Just corrected the rates for the Green Mile volumes. They were released on the last Thursday of each month, it appears (I bought them all on release day, but of course don't remember).
Just corrected the rates for the Green Mile volumes. They were released on the last Thursday of each month, it appears (I bought them all on release day, but of course don't remember).
I worked at a bookstore in the 70's and release dates were never designated
or specific as they have been the last 20 years. I remember unpacking Night Shift (my first King book I bought a 1st ediiton HB I still own!) and the Doubleday catalog said "Fall Release" and the book didn't come out until December. I don't think there were actual specific dates for the early books.
I may be wrong but that's my old memories!
Justin Brooks Bibliography will give you the months and years to many of them!
DT Spoiler - Enter at your own risk!
Spoiler:
The Tommyknockers: Nov 10, 1987 (source: Castle Rock Newsletter, October 1987)
Misery: May 21, 1987 (source: CRN, July 1987 -- official pub date was June 8th but it wasn't a hard-and-fast date)
The Drawing of the Three: April 1987 (excerpt published in April/May 1987 CRN) Since this was only available by mail order, I don't think there is an official publication date
It: Official date in September, but books were in stores in August, 1986. I remember purchasing my copy in Brussels while I was on a summertime trip around Europe, and I was back from that trip before the end of August.
Skeleton Crew: Listed as May 1985 in the first issue of CRN
Great info. Thanks Bev, and CrinVa, hopefully we can get more dates that are confirmed.
Thanks for those, Bev! Excellent info.
I'll be posting a quite a few dates shortly, from a good source.
According to 'The Complete Guide to the Works of Stephen King' by Rocky Wood, David Rawthorne and Norma Blackburn:
1977: The Shining (January)This would jibe with the Doubleday Gutter theory as the book was physically printed the 49th week of 1976, thus it was likely to be published VERY early in 1977
1977: Rage (September)
1978: Night Shift (February)
1978: The Stand (September)This differs from the first post, The Doubleday theory indicated this book was physically printed in September, 1978. The question is, did the book reach the market that month, or several weeks later in November?
1979: The Dead Zone (August)
1979: The Long Walk (July)
1980: Firestarter (S/L in July, Trade in September)
1981: Cujo (October)
1981: Danse Macabre (April)
1981: Roadwork (April)
1982: Creepshow (July)
1982: Different Seasons (August 27, 1982)
1982: The Gunslinger (August)
1982: The Running Man (May)
1983: Christine (April 29, 1983)
1983: Pet Sematary (November 14, 1983-FYI-Monday)
1984: The Talisman (November 8, 1984-FYI-Thursday)
1984: Thinner (November)
1985: Skeleton Crew (June 21, 1985-FYI-Friday)
1986: It (September 15, 1986-FYI-Monday)
Thanks for such thorough work!
Additional dates from 'The Complete Guide to the Works of Stephen King' :
Some of these conflict with what you have listed.
1987: The Eyes of the Dragon (February)
1987: The Drawing of the Three (May)
1987: Misery (June 8-FYI, a Monday))
1987: The Tommyknockers (November)
1988: Nightmares in the Sky (November)
1989: The Dark Half (World first release October 2, in the UK. US release November)
1990: Four Past Midnight (September)
1990: The Stand: Uncut (May)
1991: Needful Things (October)
1991: The Waste Lands (August)
1992: Gerald’s Game (May)
1992: Dolores Claiborne (November)
1993: Nightmares & Dreamscapes (October)
1994: Insomnia (April) Note: King travelled across the country in October promoting the book, therefore I believe the April listing is incorrect, and that October is more likely-just my opinion.
1995: Rose Madder (July)
1996: The Green Mile (Complete edition as a paperback-September) [Hardcover: October 3, 2000-FYI, a Tuesday]
1996: Desperation (September 24, 1996-FYI, a Tuesday))
1996: The Regulators (September 24, 1996)
1997: Wizard and Glass (November-The S/L was released in August)
1998: Bag of Bones (September 22, 1998-FYI, a Tuesday))
1999: Storm of the Century (February 1, 1999-FYI, a Monday)
1999: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (April 6, 1999-FYI, a Tuesday)
1999: Hearts in Atlantis (September)
2000: On Writing (October)
2000: Secret Windows
2001: Dreamcatcher (March 20, 2001-FYI, a Tuesday)
2001: Black House (September 15, 2001-FYI, a Saturday) This seems odd.
2002: Everything’s Eventual (March 19, 2001-FYI, a Tuesday)
2002: From a Buick 8 (September 24, 2004-FYI a Tuesday)
2003: Wolves of the Calla (November 4, 2003-FYI a Tuesday)
2004: Song of Susannah (June 8, 2004-FYI a Tuesday)
2004: The Dark Tower (September 21, 2004-FYI a Tuesday and also King's birthday)
Thanks again!
It is odd, but I do remember it was very shortly after the tragic events of 9/11.
So with that updated, the only one month missing is for Secret Windows. Is it safe to assume it came out October 3rd, like On Writing?
Now we need to only find out the actual days for all those unbolded books I realize there were no set "release dates" back in the 70s, so when did this practice come into being?
1997: Wizard and Glass (November)
The trade cover proof says Pub. Date November 4 1997
Yes, the Saturday release date for Black House was odd but accurate.
I doubt there is a specific release date for Secret Windows because it was a BOMC publication and only available via mail.
For what it's worth, my Firestarter proof quotes a September 29, 1980 publication date.
Nate
Excellent! Thanks, natehorning!
Just remember that in the old days, there weren't embargoed street dates, so books sometimes went on sale up to a few weeks before the official pub date. I remember going looking for The Dark Half around the time it was published and the guy at the checkout had a bunch under the counter that he was selling as if they were drugs. Pssst. Just don't tell anyone where you got it...
But there seem to have been set release dates in any case, even though they may not have been adhered to as they are now (remember the brouhaha when the last Harry Potter book was released early?).
So, anyone uncover any missing release dates?
The Shining
Rage
Night Shift
The Stand
The Long Walk
The Dead Zone
Danse Macabre
Roadwork
Cujo
The Running Man
Creepshow
The Gunslinger
Cycle of the Werewolf
The Drawing of the Three
Nightmares in the Sky
Four Past Midnight
The Stand: Uncut
Needful Things
The Waste Lands
Gerald’s Game
Dolores Claiborne
Insomnia
Rose Madder
pablo, many of those I have listed a source and a date for. If it jibes with info you have, perhaps that can be considered confirmed.
I meant actual days to go along with the months. Maybe some of our supercollectors could look at some of their proofs or other promotional material.
The proofs cannot always be reliable. I've noticed a number of them have the wrong date, wrong price, etc. A good current example were the two "Manuscript Proofs" of Blaze. One had the price as $25, the other with the correct price of $24.
John
John is right, proofs are not always the most accurate. Stick to ARCs with publisher's letters