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Balook
In the wake of technological breakthroughs, a nine-ton prehistoric balook is brought to life and befriended by a boy named Thor, but when the growing creature breaks out of his compound, a chaotic romp ensues. Reprint.
232 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
3 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Piers Anthony
447 books4,236 followersThough he spent the first four years of his life in England, Piers never returned to live in his country of birth after moving to Spain and immigrated to America at age six. After graduating with a B.A. from Goddard College, he married one of his fellow students and and spent fifteen years in an assortment of professions before he began writing fiction full-time.
Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.
Piers is a self-proclaimed environmentalist and lives on a tree farm in Florida with his wife. They have two grown daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 25, 2008
So, the sheer number of Piers Anthony books on my shelf begs the question: if I didn't rate any of them higher than two stars, why did I read so many of them? Well, here's the thing about that. I was impressionable. All of my friends (both of them) were really into Piers Anthony when I was in late elementary school/middle school. They occasionally bequeathed volumes to me, and I usually read them. And, I wasn't especially experimental at that age when it came to my reading choices, so I kept picking up his books at the library because it was a familiar name. Perhaps this is why he's still quite successful: because of the sheer laziness of middleschoolers.
Anyway, I found his books amusing enough because they were goofy and a little bit inventive, and usually had slightly naughty scenes in them. The characters all acted like they were my age, even though they were supposedly adults. But even back then, I had the sense that I was reading shite.
Most of the time, I didn't finish his books. The plots were always meandering. I never felt the need to find out what was going to happen. I attribute this in large part to his lack of character development, although I wouldn't have articulated it that way at the time.
Anyway, Balook is about a boy and his dinosaur. It's G-rated SF fluff, and the most appropriate reaction to the book is a shrug.
Anyway, I found his books amusing enough because they were goofy and a little bit inventive, and usually had slightly naughty scenes in them. The characters all acted like they were my age, even though they were supposedly adults. But even back then, I had the sense that I was reading shite.
Most of the time, I didn't finish his books. The plots were always meandering. I never felt the need to find out what was going to happen. I attribute this in large part to his lack of character development, although I wouldn't have articulated it that way at the time.
Anyway, Balook is about a boy and his dinosaur. It's G-rated SF fluff, and the most appropriate reaction to the book is a shrug.
May 16, 2007
Talk about a dull book, Baluchitheriums are far from the coolest prehistoric animals to have adventures with. I would absolutely pick a Glyptodon any day. Maybe even a giant ground sloth.
February 10, 2020
Piers Anthony is one of the authors I fell in love with while still in middle school--his books are a big part of what made me fall in love with fantasy and never look back. I also love dinosaurs and animals in general, so you'd think that I'd have loved this book... and I didn't Not love it. There were moments--and the illustrations, especially--where I was totally enthralled with it. At the same time, it had the feel of too many of those books and films about friendships between animals and children--you didn't know whether to dread what was coming or assume there'd be a predictable good ending. At one point, I actually couldn't resist flipping to the end of the book to make sure that I'd get the ending I wanted, and I don't remember ever doing that before... in any case, I finished reading the book after I did that, and I'm glad I did.
I enjoyed the book--it's by no means going to stand out as one of my favorites, and it's more in the lines of young adult than I'd expect from Anthony, but I'm glad to have finally gotten around to reading it. If you love animals and dinosaurs, in particular, then the book is worth digging up for the illustrations alone.
I enjoyed the book--it's by no means going to stand out as one of my favorites, and it's more in the lines of young adult than I'd expect from Anthony, but I'm glad to have finally gotten around to reading it. If you love animals and dinosaurs, in particular, then the book is worth digging up for the illustrations alone.
March 16, 2025
I wanted to give this 3 stars. But I didn't. Because although Anthony obviously has writing chops, the book was, overall, I'd say, kinda dumb. Plot, scenes, characters. All just kinda dumb. Although not labeled as such, at least in the edition I have, it's obviously a juvenile, but I've read plenty of juveniles and they don't have to be...dumb. A quick read, at least.
April 17, 2012
Balook was originally rejected multiple times when Piers Anthony was starting out. He rationalizes this as no one "getting it", rather than the book simply being bad.
The book has many pictures scattered throughout, even if it's completely unnecessary. One would think that based on this, this is intended for younger readers. However, the overly sexual content says otherwise. This is the book's biggest flaw: Not knowing what its target age is.
Thor is a child, a fact that the book and he himself tends to forget. This makes the aforementioned sexual overtones especially awkward. Barb is no better. The titular "rhino" is as bland as you can get, even for an enormous extinct rhinoceros.
The only one "right" in the book are the people Thor mock, those who try to help him. But we aren't supposed to like them. No, we're supposed to side with Thor, a naive young man who wishes that a boy who spooked Balook dies.
Don't pick up Balook unless you like pointing out flaws in a book's plot.
The book has many pictures scattered throughout, even if it's completely unnecessary. One would think that based on this, this is intended for younger readers. However, the overly sexual content says otherwise. This is the book's biggest flaw: Not knowing what its target age is.
Thor is a child, a fact that the book and he himself tends to forget. This makes the aforementioned sexual overtones especially awkward. Barb is no better. The titular "rhino" is as bland as you can get, even for an enormous extinct rhinoceros.
The only one "right" in the book are the people Thor mock, those who try to help him. But we aren't supposed to like them. No, we're supposed to side with Thor, a naive young man who wishes that a boy who spooked Balook dies.
Don't pick up Balook unless you like pointing out flaws in a book's plot.
April 7, 2014
I have always found Piers Anthony an easy author to read - its his style, his material even the tone of his writing that to me makes his books easy to pick up and difficult to put down. Yes he has made his name in light fantasy, family friendly and sometimes a little juvenile, however that is not the limit to his work.
This is a case in point the book does deviate from his usual formula - however it does not quite know what it wants to be - science fiction, juvenile or even modern day fable - the story itself is pretty straight forward with some interesting twists - in fact the reason why the book got the rating it did was the conclusion to the end of the story. I think also there was no small influence from the illustrations from Patrick Woodruffe too who I have fond memories of from his work with the Paper Tiger publications.
So the book is no headline act but its a good read and I will have to admit I enjoyed it for many reasons including the fact that Piers Anthony can still write what he likes with appeal and style.
This is a case in point the book does deviate from his usual formula - however it does not quite know what it wants to be - science fiction, juvenile or even modern day fable - the story itself is pretty straight forward with some interesting twists - in fact the reason why the book got the rating it did was the conclusion to the end of the story. I think also there was no small influence from the illustrations from Patrick Woodruffe too who I have fond memories of from his work with the Paper Tiger publications.
So the book is no headline act but its a good read and I will have to admit I enjoyed it for many reasons including the fact that Piers Anthony can still write what he likes with appeal and style.
June 3, 2013
While this story was originally written as a 5k entry for a computer competition, it was rejected then, and several more times as it brings into the forefront the good.. And bad... Of humanity's relation with animals.
This story is in the writing style and plotline easily understood by the younger readers yet contains sub plots most do not recognize as such, especially in this day of in your face and bold story telling and movies.
Within the writing is contained a subtle interaction between a time in the distant past and a future in which ecological disaster was narrowly avoided by the initiation of near draconic laws protecting forests and wildlife, with the intermediary being a gentle giant, a creature resurrected from that far ancient time by the wizardry of science and computers, and befriended by a lonely boy...
This story is in the writing style and plotline easily understood by the younger readers yet contains sub plots most do not recognize as such, especially in this day of in your face and bold story telling and movies.
Within the writing is contained a subtle interaction between a time in the distant past and a future in which ecological disaster was narrowly avoided by the initiation of near draconic laws protecting forests and wildlife, with the intermediary being a gentle giant, a creature resurrected from that far ancient time by the wizardry of science and computers, and befriended by a lonely boy...
April 4, 2011
Balook is a Baluchtherium, an ancient rhinocerous, three times the size of a horse, brought back from extinction by some enterprising future scientists. Thor is his companion, friend, and champion. Balook is anachronistic and misunderstood. What is his usefulness? Is he dangerous? The modern world must deal with these questions, and Thor must guide them to the answers. This is ostensibly a young adult novel, but quite complex in theme and science. The young characters are relatable to the young reader, but people of all ages will fall in love with Balook and wish they could have one as a friend. I was also quite enamored with Anthony’s vision of a future where cutting down trees is illegal, and most everyone is conveyed by bicycles.
March 27, 2014
I LOVE this book!!!
And was SO sad when I finished it!!!
Anybody who loves animals will LOVE this book. it's about a baluchitherium named Balook. it's a fun experience anybody will LOVE.!!!
And was SO sad when I finished it!!!
Anybody who loves animals will LOVE this book. it's about a baluchitherium named Balook. it's a fun experience anybody will LOVE.!!!
July 28, 2014
hmmm. probably one of the strangest books I have read in a while. Read Tantum Mound instead. Irs way better
May 22, 2015
Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
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February 1, 2017Great young adult novel. A boy and his dinosaur.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews