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Randall Flagg
05-11-2007, 02:51 PM
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2013/blazecat1ws0.jpg


Blaze to be released on June 12


Posted: February 19, 2007, 14:46:42



Scribner has announced that they will be publishing the first-written but last-recovered Richard Bachman novel titled Blaze, on June 12, 2007.


Here is a description of Blaze from Amazon/UK:


"At 6'7"and just under 300 lbs, Clay Blaisdell is one big mother, but his capers were just small-time until he met George Rackley. George introduced him to a hundred cons and one big idea: kidnapping the child of rich parents. The Gerards are filthy rich, and the last twig on the family tree could be worth millions. There's only one problem: by the time the deal goes down, the brains of the partnership is dead. Or is he? Now Blaze is running into the teeth of a howling storm and the cops are closing in. He's got a baby as a hostage, and the crime of the century just turned into a race against time in the white hell of the Maine woods."

Stephen King's foreward to Blaze: (Possible spoilers!)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=9781416554844&displayonly=CHP&z=y#CHP
Fist 2 chapters to Blaze (definite spoilers here):
http://www.stephenking.com/assets/blaze_chapters_1_and_2.pdf

Patrick
05-11-2007, 10:46 PM
Thanks for all the info and links, Jerome. I'm looking forward to this release.

Brice
05-12-2007, 04:12 AM
Jerome, you're first link just took me to Barnes and Nobles advanced book search page. Was that where it should have gone?

Randall Flagg
05-12-2007, 08:16 AM
I think I fixed it.
It should go to the Barnes and Noble Blaze page, featuring King's foreward.

Brice
05-12-2007, 08:27 AM
Yup, it works now. :D

Thanks for the links.

VolsToTheWall
05-12-2007, 09:59 PM
I love the cover. :thumbsup:

ErinPatricia
05-14-2007, 12:26 PM
Oooo
This sounds good.
And maybe its just me, but I sense the potential for some "Bachman" humor in some giant sized criminal attempting to take care of the baby.

But then again its Bachman/King. He might just eat the damn kid lol

Bev Vincent
05-18-2007, 08:14 AM
I just finished this. Blaze is what Tom Cullen could have been if he'd had bad influences. The victory in this novel is in making readers root for a con man with violent tendencies turned kidnapper. That's not an easy task. It is a bit melodramatic, and not nearly as compelling as some of King's best, but it's an early effort and a worthy one. Definitely didn't belong in a box in the library.

Matt
05-18-2007, 08:37 AM
I just finished this. Blaze is what Tom Cullen could have been if he'd had bad influences.

That is a great description Bev!!

Spencer
05-19-2007, 12:31 PM
I just finished this. Blaze is what Tom Cullen could have been if he'd had bad influences. The victory in this novel is in making readers root for a con man with violent tendencies turned kidnapper. That's not an easy task. It is a bit melodramatic, and not nearly as compelling as some of King's best, but it's an early effort and a worthy one. Definitely didn't belong in a box in the library.

I'm gonna enjoy this one, I think. :D

Darkthoughts
05-20-2007, 12:28 PM
Excellent, heard it here first too :D

Matt
05-20-2007, 12:32 PM
Its also featured on our current news page.

www.thedarktower.org/news

I'm shamelessly pimping the site pages. :rock:

jhanic
05-21-2007, 08:18 AM
Here are some of the US proof covers of Blaze. I updated the picture of the light tan one to include the black binding. I just got this one today (5/29/07).

John

Matt
05-21-2007, 08:20 AM
Woohoo!!

I can stick those on the page tonight :nana:

Thanks John

Lily Cavanaugh
05-21-2007, 01:05 PM
The links on the front page to the foreword and first 2 chapters are broken. :unsure:

(it's foreword, not forward, also)

Matt
05-21-2007, 01:07 PM
Thanks Corina, I will get that fixed right away tonight. :D

ErinPatricia
05-24-2007, 11:48 AM
Ooooh, sounds like it could potentially be another DT connection book...however small.

I would not doubt a DT connection at all :dance:

Chassit
05-24-2007, 12:04 PM
Hmm this certainly begs the question; is Edgar Freemantle related to Abigail Freemantle?

If so, there is the DT tie in via The Stand right there...

BlakeMP
05-24-2007, 07:55 PM
Good grief, the man has been dead for 20 years! :D

BlakeMP
05-24-2007, 07:56 PM
Niftykeen. :)

Frunobulax
05-25-2007, 12:02 AM
Florida....phantom limbs.....anyone think SK is listening to The Shins too much?

maerlyns_rainbow
05-25-2007, 09:06 AM
Oooh the excitements! Can't wait! And Fruny, is it possible to listen to The Shins too much?

Frunobulax
05-25-2007, 11:27 AM
Yes. I may have ties to SubPop and may have lived in Seattle for some time, but I'm hardly a Shins fan. I think they're overrated, and Grizzly Bear are better.

Randall Flagg
05-29-2007, 03:28 PM
Rear cover and side angle
http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/1769/blazeviewwd1.jpg

Jimmy
05-29-2007, 07:13 PM
Richard Bachman is the Tupac Shakur of the literary world.

Frunobulax
05-30-2007, 04:06 PM
Yes yes yes!!!! I look forward to this book!

jhanic
05-30-2007, 04:24 PM
It's worth the wait!

John

Frunobulax
05-30-2007, 06:39 PM
Ayuh. Hopefully Borders will have a discount for us Reward members.

ErinPatricia
05-31-2007, 11:58 AM
hot damn.

Thats gonna be my birthday present to myself lol.

CRinVA
06-01-2007, 02:24 PM
I'll be at BJs picking this up on the first day! I don't expect it will take long to get through it at ~300 pages!!!!! My King fix has been more than satisfied this year with the monthly adventures from marvel comics, Postscripts 10 (Graduation Afternoon), Esquire mag in two weeks with The Gingerbread Girl, Blaze in 11 days, SK Spills the Beans in Spetember, and Duma Key in January!

Add in 1408 and The Mist movies to boot! i am a happy camper for sure!

Man I hope I am not that busy when I retire!

Brice
06-01-2007, 03:52 PM
SK Spills The Beans? What is this?

Randall Flagg
06-02-2007, 12:23 PM
FYI,

Prices on Blaze:
List-$25.00
Amazon and Borders-$16.50
Barnes & Noble-$17.50, Members-$15.75
Costco-$14.49




Small print disclosure: My wife works at Costco.

Ruki
06-02-2007, 04:34 PM
SK Spills The Beans? What is this?

a collection of nearly 35 years worth of interviews with stephen king. :) it looks pretty cool.

Frunobulax
06-02-2007, 06:09 PM
Costco for me then, bizznatches! :P

BlakeMP
06-02-2007, 06:29 PM
It's not as interesting as it sounds -- he's going to be holding a campout, but with the number of scouts interested, it seems inevitable that the cookout portion is going to get messy...

(Please note, for the sake of those who don't know me that well, that the preceding post is simply a case of me being a smart-ass.)

Frunobulax
06-02-2007, 06:35 PM
Really?? You were being a smart ass?

Frunobulax
06-02-2007, 08:35 PM
Hmm....we may have connections to the series in some way then!

Steve
06-04-2007, 09:25 AM
D'oh!

Frunobulax
06-04-2007, 09:35 AM
Why the annoyed grunt, Steve?

Frunobulax
06-07-2007, 08:43 PM
Ah. Makes sense now.

Randall Flagg
06-10-2007, 06:41 AM
Review blurb from The Independant on Sunday:

Blaze feels like an essential missing piece in King's oeuvre, bridging the gap between the occasionally derivative, but always compelling, Bachman novels and the shocking power of Carrie. Blaze feels like an essential missing piece in King's oeuvre, bridging the gap between the occasionally derivative, but always compelling, Bachman novels and the shocking power of Carrie.

Entire Review (http://arts.independent.co.uk/books/reviews/article2602590.ece)

OFFICIAL BLAZE WEBSITE (http://www.stephenking.com/blaze/)

jhanic
06-10-2007, 12:24 PM
Interesting review. I've read the book, so there was nothing surprising in it, but I do find it interesting to note that the reviewer says the book has the "swampy, pulpy feel" of the first four Richard Bachman books. I've never seen those terms for these books before.

John

Randall Flagg
06-10-2007, 01:01 PM
Bev Vincent Review (http://www.bevvincent.com/onyx//bachman-blaze.html?fc6aef80)

funky dredd
06-10-2007, 06:08 PM
I can't wait until Tuesday...

Randall Flagg
06-11-2007, 10:04 AM
LA Times Review (http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1284425171.html?dids=1284425171:1284425171&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+8%2C+2007&author=Edward+Champion&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=E.17&desc=STYLE+%26+CULTURE%3B+BOOK+REVIEW%3B+Stephen+K ing%27s+alter+ego+plays+it+serious%3B+Blaze+A+Nove l+Richard+Bachman%2C+foreword+by+Stephen+King+Scri bner%3A+288+pp.%2C+%2425)
How often do you see the word cuneiform in a review?

Tvmorbid
06-11-2007, 10:21 AM
This sounds to me like one of those books I'd only get to complete my collection, the synopsis doesnt really grab me for some reason...

Erin
06-12-2007, 04:34 PM
I just got back from the bookstore with my copy of Blaze. I'm excited to read it.

Ruki
06-12-2007, 08:09 PM
ugh i wish i didn't have to wait for mine to come in the mail. i shoulda just gone to a bookstore instead of ordering online but i'm still not used to having a ride when i need to go out and buy something.

jhanic
06-13-2007, 10:39 AM
This sounds to me like one of those books I'd only get to complete my collection, the synopsis doesnt really grab me for some reason...

It's a decent read. I finished it (I had an advance proof) in less than two days. I'd have read it even faster if I'd had time to read more!

John

funky dredd
06-14-2007, 05:13 AM
I'm really liking the story, I'm only about 75 pages in but I am enjoying it.

Spencer
06-19-2007, 10:17 AM
Interesting review. I've read the book, so there was nothing surprising in it, but I do find it interesting to note that the reviewer says the book has the "swampy, pulpy feel" of the first four Richard Bachman books. I've never seen those terms for these books before.

John

It didn't feel anything like a Bachman book to me. :lol: I loved it, but it just seemed more like King than Bachman.

Matt
06-19-2007, 10:34 AM
I got it for Fathers Day and its in line right after Lisey's Story. :nana:

chrismart83
06-20-2007, 02:26 PM
I enjoyed it. i found it a quick read and i found blaze to be a great character.
I also ejoyed the snippet from Duma key.

Matt
06-20-2007, 02:38 PM
I can't wait to get to it.

Welcome to the site chris

MonteGss
06-20-2007, 04:10 PM
I am about to start this novel. I'm pretty pumped about it, it's the first new King I've read in a few months. :)

Ruki
06-20-2007, 10:18 PM
i was gonna start reading it tonight but i had lots to do and now i'm so tired, reading anything would make my eyes dry up and fall out so i'm gonna have to wait for tomorrow. i'm so excited about having it :)

jhanic
06-21-2007, 04:27 AM
January, 2008. I am SO looking forward to getting a proof of this book! The proofs should be out sometime in November or December of this year. And yes, I read the proofs!

John

funky dredd
06-21-2007, 05:54 AM
January, 2008. I am SO looking forward to getting a proof of this book! The proofs should be out sometime in November or December of this year. And yes, I read the proofs!

John

I would too! If it was available to me for reading...

She-Oy
06-21-2007, 08:01 AM
Just finished it last night. It was a good, short read. It didn't feel as "Bachmanish" as I thought it would. It was more "Kingish", especially in the way he fleshed out the main character (who really is loveable, despite his sorted past and present).

I really wonder what his fascination with giant-sized, dumb, fumbling, pathetic men is.

Nothing shocking about this book, most people could guess the ending from the first chapter, but it's really well-written and easy to read, King/Bachman doesn't get you lost in the details like in some of his more recent books.

I wonder how many more of these old gems he has lying around waiting to be published?

Brice
06-21-2007, 08:39 AM
Well, there are at least two full novels; Sword In The Darkness and The Aftermath.

VolsToTheWall
06-25-2007, 05:01 PM
I read Blaze last night, and enjoyed it. It was a breezy, read in a single sitting kind of book. It isn't one of his books that I'm likely to re-read anytime soon, likely it will just occupy a spot on one of my bookshelves, but it managed to keep me entertained on my read through, so mission accomplished. I will have to agree with what SK said in his foreword on this book, that the flashbacks were better than the front-story. I just enjoyed the flashbacks more. I also enjoyed the short story Memory included at the end as an appetizer for Duma Key. I really like the introduction we were given to Edgar Freemantle, and am looking forward to the full novel.

Frunobulax
07-16-2007, 03:24 PM
Sah-weeeet.

Randall Flagg
10-21-2007, 07:44 PM
I read the book the last two days while on vacation.
It was heart wrenching. Though described as melodramatic, I would say it was plain depressing and sad, It tugged at my heartstrings, and as they say-it tugged hard.
Uncomplicated and straightforward it was a Bachman book all the way.

She-Oy
10-21-2007, 07:55 PM
I really liked this book.

You're right RF, it was depressing. It was depressing because King has an amazing talent in making you fall in love with his characters, no matter how flawed they are.

All in all it was a simple book. "Uncomplicated" as you say. Allowed the reader to feel more than think.

As dissappointed as I have been by the last of books pinned King, this one made me long for his alter ego to re-emerge with something new.

Storyslinger
10-22-2007, 05:57 AM
Yep, great book hands down,

Again you feel sorry and connected to a convict

Randall Flagg
11-12-2007, 06:53 PM
The paperback version of Blaze is to be released in January 2008.
Here is the cover.
I hate it. I have numerous nitpicks with it.
A couple

Is Blaze rubbed from the inside? If so great, if not, the person outside writes in mirror form.
Originally the book was set in ~1970. King updated it, so why is the car a '67 or earlier (wing vent windows)I know, I know, who cares, but those are my observations.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/41/blazepaperback1jk0.jpg

BlakeMP
11-12-2007, 08:38 PM
I'll be gettin' it. :)

Patrick
11-13-2007, 12:23 AM
The paperback version of Blaze is to be released in January 2008.
Here is the cover.
I hate it. I have numerous nitpicks with it.
A couple

Is Blaze rubbed from the inside? If so great, if not, the person outside writes in mirror form.
Originally the book was set in ~1970. King updated it, so why is the car a '67 or earlier (wing vent windows)I know, I know, who cares, but those are my observations.

<image a couple posts upthread>

"BLAZE" is written from the outside backward, you can see the hand that did it out there.

I thought in the introduction he still left the time period purposefully vague, but my memory may be faulty. Besides, wing vent windows are cool, man. :cool: :lol:

Randall Flagg
12-22-2007, 03:11 PM
Audio excerpt (broadband). (http://www.stephenking.com/blaze/audio_broadband.html)Read by Ron McLarty

FYI, paperback release January 22, 2008.