PDA

View Full Version : Blockade Billy



CRinVA
03-29-2010, 07:38 AM
New Novella - from CD but already at the printer!

I am always stoked to get my hands on new King fiction; and I love baseball so this one is so much the better!

mae
03-29-2010, 07:48 AM
http://www.cemeterydance.com/sh/king04.html

http://www.cemeterydance.com/blockadebilly/images/frontcover.jpg

VERY COOL!! And I'm totally ambivalent towards baseball.

Tito_Villa
03-29-2010, 07:51 AM
Probably with me being English im not a big fan of baseball so i won't be getting this!

mae
03-29-2010, 07:55 AM
Why not? I couldn't care less about baseball. But it's still new King fiction. Cannot wait. Already placed my order. $32 with shipping.

lophophoras
03-29-2010, 08:11 AM
It looks pretty cool.

Wonder when it will actually be released?

shnnrc01
03-29-2010, 09:47 AM
x-mas 2012 i think!!

herbertwest
03-29-2010, 10:05 AM
I dont know baseball but the story is so intriguing...

I reckon that this book will actually soon be published, and not delayed. It's a brand new story, a book that doesnt cost much...

Cloysterpete
03-29-2010, 10:07 AM
Probably with me being English im not a big fan of baseball so i won't be getting this!

Well i'm English also and I don't like Baseball (well tbh I have no opinion either way on it, being English lol) but there's no way I could pass on this.

While I could understand you not buying Faithful (I know I didn't) but why would you pass up a new King story jut because your not a fan of Baseball?. Did you pass on Tom Gordon too?.

mae
03-29-2010, 10:10 AM
I love King's short books, like The Colorado Kid, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and now this.

Ari_Racing
03-29-2010, 10:13 AM
I love King's short books, like The Colorado Kid, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and now this.

:doh: Not THAT book...

:D

I really liked The Colorado Kid.

Ari_Racing
03-29-2010, 10:15 AM
Promotional page:

http://www.stephenking.com/promo/blockade_billy/

Cover artwork:
http://www.stephenking.com/promo/blockade_billy/med_dust_jacket.jpg

In HD:
http://www.stephenking.com/promo/blockade_billy/hd_dust_jacket.jpg

Ari_Racing
03-29-2010, 10:17 AM
And official website:

http://www.cemeterydance.com/blockadebilly/index.html

Tito_Villa
03-29-2010, 11:38 AM
Honestly this book doesn't excite me at all, what with all the hype and all the books i still have on order with them ... i won't be getting one direct, maybe when they come up instock at amazon!

I read Tom Gordon, but im not a big fan im afraid!

wahlers
03-29-2010, 12:10 PM
I'm assuming that even though the description is being played up like non-fiction, this story is in fact fiction?

Also, I'm not seeing anywhere how many pages this is, or the book dimensions. Anybody have this info?

mae
03-29-2010, 12:28 PM
Definitely fiction.

herbertwest
04-01-2010, 03:39 AM
There is a review on twitter, from someone called Kev. Ill give the think when ill be able to, later today

Edit :
http://charnelhouse.tripod.com/blockadebilly.html

Nerak
04-01-2010, 05:42 AM
oooo, sounds good, can't wait to read it!

jhanic
04-01-2010, 12:09 PM
I'm assuming that even though the description is being played up like non-fiction, this story is in fact fiction?

Also, I'm not seeing anywhere how many pages this is, or the book dimensions. Anybody have this info?

It is definitely fictional.

I'm not sure of the dimensions, but the ARC is supposed to have 120 pages. I have an ARC coming to me, so I'll have more details then.

John

gsvec
04-01-2010, 02:42 PM
Amazing, John lol :thumbsup:

Gris
04-02-2010, 04:34 AM
from Ms Mod...


I’ve been in touch with Cemetery Dance and this is the information I have received which will hopefully answer your questions about availability. At this time, the plan is that they will sell the first edition printing (approx. 10,000 copies) from their direct sales. If sales continue at the rate at which they have been the past few days, they do not anticipate that there will be many, if any, left over for distribution to other retailers. There will be a second printing which will be distributed to retail outlets and libraries but once those are gone, there are no plans for a third printing as the intent for this book was only to be a small print run. Chances are high that retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Amazon will not be able to fill orders to meet the demand due to the limited supply available. This is something to consider if you are on the fence about ordering now and/or you would prefer to have a first edition/first printing. Also, only the orders placed with Cemetery Dance will have the baseball card “extra.”

Bev Vincent
04-03-2010, 06:30 AM
I'm assuming that even though the description is being played up like non-fiction, this story is in fact fiction?

Also, I'm not seeing anywhere how many pages this is, or the book dimensions. Anybody have this info?

It is definitely fictional.

I'm not sure of the dimensions, but the ARC is supposed to have 120 pages. I have an ARC coming to me, so I'll have more details then.

John

The book is 112 pages long. The proof has four extra pages -- a sheet at the front and back -- that designates the proof state. There's also an oversized sheet tipped in to the front that contains images of the front and back of the Blockade Billy baseball card.

Dimensions: 5 x 7.5"

MonteGss
04-03-2010, 06:54 AM
I received an email claiming that half of the issues are gone already. I'm glad I got one. :)

wahlers
04-03-2010, 06:45 PM
Thank you so much Bev! That's exactly the info I was looking for! :thumbsup:

mae
04-04-2010, 10:43 AM
What I wonder about Blockade Billy, is whether it will be collected in a King book, or remain a separate work? For example, Dollan's Cadillac was published as a separate book, albeit a limited, in 1989, and was collected in a King book in 1993. Cycle of the Werewolf, technically a novella, but sometimes referred to as a novel, still remains a separate work. I think Blockade Billy will remain a separate book as well, and if so, it'll probably be regarded as a short novel.

Bev Vincent
04-04-2010, 01:18 PM
I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't be included in a collection somewhere down the line.

Cloysterpete
04-04-2010, 01:33 PM
Cycle only remains uncollected because it's part graphic novel. But I don't care about whether it gets collected later on, I'm more interested in finding out if there is ever going to be a print version of UR.

wahlers
04-05-2010, 08:23 AM
Isn't it possible that the mass market will only get a paperback of it and it will remain a separate book like The Colorado Kid?

Maybe several years down the line when his publisher wants to make extra money with little to no extra work from King, they'll put out another novella collection and throw both this book and Colorado Kid in a mass market HC along with Throttle...

Bev Vincent
04-06-2010, 06:17 AM
An audio version will be out next month:

Simon & Schuster Audio, May 2010 (http://books.simonandschuster.com/Blockade-Billy/Stephen-King/9781442336582)
Compact Disk, 2 disks
ISBN-10: 1442336587
ISBN-13: 9781442336582

Gris
04-09-2010, 10:33 AM
just got this from CD...


Hi everyone!
I'm pleased to officially announce that Lonely Road Books is producing a deluxe signed Limited Edition of Blockade Billy, which will be published later this summer.

Due to the high demand for this title and the VERY low print run (among the lowest for a Stephen King Limited Edition in many years), Cemetery Dance is going to be selling the available copies for us via a "random drawing."

This has been the standard practice for some other presses dealing in Stephen King Limited Editions and it seems like the most fair way to sell this small of a print run. Every interested collector gets "one entry" and has the same chance of winning the right to purchase one copy of the Limited Edition or the Lettered Edition.

So you don't have to watch the website at a specific time and hope to get lucky with timing your order just right, etc. It doesn't matter where in the world you live or when you work or if you're going to be away for a day. Every collector has the same chance to purchase a copy for their collection.

There is absolutely no cost to enter this random drawing, but by entering you are committing to purchase a copy if your name is selected. Please read all of the details on our website, including limitation and pricing, before you enter yourself in the drawing.

You can visit www.LonelyRoadBooks.com for complete details.

CRinVA
04-09-2010, 10:42 AM
At $450 for the S/L I think this is way overpriced and too rich for my blood! If it were a full sized novel then perhaps but its a novella at best and way too pricey! I'll stick with th eCD First Edition for $25.00.

mae
04-09-2010, 11:00 AM
http://www.lonelyroadbooks.com/images/books/blockadebilly/stephenkingbaseballcard.jpg

Ben Mears
04-09-2010, 12:20 PM
http://www.lonelyroadbooks.com/images/books/blockadebilly/stephenkingbaseballcard.jpg


Should have photoshopped a pic of SK in his early 20s.

Ricky
04-09-2010, 01:27 PM
$450 for a tiny 120-ish page book is too pricey, IMO. Even the UTD price for the S/L was lower, and it was much more popular/anticpated.

The first edition will have to suffice in my case.

Sam
04-09-2010, 05:57 PM
http://www.lonelyroadbooks.com/images/books/blockadebilly/stephenkingbaseballcard.jpg


Should have photoshopped a pic of SK in his early 20s.

Agreed.

shnnrc01
04-10-2010, 12:05 AM
thats a lot of money for a small novella

Mr. Rabbit Trick
04-13-2010, 05:52 AM
From SKMB:

Stephen and Cemetery Dance have made an arrangement with Scribner to make available a less expensive hardcover edition of Blockade Billy, with an on-sale date of May 25th, the same date the audiobook goes on sale. The Scribner edition will be available in all US & Canadian retail outlets. Both the Scribner book and the Simon & Schuster audiobook will feature a bonus short story ("Morality"). In the meantime, an eBook edition of Blockade Billy should go on sale through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Sony on April 20th.

Nerak
04-13-2010, 06:20 AM
WOW! Ya know, they HAD to have know about this all along! There is NO way that they can do that much that fast, so sorry.

Well, we know who wanted to make the money first!

And I know which edition I will be buying!!

mae
04-13-2010, 09:11 AM
Well that's a bummer. But "Morality" should be included in King's eventual next short story collection. Already placed my order for the CD edition of Billy; if the price is low enough, I'll get the Scribner edition as well, maybe.

Bev Vincent
04-13-2010, 09:37 AM
Per Scribner (http://books.simonandschuster.com/Blockade-Billy/Stephen-King/9781451608212)

Our Price: $14.99
Scribner, May 2010
Paper Over Board, 144 pages
ISBN-10: 1451608217
ISBN-13: 9781451608212

jhanic
04-13-2010, 09:39 AM
Any idea what "Paper Over Board" is?

John

Sam
04-13-2010, 10:13 AM
Like a TPB?

mae
04-13-2010, 10:15 AM
No, it's a hardcover.

Bev Vincent
04-13-2010, 10:46 AM
Hardcover without a dust jacket according to this page: In Praise of Paper-Over-Board (http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=1459)

Kronz
04-13-2010, 02:40 PM
This is good news for me. As much as I love King I don't collect books for any reason other than to have a nice reader copy (preferably in hardback). Having to wait an extra month to read a baseball story doesn't bother me much.

Nerak
04-14-2010, 05:17 AM
that sounds interesting...I will have to pick up a copy just to check it out.

jhanic
04-14-2010, 10:46 AM
As I said elsewhere, I'll pick up a Scribner edition for my reading copy and keep the CD one as part of my collection.

John

jhanic
04-15-2010, 05:37 PM
I just got an email from Mindy at CD stating that the Scribner edition will NOT include any of the interior illustrations.

John

herbertwest
04-15-2010, 11:04 PM
I wonder about the ebookbthat will go on sale the 20th. Based on the CD edition?

Ari_Racing
04-19-2010, 05:20 AM
I've just received confirmation that Hodder & Stoughton is publisihing Blockade Billy in the UK:


Hodder will publish in hardback, on 25 May 2010, at £9.99. An audio version of the book will also be available.

Bev Vincent
04-19-2010, 06:05 AM
Lilja interviews Rich Chizmar about Blockade Billy (http://www.liljas-library.com/showinterview.php?id=72)

Gris
04-19-2010, 06:07 AM
I always end up geting the H&S UK versions from the secondary Market. How do you guys get them directly? H&S direct or Amazon.co.uk? Somewhere else?

mae
04-19-2010, 06:14 AM
Los Angeles Times review:

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/17/entertainment/la-et-book-20100417

biomieg
04-19-2010, 06:14 AM
Amazon.co.uk or in bookstores here in The Netherlands (we usually get both US and UK trade HCs - very convenient!). But Amazon is cheaper, obviously.

lophophoras
04-19-2010, 06:18 AM
Lilja interviews Rich Chizmar about Blockade Billy (http://www.liljas-library.com/showinterview.php?id=72)

Very cool interview Bev! Thanks for sharing!

Brice
04-19-2010, 06:37 AM
If he didn't already know of it John is just now starting to drool and scour the planet for one of those four white covered ARCs.

jhanic
04-19-2010, 06:40 AM
You've got that right! Realistically, I don't ever expect to get one, but...

I usually get my new UK King editions from amazon.co.uk. I've had amazingly good luck with them in that I've always gotten a first edition/first printing and in mint condition. I'll be ordering the UK Blockade Billy from them as soon as they get it up on their site.

John

Mr. Rabbit Trick
04-19-2010, 07:00 AM
I always end up geting the H&S UK versions from the secondary Market. How do you guys get them directly? H&S direct or Amazon.co.uk? Somewhere else?

Big publishers don't usually sell direct. (Scribner/Hodder) They sell through retail outlets (Chain Bookstores).

Merlin1958
04-19-2010, 07:04 AM
Lilja interviews Rich Chizmar about Blockade Billy (http://www.liljas-library.com/showinterview.php?id=72)

Good stuff, Bev!! Thanks!!

Mr. Rabbit Trick
04-19-2010, 07:07 AM
If he didn't already know of it John is just now starting to drool and scour the planet for one of those four white covered ARCs.

They come in a nice contrasting black slipcase...

http://www.thedarktower.org/gallery/data/563/medium/Blockade.jpg

Cloysterpete
04-19-2010, 09:54 AM
I always end up geting the H&S UK versions from the secondary Market. How do you guys get them directly? H&S direct or Amazon.co.uk? Somewhere else?

Here's a store I've used before without problems www.thebookdepository.com

There based in the UK and are cheaper than Amazon (only marginally), thought I would point the site out as an alternative to Amazon because they do free worldwide shipping!. Pay with paypal and there's 5% off (enter code PP5010).

jhanic
04-19-2010, 10:44 AM
I just got my edition of Blockade Billy from Cemetary Dance a few minutes ago! Ahead of schedule!

John

Tito_Villa
04-19-2010, 10:52 AM
Picturessss :excited:

jhanic
04-19-2010, 11:35 AM
I'm leaving this in the shrinkwrap until I get the slipcase from CD:

Front:

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr60/johnhanic/Other_items/BlockadeBillyCDfront.jpg

Back:

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/rr60/johnhanic/Other_items/BlockadeBillyCDback.jpg

The baseball card in inside the shrinkwrap on the back.

John

biomieg
04-19-2010, 12:42 PM
I, on the other hand, will tear the shrinkwrap off with my teeth while writhing on the floor in uncontrollable spasms of equal parts agony and ecstasy.

(If I ever get the book, that is... what with volcanic ashes and no air traffic in Europe)

Merlin1958
04-19-2010, 12:51 PM
I, on the other hand, will tear the shrinkwrap off with my teeth while writhing on the floor in uncontrollable spasms of equal parts agony and ecstasy.

(If I ever get the book, that is... what with volcanic ashes and no air traffic in Europe)

Shhhhh!!! Don't look now, but that ash cloud is actually the Man in Black after he vacated the "Lost" island!!! Bad Juju on the way!! LOL :wtf:

johnsmith87
04-19-2010, 01:47 PM
Just got my copy too. For comparison's sake, it's about the same size as a second gen Kindle, maybe even smaller. Tiny little book indeed, but great production quality.

mae
04-19-2010, 02:33 PM
Mine arrived as well. Very nice-looking book, but slim. Can't wait to read it.

johnsmith87
04-19-2010, 02:45 PM
About forty-some pages in, and loving it so far. What does everyone else think?

EDIT: Just finished it a few minutes ago. Enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The way it was told reminded me of The Green Mile. Really a great story, and proved why SK's novellas are some of his best. Makes me look forward to Full Dark, No Stars even more now.

Bev Vincent
04-20-2010, 02:21 AM
USA Today: Stephen King's pitch-perfect baseball mystery (http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2010-04-20-kingrev20_ST_N.htm)

Randall Flagg
04-20-2010, 05:51 AM
Bev, what is considered the publication date? 4/19/2010?

Bev Vincent
04-20-2010, 06:04 AM
Bestselling and Iconic Author Stephen King Publishes New Novella “Blockade Billy,” Available in the Kindle Store (http://www.your-story.org/bestselling-and-iconic-author-stephen-king-publishes-new-novella-%E2%80%9Cblockade-billy%E2%80%9D-available-in-the-kindle-store-179804/)

Kindle customers can now download Stephen King’s “Blockade Billy” and begin reading in under 60 seconds

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN) today announced that the new novella by bestselling author Stephen King, “Blockade Billy,” is now available in Amazon’s Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore) for $7.99. The Kindle Store now includes over 480,000 books and the largest selection of the most popular books people want to read, including New York Times Bestsellers and New Releases. Over 1.8 million free, out-of-copyright, pre-1923 books are also available to read on Kindle, including titles such as “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Treasure Island.”

“We’re excited to be able to offer our customers Stephen King’s new novella in the Kindle Store, especially after seeing customer enthusiasm for King’s Kindle-exclusive novella ‘UR,’” said Melissa Kirmayer, Director, Kindle Content. “’Blockade Billy,’ a shorter format book with a limited physical print run, is not only a great example of the publishing freedom Kindle allows writers, but also the rich content Kindle customers can find in the Kindle Store.”

“Blockade Billy” tells the story of William “Blockade Billy” Blakely. He may have been the greatest baseball player the game has ever seen, but today no one remembers his name. He was the first—and only—player to have his existence completely removed from the record books. Even his team is long forgotten, barely a footnote in the game’s history. Blockade Billy has a secret darker than any pill or injection that might cause a scandal in sports today. His secret was much, much worse… and only Stephen King can reveal the truth to the world, once and for all. Publishers Weekly writes of the book: “As King’s fiction goes . . . a deftly executed suicide squeeze, with sharp spikes hoisted high and aimed at the jugular on the slide home.”

The Kindle edition of “Blockade Billy” features both the cover illustration by Glen Orbik and the interior artwork of Alex McVey from the limited-edition hardcover published by Cemetery Dance Publications.

Stephen King has written more than 40 books, including “Misery,” “The Green Mile,” “Cujo,” “IT” and “Carrie.” He is the winner of numerous awards, including the Bram Stoker Award, O. Henry Award, Horror Guild Award and was the 2003 recipient of the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.

“Kindle is a great way for authors to make different lengths of their writing available and to reach diverse audiences with their work,” said Stephen King. “I’m excited to be able to offer ‘Blockade Billy’ in the Kindle Store.”

Kindle is in stock and available for immediate shipment today at www.amazon.com/kindle.

Bev Vincent
04-20-2010, 06:05 AM
Bev, what is considered the publication date? 4/19/2010?

However you want to define it. I don't think there's a correct answer.

mae
04-20-2010, 07:07 AM
The official street date is 4/20, so that's what it should be, despite that some of us received our orders a day early thanks to our valiant postal service :)

jhanic
04-20-2010, 08:52 AM
In her latest email, Mindy from Cemetary Dance states that the Scribner edition would be 500,000 copies.

John

Bev Vincent
04-20-2010, 09:52 AM
In an e-mail from CD, they say: "Today is the official release date for Blockade Billy"

jhanic
04-20-2010, 10:50 AM
I just ordered the Scribner Blockade Billy from Amazon (using the link at the bottom of this page). Total cost with shipping was $14.10.

John

mae
04-21-2010, 04:51 AM
Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042004357.html

LostAlivE
04-21-2010, 11:35 PM
Yeah Amazon.com has it for $10.11 right now.

Cloysterpete
04-22-2010, 10:24 AM
Is the UK release the Scribner book?, or are H&S doing it?.

Bev Vincent
04-22-2010, 11:05 AM
H&S

mae
04-22-2010, 07:32 PM
GQ: http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2010/04/is-stephen-kings-new-novella-a-foul-ball-for-non-baseball-fans.html

Sam
04-22-2010, 08:01 PM
I just got my CD copy in the mail today and had time to look over it. I gotta say, I'm not impressed. I've seen CD publish much better looking volumes for similar prices. Some of the Jack Ketchum books and the Frank Darabont one come to mind. This one falls short. I think it could have been just $10 more and come with a slicase to have made the whole thing just a little bit better, but I understand they may not been able to have so many slipcases ready to go in time and had to ditch the idea.

All in all, I hope I really enjoy the story, cause that'll help big big.

Ben Mears
04-23-2010, 03:52 PM
On a scale of 5:
Story-3
Cover Illustration-4
Interior illustrations-2
Baseball card-2
Price-1
Design and binding-4
Overall-2+

It was generous of SK to give this to CD and the overall result is fine. It was a nice surprise so I have no complaints but the reality is BB is an overpriced, over-hyped short story.

Sam
04-23-2010, 04:09 PM
That's what I'm afraid of.

Bev Vincent
06-05-2010, 12:00 PM
NY Times Bestseller List: #9 BLOCKADE BILLY, by Stephen King. (Scribner, $14.99.) A tale about the dark side of baseball, circa 1957.