Robert McCammon
Robert McCammon King
Author Overview By the Side Quest Book Club Podcast
“This one was different. An animal and a man. The intelligence and cunning of a man, the savagery and power of a brute beast.” ~ Baal
Why we love Robert McCammon
Zubair joins Slava and Jonathan to track a new and evil Messiah figure—a reincarnation of the ancient demon Baal. The guys tackle Robert MacCammon's self-proclaimed "angry man" novel, Baal.
Author Highlights
Here is what you can expect from a Robert McCammon story…
Direct and unflinching approach to horror
Excellent pacing and an intense atmosphere
Unique blend of the real and the fantastical
Author Bio
Robert McCammon is the author of 28 novels and two short story collections. Starting with his first novel, Baal, in 1978, McCammon quickly became one of the bestselling horror authors of the 1980s, with three consecutive novels hitting the New York Times Bestsellers List: Swan Song, Stinger, and The Wolf’s Hour. During that time, he also won several Bram Stoker Awards for Best Novel and Best Short Story.
As the ’90s dawned, McCammon expanded his writing away from the horror genre, and his 1991 classic Boy’s Life won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. After Gone South in 1992, McCammon decided to try historical fiction, which had always interested him. After clashing with a new publisher over the direction of his new books, McCammon retired from publishing for ten years.
He returned in 2002 with Speaks the Nightbird, which became the first book in a ten-book series about Matthew Corbett. The Corbett books are set in the early 1700s, and each volume has explored different genres: mystery, adventure, chase, pulp, thriller, and more. In addition to the Corbett books, McCammon has also written contemporary novels, including The Five, The Border, and The Listener.
Leviathan, the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series, was published by Lividian Publications in December 2024.
McCammon is currently gearing up for his next project. He lives in Birmingham, AL.
This bio is taken from Robert McCammon’s blog.
Slava’s Thoughts
I’ve only read one and a half books by Robert R. McCammon so far—primarily because our Side Quest Book Club reading schedule dictates the pace—but Baal turned me into an instant fan. As someone who loves horror (deeply!), I was utterly swept up by its relentless pacing and suffocating atmosphere.
What struck me most was McCammon’s unflinching yet controlled approach to the horrific. He dives straight into the darkness without ever tipping into cheap sensationalism.
Baal masterfully blends gritty reality with wild, almost biblical fantasy, crafting a world that feels disturbingly familiar and impossibly vast.
Jonathan’s Thoughts
My name is Jeff.
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