I’ve heard many McCammon fans say this is a bad book. As a result, I dove into the novel with very low expectations.

Well, I’m here to say my piece after feverishly devouring Baal in two days. I’m officially going to bat for this book. I promise not to “low Baal” my rating.

Is this upper tier McCammon? No. But keep in mind, we are talking about a master writer who has honed his skills for decades; one of the best in the business. What it is is a damn good debut novel that is a bit rough around the edges in some ways, surprisingly effective in others. There are definitely sections of this that earn my full 5 stars.

In Baal, McCammon clearly took inspiration from some of the major horror heavy-hitters of the 70s (there are some big-time Omen/Rosemary’s Baby/The Exorcist vibes), while putting his own unique spin on things. It’s a sprawling story, spanning several decades and a variety of locations around the globe (Boston, Kuwait, Greenland).

The horror elements are well done. In particular, the section at the child orphanage was supremely creepy. Baal is not the kind of guy you want to invite to your cookout. There were a ton of striking visuals in this book that will stick with me for awhile.

That said, the story does feel a bit disjointed at times. It feels less like a novel and more like several novellas tied together. It works well enough, but I’m willing to bet the older, wiser McCammon could have connected the dots more effectively.

The pacing is also inconsistent. The first 80 or 90 pages are super compelling, and then the story takes a bit of a left turn and slows down substantially for a large chunk of the book before picking up speed again toward the end. Dealbreaker? No way! But again, the McCammon we know now would have probably been much more consistent (his pacing is pretty much perfect in most of his books).

Overall, though, this was impressive for a debut novel. It’s enjoyable all the way through with occasional glimpses of genius peaking through. You can really see the beginnings of a great writer here. That alone makes it worth the read, but it’s also just an effective horror novel in its own right. A friend of mine said he’d love to see what the McCammon of 2021 could have done with this concept, and I agree. I think he would hit a grand slam with this if he wrote Baal at this point in his career. Perhaps a sequel one day? Who knows. Stranger things have happened.

3.75/5, rounded up to 4 stars.

I actually thought this was a much better book than The Night Boat, which he published a couple years later. It is definitely worth a read if you are a McCammon fan. It certainly exceeded my expectations! McCammon goes Baals to the Waal in this one.

If you come across it in the bookstore, buy it. It's good for expanding your collection. However, if you don't read it, you don't miss out on much.

This statement presents a practical perspective on book shopping. When we encounter a book that catches our eye in the bookstore, there is a temptation to purchase it, especially if we are avid collectors. Buying new books can indeed enhance our collections and give us a sense of satisfaction.

On the other hand, not reading a particular book doesn't necessarily mean we have missed out on a great deal. There are countless books in the world, and it's impossible to read them all. Sometimes, we may buy a book with good intentions but never get around to reading it. In such cases, it's important to remember that the value of a book lies not only in its possession but also in the knowledge and enjoyment it can bring when read.

So, while it's okay to buy books that interest us, we should also be realistic about our reading habits and not feel pressured to read every book we own. Instead, we can focus on reading the books that truly matter to us and make the most of our reading time.

Debut in 1978, this is a classic from Robert R. McCammon, a work that you will never stop seeing in your dreams. I loved it in 1978 and once again in 2023!

I still can't believe that this was the first one from one of, if not my favorite horror authors, Robert R. McCammon! His talent was already shining brightly from the very beginning. The story is filled with such vivid and terrifying imagery that it stays with you long after you've finished reading.

Check out my review here: https://youtu.be/CGt3WlHKYMc

I give it 5 Screams! It's truly a must-read for any horror fan. Whether you're new to McCammon's work or a long-time follower, this debut novel is sure to satisfy your craving for a good scare. So don't hesitate, pick it up and let the nightmares begin!

Oh boy, I truly wonder if I will ever learn.

Whenever I feel the strong compulsion to read some McCammon, I just end up re-reading Boy's Life. This, his very first book, came with quite a few warnings upfront from friends and others. However, to be honest, those warnings were not nearly enough.

For a late 80's horror novel that includes atrocities, this one is just so incredibly boring. I find myself constantly wondering what the cardboard god wanted with the cardboard characters. I also wonder why Baal is affected by the cross, a symbol that he predates by at least a couple of millennia. And that's a man-invented symbol of a god he predates by at least a thousand years. It seems that he wasn't very impressed with that god to begin with. I also wonder how many times one can write out the first names of two protagonists. Finally, I wonder why on earth I finished this book.

I have never read such a short book that felt so damn long.

It was truly a strange experience. This book, to be honest, didn't even read like a typical McCammon novel. It deviated from the style and charm that I had come to expect from his works.

Among the portion of his work that I have read, this one is by far my least favorite.

Additionally, I didn't anticipate this novel to be so political. However, that wasn't the main reason why I disliked it so much.

The story just felt tedious and dragged on, lacking the excitement and engaging elements that usually draw me into a McCammon novel.

It was a disappointment, and I hope his future works will return to the form that I love.

I read this book several years ago. To be honest, I don't recall it very vividly. However, there is one particular detail that has managed to stick with me. It seems that Mr. McCammon had just come across the term "prefab" and, as if it were a newfound toy, he used it somewhere in the vicinity of 9000 times.

This excessive use of the word really stood out to me. It was almost comical how frequently it appeared on the pages. I can't help but wonder if Mr. McCammon was perhaps overly excited about this new term and couldn't resist incorporating it into his writing at every opportunity.

Despite not remembering much else about the book, this one detail has left a lasting impression. It serves as a reminder of the power of language and how a single word, when used repeatedly, can have a significant impact on the reader's perception of the text.

Overall, while my memory of the book may be hazy, this one aspect related to the use of the term "prefab" has remained鲜明 in my mind.

Not entirely certain if I am being just to this particular novel. I did have a certain degree of enjoyment while reading it. I found that it was written quite well, with the exception of perhaps one or two rather feeble points within the plot. However, I must admit that it didn't even manage to send a shiver down my spine. Additionally, I am somewhat growing weary of the whole biblical aspect, even though this story attempts to put a new spin on it. That entire strand of mythology seems to have become rather tired and overused.

Nevertheless, it is still well worth the effort of reading. There are elements within the novel that are engaging and interesting, despite its flaws. It offers a unique perspective on certain themes and ideas, which can be quite thought-provoking. So, even though it may not be a perfect piece of literature, it does have its redeeming qualities and is definitely worth giving a chance.

Excellent!

However, it's truly interesting. Considering this is his first novel, it is strikingly different from all the others. The characters here are somewhat stock, and it is a "horror novel". Although it is very well-written, it is not at all like his later work. Therefore, it is fascinating to observe how he has evolved as a writer over time. We can see the seeds of his talent in this early work, but also notice the significant changes and growth that have occurred. It makes us wonder what led him to develop in the way he did and how his experiences and creative vision have shaped his subsequent novels. Each of his works seems to be a step in his journey as a writer, and this first novel serves as an important milestone in understanding his evolution.

Wanting to read all of McCammon's works in the next couple of years gives me the opportunity to explore his very early novels. These are the books that the author himself seems to have distanced from. BAAL is the first one. While it's not as bad as McCammon made it out to be, it still isn't outstanding.

BAAL is more serious and mature in tone compared to another of his early works, Bethany's Sin. However, it never quite figures out what it wants to be. What begins as a strong character study about a family dealing with rape and an unwanted pregnancy quickly transforms into a vast tale that spans different continents. It attempts to feel epic but fails rather miserably. It's as if McCammon had an idea but couldn't quite execute it, so he changed it. The book is a jumble, with three parts that have completely different tones and don't quite mesh. We have the family tragedy and BAAL as a youngster with an omen-like feel, then we're plunged into a story about a priest investigating a massive cult following without any clear explanation of how and why it came about. Finally, the last third, while atmospheric and creepy, doesn't match up with anything that came before and ends with a whimper. It doesn't help that the title character disappears for about two-thirds of the book.

It's worth reading for the strong beginning and the creepy ice maze at the end. Everything in between, unfortunately, falls a bit flat.

Robert R. McCammon penned “Baal,” which was his very first novel, at the tender age of 25.

This work clearly showcases a certain degree of inexperience. However, it also exhibits some of the qualities that would later catapult him to become one of the most highly regarded writers in the realm of horror fiction.

The initial third of the novel leans towards being somewhat clichéd, typical of the satanic horror literature of the 70s.

As the story progresses, the book undergoes a significant improvement. Nevertheless, in my personal opinion, it loses some of its steam in the denouement.

All in all, reading this novel is not a futile endeavor. In fact, I firmly believe it is somewhat of a must-read for any die-hard fan of McCammon.

It offers a glimpse into the early stages of a talented writer's journey and contains elements that are both engaging and thought-provoking.

Another day, another classic.

This was my first book by Robert McCammon (I think). So, why not start at the beginning?

For his first book, it's truly amazing and really showcases his epic-storytelling that I've always heard so much about. Imagine Rosemary's Baby meets The Omen and throw in a bit of Armageddon for good measure.

The storytelling and prose shine brightest in the second half of the book. That's when the action starts, and the pacing picks up exponentially. Written back in 1978, around the time when every book seemed to be the size of a door-stop, I can't help but feel that this book would have worked even better if it was a bit longer or perhaps split into a trilogy. It's only 300+ pages, and the story just feels bigger than that to me.

Anyway, overall, it's a thoroughly enjoyable, action-packed, supernatural epic.

4 Stars.

I’ve been a devoted Robert McCammon fan for a considerable period of time now. However, I had never delved into his very first published novel.

And thus, I decided to turn my attention to this particular work. It is not only the first novel that this author had published but also the very first one that he ever dedicated his efforts to.

The plot of this novel truly undergoes remarkable transformations as it progresses. It commences as a brutal rape story set in Boston. Then, as the character Baal evolves from an infant to a terrifying teenager, it morphs into a sort of “Omen” like subtle horror story. Subsequently, it changes yet again into a religious thriller taking place in the Middle East, followed by an action-packed finale in Greenland.

I can envision this novel as a learning endeavor for the young 25-year-old Robert McCammon. Nevertheless, in the end, it is also effortlessly evident that the framework of what would later become the master writer is already present.

Although this may not be his absolute best novel, it is still most definitely worth the read, particularly for ardent McCammon fans.