A Masterpiece of Suspense

This thrilling work is truly a masterpiece of suspense. It has the power to draw you in from the very first page and keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The author skillfully weaves a web of mystery and intrigue, gradually revealing the secrets and twists that will leave you breathless.

As you read, you will find yourself completely immersed in the story, feeling every emotion that the characters experience. The vivid descriptions and detailed settings bring the world of the book to life, making it easy for you to imagine yourself right there in the middle of the action.

But this isn't just a story that will keep you entertained. It also has the ability to awaken your worst fears. The author delves deep into the human psyche, exploring our deepest anxieties and insecurities. Through the actions and decisions of the characters, you will be forced to confront your own fears and question what you would do in the same situation.

In conclusion, this is a must-read for anyone who loves a good suspense novel. It is a work of art that will leave a lasting impression on your mind and heart. So don't hesitate, pick up a copy today and prepare to be taken on a wild ride.

This is McCammon's first novel.

Although it may not reach the same heights as his renowned works like Boy's Life or Swan Song, it still offers an engaging and worthwhile read.

One aspect that I particularly appreciated was the fact that the chapters in this novel are significantly shorter compared to his other books.

In my opinion, long and drawn-out chapters often have the tendency to slow down the overall pace of the story, making it feel a bit sluggish.

However, McCammon manages to overcome this potential drawback, and I believe he can get away with it solely because of his remarkable writing skills.

That being said, the final confrontation in the novel didn't quite live up to the expectations set by the build-up, and the ending felt rather abrupt.

Despite these minor flaws, this is still a very good novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

It showcases McCammon's talent as a writer and leaves me eager to explore more of his works.

Baal gets one star.

The reason is that Goodreads won't allow me to give it no stars.

This book is truly bad in every conceivable sense of the word.

However, if we consider the slang sense where "bad" means "good" or "really cool", then perhaps it has a different kind of appeal.

But in all seriousness, this book should only be read as an example of how not to write.

It serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring authors, highlighting all the mistakes and pitfalls that one should avoid.

From the poorly developed plot to the uninteresting characters, every aspect of this book leaves much to be desired.

It's a prime example of what can happen when a writer fails to put in the necessary effort and attention to detail.

So, while it may have received one star out of necessity, it's clear that this book is far from a literary masterpiece.

For McCammon's very first book, it was astonishingly quite good.

Lots of individuals tend to criticize his initial four novels, among which this one is included. Admittedly, it is not without flaws, but I firmly believe that it merits more recognition than what people typically give it.

The first half of the book is incredibly creepy and tense, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. The audiobook narration is truly awesome as well, enhancing the overall experience. However, the second half of the story does have some drawbacks and pacing problems. Nevertheless, it still managed to maintain my interest.

Throughout this entire narrative, one can catch glimpses of McCammon's brilliance. It is evident that he simply needed to refine his skills a bit more. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is by no means his best work (not even remotely close), but it is definitely not his worst either. It serves as a testament to his budding talent and potential.

A lot of great stuff in this one. It truly contains a wealth of remarkable elements. There are various aspects that contribute to its greatness. Maybe it's the unique ideas presented, or perhaps it's the outstanding quality of the content. Each part seems to have its own charm and value. It could be the engaging writing style that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. Or maybe it's the depth of the topics explored, which offers new perspectives and insights. Whatever the case may be, this one is definitely filled with a lot of great stuff that is worth exploring and appreciating. It has the potential to leave a lasting impression on the reader and provide a fulfilling experience.

The setup of this story truly has a remarkable 80's horror vibe. It immediately grabs your attention and sets the stage for what seems like it could be an exciting and spine-chilling adventure.

However, as the story progresses, it unfortunately turns into a bit of a funky mess. The plot becomes rather predictable, and the end feels rushed and messy. It doesn't quite live up to the promise of that great setup.

Despite its flaws, this story is not a bad effort for an author's early works. It still has some redeeming qualities and can be a fun choice to read on Halloween. It might not be a masterpiece, but it does have its moments that can give you a bit of a scare and put you in the Halloween spirit. =)

McCammon is truly a master when it comes to creating well-developed and relatable characters without bombarding the reader with excessive details.

Every time I pick up one of his books, I am in awe of how seamlessly he constructs his fictional world and populates it with vivid individuals. Baal was no exception to this rule.

This novel was divided into three parts, almost resembling a miniseries, with each section gradually ramping up the tension.

At least, that was the case until Part 3. But we'll come back to that later.

The first two parts were simply outstanding. You could sense the malevolence oozing from Baal, even from his infancy.

This is no easy feat, yet McCammon accomplishes it with such finesse that the unease seeps through the pages and into your bones.

Witnessing Baal's transformation from an eerie, unsettling baby to a full-blown harbinger of chaos was executed masterfully.

And let's not forget the settings. McCammon's descriptions of locations and environments are on another level.

Although I haven't been to the places mentioned in the book, I could feel their presence.

The scorching heat, the suffocating claustrophobia, and the palpable desperation all came to life through his words.

It's this kind of writing that makes you feel as if you're actually inside the story, rather than just a passive observer.

Then, unfortunately, Part 3 arrived.

I'm not entirely sure what went wrong, but there was something about the shift that didn't sit well with me.

The book had been changing locations and introducing new characters throughout, but this time, it felt disjointed.

The momentum that had been building up so beautifully in the first two parts suddenly screeched to a halt.

By the time we reached the climax, I was eagerly anticipating something truly epic.

Instead, it fizzled out rather disappointingly, especially after such a powerful buildup.

That being said, Baal is still a solid read.

Despite my reservations about the final act, McCammon's talent for creating atmosphere, tension, and genuinely spine-chilling moments makes this book well worth picking up.

If you're a fan of dark, immersive horror that makes you feel the weight of the world around its characters, then Baal is definitely worth a read.

Just don't be too disappointed if the ending doesn't pack the punch you were hoping for.

This is Robert McCammon's first book.

Now, I truly understand why he might have wanted to keep it from future print runs. The entire novel seems more like a character sketch of an evil paragon, yet it never really amounts to anything substantial.

The first section is a rather poor rendition that attempts to combine elements of "Rosemary's Baby" and "The Omen" into one. Personally, I would have preferred to see the genesis presented in just a few pages and then have his works extended, as that part was by far the best of what was here.

The second part of the book, which is Baal's rise to power, was done fairly well. There is horror, danger, intrigue, and mystery. This is precisely what the majority of the story should have been like.

However, then we enter the third section. This portion didn't even make sense. There is a long, drawn-out chase, followed by such an incredibly anti-climactic ending that the reader feels cheated. This was more of an adventure than a horror novel.

What is good about it, though, is that you can see the writer who is beginning to emerge. He made some of the same mistakes in "The Night Boat," but that story is much more evolved and mature. I love his later works and wanted to read this one to know what it was like. But if you aren't a super fan, this one really isn't worth your time.

First published in 1979, when I was a mere 15 years old, I vividly remember reading this book.

As I delved into its pages, I was struck by the fact that I had never before encountered anything quite like it. It was, without a doubt, my very first grownup horror novel.

This particular work is a classic that has always held a special place in my heart, and I had a strong desire to reread it.

I was thoroughly impressed by the masterful building of the story. We are given a unique perspective as we witness Baal's journey, from his infancy, through his formative childhood years, and ultimately into adulthood.

The story is rife with a palpable sense of dread and violence, which added an extra layer of intensity and excitement.

Overall, I found the whole thing to be extremely interesting and engaging.

I especially liked that the ending took place in the desolate and isolated expanse of the arctic.

I have always had a great enjoyment for reading books by McCammon, and this one did not disappoint.

OMG!

Robert McCannon has become my new love. The story is an incredibly awesome adventure, and I simply can't believe that this was his debut novel from 1978.

Please do read this scary, fast-paced novel that remains viable even in this day and age.

I just can't say enough good things about this work or this author. But I can truthfully say these words: He is a true genius and a master at this most difficult of crafts.

In the world of fiction and the horror genre, so many are called but few are chosen, and even fewer possess the raw talent that it demands.

I wholeheartedly recommend this novel as an absolute Must Read. =+=

BAAL (1978) is a significant work that marks the debut of Robert R McCammon. He was a highly popular author of paperback original horror novels during the 1980s.

Later on, in the 1990s and beyond, he transitioned to writing more mainstream suspense and historical suspense fiction.

The story of BAAL is truly captivating. It is about the Canaanite fertility god/demon who is reborn in contemporary NYC.

From there, he goes on to lead an apocalyptic death cult in Kuwait. He then fakes his own death by assassination and hides out in Greenland.

In Greenland, he has a thrilling showdown with an elderly theologian from Boston, a Jack London-esque Arctic outdoorsman, and a mysterious character named Michael, who is presumably the archangel.

This unique and engaging plot makes BAAL a memorable and exciting read.

McCammon's new novel The Border is set to be released very soon by Subterranean Press. But let's take a look back to where it all began in 1978 with Baal. This is a concise, pulpy, and epic horror novel on a global scale, presented in three acts.

The story kicks off in the gritty America of the seventies. The future mother of the demon is attacked on the street and is saved just in time, but she is left with strange burn marks all over her body. Later, she becomes pregnant by her husband and gives birth to an obviously evil baby boy. When the father attempts to drown the titular demon-to-be, the mother kills him. The child is then shuffled through a series of orphanages. As he grows older, he adopts the name Baal and starts causing trouble for the nuns and priests, and turns his fellow orphans into disciples.

The second act moves the action to Kuwait, where people are going wild over a mysterious religious leader. A theologist, Donald Naughton, goes to investigate and disappears. His colleague, James Virga, goes in search of Naughton and discovers that the now grown-up Baal is responsible for all the commotion. He finds help in Michael, who seems to have some knowledge of what is happening.

After a fake assassination attempt, Baal disappears, and Virga and Michael track him to Greenland for the final act. They find him and begin skiing towards the ocean. A cosmic battle between good and evil ensues, with Virga as the only survivor.

The novel has an infectious energy that is palpable. It is bursting with ideas, and its short length can barely contain them all. The first two-thirds are excellent, with the first part echoing classic horror works like The Omen or Rosemary's Baby. The second part in Kuwait is the high point, suffocating and claustrophobic, predating Dan Simmons's similarly atmospheric Song of Kali by more than half a decade. There is also a touch of genius in keeping Baal out of the picture for most of the action, with the increasingly tumultuous events being seen through the eyes of outsiders Naughton and Virga.

However, after Kuwait, the novel could have been more. Baal barely makes his grand entrance before faking his own assassination and going into hiding. The scenes in Greenland are good, and the milieu is great, but it almost feels as if the novel is running out of steam at that point. It plods towards its inevitable conclusion, and after all the excellent setup, Baal kind of fizzles out.

It is clear that Baal was McCammon's first novel, written when he was only 25 years old. For a time, he kept it out of print (along with several other early works) for that very reason. Baal is not as well-developed or evenly told as, for example (my favorite) \\n  They Thirst\\n, but it has its merits. The youthful exuberance of the story makes it a joy to read, and even back then, McCammon's brisk use of language was evident. The Kuwait chapters alone are worth the read. Baal may not quite reach the lofty heights it aims for, but it makes a great effort and, in doing so, points the way for McCammon's later novels. It is a brave first novel.

Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.wordpress.com.