Stephen King - The Stand Complete and Uncut - Background and Video

[TCCBodhi]

Thanks for posting the pictures! Those hologram signs look amazing!

[Sir_Boomme]

I was out of town with limited internet access when this thread started so it wasn't until a very few days ago that I read Peter's write-up and watched the video. It really has me wanting to reread the complete, uncut version again. I probably haven't read it in 15 to 20 years. So, having just finished the new version of McCammon's Blue World, I am dusting off a copy of The Stand and plan to start this weekend. Really looking forward to it.

ha Bob... I'm currently finishing up McCammon's Gone South... with Blue World sitting on the "to read shelf" as my next in line.

[mae]

I still would love to get clarification on the two release dates mentioned by Peter. Everything I've seen prior said the release was in May and his article specified (obliquely) May 8. But in another essay it's in April. Weird.

[burial]

I still would love to get clarification on the two release dates mentioned by Peter. Everything I've seen prior said the release was in May and his article specified (obliquely) May 8. But in another essay it's in April. Weird.

Here it is:

I went back to a 1990 calendar and started recreating how it all worked.

First off, here's how the New York Times Book Review (which features the Bestseller Lists) works its schedule. In the case of THE STAND, the issue date of the NYTBR was May 13th. However, the actual printed edition was made available the Monday prior to this (May 7th). The Bestseller List for this issue was available (via recorded message) even earlier -- in this case, Wednesday May 2nd.

The Bestseller List records sales from a Sunday through the following Saturday. The next few days (Sunday to Wednesday) are spent collating the numbers and putting the list together. The final rankings were then made available late Wednesday afternoon via the recorded message. (Of course, today the listings are available only by their website, but this was twenty-five years ago.)

Given that THE STAND went on-sale the morning of Wednesday, April 25th, this means that the sales for that week constituted only four days (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday) as opposed to the full seven days of sales registered for all the other books on the list. Therefore, the sales of THE STAND during those four days were still higher than any of the other books had during the seven days prior -- which was a real triumph for the book.

And so, this must mean that the BDD sales conference was held the first week of May, as you said -- not the last week of April, as I had originally said.

This is an update i received from Peter few days ago while working on translation of his text.
And now it makes sense

[Br!an]

[Sir_Boomme]

note the doubleday reserve your copy card states "Coming in May"... I'm pretty sure I have other documents and memos that clarify this also... I just need to dig deeper in the pile.

[mae]

Would be great to get to the bottom of this. And really all other books on our official release dates list which have no exact dates still.

[Randall Flagg]

Terry, feel free to post pictures. The more info the better.
Pablo, the question has been answered.

[Sir_Boomme]

So... this is early "Uncut" Stand Doubleday proposal document - "Amendment to existing contract"
As you see it has a manuscript due date of 09/01/84 with a proposed publication date of 09/85.... and we thought CD ran behind scheduled ha ha


Page1:


Page2:



page3:




and the 06/27/1984 letter to Kirby McCauley- King's Literary agent
(I personally find this letter very interestingly insightful, especially the initial suggested price for the limited edition):

[Merlin1958]

Great stuff, Terry!!!!!!

[jhanic]

Very informative, Terry. Thanks!

John

[Sir_Boomme]

Since this thread started with Peter info... here's a letter from him regarding the Stand.

[Sir_Boomme]

and another... talking about King Limited editions.

[Sir_Boomme]

lots of stuff like this memo... (wonder if Peter remembers this)

[Sir_Boomme]

[Sir_Boomme]

and one for you Brits...

[Sir_Boomme]

oh Kirby how did you manage to lose a Stephen King contract for heaven's sake?
(I'm guess Doctor Bob might have been in the area at the time)

[zelig]

Great stuff Terry. Thanks for posting it.

[Sir_Boomme]

and this is where it all started...

[Sir_Boomme]

[Sir_Boomme]

[Sir_Boomme]

then of course... NAL wanted a piece of the pie and to do their part to make King a bit richer...

[Sir_Boomme]

not exactly Stand related... but "Peter" related.... a letter to him from King...

[jhanic]

Simply fascinating!

John

[Br!an]

Good stuff!

"They want it for bucks; we want it for King."