"Baal" is an outstanding addition to the satanic panic horrors that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. Its theme bears a strong resemblance to that of "Rosemary's Baby" or "The Omen".

The book takes us on a thrilling globetrotting adventure, which is both fast-paced and action-packed. It presents a classic tale of good versus evil.

Like many of McCammon's books from this era, it can be quite violent and nasty at times, and could even be considered a proto-splatterpunk novel.

Despite being his first novel, it is actually very well-written. It is definitely one of the best novels I have read recently.

It is highly enjoyable and comes highly recommended for fans of classic horror novels.

To say that I have an intense passion for Robert McCammon's writing is an understatement. It's like proclaiming that fish have a mild affinity for water. Without a shadow of a doubt, he is my all-time favorite author, the one who has left an indelible mark on my literary journey. His words have the power to extract every conceivable emotion from the deepest recesses of my soul and have played a significant role in shaping me as a reader, writer, and an individual. Truly, his writing is nothing short of magical.

So, when the opportunity presented itself to take part in the Robert McCammon Challenge, it was an absolute no-brainer for me. The RMC entails reading his works in chronological order, one book per month, until the entire collection is completed.

Baal, McCammon's debut novel published in 1978, is a remarkable piece of work. Many authors would梦寐以求 to have their first novel达到这样的水准. It's evident that it doesn't quite measure up to the high standard he set with his later masterpieces. However, Baal does showcase glimpses of the talented storyteller who was destined to mature and shine. McCammon was only in his mid-twenties when he penned this novel.

The story begins with the rape of a woman in an alley, who later gives birth to a child that is far from ordinary. As you might expect, this child grows up to be the demon, Baal. The narrative is divided into three distinct parts. The first part delves into the rape and the tumultuous life of Baal, being shuffled from one orphanage to another. This is where McCammon's writing prowess truly shines. Baal is like a more powerful version of Damien from The Omen, combined with a touch of Isaac from Children of the Corn. He gathers his minions and commands them to do his bidding.

The second part follows Baal as a man leading a religious building or gathering in the Middle East. The desolate atmosphere practically leaps off the pages, making you feel as if you're suffering from thirst and your skin is blistering. However, the transition into the third part feels rushed and somewhat muddled.

The final part once again showcases McCammon's uncanny ability to create a vivid and immersive setting and atmosphere. The arctic landscape described here makes you shiver and your hands go numb as you follow the characters in their pursuit of Baal. But then comes the ending. It's not my favorite. In fact, it feels as if McCammon expended all his energy on crafting the journey and didn't quite know how to conclude it. While it's not terrible - I've certainly read far worse endings from other so-called "masters" of horror - it does feel rather anti-climactic. Michael's effortless ability to control Baal seems a bit of a stretch. You'll understand what I mean once you read it. Overall, Baal is still a very solid read that gives you a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a budding master storyteller as he learns to find his footing.

3.5 Mangled Hands out of 5

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This isn't my first book by McCammon, but it's my first time reading this particular one. It served as a great reminder of why I have such a penchant for his works.

The book isn't without its flaws. It does seem to showcase his earlier endeavors, perhaps with a touch less experience. However, overall, it was still an outstanding read. There were numerous moments and vivid imagery that were truly spine-chilling. The book managed to engage and hold my interest throughout. The characters were utilized effectively, even though a clear protagonist didn't emerge until approximately the last third of the book. And although it jumps around quite a bit in the beginning and the first few sections are rather short, it somehow manages to work, when it probably shouldn't.

I would be dishonest if I didn't admit that I wished the last chapter had offered a slightly stronger sense of resolution and explanation. But stories of this kind are always challenging to conclude in a truly satisfactory manner. Maybe my subconscious issue was simply that I didn't want it to end.

I suppose the main takeaway here is that in the grand battle between good and evil, where the characters in this story are merely transient game pieces, perhaps a simple resolution isn't truly possible. While I was disappointed by one chapter of this book, the entire book was just one chapter in a much larger story. In the end, should we be more afraid of leaders who strive for destruction and domination, or should we fear the hordes of followers who initially elevate them to such great heights?

Interpret that last point however you like in relation to life in 2022. I know I did.

Despite my lack of time and concentration, I have been able to follow the plot due to its simplicity. This is truly a merit of this gentleman who never fails to disappoint me in everything I have read of his. While you might think from its synopsis that you already know what is going to happen because it is a very overused plot, you are very wrong.

The story takes unexpected turns and twists that keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed and their actions and decisions are believable. The author has a way of creating a vivid and engaging world that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading.

Even though the plot may seem familiar at first glance, the author manages to put his own unique spin on it, making it a refreshing and enjoyable read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good story that will keep them entertained from start to finish.

The King of the Demons. This is the first book written by Robert R. McCammon way back in 1979. From then until 1992, he wrote some very interesting and widely read horror books such as Swan Song, Boy's Life, The Wolf's Hour, Mine, They Thirst, Stinger, Gone South, Mystery Walk, Usher's Passing, The Night Boat, and Bethany's Sin. However, suddenly he stopped publishing anything for ten years and then started again with some historical novels, until in 2011 it seems he got back into horror.

Unfortunately, Baal is the only book by the author that has been translated into Greek. For a first attempt, it was a delight to me, but overall I wouldn't say I was completely satisfied.

A working woman becomes a victim of wild haste on the streets of New York and after a while she finds out that she is pregnant, even though she was taking the pill before every encounter with her boyfriend. The child that is born is ugly, strange, and has the intelligence of an adult. After a tragic event for the two parents, the child will grow up in a Christian orphanage, where he terrifies the other children and the nuns, insisting that his name is Baal.

Let me not go on too much. It is about the demon Baal who has incarnated and wants to bring destruction and chaos to the Earth. At first, he appears as a Messiah in California and then goes to Kuwait, where he will "hypnotize" thousands of people who will start to burn, destroy, loot, rush, and kill. And then, in Antarctica and then all over the world. The only ones who know what is going on and can do something to stop him are Virgil, a university professor and theologian, Michael, a mysterious man who seems to know Baal's past, and a half-Eskimo, Zark, who lives alone on the ice and knows everything about them.

Well, it seemed very well-written to me, with a dark atmosphere and violent scenes, but the plot didn't say much, it didn't have much depth, and I didn't encounter any twists and surprises. And the characters seemed a bit one-dimensional to me, although the bad one was really... bad.

It's neither the best nor the scariest horror book out there, but it's definitely a good book. McCammon is an interesting case of an author and I would like to get to know him better, but I don't see anything else of his being translated, so I'll have to practice my English more.

There are certain moments within this book when the writer McCammon truly manages to shine through.

However, overall, the book felt a little lackluster for me. The story simply failed to capture my interest as I had the distinct impression that I had already read or witnessed something similar before.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that this is a successful first novel. It shows promise and potential, which makes me eager to explore more of McCammon's works.

I look forward to seeing how his writing evolves and what new and exciting stories he will come up with in the future.

On to more McCammon!

I'm a sucker for demonic horror like The Omen and The Exorcist, so this book really fits right up my alley.

Unfortunately, I feel that the most interesting part is Part 1, but it was disappointingly short. I remember that with The Omen, it was super interesting because there was a big buildup of suspense as the spawn was a child. That's exactly what I was hoping to find here.

However, the book just felt a bit rushed during my favorite parts. But on the positive side, the ending was quite good, and the narrator was REALLY good.

This is the author's least favorite of his works, so I'm hopeful that it will only get better from here. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

I believe that with some improvements in pacing and a bit more development in the interesting parts, this could have been an even better read. Nevertheless, it still had its moments and kept me engaged throughout.

Overall, while it didn't quite meet all of my expectations, I'm still glad I gave it a try and will be keeping an eye on the author's future works.

Despite the star rating, if you are a fan of McCammon, you should definitely read this, his very first published novel.

He crafted the character of Baal as a man who possessed a certain force within him, yet seemed to lack a clear focus.

This portrayal of Baal, with its combination of strength and ambiguity, is vividly展现 in both the story and the characters.

The story unfolds in a way that keeps the reader engaged, as we follow Baal's journey and witness how his lack of focus impacts his actions and the events around him.

The characters in the novel are well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motives.

Overall, McCammon's first novel is a captivating read that offers a glimpse into his early writing style and his ability to create complex and interesting characters.

Even if the star rating may not be perfect, it is still a must-read for fans of McCammon and those who enjoy engaging and thought-provoking literature.

History has many deficiencies.

At the moment, it is the one that I have liked the least of this author.

The reasons for this are manifold. Firstly, the historical facts presented may be inaccurate or incomplete, leading to a distorted understanding of the past.

Secondly, the author's perspective and biases can influence the way the history is written, perhaps omitting certain important details or emphasizing others in a way that does not conform to the objective truth.

Moreover, the language used to describe historical events may be dry and unengaging, making it difficult for readers to truly immerse themselves in the story.

Despite these shortcomings, history still remains an important subject as it helps us to understand our roots and the development of human civilization.

However, when reading historical works, we should always maintain a critical eye and be willing to question and verify the information presented.

When Baal was still in his crib, he had already driven his mother to commit murder.

As a child, he terrorized a Catholic orphanage and enlisted children to be his first followers. This is the captivating story of an incarnated demon who incites ordinary people to carry out horrific acts of violence and devises a plan to bring about the end of the world.

The biblical god Baal, here cast as a powerful and malevolent demon, travels from one place to another, leaving a trail of war, death, and violence in his wake. With each soul he corrupts, he grows stronger.

A confrontation with the forces of good is inevitable. However, the only ones who oppose him are a doubtful elderly theology professor who becomes involved after losing his friend to the monster, a greedy and self-centered Eskimo "shaman" who has his own issues with violence, and a mysterious stranger named Michael (it doesn't take much to guess who that might be).

The stakes are nothing less than the whole of creation.

This story is really good and kept me engaged from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was never quite certain who would ultimately prevail.

This is McCammon's first book and it truly shows.

To be fair, it's not exactly bad. However, I just didn't find myself enjoying it to a great extent.

Despite being relatively short in length, it took me longer to get through than it probably should have.

I had high expectations going into it as I had really relished reading "They Thirst" (another one of his early books).

Thankfully, this experience hasn't deterred me from reading some of the other earlier entries. In fact, "Usher's Passing" will likely be my next read.

Nonetheless, I wouldn't recommend this particular book unless you have a genuine desire to read all of McCammon's work.

It's an okay read, but it doesn't quite measure up to some of his other offerings.

Perhaps with more experience and growth as a writer, McCammon would go on to produce more captivating and engaging works.

For now, this first book serves as a stepping stone in his literary journey.

The book works well enough on its own terms.

If you jettison your expectations of originality and depth and simply settle for a fast-moving evil-messiah tale that is filled with many gore set pieces and features a suitably vile villain, then you'll be just fine.

My somewhat superficial research ensured that I was able to catch all the resonances and hints quite early on. Additionally, I noticed a few factual errors here and there.

The prose in the book is functional, but on occasion, it aspires to more. Sometimes it manages to achieve that higher level.

Overall, for a first novel, it's not at all bad. However, it leans more towards being gross and sickening rather than awe-inspiring. McCammon fails to fully exploit the numinous potential of this tale due to his overemphasis on viscera and profanity.

This aspect detracts from what could have been a more profound and impactful story.

Nonetheless, it still has its merits and can provide an entertaining read for those who enjoy this particular genre.