Definitely not as good as Swan Song, but still was enjoyable!

This statement implies that while the thing being referred to may not reach the same level of excellence as Swan Song, it still manages to provide a certain degree of pleasure. It could be a movie, a book, a song, or any other form of entertainment or experience.

Perhaps the expectations were set high due to the reputation of Swan Song, but even so, the item in question has its own merits. It might have some engaging moments, interesting characters, or a unique storyline that keeps the audience entertained.

However, it's important to note that everyone's perception of enjoyment can vary. What one person finds enjoyable, another might not. So, even though it may not be on par with Swan Song, it could still have value and be worth experiencing for those who are open to it.

In conclusion, while it may not be the best, it still has the ability to bring some measure of enjoyment and should not be dismissed outright.

A little rough around the edges, yet still a decent read. The main problem, as I perceive it, is that this novel holds so much greater potential. The last half of it appeared to be rushed, and there was scarcely enough time dedicated to Baal. It would be truly wonderful to witness a rewrite from McCammon at this point, considering he now has more experience as an author. Even in its current state, though, it is indeed worth a read.

Perhaps with a rewrite, McCammon could flesh out the story more fully, explore the character of Baal in greater depth, and give the latter half of the novel the attention it deserves. This would enhance the overall reading experience and allow the readers to fully immerse themselves in the world he has created. Despite its flaws, the novel still manages to engage the reader and leave them with a sense of curiosity and anticipation for what could have been. It serves as a testament to McCammon's talent as an author, even in his earlier works.

As usual, McCammon showcases a solid writing style.

However, what I didn't like in this case was the story itself. In my personal opinion, I didn't take pleasure in this specific book. But it should be noted that it was not due to any fault of the book itself.

I simply had no interest in the subject matter. The spelling was good, the grammar was good, and so on.

It's just that the story didn't resonate with me on a personal level. Maybe for others who are more interested in the particular theme or subject, they might find this book to be a great read.

But for me, unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark.

Nevertheless, McCammon's writing skills are still evident and I would be willing to give his other works a try in the future.

I should mention that this is my first encounter with Robert R McCammon. As I strive to expand my horror literary landscape, I'm delving into works by some of the genre's most prominent figures. So far, I've been quite impressed with Graham Masterton, Adam Neville, and Richard Laymon. Now, it's McCammon's turn with 'Baal'.

The cover synopsis intrigues. It starts with a heinous rape in New York City. Nine months later, a truly extraordinary child named Jeffrey Harper Raines is born. Soon, he assumes his true identity and purpose as Baal, a new incarnation of the ancient prince of demons. The story chronicles his deadly path through the 20th century, beginning with the destruction of his earthly "family", then moving to a doomed Catholic orphanage where he unleashes unprecedented carnage, and finally out into the wider world as the Prophet of the Damned, leaving a trail of chaos, violence, and despair.

So, was I impressed? Well, sort of. Don't misunderstand, this is a good book - not outstanding, but not bad either. Just good. In fairness, I believe this was not only McCammon's debut novel but also, as I recall reading somewhere, the first story he deliberately sat down to write. Despite this, while reading, it's easy to think McCammon had been writing for some time when he penned 'Baal'. He narrates with confidence and assurance, and his prose is often eloquent, yet also sharp and to the point like a knife.

The story is told in the third person from multiple points of view, following the rise of Jeffrey, an unwanted child born of a horrific rape, who evolves into Baal, the personification of the Canaanite god of death and fertility. The book is divided into three sections. The first details Jeffrey's violent conception and infancy, and then his boyhood as an increasingly malevolent entity at a Catholic boys' home. This section is riveting, with confrontations with nuns and priests offering a chilling glimpse into the fully-formed mind of Baal within Jeffrey's body. The scares are vividly visualized, and the few violent scenes are brutal. The creepiness and tension build throughout this first section.

The second, middle section focuses on a theology tutor, Naughton, investigating the growing Baal cult in the Middle East and his journey there to experience the cult and its enigmatic leader firsthand. This section is a bit slower, despite the disturbing events in the cult's camp. It does build up to a chilling sequence towards the end during the first mass congregation in Baal's desert-camp temple. However, the story seems to meander in the earlier part of this section, and while the author tries to give a good sense of the desert environment, I found myself skimming some paragraphs to get to the more exciting parts.

The third and final section details the journey of Naughton's university superior and friend, Dr Virga, as he assists a mysterious man named Michael in their quest to stop Baal's可怕 plans. Again, this section has some gruesome sequences, especially those involving dead kids, which were difficult to read but understandable given Baal's history of child sacrifice. The story ramps up in tension and action towards the final battle, but the journey there is a bit meandering, like the previous section. Many parts of this third section were gripping, and any parts related to Baal himself were truly creepy, but there were also quite a few skimmable paragraphs about the frozen Arctic environment. To be fair, it did build up to a climactic finish - an ending that felt real, plausible, and satisfying, which is somewhat rare in horror.

McCammon's dialogue is enjoyable, with conversations flowing naturally. However, I didn't feel there was much character development beyond that of young Jeffrey/Baal. The story was generally engaging, and you do feel fear and concern for the small cast, and you find yourself rooting for Michael, Virga, and the wonderful Zark near the end. Baal himself is a great antagonist - truly evil and depraved, yet cold and calculating. On the other hand, other than Zark, the protagonists all felt a bit weak, especially Virga and Naughton, who sometimes seemed like the same character.

But I shouldn't complain too much. This was McCammon's first novel, and if its only drawbacks are occasional meandering and skimmable sections and a couple of weak protagonists, then it's not so bad. McCammon's research and world-building are excellent, and the whole concept and how the events unfold feel very real and plausible, which adds to the weight of the story and makes the stakes seem even higher.

Overall, 'Baal' is an enjoyable horror novel with a great villain and a generally engaging story, despite some meandering sequences and a couple of uninteresting heroes. I'm looking forward to reading more of McCammon's works.

3 / 5

Además de los clásicos del género del terror del siglo XIX, uno de mis propósitos lectores es el de leer más novelas de los setenta y ochenta del siglo XX (mis décadas preferidas del cine de terror) más allá de Stephen King. Este año empiezo con uno de los grandes del género, Robert McCammon, con su obra debut: Baal, publicada en 1978.

Por aquella época, las historias sobre el demonio y el Anticristo estaban de moda. Todos conocemos obras como El Exorcista, La Semilla del Diablo, La Profecía, y las influencias de McCammon están claramente presentes.

Baal es una divinidad antigua de varios pueblos, considerado un dios del fuego purificante. En esta historia, Baal es un demonio desterrado que se reencarna en nuestro mundo y busca alcanzar el poder a través de la adoración del pueblo. Sin embargo, su presencia desequilibra la balanza del bien y del mal que mantiene el equilibrio del planeta y debe ser detenido. Es una historia clásica de bien versus mal, el ying contra el yang, en la que un profesor de teología, James Virga, se ve envuelto en una increíble conspiración que amenaza con destruir la sociedad tal y como la conocemos.

La novela está dividida en tres partes. La primera describe cómo Baal llega de nuevo a este mundo, reencarnado en un bebé maligno que termina en un orfanato, donde empieza a amasar su poder y a sus primeros seguidores. Es la mejor parte, con un Baal niño que los profesores temen que se está volviendo cada vez más siniestro hasta un final culminante que da comienzo a su leyenda una vez más. Es la parte más de terror clásico si estamos familiarizados con este tipo de subgénero.

En la segunda parte, años después, un profesor universitario que está escribiendo un libro sobre sectas religiosas viaja hasta Kuwait porque ha oído que está surgiendo un nuevo profeta con cada vez más seguidores. Cuando el profesor desaparece, su colega y superior en la universidad va a buscarlo y allí encuentra a un hombre llamado Michael, que está buscando a Baal con intenciones que aún no revela. Esta parte podría haber sido más interesante si hubiera profundizado más en la formación y desarrollo de las sectas, teniendo en cuenta que Baal apenas aparece. Sin embargo, la forma en la que está contada me resultó muy pesada, con llegadas de ambos profesores a Kuwait que son casi idénticas y un interés que decae rápidamente.

Y en la tercera parte, el profesor Virga y Michael viajan hasta Groenlandia donde se está escondiendo Baal y tiene lugar el enfrentamiento final. Esta parte es ligeramente mejor que la segunda, ya que me gustan las historias de terror que tienen lugar en sitios remotos. Sin embargo, el final en sí es bastante mediocre.

Para ser la primera novela de McCammon (publicada cuando tenía 26 años), no se puede negar que está bien escrita y que tiene buenas ideas para una historia clásica de terror. Sin embargo, carece de sustancia y, después de la primera parte, se vuelve sosa y olvidable. Además, es una novela muy de su época en otros aspectos, como el trato al personaje negro que aparece al principio o el papel limitado de las pocas mujeres que hay, que solo sirven para ser agredidas sexualmente o para aportar drama al personaje masculino. Desde luego, a no ser que seáis como yo y os guste empezar por el principio con algún autor que os interese, no me parece una novela recomendable para comenzar a leer a McCammon. Él mismo la sacó de circulación durante un tiempo porque no estaba muy orgulloso de ella. Pero sí que me ha dejado con ganas de ver qué más puede ofrecer a medida que vaya creciendo como autor, ya que sé que tiene otras novelas que son muy queridas dentro del género. Así que seguiremos informando.

A child born out of rape finds himself in an orphanage.

While there, a Priest and a Nun notice that something is seriously amiss with him.

Besides his erratic behavior, the influence he has on others is truly terrifying.

Then, the child disappears along with others after their terrifying escape plan is executed.

Meanwhile, a theology professor delves into the investigation of a self-proclaimed messiah named Baal.

Baal is quietly but rapidly amassing followers in the Middle East.

This comes after the professor's good friend and colleague vanishes in the chaos caused by the frenzy and destruction brought about by Baal's horde of believers.

After narrowly cheating death in an encounter with Baal and his disciples, the professor meets a mysterious man named Michael.

Michael is on a mission to track and stop Baal.

Having witnessed and experienced Baal's influence and power firsthand, the professor joins Michael in the pursuit.

As the madness escalates and takes over completely, Baal flees, leaving destruction in his wake.

They follow Baal to Greenland and, with the reluctant and then vengeance-fueled assistance of an isolated arctic hunter and guide, the men go to extreme lengths in the harsh, cold, isolated, and dangerous far-north arctic to stop Baal at any cost.

They increasingly realize that the alternative is the destruction of humanity, the world, and even the end of all creation.

I truly relished this tale of Good Vs Evil.

The融合 of backgrounds and histories from several religions and theologies makes the story somewhat distinct from others in the demonic or good vs evil horror sub-genre.

It is interesting, engaging, and for a book from 1978, it is fairly horrifying.

I would most definitely recommend it.

El Príncipe De Los Infiernos by Robert McCammon is a captivating and chilling novel.

As Mary Kate leaves the restaurant where she works as a waitress, she endures a horrifying rape by a mysterious figure with almost supernatural characteristics. This aberrant act leads to her giving birth to a baby who seems to have a negative influence on the behaviors of those around him, sowing evil in their bodies. And this is just the beginning.

The novel, first published in 1979, is the debut work of the North American author Robert McCammon.

Ambitious in its development, it has a dizzying and violent start, focusing on the smallest unit, a house and its occupants, a married couple and their child, gradually expanding in the number of characters and settings, culminating in an epic finale worthy of a Brandon Sanderson book (allowing for obvious differences in genre). Throughout, the author's raw and well-constructed style is maintained, as is the dark and malevolent tone of the story. There is always a frown, and no place for a smile in this book.

It is an excellent choice of reading for the month of August by the Maestros Del Horror group. It's the first book by the author for me, but I'm already looking for other titles to continue reading. No wonder the name of Robert McCammon always comes up when talking about horror books.

It’s been an extremely long time since the last Mccammon novel I delved into. There’s nothing personal or intentional about it. It’s just an unconscious occurrence that has happened as I’ve continuously sought out new authors and genres to explore.

I’m pleased to state that this streak of over 5 years comes to an end today, as I finally returned and began right from the start with McCammon’s very first novel, Baal.

I’ll cut to the chase and say that it’s difficult to believe this was a debut. Yes, it’s not flawless, but in terms of what it encompasses and how it’s penned, Baal never once gives the impression of a first-time author who’s trying overly hard.

Baal is one of those peculiar books that’s rather challenging to describe. It’s horror, no doubt, but it doesn’t read like typical horror. Instead, it’s a fever dream of claustrophobic nightmares. It’s creepy and crawly, making you feel as if someone is observing you while you read. It’s thick and all-pervasive, getting under your skin and making you desire to take a shower afterwards. Not out of disgust but due to the intensity and just the overall negative vibes you receive once you’re done.

And that’s by no means a bad thing. Horror isn’t all about cheap scares or blood and guts. Sometimes it’s the slow burns of madness and evil that suffocate you. And that’s precisely what Baal accomplishes.

I’m glad to be back on the McCammon train.

This is a really pretty good story, especially considering it's his debut novel.

It shows a lot of promise and talent. The plot is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

The characters are well-developed and easy to relate to.

I was really impressed with how he was able to create such a vivid and interesting world within the pages of this book.

I can't wait to see what else he has in store for us in the future.

I look forward to reading more from him and seeing how his writing continues to evolve and improve.

I'm sure he has many great stories yet to tell, and I'm excited to be along for the ride.

Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for a good read.

3.5

Fucking wicked terrorist/assassin novel!

That's all I'm going to say. If you have a penchant for hardcore action, then this novel is tailor-made for you.

The author has an uncanny ability to create quite surreal evocations in all his novels that I have read thus far.

I simply love it! The way he weaves the story, the intense action sequences, and the vivid descriptions all combine to make it a thrilling read.

And let's not forget the RM horror injections! They add an extra layer of excitement and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the book.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, action-packed novel that will keep you entertained from start to finish, then this is definitely one to check out.

It took me an incredibly long time to immerse myself in this one.

If it hadn't been for a truly outstanding audiobook narration, I'm not at all certain that I would have managed to finish it.

The demon or pagan god Baal makes a return to the material world with the intention of causing chaos and destruction, and he must be stopped by a professor of theology, a cantankerous old hunter, and... Michael. It's essentially a supernatural action thriller. As numerous other reviewers have noted, McCammon had not yet truly found his groove as an author, but you can clearly observe him moving in that direction.

The beginning of the book bore a striking resemblance to the great horror novels and movies of the late 1960s and early 1970s, such as Rosemary's Baby, The Omen, The Exorcist, and so on. However, it eventually developed its own unique identity, and that's when the pace quickened and my interest skyrocketed. My favorite character was Zark, the grizzled old hunter.

He added a touch of authenticity and charm to the story with his no-nonsense attitude and vast knowledge of the wild.

Overall, while the book had its flaws, it was still an enjoyable read that kept me on the edge of my seat.