader but also as a writer, I have been deeply drawn to his work. In short, I truly love his writing. Even recently, with his Matthew Corbett series, which is a bit different from his more famous modern horror works, McCammon still holds a significant place in my heart, just as strongly as the big names in horror like Stephen King.

BAAL was his debut novel, and it shows. It's not his strongest novel (but then again, I think most people would agree that CARRIE wasn't Stephen King's best either), yet it had clear flashes of brilliance and a talent that couldn't be ignored.

The story begins in the 70's in NYC. A young couple is struggling to get by in a tough economy. After quitting her dead-end job as a waitress, the wife is attacked and raped by a mysterious stranger. Later, much to her husband's dismay, she decides to keep the baby. Their marriage then deteriorates into drunken despair after she gives birth to a boy with astonishing adult awareness and seemingly uncommon intelligence. During an argument, the wife murders the husband and then commits suicide. The novel then jumps forward to an orphanage where the boy scares the nuns and priests and starts 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. He soon gathers murderous followers in the Middle East, all converging in Kuwait, waiting 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 quickly and doesn't drag as the story progresses from the Middle East to the frigid Arctic, as those brave few try to stop Baal before his power becomes too great for any mortal to handle. My only complaint is that Michael and Zark (Virga's would-be accomplices in their quest to stop Baal) didn't get enough page time. Also, the explanation for Michael was a bit too easy, and there was a lack of explanation as to who the attacker/rapist (Baal's father) was and why. Nevertheless, it's still worth reading for McCammon's fans who haven't checked this out yet.

I read this book in an evening. It's a fairly quick read if you don't lose interest.

I had no problem with it, but I can see where others might have issues. This was McCammon's first book, so it's by no means his best.

The story is about Baal, a daemon or demigod of evil, who is born from a raped woman and manages to gather a frenzied following of believers. The "good guys" we follow include a theology professor, a half-Eskimo hunter, and the mysterious "Michael" in their quest to end Baal's influence.

The book is well written. However, from the beginning, I feared I was reading an "Omen" rip-off. Then, as the story progressed, we changed settings and drifted away from the "Omen" plot and moved on to other familiar plots.

The problem with this story, compared to many of McCammon's others, is that there really isn't anything new here. It's a brilliant rehash and remix of all the other antichrist movies and books.

As a McCammon fan, you'll probably be a bit disappointed. As I previously stated, this was his first book and not as polished or mind-bogglingly genius as his later novels. However, even his first book is far superior to many others on the shelves for purchase. I did enjoy reading this, and the Eskimos were a nice touch. But he could have gone much further with the story.

What a captivating story! This book is truly a remarkable piece of literature that contains numerous elements, with character development being perhaps its most notable one. It is outstanding in many aspects! I thoroughly enjoyed every second of reading about Baal... until the ending completely bombed it. Let me explain in more detail.

The creation of the antagonist, Baal, was executed with supreme skill. The background story of how he came to be is not only accurate in terms of psychology but also in the social spectrum. It gives a deep understanding of his motives and actions. Other characters such as Michael, Dr. Verga, and others are also very well developed. You quickly become familiar with them and feel a connection.

The action in the book is intense and grueling. The descriptions are sharp as shark teeth, detailing the gory scenes with vividness. The violence is excruciating, and the build-up to what would become a severe battle between good and evil is magnificent. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the story.

However, I had to take two stars away. All this glorious praise for only three stars? There was a day when I thought that Baal's conclusion was the best ending I could have imagined for this book. But after that, I couldn't help but think that it was a failure for such a glorious masterpiece. It was a huge disappointment! I was eagerly searching for more content, more descriptions when I finished it. It just couldn't be the end. I even searched Google for Book #2 or something that would give me a proper ending, but there was nothing. It was just a void left by an epic fail.

Despite the disappointing ending, I would still recommend this book to most readers who are in search of what I believe to be character development at its finest. It is truly a masterpiece in many ways. The ending... well, you might have a different opinion than I do. For me, it was a total fail. But for the rest of the book, it deserves three stars. It is truly a work of art.

I should begin by stating that this is not a literary masterpiece. It has a somewhat rough feel, as if it were the work of a talented writer just starting to put his stories onto paper. However, the writing is far from bad. In fact, it surprised me in many positive ways. I would even go so far as to say that this book is superior to and better written than Bethany’s Sin, a slightly later novel.

The story has an Omen-esque quality, but it follows Baal’s entire journey. It begins dark, violent, and engaging, maintaining the pace for a good 100 pages before mellowing out a bit. The setting changes frequently, as the author aims for a sprawling and epic feel. As Ratty might say, I can understand the intention, but I don't think McCammon's writing skills were quite up to the task at this point. If he had written this a decade later, it could potentially be the most epic and definitive Antichrist novel. Even in its current form, it is superior to the entire Left Behind series, which I consider to be a steaming pile of dookie. But I digress.

We journey from the gritty back alleys of NYC to the scorching sands of the Middle East, and then to the frozen wastelands of the Great White North, trekking across Greenland. It was a fun adventure! Overall, it is worth a read. I believe the author had aspirations that he couldn't quite achieve yet, but the writing is solid, the story is interesting, engaging, and dark. It held my interest throughout, and quite frankly, I wish it were longer and more detailed. There were good characters here, and I just want to know more! More character development, more vivid imagery, and more pages. I wish RRM would revisit this one, but I don't see that happening. It's worth the couple of hours it takes to read. It's a very short book that I deliberately stretched over a few days.

3.7/5

It is truly astonishing to think that Baal was McCammon's very first novel.

This work is crafted with the finesse and skill of a highly experienced storyteller. The horror within its pages is simply spectacular.

The narrator, Ray Porter, plays a crucial role in bringing the written words to vivid life. His performance is such that it takes the terror to an entirely new level, maximizing the sense of overload.

After reaching the conclusion of this audiobook, it took me quite some time to get my racing pulse back to a normal rhythm.

I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. It is a must-read (or rather, a must-listen) for all fans of the horror genre.

Whether you are a seasoned horror enthusiast or new to the genre, Baal is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding, and craving more.

McCammon's talent as a writer, combined with Porter's masterful narration, makes this a truly unforgettable experience.

So, don't hesitate. Dive into the world of Baal and prepare to be scared out of your wits.

Everything was going well until the end. I really don't know what the hell the author was thinking.

Swimming so much just to die on the shore. Don't mess with me!

It seems that there was a sudden turn of events that left the speaker completely confused and frustrated. The use of strong language emphasizes the intensity of the emotions. Maybe the author had some unexpected plan or twist that didn't sit well with the person expressing these thoughts.

It makes one wonder what could have led to such a situation and what the implications might be. Was it a mistake on the author's part, or was there a deeper meaning that the speaker failed to understand? Only further exploration and analysis could potentially shed light on this mystery.

Baal is Robert McCammon's very first book, and he himself refers to it as his "angry young man" book.

However, I'm not entirely sure if I would classify it strictly as an angry book. But one thing is for certain, it's definitely not a happy one.

The story of Baal is about a pagan god who is reintroduced to mankind in the form of a child. This child is born as a result of a brutal rape.

As the child grows, so does his power and his insatiable lust for war and chaos.

The book has its merits. Although it doesn't quite reach the level of storytelling prowess or the breathtaking prose that McCammon showcases later in his career.

Nevertheless, I would still recommend this book to those who have a penchant for apocalyptic horror. It offers a unique and disturbing take on the genre that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Overall, Baal is an interesting start to McCammon's literary journey and a must-read for fans of the horror genre.

"Call me BAAL"

This book is truly a remarkable piece of work.

There are certain scenes within its pages that will make you cringe and have an almost irresistible urge to look away.

Why wouldn't it have such an effect? After all, it delves into the story of a god who drives his worshipers to commit truly disgusting sexual and violent acts in his name.

The subject matter is not for the faint of heart.

However, despite the disturbing nature of some of the content, it is still a damn good book.

It manages to captivate the reader's attention and draw them into a world that is both horrifying and fascinating.

The author's writing style is engaging and the story unfolds in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Even though you may find yourself recoiling at times, you can't help but be drawn back in to see what will happen next.

This book is a must-read for those who are looking for something different and are not afraid to explore the darker side of human nature.

I want to give this book a higher rating. But realistically speaking, I know that there are issues here and that it doesn't deserve 5 stars.

However, wow, I had a ton of fun reading this one. This was Robert McCammon's debut novel and I think he did a fantastic job here.

Let's start with the good. Even at the beginning of his career, I'm a huge fan of his writing style and prose. The story is fun, similar to the movie, The Omen. A man named Baal is born and he is essentially the Antichrist. We get to see him from childhood to adulthood and all of the twisted things he does, as well as the chaos and evil he sows.

I thought there were quite a few very unsettling and creepy moments throughout the book, and I was never bored for a moment.

As for the issues, the main (ish) character isn't actually introduced until about the 2/3 mark of the book, which is a bit odd. The last 1/3 of the book felt a little uneven, with new things being introduced rather abruptly. Theologically speaking, this book is an absolute mess. If you have any knowledge about Christianity whatsoever, you'll need to turn your brain off and just go with the flow.

But at the end of the day, I really enjoyed reading this and would easily recommend it to horror fans! This marks the fourth McCammon book I've read and I think he's likely to join my list of top 5 favorite authors.

It's truly a relief that McCammon achieved greatness.

For this, my dear friends, was far from being remarkable.

McCammon's journey to becoming great was likely filled with hard work, dedication, and countless hours of practice.

He must have overcome numerous obstacles and setbacks along the way.

His success serves as an inspiration to us all, showing that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible.

While this particular thing may not have been great, it serves as a reminder that not everything in life will be perfect or outstanding.

We should learn from our experiences, both good and bad, and use them to grow and improve.

McCammon's greatness is a testament to his character and abilities, and we can all strive to follow in his footsteps and achieve our own versions of success.

Overall, it was a rather good read that had several standout moments.

Particularly, the horror scenes were quite remarkable and managed to send shivers down my spine.

I truly enjoyed the author's writing style, which was engaging and vivid.

Nevertheless, I found that I didn't really establish a connection with either the story or the characters.

It felt as if I was simply an observer rather than an active participant in the narrative.

Moreover, the ending failed to grab my attention.

It seemed a bit anticlimactic and didn't leave a lasting impression.

Despite these drawbacks, I still believe that the book had its merits and was worth the read.

I would rate it a 3.25 out of 5.

Perhaps with a bit more development in the story and characters, it could have been an even better read.