Satan's Love Child

by Brian McNaughton

Book

Genres: Horror, Pulp

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Brian McNaughton was an American writer of horror and fantasy fiction who mixed sex, satire and black humour. He also wrote thrillers.

Reviews

[Grady Hendrix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hippie cultists try to rescue fourth dimensional witches from their exile and wind up precipitating the end of the world, cross-species incest, zombies, and general mayhem. A much better grasp of character and plot than one would expect from a publisher most famous for books like High School Orgy Society.

[oddo · Rating 3 out of 5]

You know, considering that this, the first in McNaughton's series of (unrelated, mostly) Satanic horror books, is regarded as the worst of the bunch, I didn't dislike this as much as I was I prepared to. In fact, I still somewhat enjoyed it. The alleged publisher meddling is apparent in the form of several out-of-place highly explicit "erotic" passages whose inclusion can only be described as "jarring." And the novel is given resolution in a way of an anti-climax I can only refer to as impressively cold, but it still has bite, which I can always appreciate. Something of a Laymon ending. I pray it's true that the series can only go up from here.

3.5

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. At its core Satan’s Love Child is erotica disguised as horror with a sub theme of occult shadowing every angle. Whilst the story was ok and the characters developed enough, it was hard to get past the overt sexual nature of the storytelling which detracted from the story. One for the Paperbacks from Hell collectors only.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the worst books I've ever read, yet I couldn't put it down! What a great read!!! Probably the only book I've ever read in one sitting! Yep, this should become a modern day classic!!!!

[Neil Fulwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the late 70s and early 80s, Brian McNaughton wrote a series of novels which used reconstructed horror genre tropes to satirise small town parochialism and hypocrisy. These novels were summarily fucked over at the editorial stage, retitled and saddled with spectacularly lurid cover art. ‘Satan’s Love Child’ was originally titled ‘Gemini Rising’ and I understand that it is now available in its original form. Still, it’s this grubby little incarnation of it that’s under consideration today. The verdict: it has some mordantly amusing moments, some unpalatably nasty moments, the narrative manages to be both disjointed and drearily predictable, and the author seems to have lost interest come the finale.

[Miss Nessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very saucy - not as frightening as Rosemary's Baby which is chilling... but very similar. Lots of rampant sex... sex... more sex... and sex... which means that *of course* it is my biography! (Thanks Heath)

[Larry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes there's sex and violence and sexual violence and Lovecraftian horror, but it's also a well crafted portrait of a disintegrating marriage. Odd book.

[Fred Klein · Rating 2 out of 5]

How could I possibly give this book the same rating I gave THE ACCURSED? Well, there are limitations to the star system, and this book was great for what it was. The author was assigned to write a rip-off of THE OMEN, and was thrilled to get the opportunity, but was disappointed that it had to include gratuitous sex, and furious when he was told to put in dirty words -- which he did with a vengeance (lots of uses of the c-word). This novel was later reissued as GEMINI RISING, with the sex toned down. Nonetheless, it's a well-written story that kept me guessing to the end, and the plot was worthy of a longer novel, which was not what the author was directed to write. The sex scenes are pretty amusing, as well.

10/8/2024: i reread this book, and I don’t understand how I liked it so much before. This time it seemed rushed and ridiculous.

[Branislav Ruzicic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy horror and easy porn

[Piper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of fun to read. It’s got more of a sense of humour than I expected rather than being pure pulp. The ending, however, is rushed and terrible.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what The Omen would have been like if H.P. Lovecraft had written it? Satan's Love Child, by Brian McNaughton answers that very question. This is some vintage seventies sleaze with a nice, slow burn.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Could've done without the graphic sex scenes but an interesting read. Found this one in Paperbacks from Hell and I'm so glad I took a chance on it. Great if you like books about cults.

[Signor Mambrino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah this was alright. The porn bits were annoying.

[Dalton Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Batshit

[Jordan West · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forget eldritch abominations from the outer dark and their twisted worshippers, the real monster is male privilege/toxic masculinity.

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hermit living in squalor hacked apart his heart stolen from his body. A lady raped, abused in a hippie commune starts to have flashbacks from 15 years prior when a bunch of hippie satan cultists come to town as these witches are trying to get demons in the 4th dimension into this world via having orgies with virgin's to become vessels for demonic forces. Breathing fishy odours into lungs loads of sex will pump and thrust. Bonkers, dirty, 70s inappropriate mayhem will end with a satanic love child.