A disturbed highschool student with authority problems kills one of his teachers and takes the rest of his class hostage. He has also excluded rage from new editions of the bachman books. Rage, it transpired, was kings first novel or, at least, the earliest he started writing, beginning it in high school in 1966 and finishing it four years later after rediscovering a draft in. Stephen king books in chronological order stephen king. Rage was the first novel he published 1977 as richard bachmann but actual high school shootings in the 1980s and 1990s distressed him so much that he allowed the novel to fall out of print. After that event happened, the author allowed rage to go out of print out of fear that it may inspire similar events, as. Published by new american library book club, new york 1985. Rage is one of stephen kings earliest novels written under pen name richard bachman, a work he has pulled from the market due to real time events somewhat resembling the storyline. It became an important and somewhat infamous book in king s legacy after.
Most of king s books center around the supernatural somehow contributing to nightmarish circumstances for his characters whom all seem to live in the new england area. King was referring to richard bachman, the alias he had adopted eight years earlier and carried through four books rage, the long walk, roadwork, and the running man. Why stephen kings school shooter book rage is out of print, and a. The novel s plot resembles the events of the columbine high school massacre and other school massacres. So pick up this omnibus and enjoy the four earliest works of stephen king. Stephen king, in 20 published an antifire arms essay called guns in response of all these critics. Rage is out of print, and has been for over ten years at the direction of the author, due to the proliferation of school shootings. The book was published by signet in september, 1977. Primary to my interest is the controversy surrounding why stephen king decided to publish this story and several others during that time of his life under a false name.
The book sold decently, and then it pretty much went away. No future printings will be made of this novel at stephen s request due to the sensitive nature of the content. Stephen king personally stopped publication after a school shooter had a copy of. In stephen kings rage, a high school student with a gun shoots his algebra teacher and takes a class of high schoolers hostage. Introduction written under the pseudonym of richard bachman in 1977, rage is one of the most interesting pieces of twentieth century literature i have come across. The other novels that appeared in that compilation the long walk, roadwork, and the running man are now published as separate books in the usa. Stephen king began inscribing this novel his senior year in highschool, finished it in 1971, and revealed it as a clever paperback in 1977 beneath the name richard bachman. I guess rage is stephen kings scariest story the first book to use his richard bachman pseudonym in that it could actually happen. Rage was released under kings old richard bachman pseudonym, but its plot would prove disturbingly prescient.
Make offer rage by stephen king richard bachman, 1977 1st us edition, 1st printing, good. Rage is the first novel stephen king released under his now iconic pseudonym of richard bachman. Where can i find the novel rage by richard bachman aka. The novel, though, features a high school student who wigs out, shoots two teachers, and holds his class hostage for several hours. Rage originally titled getting it on is the first novel by stephen king published under the pseudonym richard bachman. Hardcover paperback audiobook trade paperback first edition release date. Rage spoiler alert its no secret that stephen king has written many books throughout his decadeslong career, but in 1976 he decided to write something that was a new concept for the seasoned author of gore novels. King let the book fall out of publication in 1998 after reallife tragedies allegedly inspired by rage. Stephen king published under the pseudonym richard bachman. Stephen king rage first edition, first printing writing. No future printings will be made of this novel at stephens request due to the sensitive nature of the content. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Background rage was the first novel by stephen king published under the pseudonym of richard bachman, originally published back in 1977. Originally published under his pen name, richard bachman, king wrote the novel in 1966 while he was still in high school.
The most attentiongrabbing factor concerning rage is its history. When king decided to let rage fall out of print in the united states, it was available only as part of the bachman books. Revisiting rage by richard chizmar stephen king revisited. The novel describes a school shooting, and has been associated with actual high school. It was first published in 1977 and then was collected in 1985 in the hardcover omnibus the bachman books. Like the many libraries that had previously banned rage from their shelves, king pulled the novel from publication and never allowed it to be reprinted again. School shootings drove stephen king to take rage off. Banned book, rage by stephen king and thoughts on banned. Rage by stephen king richard bachman, 1977 1st us edition, 1st printing, good. Stephen king the bachman books, 1985 pb, rage, roadwork, running. The following is a complete list of books published by stephen king, an american author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. King wrote the book when he himself was in high school. He is bestknown for such published works as carrie, the shining and misery all of which have been adapted into successful films.
There is evolution in his writing style, and experimentation with characters and scenes that youll be able to observe if you do so. Author stephen king stopped selling his controversial book rage, originally published under pen name richard bachman, after it inspired. In a footnote to the preface of the novel blaze, dated 30 january 2007, king wrote of rage. Four early novels by stephen king 1985, hardcover rage oop 4. This list made me realize that theres a lot of stephen king books out there i still havent read. School shootings drove stephen king to take rage off shelves. Decker, a senior at placerville high school in placerville. Four early novels by stephen king 1985, hardcover rage oop. Why stephen kings school shooter book rage is out of. If you are a new stephen king addict i suggest the following 3 phases to provide you with a reading order.
Although king wrote the novel rage when he was still in high school in 1965, he didnt publish it until a decade later after his other works found success. Stephen king books download free books online 8freebooks. Rage stephen king richard bachman audiobook youtube. After the columbine tragedy, stephen king basically had all copies of rage pulled from the shelves understandable yet unfortunate, as king had always been a stalwart opponent of censorship. Order of stephen king books stephen king is an american author of horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy novels. I suggest you start with his standalone novels and read them in publishing order. Because the novel describes a school the stephen king goodreads discussion group is doing a reread of his works from the beginning to the end.
The book was found in the backpack, locker and bedroom of three separate students involved in mass school shootings, at which point even stephen king decided hed had enough. Make offer rage by stephen king richard bachman, 1977 1st. Here is the list of stephen king s books were reading as part of stephen king revisited, along with links to the essays and other content we have posted for each book. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, and many of them have been adapted into feature films, television movies and comic books. Carrie 1974 historical essay richards thoughts guest essay by ray garton richards followup salems lot 1975 historical essay richards thoughts guest essay by christopher golden the shining. Rage by stephen king the novel rage, rese mbles so much to the latest school shooting incidents that stephen king actually decided to not publish it originally, for it not to be a source of inspiration. After stephen king removed his novel rage from print because it was linked to school shootings, it has become one of the most soughtafter. Stephen king enthusiast james smythe is rereading the horror masters works in chronological order. In the 20 grimm episode nameless, richard bachman being a pseudonym of stephen king was a plot point. King s novel, rage, had its title page used as a prop for the killer to write a note to the police.
The book existed for a time in a 1985 collection of novels called the bachman books, which. Rage is a psychological thriller novel by american writer stephen king, the first he published under the pseudonym richard bachman. He let it sit, and after hed published half a dozen bestsellers, he rewrote rage and had it published in paperback under the richard bachman pseudonym. The stephen king novel so controversial its been out of. The stephen king novel so controversial its been out of print for.
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