Blaze: A Novel

I just finished reading "Blaze" by Stephen King (AKA Richard Bachman), my favorite author of all time, the Master of Macabre and all other genres he chooses to tackle. Needless to say, I loved this book.

Blaze is a guy screwed from birth. After his father throws him repeatedly down a flight of stairs, young Blaze ends up in a state ran boy's home. He grows into his hulking physique, his forehead permanently dented from the stairs incident, and loses everyone he loves before reaching adulthood. His pal George schools him in the way of the con, and continues to give him advice even after Ole George dies of a stab wound after a craps game goes bad. Hey, that's the way they roll.

This book is so sad, even though Blaze would never ask for pity. We learn about his tragic past as we follow him on his kidnapping caper, egged on by George, and watch him take care of the baby he snatches and loves as is if he were his own child. Blaze is slow, but has a big heart.

This is a thriller you don't want to miss, and one of the only times your throat will be sore from routing for the 'bad guy'.

I can't remember reading such a trite, manipulative novel. It almost felt as if it were being written for teens. This predictable story of a Blaze, a guy with a heart of gold who never caught a break in life and was pulled into a life of crime, was one that pulled me in in spite of my attempts to resist. If you're looking to find fault with this novel, you'll have lots of opportunities, but Blaze is such a lovable and sympathetic character, and George is a great sidekick, that I quickly gave up finding fault and just plain enjoyed this book. It's funny and crude, in a juvenile sense, and it made me smile. The book starts out in the present, as Blaze is planning his great kidnapping caper. The novel alternates between the present and the past, telling Blaze's life story. I liked both stories equally. This novel captured my heart like a 5 star book, but it felt too much like a cheap guilty pleasure for me to give it that top rating. It felt like a teenager's first attempt at writing a novel, with all the cliches. But the young writer was Stephen King, who can grab your heart with the best. If my review has not turned you off from this novel, I expect that you'll love it. I did.

You know how, when you meet an exceptional person, you feel honored to have been able to know them? You feel that you were lucky to have known them, to have been able to glimpse their life, to have been a part of it. Well, that is how I feel about Blaze. I feel honored to have known him for such a short time. I feel I was entrusted with the secrets of his past and his innermost thoughts, feelings, and fears.

Richard Bachman is one of Stephen King's alter-ego's I guess you could say. The story of Clayton Blaisdell Jr. (aka Blaze) was almost never published. The foreword of the book is by Stephen King himself, and it tells of how the manuscript had been sitting in a box since the 70's. King would take it out on occasion, read it, and deem it worthless. Finally, he took it out, read it, and thought it was a pretty good story. I, for one, am glad he published this book.

The very first page of the book is a small excerpt from the story. It introduces you to Blaze. Actually, it is not as much about Blaze as it is about another kid, but it gives you a glimpse of the voyage you are about to embark on. After this small paragraph are the title page, copyright page, dedications, and foreword. Then, the real story begins...

The story is about Blaze, a simple-minded giant of a man with a heart bigger than thought capability. Blaze was not always this "dumb," this was a gift from his drunken, abusive father. Blaze was never the leader in a group. He was never the thinker. He ran cons with guys who were smarter than him. However, when his friend George gets himself killed in a betting game, Blaze is left to think on his own. He decides to continue with George's "one big con, and then out" scheme. He kidnaps the 6-month old baby of an extremely wealthy family. The idea is to get a large ransom for the child and then he can retire.

The book jumps from Blaze's childhood to the present situation. As you are reading about his plans to kidnap the baby, you are learning how he came to this point.

I could not help but feel compassion for this big bear of a man. I found myself angry at the way he was treated by the adults in his life as he was growing up. I wanted this man to succeed. I knew throughout the book that kidnapping a baby was wrong, and I knew he would have to be caught...it would have to end. But I could not help wanting him to do well, to be okay.

Blaze was an amazing person (character). Again, I feel lucky to have accompanied him on his journey, however miserable it may have been.

There is a story at the end of this book. It is a glimpse of the next Stephen King book that will be published in 2008. I am choosing not to read this story. I do not want anything to take away from Blaze right now. I want to continue feeling close to him for the moment.

On the fourth day in my new home, unpacking was going smoothly: I was busy placing my books in bookshelves--"their" new home--when I came across Blaze, a novel written by Stephen King under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. This is the last book from Bachman's "early period"; King says Bachman died in 1985 from "pseudonym cancer." While Bachman was writing slow-selling novels, King was building his reputation writing and selling short horror stories. (As you probably know, after retiring Bachman, King's very first book under his real name was Carrie ... and the rest is history.)

Although King/Bachman wrote Blaze in 1973--King calls Bachman his "younger/smart-assier self"--it wasn't published until 2006 after one of King's assistants found the original typescript among his papers at the University of Maine's Fogler Library. This review is written from a 2007 hardcover edition with a foreword by King; this book and the one I'm posting it under are hard to find, except on the secondary market.

Although nothing Bachman wrote seemed to please King's more mature self, he started reading Blaze and thought it was better than most of Bachman's published novels. He decided to revise and publish it, donating proceeds to the Haven Foundation which supports freelance artists.

And am I glad King published this book! As he hoped readers would, I "came for a good story" and got much more than that. This is a gripping story; a sad tale that grabbed me by the lapels from the first page and never let go. In fact, in between unpacking and a multitude of "moving woes," I finished this exciting book in two days

I'm mesmerized by the main character, Clayton Blaisdell, Jr.--Blaze for short. He's a complex, sympathetic character for whom I rooted from the "get-go." After his mother dies when he's only three years old, poor little Blaze's father does something so horrendous to him that he ends up being a "slow thinker" and is made a ward of the state.

Blaze grows into a "Big Mother" whose appearance is intimidating, but he has a gentle soul, only harming those who mistreat small, defenseless people and his friends. He is loved by all who really know him, but once again suffers abuse by authorities in the boys' institution.

What happens to him in the institution that accelerates his rage, honing his hard edges? What happens to his best friend John? What does Blaze do to avenge John? How does he meet his new friend George who takes him under his wing and indoctrinates him into a life of petty crime? After George is killed, how does he help Blaze pull off the "big, final" crime they had always dreamed of? Why does he end up kidnapping a small, defenseless baby, son of a wealthy family? How could "the bull-simple dummy" do it alone? What happens when little Joe steals his heart? And why, with the cops closing in, is Blaze clutching the baby to his chest as he plunges deeper into the white hell of a powerful snowstorm in the Maine woods?

In Blaze, Bachman/King answers those questions in a series of clever twists and turns, skillfully maneuvering from present to past by masterful use of exciting flashbacks.

In response to King's foreword: Yes, Stephen, I "misted up" ... more than a little; there's nothing in this novel to make people laugh at you. You painted such an accurate portrait of Blaze's character and background that, although I could not condone what he did, I understand the reasoning behind his actions. My heart broke each time Blaze's did. This is a real tear-jerker, a psychological thriller that could be a blockbuster movie.

Knowing full well that you and Richard Bachman are the same person, dare I say I enjoyed this book as much as any you've written under your true name ... and better than some?

It seems that, like a rose, "a King by any other name is still a King." Stephen, you had "IT" then and failed to recognize it.

There are life lessons to be learned from this book ... a book that will linger in your mind long after the last page has been read. Highly recommended with great enthusiasm.

Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008
Author of: Millennium Babe: The Prophecy

Stephen King may be the "master of horror," but with BLAZE he proves that he's also just a plain ole good writer. This story is a mixture of a thriller, a mystery, a police procedural, and a personal struggle to figure out who you are.

Blaze, aka Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., is a dummy, and he knows it. Ever since his father threw him down a flight of stairs (and then hauled him back up and did it a couple of more times), Blaze hasn't had the brains for learning. The dent in his forehead might make him look scary, but we soon learn that Blaze isn't much of a threat -- except when he's really angry. He might look like a giant at 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, but this man's heart is as soft as his mind.

Blaze has pretty much drifted through life by skirting the law and mostly (with exceptions) avoiding trouble. When he meets George Rackley, Blaze learns the art of the con. The two of them (or, rather, George) have been planning one big job for awhile now. That big job would be kidnapping the baby of a rich couple, collecting the ransom, and living the high-life somewhere with white sandy beaches and lots of sun.

But we soon learn that things aren't going quite the way either man had expected. For one, George is dead, even though he's still helping with the kidnapping plot. For another, Blaze, as we've already learned, isn't the smartest guy around.

What follows is a mixture of present day mystery/thriller as Blaze carries out the kidnapping of little Joey, mixed with the flashbacks of his life that show how Blaze ends up where he's at.

King (aka Bachman..does it really matter the name?) shows great control in the pacing of BLAZE, and expertly weaves the present with the past. You'll also be surprised (and entertained) by the joy that is Blaze, who is a wonderful, fully-developed character.

This one is a winner!

It comes as no surprise that 'Blaze' does not read like a Stephen King novel -- most of the Bachman books (with the exception of 'Thinner') are like that. When writing as Bachman, King adopts a different voice, harsher and more direct, and even the types of stories he tells are different. In this case, it would be hard to imagine a book that would surprise me more, coming from King's keyboard. Coming from Bachman, however, it sounds just about right.

'Blaze' is named for its lead character, whose full name is Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. but has gone by Blaze for most of his life. Blaze is a big guy, practically a monster of a man, complete with a nasty-looking indentation on his forehead and a rather slow intellect, both the result of an abusive father. Blaze is also a small-time criminal, but as the novel opens is looking to upgrade to the big time by kidnapping the newborn baby of a rich family. It was a plan cooked up by George Rackley, his former partner in crime. Problem is, George is dead, but Blaze still hears him (and talks to him) in his head.

The story begins just as Blaze is making his plans for the kidnapping alone. By jumping back and forth in the story, we learn of Blaze's colored history in and out of foster homes and orphanages, at the same time as he is committing his biggest crime ever, with the help of George's voice, always heard but never seen.

In this sense, 'Blaze' is King (Bachman?) at his most effective, telling stories in parallel, giving us glimpses and facets of this compelling character, but never all of it. He keeps us reading right to the end, enthralled by both the story and the characters he creates within it. Blaze himself stands out as one of King's most interesting people. He is not a writer or a teacher, he is about as far from an academic as you can get. He is a criminal, and not even an especially good one...but all the same, as the story progresses and you see how he got where he is, your heart will go out to him. Blaze is treated like a real person, never a cipher or a symbol, and therein lies the real strength of the novel as a whole.

Comparisons have been made to Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men' and even King himself admits that 'Blaze' is an homage to that novel. And while there are similarities, bear in mind that 'Blaze' is a story all its own as well. 'Of Mice and Men' is a great story, and I feel like 'Blaze' is a great story too...but what makes each story great is different.

In the telling of his tale, King found a unique voice, told a unique tale, and gave us a unique character to explore. Blaze is a big, clumsy guy, a criminal, not terribly bright, not very good-looking, not smooth or talented or skilled in any particular way. He is no James Bond or Kay Scarpetta or Anita Blake. And yet, by the time this novel is done, King makes you care about him, makes you want to help him, and even makes you cry for him a little.

Or at least, that's what he made me do.

I am an avid Stephen King reader. I love most of his work and was very much looking forward to reading this early (1973) written novel.
Despite Stephen's worries whether his fans will like this or not, he has no worries at all.

Blaze is a fast read and a book that you will not want to put down. This story is about a Six-foot-seven, slow-minded convict who pulls the crime of the century: a kidnapping. And he does it all with the help of his dead friend, George.
You will laugh, cry, and be on the edge of your seat in this heartwarming tale of one mans journey-- both past and present. Clay Blaisdale, aka BLAZE is someone you can only love and feel sorry for, you hope him the best even though he is on the wrong side of the law.

In the end, he pulls off a crime so unimaginable that you will cheer him on until the end.

Blaze goes into my top ten Stephen King novels.

Stephen John Beccia
Author of
The Treelanders: Journey to the Giants

Somehow during this book I found myself rooting for the bad guy. I usually don't like the bad guys especially when they kidnap a child, but this book turned me around. Something goes terribly wrong with the kidnapping when the brains of the operation is dead. Poor Clayton has to think on his own and he doesn't know how to do it.

Excellent writing by Richard Bachman aka Stephen King as he gradually turns the story around to the bad guy. It is a very sad story, but yet it is a strong story that only Stephen King could write. I have read all of Mr. King's novels and this is surely one of his best! You don't want to miss this one.

I love Stephen King's writing but I don't read horror anymore. I wish he wrote more straightforward 'literary' fiction but he said in an interview somewhere 'as if I have a choice,' so I guess that's not gonna happen. Unless it just does.

I've been a fan of Stephen King novels since middle school, when I began raiding my father's library. Like King, my father grew up on thrillers, and when I wasn't reading John D. MacDonald's *The Green Ripper*, I was reading original editions of *`Salem's Lot* and *The Stand*. So I was bemused when I discovered King's new-old book *Blaze*.

In the forward, King takes pains to point out this is a trunk book. Specifically the fourth novel he abandoned before committing to *Carrie*. King rediscovered the manuscript just last year, among his papers at the University of Maine. He updated the central plot from Nixon to the Reagan Administration, and published the result as another Bachman book.

"Richard Bachman", of course, is the pseudonym King applies to certain hard-boiled novels, notably crime thrillers first written in the late 1960's and early `70's. He published these thrillers in the mid '80's, which makes the updated setting of *Blaze* all the more Bach (heh-heh).

And, folks, *Blaze* is a crime tragedy; as if Donald Westlake had decided to update Of Mice and Men. An apt comparison considering that Stephen King's career appears heavily influenced by the venerable crime author. Indeed his pseudonym seems inspired by Westlake's own "Richard Stark", and any King fan knows the villain of the *Dark Half* also draws his name from Donald's own shadow...

King lets the reader know up front that he's given them a three-handkerchief weepie. A brilliant child, Clayton Biasdell Jr. is battered into brain damage by his drunken father. To all outward appearances, Clay grows up into big dummy, made worse by a haphazard education. This is just the beginning of a tumble through life, told in a "B" plot which tag-teams with the main story. Finally he becomes best friends and partner with George Rackley. Who is dead before the novel begins.

Despite its pulp roots, I find *Blaze* to be one of King's more mature books. I felt the story was lean and tight compared to the fat in Lisey's Story; with character details and backstory which I felt related directly to the drama. The prose, in turn, isn't half as purple as in *Cell*, an entertaining zombie novel that nevertheless contains some of the most groan-worthy literary devices I've read in a King book (perhaps because it is a zombie novel). Overall, King manages a smart and sad homage to Steinbeck and Westlake, while still making the story all his own.

Including the characterizations. Indeed, the story works in part because a number of significant characters are developed naturally through the course of dialogue and action. Along these lines, King uses relatively few blocks of backstory in the central plot, thus minimizing interruptions to story flow.

Instead, and especially with his titular character, King devotes whole chapters to development and relationships, intertwining past with the present caper. This works better than *The Wolves of the Calla*, which basically dumped an entire second novel about Father Callahan in fistfuls of narrative-interrupting chunks. I always felt King should have printed the Padre's story as a separate work, but in *Blaze*, no such thing is necessary. The story weaves back and forth in time as well as theme, until it achieves what amounts to a double climax: backstory and frontstory resolve themselves in tandem. Kind of like *It*, only a hell of a lot shorter.

That's where one concern still lies. The last few chapters felt pretty rushed. Much of the character development occurs with past actors who play little or no role in the present drama. In particular, I felt that the agent who pursues Blaze should have more presence, since he becomes intimately involved in the climax. Also, by the time the biographical "B" story catches up to the ongoing "A" story, the book is almost over. So the criminal relationship between George and Blaze isn't as developed as the rest of Blaze's life.

Blaze is as much antagonist as protagonist. A boulder even as a boy, he gets by on symbiotic relationships--protecting smart kids from bullies. In this way, Clay/Blaze often seems to be a benevolent giant--but beneath his dented forehead lies the feverish remains of his former intelligence. He remains capable of astonishing mental feats, and he even becomes competent in concert with savvy partners. But whenever Blaze finds himself alone, he sidetracks into violent rages and outright stupidity. And gradually, through the course of his life, a deeper corruption arises.

King mostly avoided supernatural elements while still maintaining supernatural atmosphere. Blaze blunders around the general neighborhood of `Salem's Lot and Ludlow, but no Wendigos posses him, and the only vampires he encounters are of the social kind. George himself is largely dismissed as a product of Blaze's brain damage, but that doesn't offer much solace when his dead partner grows uncharacteristically homicidal...

Like I said, this book is a tragedy, even if couched in the genre of a sensational crime-caper. It helps make *Blaze* a unique book even in the annals of King-Bachman. It's as tight and compelling as anything from King's early career, and a contrast to the tired, bloated works which define his mid-to-late bibliography. Whereas *Cell* is an amusing romp to read on a long flight, and *Lisey's Story* is a lengthy look at the life of bestselling novelists, *Blaze* becomes a chilling ode to literary and genre fiction, and I recommend it.

Blaze is the sixth book King has published under the pen name Richard Bachman. According to King it was originally written back in the days of the Bachman classics and revised in 2007. Blaze (current edition 2007) has a forward by Stephen King explaining when this story was written, about Bachman and his opinion of it back then. Blaze apparently a lost manuscript which King back in the early 70s thought was terrible only remembered when King was asked to submit an original for the Hard Case Crime series of books (he eventually submitted The Colorado Kid). The foreword is quite interesting so if there are different versions with or without it get the one with.

Blaze is a very good novel, who knows why King didn't think so in the 70s. It is up with the best Bachman books such as Thinner, The Long Walk and The Running Man (a lot different to the Arnold movie and if you haven't read it, do so). I really enjoyed Blaze, you really get to know the main character who brilliantly written through flashbacks you understand and feel sorry for how he got to be the slightly brain damaged but loveable villain that he is. When publishers do something like re-release an old pen name you do wonder if its just a publicity stunt to sell more books and if you are going to get a pretty average book but Blaze is actually very, very good! The 2007 current edition also comes with a short story at the end (written as Stephen King) called Memory. Granted its not the best work he has ever done and is certainly not in the same league as Blaze but it is a free bonus.

Blaze is the story of a giant, gentle criminal Clay Blaisdell Jr known by his friends, and he hasn't had a lot of them throughout his hard life, as Blaze. His recent best friend and fellow criminal George was murdered and Blaze is alone in the world. George and Blaze had a plan to kidnap Joe Gerard the six month old baby of a filthy rich family and hand him back for $2 million since babies can't identify kidnappers. George may be dead but Blaze still communicates with him and tells him he will still do the job. Of course Blaze doesn't have the mental capacity to see the big picture throughout the entire crime and relies on George to prompt him. Blaze makes mistakes and doesn't like some of the advice his best friend is giving him but is determined to succeed.

A great story, just get it!

Stephen King introduces his new novel explaining its history. He wrote it many years ago before he became famous with CARRIE. The novel was lost for many years, then found in a trunk with some other old writings. The novel had many problems, but it also had potential. King rewrote it and published it as BLAZE. BLAZE is the story of Clayton Blaisdell Jr, also called Blaze.

There are two stories working here: First Blaze is alone in the wintery cold of Maine. He is planning on kidnapping a baby for ransom with the help of his friend George. There's only one problem. George, the brains of the operation, died three months ago. Second, is the story of Blaze. Half of the book is the story of Blaze growing up, of the heartache and trials he faced and how they shaped him into the man he would turn out to be. Only a masterful author like King could make so much backstory so interesting and perhaps more entertaining than the story of the baby kidnapping.

King is such a great author that fans will enjoy this work, and not fans of the horror genre will enjoy this book as well. Blaze is a great character, more sympathetic as he grows up and searches for someone to love him. King takes you on a journey with Blaze as you encounter con men, kind hearted farmers, evil school headmasters and seducing women, and of course, a cuddly baby. This book is a quick read, the journey is fun, the end is abrupt. You'll finish this novel and realize it didn't offer anything profound, but it was a good story and an enjoyable read. The only downside is Blaze's actions after kidnapping the baby. King builds sympathy for Blaze and towards the end of the novel I hoped Blaze would have made some different choices.

Blaze was collecting dust for nearly 35 years before King decided to re-work this pre-Carrie Bachman book and have it published (with proceeds going to charity), mostly for those dedicated King fans that the author refers to as `constant readers'. The reality is, it's a pretty good novel (not just for the hardcore King fan) and a damn sight better than recent efforts like 'From a Buick 8', 'Cell', and 'Lisey's Story'.

Blaze tells the tragic tale of a simple minded petty criminal trying to make the big score his partner always dreamed of. Blaze is left alone in the world when his partner-in-crime, George, is killed over a card game. Blaze imagines that George is at his side as he pursues the doomed scheme of kidnapping a rich family's baby, a caper far too complicated and risky for the simple-minded lug to pull off. A good portion of the novel consists of flashbacks that allow the reader to develop sympathy for Blaze who, despite his criminal behavior, has a heart of gold.

There are obvious similarities to the Steinbeck classic `Of Mice and Men.' Blaze, like Lennie, is a huge man with a soft heart who means well but whose strength and simple mindedness has tragic consequences. King even names Blaze's partner George.

Blaze is much leaner than a typical King tome. There are no supernatural elements in Blaze, which may disappoint fans who read it expecting horror and instead find a straightforward crime novel and the tragic tale of a once bright kid who gets dealt a lousy hand in life.

The ending felt a little rushed and some of the flashbacks didn't add much to the present day story, but all in all, I found Blaze to be a refreshing change of pace compared to the more recent bloated, uninspired efforts of Steven King. Blaze may not evoke the glory days of 'The Shining' and 'The Stand', but it's an entertaining novel, well worth reading, even if you are not a 'constant reader'.

"Blaze" is the last novel from the early period of 1966-1973 when Stephen King was also writing as Richard Bachman. The story, characterizations, settings all live up to the standards we have come to expect from him, especially in his earlier period when he also wrote monumental novels like "The Stand". It is actually unfortunate that this novel was deemed not worthy of publication by the author in 1973. Had it been published, it would have had a following and would have had more of an effect as it is essentially a period piece, a point also conceded but insufficiently addressed by the author himself. This book might still have had a lasting value had it been more thoroughly edited and updated prior to publication.
I think this book deserves 4 stars based on the above and I recommend it to those who would like to complete their Stephen King libraries. It can also be enjoyed as a gem from his period of arguably most glorious writing.

I was too cheap to buy this book (as hardcovers are expensive) so I took it off the shelf of the supermarket I work at and read it on my breaks. I found this book so enthralling that I ended up punching back in late a few times. With about a hundred pages left, I was sick of reading it in fifteen minute intervals, so I drove to Barnes & Nobles and finished it earlier today. Although it's still sinking in, I think this book is fantastic. It's books like this that remind me why I love Stephen King.

I was a little skeptical about this book, as his last few novels had pretty bad vibes. I thought "Cell" was horrendous, and after reading reviews of "Lisey's Story" I decided to wait until I could find a used copy as opposed to buying it new. When I read that this book was actually a trunk novel written by King sometime in the 1970's (at least I think it was the 1970's) I was a bit more hopeful. I was expecting something better than "Cell", but I had no idea just how much better it would be.

If I could sum up this album in one word, it would be "tragic". Everything about Blaze's (the main character) life is tragic, and yet it somehow weaves a beautiful, thoughtful story. It was a wonderful character study of a man who appeared to be a monster from the outside, but was tragically (there I go using that word again) complciated inside. I've never felt sympathy for a story's villian the way I do for Blaze. King has a way of drawing the reader in and making him/her truly understand his characters.

There are a few other aspects of this novel that I love. First of all, it's not overly wordy, which is a problem I find with most of King's books. This is the first Bachman book I've ever read, so I'm not sure if Bachman simply isn't as wordy as King, or if this book is unusually lean. Either way, I liked it. Another aspect I love is the obvious parallel it has to John Steinbeck's "Of Mice & Men". From characters to events in the story, there were many similarities.

Bottom line: There are very few books that I give five star ratings to, and this book truly earns it. It's possibly my favorite King novel (I need to let it sink in a bit more before I can make that call) and it's definately one of the best books I've read in the last few years.

Blaze is the first book by Stephen King I ever read. (My travels in his mind began in the summer of my Freshman year, and continue today.) It's a good thing, too. I read Cell right after this one. (It was also a good book but nowhere near the level this is.)
The story is straightforward. Clayton Blaizedel Jr. has led a hrd life. He's slow witted (due to an injury his father caused) and doesn't really know right from wrong. His partner in crime, George has recently passed away. However, he still hear's George's ghost constantly berating him for being an idiot. In order to prove him wrong, Blaze sets out to do the last job George was planning.
The way Blaze's character is developed is brilliant, if not entirely original. as the story moves, we get extended flashbacks to his troubled childhood. However, he doesn't really know he's troubled. To us, he's a very tragic character. by the end of the book, you won't want to blame him for anything. As I read this book, I couldn't help but think that nothing was his fault. It takes a certain kind of writing to make a reader feel that for a criminal.
That's the book's biggest accomplishment. It makes you feel. You will come to know Blaze and feel for him, and, if you know King, you know there's no way it will end well for Blaze. Knowing this as you read through it makes the book that much mroe effective.
I read this book in two days. It's not too long, not too short. Sure, some of the parallels to "Of Mice and Men" may seem more plagiristic than honorable, but, if you can get over that, you'll find Blaze to be a compelling read.

A bit of confession first, Stephen King has been one of my favorite authors since I was a kid. I did stop reading his books when they started to become the size of phone books. About a month ago I saw this book at the local bookseller for $5.99 and said, "What the heck."

Stephen King explains in the foreword that this was a trunk book. Basically, he wrote it along time ago and put it away. He eventually "found" it again, rewrote some parts and put it out under his alter-ego Richard Bachman.

What I liked: The story is more along the lines of Green Mile and Shawshank Redemption versus Cujo, Christine, etc. Essentially this book follows the life and times of Clay Blaisdell, jr. aka Blaze. The chapters alternate between the Blaze's last caper and his earlier life. Stephen King allows the story to build nicely and by the end of the story you feel sympathy for the main character and wish things could have turned out differently for Blaze.

What I disliked: Some characters, such as George, were not fully developed.

Last word: Overall, this was a great read and it is highly recommended. It illustrates that we are not always masters of our own destiny as events out of your control can and will change the course of your life.

Reveiwed by Matt

I've been such a devoted reader of King's work that picking up one of his books is like a visit with an old and very dear friend. BLAZE continues King's tradition of writing "ripping yarns" that's made him America's Dickens.

The main character is a mentally disabled man who's 6'07" so he literally stands out in a crowd. Blaze has become a career criminal and is first helped by his friend George (a nice nod to OF MICE AND MEN). Then George dies and his ghost continues to give Blaze advice, not much of it good.

Flashbacks show us Blaze as a child before a violent incident of child abuse robs him of his intellect. He had been a voracious reader. After his 'accident' he does well to read comic books.

Blaze, aided by George, decides that kidnapping a rich family's child would be the best way to make a lot of money quickly. It's the dead of Winter in Maine and a mentally challenged man is trying to take care of an infant with help from a dead man. Small wonder I wanted to read the whole thing at one sitting.

As flashbacks are intercut with the main story we see Blaze's summer romance with a delinquent girl named Anne. Ann gets pregnant and has Blaze's child, and the life that the baby grows up to live makes Blaze's situation even more poignant.

There's a lot of ambiguity about our feelings toward Blaze: pity, fear, and often admiration because of his resourceful handling of rough situations.

If Joel and Ethan Cohen ever want to make a film of one of King's novels, BLAZE would be right up their alley.

Big Steve, I love you, Dude! Keep 'em coming. We're both good for another thirty years, assuming that my eyes will hold out to age ninety.

I was so happy to see this novel, another Bachman Book, in time for summer reading. This may not be the best effort for Mr. King, but there are a few things about this book that really earn the five stars.

For starters, Stephen wrote this when he was hungry. Literally crouched in the furnace room of his trailer with kids screaming on the other side of the door, believing he was writing the Great American Novel. King's early writing is still unpolished, but it is not yet tainted by commercialism and movie contracts. This is just a really good story told in King's easy, rolling style. It's been decades since I stayed up into the middle of the night reading a book, but I did with this one!

There are two things King does with genius. Character development and backstory. Both are here. Blaze is a misunderstood and likeable man who's had a few bad turns in life. He plans to commit the ultimate crime thinking he'll be set forever if he can pull it off. If you read about this crime in the newspaper you might ask yourself, "Geez, what kind of person would do a thing like this?" But with King's backstory on Blaze you not only understand what kind of person would commit a crime like this and why, but you feel genuine compassion for him. You'll be rooting for him in the end.

It is fascinating to read his early works and see shadows of his later novels between the lines. There is a connection to Lisey's Story here, (A bool!) and an undeniable hint to where The Green Mile came from. This is a real treat for King fans, thank you Stephen for pulling this one out of the trunk for us. I remain a constant and grateful reader.

Stephen King had kept this work in a drawer since the 1970s or so, and recently decided to dust it off and release it, as sort of a "film noir" style work. King himself refers to this work as a "trunk novel", one of those books he tossed in a trunk for years and years before bothering or deciding to publish it. Hint: if an author takes the time and effort to write a book, if they're not publishing it, there's usually a reason.

Blaze isn't a bad book. The characters are pretty well developed, and the plot isn't bad. If nearly anyone OTHER than Stephen King had written this, it would have been a solid effort.

That said, it wasn't someone other than Stephen King. It WAS Stephen King. And, while he was much younger when he completed this-- this was years before Carrie, The Shining, or any of the other works that would make him famous-- it still isn't up to the quality or the standards one would expect from a King novel. It's not paranormal, or even hypernormal, like Dolores Claiborne, Cujo, or Gerald's Game. There are no vampires, mummies, or the Holy Ghost. The characters don't say especially witty things, and while it takes place in Maine, don't expect to recognize many characters... there are scant references to The Rock, but this is a seperate work. What this is, in the end, is a midline work on a petty con. If you like King and want to read it, try to pretend he didn't write it. If you don't like King, and like the sort of crime books you pick up five minutes before your plane takes off, this might be the work for you. It's solid, but just not enough.

Blaze is a man whose appearance and intelligence were forever altered during his childhood by a violent and drunken father. Although a gentle and tender man, Blaze is a con artist, mostly due to the influence of George, a swindler, and someone he admires and trusts. George's death does not alter Blaze's dependence on George. He continues to hear George's voice instructing him to complete a con that they had discussed prior to George's death. Kidnapping for ransom is the idea, but, when Blaze falls in love with his tiny victim, the scenario changes.

Once again, King creates characters we care about. Even the tiny baby has a vivid personality! Settings are clear and alive, brimming with action. Although I don't consider this to be as good as King's more recent novels, I am glad he revived Blaze. The little twist at the ending of the story is unforgettable.

King has been in my books shelf since I was a teenager. I suppose I am one of those "constant readers". King prooves to us again and again that he sure knows how to tell a story. It really doesn't matter if it is written to scare you into sleeping with the lights on, or made to make you take a day off so you can see what happens to the main character....the point is, King sure knows how to tell a story. He gets right in there are says out loud the things that deep inside people feel and desire even though they may not outright say them. His characters are so full and real compared to many other characters of others who seem like shades next to King's .
This is another type of horror...a boy who lived through a real HELL, and grew up looking for someone to love. I won't say more, as I don't want want to ruin it for you...but needless to say...just read it!!!

I truly wasn't expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. This is probably the first Stephen King book in years where I wasn't aware of its existence until I received it in the mail. With such little fanfare, I wasn't really expecting to enjoy this at all but was surprised to find that not only did I enjoy it very much, it was actually quite moving.

Definitely worth a read as the story of Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell Jr. was a very simple, yet touching tale of a dim-witted grunt of a man who decides to follow through with a kidnapping plot that his deceased partner began to set up with him before his death. What follows is an intensely readable tale that ends just like you might think it will but leaves you satisfied.

I'd recommend this book to any King fan and anyone who is curious about King's more grounded, less fantastical side.

Very good "trunk" novel. I got this at a thrift store for a dollar and was hesitant to read it since it's one of his less known works. You can't help but feel pity and affection for the antihero (as outrageous as that sounds). This is a character study more than anything else. If you dig some of King's more obscure works, such as Gerald's Game, then give this a try. You will enjoy it.

If you enjoy audiobooks, I highly recommend the audio version of BLAZE by Stephen King. I really enjoyed this one.

BLAZE is read by Ron McClarty, who is one of my favorite audiobook readers (he did an excellent reading of King's SALEM'S LOT also). McClarty is a professional actor and astonishingly good with character voices. He does a superb job bringing all the characters in BLAZE to life, especially the mentally disabled Blaze and his friends Joe and George.

BLAZE is a little unique for Stephen King, because it is more of a crime novel than a horror story. But it's an emotionally compelling tale about a disabled man kidnapping a baby, and the circumstances in his past that led him to commit such a crime. It's well written and tightly plotted, and is not as bloated and slow paced as some of King's more recent work.

I enjoyed this crime novel a great deal, but a big part of my enjoyment stemmed from McClarty's great vocal performance. BLAZE is a relatively short audiobook (under 10 hours) but it's well worth the money in my opinion. Highly recommended for lovers of audiobooks.

If you've been wondering as I have where the "real" Stephen King had gone, you can wonder no more. He's back as Richard Bachman, and better than ever with BLAZE. It was odd to read in the foreword how King had put this book away for decades, how he had pretty much forgotten about it, had thought it might be lost, and so on. In my mind, trunking a story as good as this one is nearly equal to throwing a satchel stuffed with a million dollars in cash out the window, letting it be covered with snow, and not caring if Bigfoot came and carried it away while you slept. This is a GREAT book, one of King's best ever, in fact, and it should be given its due. Of course King had his reasons, and there was a LOT going on in the master's head while this one sat in a box. In the following years King produced some really fine work. So I can't fault him, really. What I can do is say how much I missed the old King, who wrote CARRIE and THE SHINING and CHRISTINE--all books of my youth that I devoured like nobody's business. And what I can do is say how much I've missed the great King-as-Bachman, with THE RUNNING MAN, ROADWORK, and so on. BLAZE reaches the best of King's work as Bachman, maybe even surpasses it in quality, and, I think, surpasses some of his more recent work written under his own name.

In this book, King (who in BLAZE had written as Richard Bachman for the last time) has created and breathed life into Clayton Blaisdel, Jr., (Blaze), a simpleton (through no fault of his own) and a criminal. Blaze talks to dead people, performs a kidnapping, even murders someone. You'll find that you want justice to be done, for things to be set right; but you'll also find yourself cheering for Blaze, for even with all his faults Blaze is a most sympathetic character.

This is a real page-turner of a book--another of those you'll read late into the night until you literally can't keep your eyes open any longer, then pick up and start reading again as soon as you awaken. It didn't last long (I finished it in a few hours), but man, what a ride. Read it and see...and maybe weep a little, too. Well done, Mr. Bachman, well done.

Blaze was written in the early part of King's career but never published. He dusted it off and released it--and we should be glad. It's top notch; the characters are great and the story is touching, a bit like Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men actually.

So you know, Blaze doesn't read like the first five Bachman books--with a flat mean tone. The writing style is more like Skeleton Crew or Misery; the sentence structure flows smoothly and the story breathes a bit. The story is not horror, nor is it as soft as Hearts in Atlantis or the Green Mile. It sits in the middle somewhere. This is not a bad thing, just saying. It is also a fast-paced read, for those of you that like the story to zip along. I know I do.

If king lost you along the way somewhere, this one could bring you back to the fold.

James Roy Daley, author of The Dead Parade
The Dead Parade

Blaze is the last novel from Bachman's period of greatest productivity from 1966-1973. As Stephen King put it, he was two men during this time. King was wrote and sold horror stories to raunchy skim-mags and Bachman wrote novels that didn't sell to anybody. The facts that I just wrote I learned from King's Full Disclosure at the beginning of Blaze and I also learned many other interesting facts.

I didn't find Blaze a horrible read, just tedious at times. There isn't much in action but just a steady build up to the end. It was worth reading till the end though. Before I even knew it I was sympathizing with Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. aka Blaze and really hoping that he would turn his life around. Unfortunately, the cards are just stacked against him.

Blaze's life started with his father throwing him down the stairs causing him brain damage. He then is shipped off to a home for boys where he really starts his life of crime. He does have one chance at having normal life when a family adopts him, but because he defends himself against an attacking dog and kills it, he is sent packing back to the boy's home. This truly begins his downward spiral I believe. After meeting up with George he is shown all new cons and is in awe of George. George and he decided to take on the biggest payoff of all, kidnapping a baby. Before this goes down, George is killed. Blaze knows that he must continue with the plan, because that is what George wants and George is still around and telling him what to do. So with George's help Blaze sets into motion a series of events that lead to the final showdown.

The ending is tragic and heartbreaking. Blaze really is a good guy, he just makes really bad decisions.

Those of us who have been Constant Readers of Stephen King for years and years (since I was 13 years old) we knew about the dead novel called Blaze. It was a trunk novel that King wrote before the likes of Carrie and decided not to try and publish because he thought it was crap. For a long time out of mind Blaze sat in a carton at the Fogler Library at the University Of Maine at Orono in there Stephen King archive. Well...we love King, right? But most of us weren't afforded the chance to hop a plane across America to head to Orono to read that little hidden gem. Most of us. So it became the legendary unpublished novel by the world's most popular author. Mysterious. Wow! All these years later, King remembers Blaze and decides to give it a second chance. A little sprucing up and here it is for all the world to finally see. Written in 1973, this is nothing new. This is old Stephen King, starving, unpopular, unnoticed King. This is King when he was still struggling to keep his family eating. Great!

The basic story is centered round the 6'7" Clayton Blaisdell Jr., an all around dumb-as-a-ditch-post petty criminal with a heart of gold. When his partner is killed in a craps game, Blaze remembers the idea of the big score. He decides it's time to go through with the plan of kidnapping the infant heir of a rich family. Everything goes down with a few complications and Blaze is on the run for his life and the life of his little passenger.

King calls the striking resemblances to Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men an homage, and maybe it was, way back when, or perhaps it was a still-shaky author trying to flesh out his own novel with the structure of an old favorite. Either way, it works pretty well. The ending is a little rushed and there are a few spots of gratuitous flashback sequences that lend nothing to the tale as a whole, but it is Old King and that is Good King. Right away I fell into the story and was hooked. I can't say that about Lisey's Story or Cell or the abortion that was The Colorado Kid. This is King at his most honest. We Constant Readers appreciate that. Definitely worth the cash. At the end is a short story called Memory which enlarged into an idea that became King's next novel, Duma Key out in January of '08. Hmmmm. It's ok. Nothing fancy. Kinda choppy. Overall, Blaze is a nice reminder of why Stephen is one of my favorite authors of all time!

Dig it!

Written in 1977 By Stephen King Blaze was originaly Intended to be a Richard Bachman Book but King put it away for a while well a long while thirty years really. King Has called this one a Trunk novel but it really is a great novel that tells the tale of Clayton Blaisdell Jr. or as he's called Blaze

Blaze has never been well never been that smart but it's not really his fault he had an abusive father that was well abusive thats why he has that giant dent in his forehead and this makes people afraid of him this makes people think he's a monster (and it dosent help that Blaze is a Giant he's Extremley tall and a big guy)

Blaze has had a Friend a partner in crime to his friend named george but Blaze being confused has thought that George has been alvie but he really hasent. In the End Blaze is a very intertaing read I love how King stays to the Bachman Name by saying that the novel is Written by Richard Bachman even though it also says With a Foward By Stephen King in almost as big letters it dosent matter though Blaze is great written by King or Bachman 5/5

In the back of my mind I kept thinking of The Catcher in the Rye, while reading about Blaze. This poor guy was dealt such awful cards, yet he has a soul. Blaze gets into some pretty bad situations, but the motivating factor behind it is usually from good intentions. Unfortunately the inappropriate moments he gets caught in are not viewed from his perspective, and the outsider's view of Blaze is that is is evil.

You read his perspective and you are on the sidelines rooting him on, yet you probably would 't do the same given a real person.

Thirty-some-odd years ago, Stephen King was a young writer with a unique and emerging style and a frighteningly vivid - and just plain frightening - imagination. He was not as polished as a best-seller ought to be - though he was never nearly as pedestrian as his own self-effacing interviews of the time would have readers believe. He might not yet have been the author he would become, but his ability to share a vision and tell a story were unparalleled, and the world responded. Stephen King became one of the most prolific and successful writers ever published.

Thirty-some-odd years later, he is a polished and mesmerizing author. Recent works, such as "Lisey's Story", are so compellingly written that the subject matter and story line become almost secondary to the work itself; it is a pleasure simply to be reading Mr. King. But, as Joni Mitchell observed, something's lost when something's gained, and the polish and precision with which Mr. King tells his tales has tended in recent years to eclipse the raw imagination that once drove his work.

What would happen if you could somehow capture the fiery imagination of his earlier days with the literary tendencies of a true master novelist?

"Blaze", that's what.

This remarkable work is undermined by adjectives; it is something that can be enjoyed by almost anyone who reads it, but is sure to be appreciated most by Mr. King's core of Constant Readers, those of us who have traveled his long and winding road with him since the mid 1970's. It is a stunning fusion of the raw and hungry storyteller working the Night Shift in the back of his trailer and the staggeringly successful novelist whose name is uniquely iconic within his trade.

"Blaze" has a comparatively low profile at the moment. Marketed as a missing Bachman Book, it might easily be overlooked by the occasional reader who never took seriously those captivating tales published by Mr. King's alter-ego. But caveat emptor: Once you enter the scary and tragic world of Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell, Jr., a part of you will never be able to leave.

Not the typical King book and when I started it I already had a bad opinion - King books suck lately - Under the Dome is a perfect example. But I was surprised that it actually read very fast and kept me wanting to turn the next page. Okay it was easy to see the ending but it was fun to get there. Also, they was written in a way that it could actually be a real story! Everything was believable!

Nice job Stephen!

I found this to be a wonderful piece of episodic writing. While the adventure unfolds, the author fills in the background with effective flashbacks. As a good author will, the book strikes the emotions differently from the intellect. From the locigal point of view, the protagonist is a rascal, and from an emotional standpoint, the reader becomes sympathetic. That is all the easier as the main character is intellectually limited and therefore naieve and somewhat innocent. The Voice of George becomes a key point as, in true King style, one is never sure if it occurs within the head of the main character or if it is some supernatural manifestation.

I learned of the existence of this novel years ago and figured it would languish forever in a "special collections" department. After reading it, I'm rather surprised it took so long for it to surface. Mr. King obviously thought enough of it at the time of writing to submit it to Doubleday for publication (Second Coming aka 'Salems Lot being chosen instead). It isn't a bad novel at all so why on earth did it take so long to be published? I was expecting the worst but was happily surprised to find it a serious and sobering read. It isn't the best of the Bachman books but it is certainly in the tradition of the other early "Bachman" novels (not including Thinner and The Regulators). It can't touch the early masterwork of RAGE or THE LONG WALK but it is slightly better than RUNNING MAN and far superior to ROADWORK. There are other "trunk" novels out there by SK like AFTERMATH and SWORD IN THE DARKNESS and perhaps with the publication of BLAZE those will see light in the not too distant future. Having read much of King's very early fiction (I was a Teenage Graverobber aka IN A HALFWORLD OF TERROR and his comic serial SLADE and stuff from the "garbage truck") it isn't nearly as bad as King makes it out to be (in fact it isn't bad at all). BLAZE deserved to be published and read before now. It isn't his best but it is still deeply moving and satisfying. Buy it and read it.

I am currently in my second read-through of Blaze, and it still strikes me that it takes a great novelist to get you to sympathize with a criminal. Blaze is both deplorable as well as instantly likeable in a sympathetic-leaning-towards-pity sort of way. You will end up wanting things to go well for him, down to the end. When he smiles, especially in the flashbacks, you end up smiling along.

I have nothing but praise for this book. It might be that it has been a good half-year since I last read it, but the story still hooked me, for example I still felt the same heart-wrenching sorrow over the section later dubbed "the fabulous blueberry summer." My first thought was "Man this kid didn't deserve half the things that were thrust upon him" followed by "Oh yeah, its a novel."

I don't think this story is for everyone, it WAS written by a much youngr King, and doesn't have the characterization or complexity of his later works. But if you are looking for a simple story with a lot of heart, you should check this one out.

First of all, like millions of other people I am a HUGE Stephen King fan. I'm always anxious for his new releases and I'm always there on the first day they come out. When I heard that he was releasing Blaze 30 years after he wrote it I was so excited because I have heard a lot about this book for awhile on several websites and have always wanted it in my hands. When I finally had it and started to read it I was drawn into the story. The story is so vivid and real it feels like I was walking right beside Blaze as you follow him in the big kidnapping heist to the flashbacks that reveal his very dark and sad past. King has such a great ability to make you feel for the characters and Blaze, although a sort of bad guy in the story, you still cannot help but pity the guy. It is a sort of tearjerker sort of book as King explains in the forward but I found it also very disturbing in some parts. It will maybe bring a few tears to your eyes but it will also send the chills down your spine and you might find yourself stopping sometimes just to let out a deep breath of shock. I thought his dead partner George talking to him and being a sort of guide to him was brilliant. I also think this is the best Bachman book he has written. I have read several reviews on here where people are saying the book wasn't his best but it was alright. I don't think those people are coming for the story, I think they are coming to read his life long masterpiece or something. Its all in the story and if you like a good story that will keep you turning those pages to see what happens next I would defienetly recommend this book to you. Pick it up!

This review may not apply to you because except for "The Green Mile" and "Delores Clairborne" I haven't liked any Stephen King novels since his brilliant run in the 1970s and 1980s when he had the Midas touch.

This feels like it could have been the fifth story in "Different Seasons" one of my favorite King non-horror collections: Bizarre, out there and thoroughly engaging.

NOTE: If you feel I am too harsh on his work since the 1980s...go back and re-read, you will be amazed at how easy his stories unfolded as opposed to now where the stories feel contrived and re-hashed and a lot of work to get through ("Dreamcatcher" was the low point.)

I pretty much gathered right out of the gate things were not going to end well for the main character, Blaze. He's a bad guy who's been dealt a bum hand in life and basically from a lack of smarts and options has lead a life of crime. You can't help but feel for the guy and you know throughout the story the walls are closing in on him. What you expect to be a horror thriller is really a sad story of a hopeless man. It was a quick read that always kept me interested.

This is by far, one of King's better books. Blaze is a slow witted guy, who listens to the voices in his head and kidnaps a baby.

Too dumb to realize he is out of his mind, he wrestles with the idea as to what to do with the kid. He doesn't really have the heart to hurt the kid either.

In the end, you can just tell, that Blaze is in a no win situation. The whole time though, I'm enthralled on this simple story. Not a lot of characters, just a man and the voices in his head.

I totally felt the Old Uncle Stevie's writing style in this book. Okay, so the premise is a bit out of whack, a huge dude with few lights on upstairs pulling off a criminal caper, but to me it had that comfortable feeling I haven't been getting with King's novels lately. Many people are complaining lately that there's no horror in some of King's books anymore and this may be true. I'd rather read a "non-horror" King book than anything like "Cell" again. A few of his best stories are not horror at all-"The Body" and "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption". I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable-didn't want to put it down.

This trunk novel deserved to see the light of day, being too good to keep boxed up somewhere. Despite being a thriller, the protagonist seems so troubled and so human, that his twisted kind of sweetness pulls at the heart and makes this book total much more. I got the same sort of feeling from it that I got when reading Of Mice and Men.

King updated this unpublished novel, and that is the one complaint I have about the book - the updates seemed a little obvious, and sometimes jarring. Did anyone else catch the use of `bool'? Otherwise, check out this book. The reading is easy and worth the time.

Meet Clayton Blaisdel aka Blaze. An individual that was bent right from the moment that he entered his cruel and unforgiving world. Just about killed by his own father, hated and abused at the boys home, finding a place of belonging at the wrong side of the law and finally in the end showing the biggest heart that I have ever read or felt in a novel before. I cried, seriously at the end of this book. In Stephen's introduction to Blaze he mentions that he tossed it and then resurected it (sound familiar to another little novel?) to be finally read by his fans. I loved this book. It's about a 2-3 day read depending on how you read and was worth every minute of my time. I loved/hated the ending but the big hearted Blaze was able to finally be loved. There were many tear jerker moments in the book (I wont ruin them for you here but there were some dewsies) and I only mention this because this is not the typical Stephen King novel. If you are in for a good read then give this one a go.

- Dan.

"Blaze" received an interesting hardcover release last year and is already out in paperback. It was sold expressly as an abandoned Richard Bachman book. The lengthy and entertaining foreword by Stephen King leaves no doubt that this is not a "proper" novel, but rather an old and jettisoned idea from 35 years ago that's been dusted off and sold primarily to showcase an artist charity King runs. A lot of King's recent work has been of this stripe -- old curiosities and half-finished projects, rather than novels proper. It's more interesting as a look at the evolutionary process behind the man's writing (see also On Writing) than as an original story in its own right.

As a blatant homage to Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck Centennial Edition), "Blaze" does wind up an amusing crime novella. It's written primarily in the hard-boiled noir throwback voice that King prefers to adopt on ocassion, most recently in The Colorado Kid (Hard Case Crime). It marries the idea of the cynical George shepherding the naive, mentally challenged Lenny (here renamed Blaze), with the boilerplate notion of two small-time criminals out for one last big score. Their plan is doomed to fail, and the author drops liberal hints throughout each successive chapter that there will be no happy ending. The last chapter matches up very closely to the final scene in Steinbeck's earlier work, if you need it.

Since "Blaze" is advertised as a "trunk novel", an abandoned project from 35 years ago that was never meant to be a centerpiece of the King ouevre, it's basically review proof. If I had to level a complaint, then, it's that this is clearly no longer a Bachman book. King's rewrites have removed any of the traits that may have distinguished Bachman's books from his own writing style. There's far too much of the open and obvious King sentimentality on display, such as the sequence where a school-aged Blaze and a buddy sneak off to Boston for a week. Their adventure succeeds due to the random kindness of total strangers, an old King trope. At the end of the sequence, we're told the sad fate of the other boy -- another common King feature, telling you chapters in advance how a character will exit the story. King's feature, not Bachman's.

I've got a feeling that were Bachman himself to buy and read this novel, he'd have shook his head despairingly and tossed it right back onto the reject pile, in between the DVD release of The Running Man (Special Edition) and the last surviving copies of "Rage".

I have loved Stephen King since "The Shining" scared me during the daylight hours when I was a teen. Blaze is not a scary book. Blaze is a sweet, sad tale where you learn to really care about the main character. I read a lot, so there is always another new book waiting on the shelf. But for the first time I can recall, I read the last page of a book, then turned back to the first page and began to read again. I bought it in hardcover when it first came out and I will probably buy it for my kindle, too. You can always use a good book and this is that book.

I love Stephen King. I love giving to charity.

But I would rather have given the 10 bucks directly to Haven, the non profit group to whom King donates profits from this title, than to have to read this book.

The characters are beautifully done, the dialogue, in most places, pure King. Believable, dead-on and right for each scene.

So far so good.

Then something unexpected happened in the second half of this thing.

I almost put it down, then thought, 'no, he can still surprise you, don't bail yet'.

When it was done, I thought 'maybe I missed something.'

I hadn't.

Borrow this one from the library if you absolutely must read King's entire output.

This Bachman book should have stayed in the trunk. Would liked to have seen it come out 15 years ago, when King was at his prime. Not that it's a bad book, but King has certainly done better.

My only gripe is it didn't have that same Bachman flavor the other novels had. Could explain why it sat in the trunk for so long. The other Bachman books had a certain glaze to them; a flavor like bad meat that lingers long after it hits the stomach. That translates to a grittier, meaner book, and Blaze just seemed too tame for what I was expecting. Good pacing and dialogue helped, as only King could do. But there was just something missing that I couldn't figure out. Overall, not bad.

This book had me from the first page to the last. As usual, King's characters in this book are rich and deep, even the dead ones. There was limited "woo-woo" in this story, so it was realistic and heart-rending throughout. I loved the way the story jumped back and forth between time periods, giving you a peek into some of the background that brought the character, Blaze, to present time. This felt like King at his best, and I am grateful he pulled it out of the mothballs of Backman's storage shed and dusted it off!!

I read this one in just about one sitting. (the family wanted me to make them dinner...can you imagine?) I wanted to continue listening to Blaze's story, both present and past. Bachman (King) has such a wonderful way with characterizations that you feel like you know them. George's voice is well done, too. At first you wonder if Blaze is being haunted by his pal, now gone because of a crap game gone wrong. They've spent years together, working one con or another, waiting for one another if one ended up behind bars.

George's big idea of the one big con to retire on is to kidnap a baby. George is gone, but the plan remains, and Blaze sets out to accomplish on his own what they had planned to do together.

Because of an abusive childhood, Blaze is a little on the slow side and this made me feel for him and let me accept his criminal life just a little bit easier. Why is that, do you suppose?

Anyway, check this one out for yourself. It just proves what we've always known: that no matter what name King writes under, he deserves recognition for the gift he gives us in his storytelling. Thanks, Mr King. I LOVED the story!

I suspect that most readers remember well their surprise when the news first broke that Richard Bachman, author of Thinner, was none other than the famous Stephen King. It wasn't long before more of "Bachman's" work was released to the world, some of it even being filmed. As it turns out, King put away one last Bachman book that he wrote in 1973, what he calls a "trunk novel," that he thought did not deserve publication.

King has now reworked the novel and had it published with his entire share of the proceeds being directed to The Haven Foundation, a charity that was created to help "freelance artists" who need temporary financial support. But all of that aside, I can't help but feel that Blaze is one trunk novel that probably should have remained locked in the trunk.

Clayton Blaisdell, the "Blaze" of the book's title, stands 6'7" tall, weighs in at almost 300 pounds, and is truly a gentle giant who has suffered at the hands of the world for most of his life. He lost his mother at an early age and, after being three times tossed down a set of stairs by his father and suffering brain damage, he found himself in an orphanage that saw nothing wrong with farming out the boys to homes that wanted them only for the free back-breaking labor they provided. Blaze was a hopeless student and when he finally left the orphanage he drifted into the life of petty crime that kept him alive.

Blaze's life in crime took a turn for the better when he met George Rackley, a man with more than enough brain power and criminal instinct for the two of them. Their con games worked quite well until George's sudden death left Blaze on his own again before the two were able to pull off the big score that they hoped would allow them to retire from the game forever. Blaze, following the detailed instructions of George, whom he still hears clearly speaking to him in his head, decides to go for the big payday on his own by kidnapping the baby heir that the two had planned to kidnap and ransom together. Not a good idea.

Despite its kidnapping plot and its sympathetic main character, Blaze never really succeeds in building much drama or suspense and its outcome is the predictable one. The way that King has structured the book with alternating chapters of flashbacks to the childhood that formed Blaze into the common criminal that he is today exposes the weakness of his main plot because the back story is better written and is much more interesting than the ultimate climax of the main plot line. This one is probably best left to King collectors who need it to maintain the completeness of their collections.

Note: The book includes Memory, the short story "seed" for King's next novel, Duma Key, which is to be published by Scribner in early 2008.

For those expecting a typical King tale, avoid this work as you will find it disappointing.

I found the story to be a good one. I enjoyed the detail provided by the author regarding the main character, "Blaze". If you are fond of getting to know the players in a book, I would advise trying this one out. If that is not your cup of tea you will likely be bored by this story.

If you like this one try "The Long Walk", my favorite Bachman story.

I like when King writes about something that could really happen in life. This was a good one, kept me interested. King, you almost lost me with the Republican bashing. That's what the missing star is for.

For me, this was one of the weaker of King's novels. He does preface this, refers to it as a trunk novel. But that doesn't mean it doesn't have worth. While I felt some of the ending was forced and left me unsatisfied, much of the story was quite interesting and detailed, as much of King's work is. It held my interest, kept me folded into King's words, but the ending just felt predictable to me.

If you are like me (a major Stephen King fan), I am sure you have been as dissapointed in many of Stephen Kings post accident works as I have been. Most contain wierd created languages (Liseys Story "Smucking") or bizzare and lose plots with ridiculous and meaningless flashbacks that feel like what I assume an acid trip must be like. However there have been a few gems that remind us all of Stephen Kings tremendous talent, at character development, and page turning suspense. Cell was one of these post accident successes. Blaze is yet another. While it is a different genre (sort of like Shawshank was for him), it is a great story that you will not want to put down. I highly recommend this book.

I gave this 5 stars because it was wonderful. The main character was a gentle man. Awesome portrayal of a sad sad soul. Not the characters fault he was (spoiler alert) left for dead to continue on with his life best he could, under the circumstances. Well done Mr. King. From a constant reader.

I am an avid Stephen King reader. I love most of his work and was very much looking forward to reading this early (1973) written novel.
Despite Stephen's worries whether his fans will like this or not, he has no worries at all.

Blaze is a fast read and a book that you will not want to put down. This story is about a Six-foot-seven, slow-minded convict who pulls the crime of the century: a kidnapping. And he does it all with the help of his dead friend, George.
You will laugh, cry, and be on the edge of your seat in this heartwarming tale of one mans journey-- both past and present. Clay Blaisdale, aka BLAZE is someone you can only love and feel sorry for, you hope him the best even though he is on the wrong side of the law.

Stephen King at his finest.

One of his early novels as Richard Bachman that is a tribute to his talents as a writer. Nice and concise, exciting, great characters and dialogue. Far superior to his latest novels -- bloated, overwritten and in need of a good editor.

BLAZE is a novel on fire. Proceeds from this novel go to a foundation to support young writers.

Well done, Stephen.

I don't have much to say about 'Blaze: A Novel'. I love King's horror novels, but I am always blown over by the quieter fiction he writes - even if it is written under the Richard Bachman pseudonym. 'Blaze' is one of King's quieter, simpler novels. The story leads you along, step by step, like footprints in the snow. It leads you into the tangles of a wood that grows inside one doomed man's heart.

In a word, it is beautiful.

***SPOILER ALERT!!!""" Ahh, the blissful coziness of having Richard Bachman home again for a too-brief, but wondeful visit. I settled in and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. This is Bachman (King) at his best, when his writing was fresh and innovative. Naturally, he's tweaked it and made it even better, but the early raw talent still shines through, and all those pesky italics are gone! A fantastic homage to Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," you can't help falling in love with Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell, Jr., and wondering a little bit what might have become of him had his possible mentor with the "strange pale eyes" (though he hints at buggery) had not keeled over of a heart attack. Stephen, PLEASE dig some more old treasures out of the U of O (also my baby sister's alma mater; you were her adviser sophomore year!) library and have at it!

"Blaze" is a pretty good story, whether it's a "trunk" novel or not. What I like best about Stephen King's novels is the way he makes his characters come alive. Think back to "The Stand" or "It" and the reason those novels work so well, is that as a reader you form an emotional attachment to the protagonists. Richard Bachman's novels are usually a darker and driven by a situation rather than by character. If you think of the novel's written under the Bachman name, "Thinner" for example. You never really like the protagonist of the novel. He is a cheating murderer, but you follow the story through to see what the outcome of the situation is. "Blaze" actually combines King's two styles, in that you have a character you come to like and sympathize with, placed into a dark situation. You will start pulling for Blaze, but by the 10th page, you just know how this book has to end. I'm not sure why King tacked the short story "Memory" on the back of "Blaze"? "Memory" isn't a bad story, but it feels like it's just a small part of a larger book. Almost like lifting a chapter or two out of "Insomnia" and planting it onto the end of another novel.

I thought this book was very interesting and went through the life of a mentally disabled individual who got involved with a criminal. This is about morality, understanding, comprehension, and entitlement. There are so many different ways that you can come to a conclusion with this book. This book reminds me of "Of Mice and Men" a little bit. Hope this helps!

This book is a nice blend of Raising Arizona, The Butcher Boy, Fargo, and Of Mice and Men. With some elements of Forrest Gump, King Kong, The Shining, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn sprinkled on top and stirred in. Hold the steamed milk and POW! A great read.

Dear Mr. King,

What the hell are you talking about "trunk novel . . . three hankie weepie" or other such nonsense? I've been reading your stuff since I was 11 and I've enjoyed the vast majority of it (please tell me Rose Madder was written by someone else). And this book is up there among my favorites. Does that make you think less of this Constant Reader? Then fine.

I do get what you're saying. Yes it tugs on the heartstrings like Blaze on the cow's udders over there at the Bowie's but so what? I'm happy to say that I enjoyed every part of the story, I liked meeting the ancestor of John Coffey, Wolf, and Tom. M-O-O-N. That spells Blaze.

You found your mark and pounded it home. Like Cell.

Thanks again.

Normally, I eat Stephen King novels with a spoon. They are always easy to slip into .... and he's got me at " hello ". I stay there until the piece is finished.
I am especially fond of Mr. King's writings ( along with his tutorial narratives ) for just this reason. If I'm going to be on a long plane ride ... or a boring wait
at a doctor's office ..... I am thrilled if I have a new " King " to read. If I'm reading at home .... I find myself still awake at 4 a.m. ........ " just reading ONE MORE
PAGE" . Am I a fan ? Most definitely. Do I like ALL of them ? Enough to finish reading ..... and some very special favorites. I've read several more than once or
twice .... and I'm always tickled pink when Hollywood does his work justice - starting with " Stand By Me " - a very special short story, in it's own right .... and
right down my alley - as I grew up in that time. Or " Firestarter " or " Misery " .... " The Dead Zone " .... and on and on...............

My all time favorite is " The Stand " ..... and was happy to see it come out so well. I have to say that I prefer King's screenplay of " The Shining ", to the
Hollywood version.

As to " Blaze ". I found it to be inexcusably violent, slow moving , and generally a regrettable read. Sorry - but that's how it struck me. I've read everything Mr.
King has to offer - and never had this reaction. I am one of those people, who - once having opened a book, keep reading until the end. I could not do this
with " Blaze " - and that's a FIRST for any author. When I used to work in NYC ... taking busses and trains, I read an average of 10 books a week. No wimpage,
here ..........

Maybe I'll pick it up again .... on a transatlantic flight ......... and give it another shot. I doubt it.

The violence in many of King's books is palpable .... and, yet, I keep reading. " Blaze" was just too too.

Writing under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman, allows King to go back to the basics--simplify the story and focus on one character. Blaze is a heartfelt story about a conman that isn't so bright in the head. King's humorous prose and dialogue touches the heart and allows me to connect with the main character. You feel sorry for Blaze and end up siding with the conman! This is actually one of my favorites.

Generally I have enjoyed all of SK's novels and found his characters to be so real at times they fairly leap off the page. It's hard to put my finger on why this novel didn't do it for me. It grabbed me right away, the premise was intriguing. I almost thought it might be something along the order of "The Ransom of Redchief". About three quarters of the way through the book, I began realizing that I just didn't care very much about the main character. I couldn't find any redeeming values SPOILER here: He even attempts to kill the baby at one point. This was King writing at the beginning of his career, and it shows. The promise of his future brilliance is evident, but it just hadn't ripened when this book was created. Save for a few die hard fans, I don't see how it will do much for his reputation at this point in time. Good practice piece, but should have been left in the trunk.

Blaze was the late Richard Bachman's last story (only recently discovered in a trunk). It is a very good story. It is not as edgy as some of Bachman's other books (ie. The Long Walk or Thinner), but at 260 pages it was a fast-paced read that entertained. Blaze is not a thriller (although some parts are thrilling), nor is it a horror story (although some parts are graphic). Instead, Blaze is the story of a lost soul, struggling to find a place in the world. Unfortunately for Blaze, his search for meaning is often expressed through crime. This eventually becomes his undoing. The book has sad untertones, and in the end you are left with a conclusion that is expected, but it does not make it any less enjoyable. The only strike with this book is that it is in hardcover, and is a very short book for your money. Not a classic Bachman/King story, but it is a good one.

I really enjoyed "Blaze". It was different from the other Stephen King books I've read. No horror in it, which was ok with me. Gets tiring when an author writes with the same formula over and over. This book showed a different side of King and how versatile he is as a writer.
The copy of "Blaze" I read had the short story "Memory" in the back, which was a treat.

I wish Stephen King(Richard Bachman) wrote more tales like this that are more on the drama side as oppose to the horror. I also like the flow of the book without a lot of extra pages for the mind processing he sometimes gets into in his books. I prefer the shorter and to the point type stories. I think this one would make a good movie.

I've read most of King's works over the years and was glad that he decided to publish this one. It kept me entertained and wanting to learn more about Blaze and his cast of friends/characters. While this novel wasn't nearly as deep and as developed as many of this others, King's unique storytelling abilities are there. There were times when I laughed out loud reading about Blaze and about some of the flashbacks to his earlier years. I really grew to like this character and wished the book was longer. I've spent many summers in northern and central Maine so I could also relate to the areas that were described in this book. I guess that's about the best thing you can say about any book. Maybe he's got more of his early stuff still hiding away in the closet or library somewhere. I wonder if some day King could write a novel based solely in the furthest reaches of Aroostook, Maine 'The County' .

Great perspective in this book. I never thought I'd sympathize and root for the story's "bad guy", but you really had to. Very, very tense story, because even though you know what's probably going to happen, you feel bad for a guy who's had the deck stacked against him for his entire life. I really enjoyed this book, and my only criticism was that the tension built really strongly, only to have the story end rather abruptly.

I thought Blaze was a great book - it was a fast and easy read and kept you engrossed in the storyline. The character was so simple and lovable, yet dangerous. At some point, I actually choked up when reading about the suffering poor Blaze had to endure and the tremendous losses in his life. I'm glad this was only a book.

Blaze is stunning. I love when King writes about irony and this story is all about irony. It looks deep into why our main character is a criminal and your heart will ache when you finally finish this tale. King proclaims that horror isnt always about the monsters under your bed, real horror is the everyday things we go through and this simple beautiful tale couldnt be more ordinary told in an extra ordinary way.

If only Stephen King could write with this kind of lean narrative today! The ideas behind Blaze are nothing extraordinary, but King's taut narrative and innate storytelling skills propel this short novel along a page-turning path. If you're a King loyalist, you won't be disappointed as long as you don't expect a miracle. This is a simple crime story, but an enjoyable one.

It doesn't matter if the jacket name is Richard Bachman or Stephen King, when you open the book, you will be reading the work of one of the finest writers of our time. (What a curse to be so talented and productive that you'd have to use two names!)
I found this book to be one heck of a good ride, and the age of the material added a welcome bit of nostalgia.
King's (sorry, Bachman's) book tells the story of a man you can both hate and pity simultaneously. The story reels you in early and keeps you there until the end, as is customary when you read the King's work.
Buy this book - read this book. You will be glad you did!

I really like King's writing. Some of my favorites are Cujo, Carrie, Misery, The Running Man, The Shining, Rage, The Long Walk, Christine, Apt Pupil, Dead Zone... As you can see, I gravitated a bit toward the generally less popular Bachman stuff. So when King said Blaze was not one of his best, I didn't mind because I like some of the less popular stuff. However, I could not get into Blaze. It just didn't seem up to his usual level of quality. I read it a while back but I seem to recall a lot of profanity---gratuitous language. I didn't complete the book.

If you can get past the overdone slow-wittedness of the main character, the clunky idioms and oddball references used to pad this out, you can feel a little bit of sympathy for the schizophrenic protagonist stuck between love for his baby kidnap-ee and survival. Middleways in, a series of flashbacks threaten to drown the book, but King finally pulls it together for the big showdown at the end.

As read by Ron McLarty, a novelist in his own right, "Blaze" is moving, funny and never less than completely absorbing for a single moment. I wasn't expecting very much from this so-called "trunk" novel, but thanks to Stephen King's rewrite and McLarty's spellbinding performance, I found it difficult not to listen to the entire reading in one sitting. Highly recommended for both the beauty of the story, which alternates between present-day and flashbacks, and the consistently entertaining narration by McLarty.

Although not one of the Stephen King's finest books, manages to keep the reader focused on the pages till the very end. Combining the natural with the supernatural, it will amaze everyone. It refers to a criminal who manages to kidnap a millionaire's son. Then while entertaining the reader with the adventure part, Stephen King manages to get into the depths of the human soul, as he gives details about the psychological fluctuations of the characters.

I am truly grateful that Stephen King retrieved this book out of the box aka the trunk. I read this book in 2 days and I would have finished it sooner if my pesky children didn't need my attention every now and again! This is really one of my favorite Bachman/King books. I've gone on a Bachman kick and recently re-read Thinner and am about to start The Bachman Books. I seriously doubt any of this can top Blaze but I can hope it will be at least be AS good.

I was seriously disappointed when I tried to read Lisey's Story....this book brought back my faith, at least in the old King/Bachman! I was actually sad when I finished this book!

It only makes sense. If you are Stephen King and you see that lately your writing has deteriorated what would you do? Well, one option is to do what he did in this case, find an old manuscript that was never published, try to polish it, and get a winner out of it. The idea is not bad, but as King says in the foreword, this work was never published because it wasn't too good. Well, you know what? He is right! There are some aspects of the book that have the feeling of the old King, but the story is lacking, and the overall result is just average, which seeing the quality of some other recent works, is not too bad an outcome.

The aspects in which King excels have to do with the depiction of the characters and with making these come alive in the pages of the novel. Blaze is a character that allows the writer to show-off his talent too, since his simple mind together with his huge body make for an interesting combination. Not only that, Blaze sees and talks to his friend George, who is dead. This odd pair was planning to kidnap a rich kid, collect the ransom, and use it to live worry-free ever after. A small detail like George's death should not spoil the plan, right?

King uses his characteristic back-and-forth in time to provide background on the characters and make them more real to the reader, and this works well, as is usually the case. The portions of the plot dealing with the present are the ones that at times become boring and represent one of the main faults with the novel. The other aspect I did not like is that I felt that the ending was too rushed, with the author trying to tie-up too many loose ends in just a few pages.

After Stephen King had his tragic accident, which almost cost him his life, he announced that he was going to stop writing, only to add that he was going to finish his works-in-progress first. Now it seems to me that the author is trying to keep writing while still fulfilling his promise, so he only uses ideas that were already started and probably discarded for not being up to par. I think that the time has come to either stop, or decide to recant his previous statement and create new ideas that are as good as the ones coming from the King we were used to seeing in the past. Fans everywhere sure miss him!

In 1973 when this book was written, I was a Sophomore in High School, Richard Nixon was on his way out, the Viet Nam War was winding down, and I was an angry teen, so if I had written this book then, I would think it was the best thing ever written. However, as Stephen King is one of the most successful writers in history, well, it isn't that great.

Is it the worst book I read in 2009? No it's not tht bad, it just isn't the best thing to read if you have a choice.

2 3/4*

I absolutely love Blaze. The book was great, but I am referring to the character. He is loveable, well-meaning and in way over is head.

Like other Richard Bachman tales, this is entertaining and tragic without a lot of fluff.

I'll keep this short and sweet.

I didn't realise how much I'd missed Richard Bachman, but I'm so glad Stephen King dug up this brilliant manuscript, blew off the cobwebs and shared his story from the grave.

For me, it has all the elements which has made me an avid reader of his novels since I was a kid. Only he can make you feel sorry for the poor sap that is Blaze, and make you root for the 'bad guy'.

Buy it, read it and enjoy it; it's great!

I have to say that I have never been a huge King fan, but I picked this book up for giggles. I was astonished. This book was fantastic. The character development of Blaze was some of the best I have ever read. I empathized more with him than any character that I can remember as of late. The homage to Of Mice and Men, to me, surpassed the original novel.

So in the introduction, Mr. King actually admits he wrote this book a long time ago and didn't think it was good enough to publish. A few years past, he though about it again, and it STILL wasn't good enough to publish. But now, sure enough, sudenly it's good enough!

NO IT'S NOT! I'm sorry, I love Mr. King. His literary style at it's best is a thing of beauty. To this day, the only work of fiction- book, short story or otherwise to truly scare me, was The Shining. His works have been glorious and far reaching. But this is ridiculous.

I genuinely believe he looked at this old "trunk novel" and said to himself, "My readers will buy anything I throw out there!".

This is a thoroughly depressing and utterly dull story about someone you don't ever care about.

Honestly, I think Mr. King is sitting at home compiling a bunch of old shopping lists that he is going to publish. This stuff is garbage.

Blaze is a breathe of fresh air in the fictional world of both Bachman and King. For a mentally challenged guy he has more smarts than Lisey, Roland and Cujo! Once you start getting to know Blaze you can't wait to read more. Just as good as Koontz's Brother Odd series-- would love to see another Blaze book. How could we make that happen? Story is a little lame and predictable but the characters are begging to come off the pages. Kudos to Bachman/King for revisiting previous works, 'Shining' them up, putting them back on the 'Lot' and letting this Little Red Sox Girl love more than Tom Gordon. From a Buick 07 I thank you!

I was skeptical about Blaze ,which (according to King) was written when he was fairly young. But it turned out I had no reason to be.The story is about Blaze, a large man with a low IQ and his attempt colect ransom after kidnapping the baby of a wealthy couple. King makes Blaze a likeable character: violent, conflicted and haunted by the memory of his murdered friend, a con man who acted as his mentor. Sure one can predict the outcome well in advance, but it is strength of King's narrative and his ability to tell a story that makes this an excellent read.

This book is a must-have addition for the collection of any Stephen King fan. Though it is not quite like the "normal," Stephen King novel (if you could call his novels normal), the suspenseful story grips you all the way to the last page. The exquisite crafting of words allows you to really get to know Blaze, creating this relationship that in the end, left me wondering who really was the "bad guy."

This book is definitely one of the better writings that came out of King's alias Bachman years. "Bachman" portrays the protagonist of the novel, "Blaze," in stunning detail and depth. He covers Blaze's entire life throughout the story, and weaves it together with the present undertakings of the perfect crime gone bad. I honestly could not think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than reading this book. Buy it if you a fan of King's Bachman genius, and you definitely will not be disappointed!

Where to fit this in the Stephen King cannon. It is definitely a Bachman book, but not as excellent at The Long Walk or Rage but better than Road Work. It is somewhere in the middle. The Blaze character is likeable enough, even though he is a despicable character. It's an interesting story but not one of his stronger works. Good more for a curioso (the book also feels dated).

King Penned this book way back in 73 and while it doesn't have the edge of much of his early work, that isn't a bad thing. Blaze is at once a tender tale and a barn burner of a story. That's no small task. Few novels keep you reaching for tissue to wipe both tears from your eyes and sweat from your brow. I won't rehash the plot previous posters have done that well enough. The plot isn't the only feature anyhow the nuanced character of Blaze offers much to any reader of fiction. I've long been an admirer of King's work and this novel only proves that even as a young man King was the best in the book biz!

I'm a big King fan since nearly day one. Part of it is because I've always thought we had alot in common. Same gender. He's a year older. Same college majors in New England universities-him Maine, me Vermont. But Blaze does little for me.
Oh, there are certainly many instances here of King's superb writing style. The style that has made him easily the best suspense writer around today. The problem is in the characterization. The plot is alright. Big goof, tough upbringing, nobody to help him through his losses in life tries to run a kidnapping scam, but his mind is too weak and his heart too strong to ever pull it off.
The problem is revealed in King's introduction. He shares with us "I won't say I hope you mist up a little but-" Blaze has an uneviable life and suffered torments no child ever should. However, one cannot tear up over him. He is a criminal, a murderer, and, well, a menace. King fails to establish the character he wishes. It just doesn't work.

I was pleasantly surprised with 'Blaze,' and I'm glad King/Bachman decided to release it. Right away, the reader knows they're reading Classic King. If you're expecting another 'The Stand' or 'Salem's Lot,' you're going to be disappointed. However, if you enjoyed the Bachman books of yesteryear, this will be a nice treat. A fast, enjoyable read.

Blaze was a decent, short novel by King, though not his best work by a long shot (he says so in the forward). You can't help feeling a little sorry for the lead character "Blaze". His troubled past was really the cause of his present, and you can't help but wonder what could have been.....

I enjoyed this book very much. It was easy reading and moved right along. It is different from most of King's writings in that it is a plain story, no horror or monsters. George was in Blaze's mind as a result of his childhood beatings, and that's the closest to any "supernatural" tone.
It is true that you feel sympathetic to Blaze and feel bad for him in the end. Regardless of my enjoyment of the book, I do not think this is one of King's better works.

It was penned by Richard Bachman, which we all know now, as Stephen King.
The story is a unique one, taking a kid that grew up with tough luck and hard times (thanks to his father) and follows the paths his simpler mind chooses along the way, intoducing his friends as it goes along.

It's a good read, and goes fast, like most of King's books/novels.

Well worth the read, would love to say more, but then it'd just be giving it away, and that's no fun.

I am a diehard Stephen King fan but this book is not his usual genre. The story is more of a crime novel and I missed the mysticism of the "Dark Tower" novels. The book is good for an King collector but don't expect it to be like His "horror" stories.

This reads like a typical latter day King novel although it was written much earlier in his career. It's got the slightly retarded man, the hint of the "other," the redemption in the end. Or rather not redemption but recognition of the good that was always there.

BLAZE is pretty one dimensional...but in a good way..it almost reads as a biography, following the life of one character to try and understand why he is the way he is and does what he does.

After not being able to get past 100 pages of LISEY'S STORY (FROM A BUICK 8 is the only other King I couldn't finish), BLAZE was a very straight-ahead novel that is thoroughly enjoyable.

Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell has suffered abuse in just about every form one could stand. Abused and beaten by his father, and suffering more mistreatment at the orphanage that takes him in, Blaze is left with diminished mental ability. As an adult Blaze falls in with George Rackley. The two decide that kidnapping is their best way to riches and the easy life, but George dies before the plan can be executed. The story continues then with Blaze relying on his dead partner to help pull off the plan.

I honestly that I'd be able to tell that this story was an early one; one preceeding all of the wonderful stories that King (Bachman) has given us. I sincerely couldn't do so even though I knew the story was crafted more than 30 years ago. All in all I thought it was a pretty good read with King's patented ability to grace the reader with a gripping story. Kings economical style is at work here. I feel Thinner was the best of the Bachman stories and the release of Blaze hasn't changed that.

Read Blaze, you won't be disappointed.

I LOVED this book though I am use to Scary Stephen King books. I know I know the main character was a murderer and a criminal and we shouldn't have any sympathy or liking for him but you just DO in this book. Blaze is a dummy and talks to his ghost friend but I couldn't put this book down. I liked everything about it. The telling of his past and his present and how we found out about George and John. I just dug this book and it didn' have to be scary OK.

The physical and mental abuse suffered by Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell at the hands of his father has taken its toll on the lad. The beatings left Blaze with reduced cognitive skills. His time spent in an orphanage led to more thumping, further reduction in his mental capacity, and petty crimes.

In the present Blaze and his partner in crime, George Rackley, plan a kidnapping with the latter providing the brains. However, before they can execute the abduction, George is murdered. Blaze "consults" with George as if his partner is still at his side and decides to go ahead with the snatch.

Written in 1973 before Mr. Bachman died from "cancer of the pseudonym", Stephen King has somewhat revised this character study. The story line focuses on Blaze rotating between his abusive childhood and the present when he turns to his dead partner for leadership. Fascinatingly readers will empathize with the title character while detest the males in his life, from his father to his peers and teachers at the orphanage to nasty George; all share in common abusing Blaze at least in what is left of his mind. Although there are no surprises coming out of the grave, this is a fine tale. Note that a recently released short story, "Memory," is also included, but though entertaining not sure why as that feels like padding and advertising Mr. King's future novel Duma Key that apparently comes from it.

Harriet Klausner

Steven King is the absolute best writer that ever was. He stands right next to Edgar Allen Poe!!! If you want a book that you can't put down I recommend that you purchase any one of the many books that Steven King wrote!!!

I finished this book this morning and I must say, it was good. This is reportedly the last book that will be written under the Richard Bachman pseudonym. Stephen King King did a good job on the revision of this story. I would recommend this to all king fans.

I've looked forward to reading this book since I heard about it, and let me tell you that this book does not disappoint. Blaze is another of King's well realized characters, he's slow, he's a criminal, but he has a good heart, and by the time the book ends, you find yourself caring quite deeply for him, making the ending all the more involving and emotional. I highly recommend this book.

Another bad book from a once great writer. King just hasn't been the same since his accident. This books steals the characters from Steinbeck's classic Of Mice & Men and turns them from reagular working men into criminals. It then plods along like a Stephen King parody, throwing in all the usual King devices to create sympathy -- the abusive parent, the crappy foster home, the sense of alienation. King's style has become much looser in his later years, and it's not for the better. His older stuff has HEAT. This is a waste. And the whole book I kept wondering: if part of Blaze's mind can formulate George's thoughts, feelings, and words, how can we consider Blaze to be mentally challenged? I am a HUGE King fan, but this will be the last "new" book I'll buy with his name on it. The only thing I can say is that it reads fast, and that the proceeds go to charity. Stephen King: please stop ruining your legacy!

Stephen King states in his excellent introduction to this book that he hopes the reader will come away from it with the feeling of having read a "good" story. I did just that. It certainly isn't the best Bachman or King story but he doesn't try to say it is. For me, "The Regulators" holds that mantle as best Bachman novel. The best thing about Blaze is the back story that tells of Blaze's earlier life and times and also, King's (Bachman's) characters are as richly written as ever, which is what is perhaps King's major strength as a novelist. It was well worth King publishing this early novel and it's well worth a read but don't expect too much from it, I think you will enjoy it more with that in mind.

Back in 1988, when I was researching my book, THE STEPHEN KING COMPANION, I spent time at the Special Collections at the Fogler Library at Orono, Maine, where the original, typed manuscript of BLAZE had been deposited, along with a number of other unpublished novels. This was what King calls a "trunk" novel, meaning it's a book that he never published; he wrote it and put it in the trunk, thinking it was unpublishable.

Well, when I read it, page by page, from first until last, I felt differently: Unlike, say, SWORD IN THE DARKNESS (a novel about a race riot), which is another trunk novel by King, BLAZE shone with a gritty kind of storytelling that marked King's early fiction. Clearly a homage to John Steinbeck's novella "Of Mice and Men," the story centers on Clayton Blaze Blaisdell, who is party to the kidnapping, along with his party George Rackley; Clayton, whose checkered past -- in and out of orphanages and foster homes -- strikes a sympathetic tone with the reader, as he finds love (albeit one-sided) where he least expects it: the infant he has helped abduct. (You may recall the famous Lindbergh kidnapping in all this, as I did.)

The most difficult thing in fiction is to make the bad guy seem sympathetic, but King pulls it off. In spades. Just as we feel for Lenny in Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," so, too, do we feel for Clayton, who is a criminal on the run; he has stolen the infant but, in the process, has stolen our hearts, as well. That is the art of fiction, the art of storytelling, and King's always had that gotta-read-the-next-page-to-see-what's-happened quality.

In King's fiction, the character comes first; the story then comes out of the character. King's modus operandi has always been that if you grow to care about the character, the story will mean something to you; but if the characters in the novel aren't sympathetic, you won't care about their fates and, by the extension, the book itself. So King starts with compelling characters believably motivated and pursuing their own ends.

What most readers probably don't know is that King's royalties on this book go to fund one of his foundations, set up for indigent creators who find themselves in dire financial straits due to no fault of their own. The Haven Foundation is the beneficiary of King's sales, and it's the only foundation of its kind. It's also King giving back to the community that supported him, which speaks of King's enormous generosity. (Wouldn't it be nice if the publisher matched King's donation dollar for dollar? Then the publisher could give back to the community, as well.)

At the the store discount, you can't afford NOT to buy this book if you're a King fan or you're a fan of good old-fashioned storytelling. And, as a bonus, your purchase will help, indirectly, freelance writers who these days are the true mavericks, the last of a dying breed. (Long story here, and this isn't the time or place to talk about it.) Suffice it to say that fans who want a taste of the early King will find their appetites more than satisfied with this relentless and unstoppable storytelling engine that propels the reader from first page to last: BLAZE is a meteor cutting a bright swath across the heavens, and you'll find a lot to mine in this early but wholly satisfying story by America's storyteller, Stephen King.

King (aka Bachman) agains provides a masterful tale. With King, the story, not the ending, is the focus (the joy is in the journey not the destination). Blaze is no different. It is wonderfully told and then just sort of ends. While not a "traditional" horror story, Blaze has a nice rough edge to it that will satisfy both mystery and horror story lovers.

Blaze is a fantastic book.
Unlike most of Stephen King's books it is not about horror. It is more of a mystery.
It is not long and repetitious. It is very well written, concise and to the point.
This is probably King's best book.
I highly recommend it.
I also recommend Cell and Desperation.

I enjoyed the book. I found it somewhat different than the books I have read by S King. Halfway through the book I felt saddness for Blaze. Needless 2 say that I did drop a tear or 2 as I was getting to the end of the book. Over all I do recommend the book.

Watching(yes, watching because you actually SEE this character)Blaze evolve thoughout this book is painful, but you can't stop reading. You become both sympathetic and appalled. The constant tension makes this a very fast read!

The novel is just average King, but the forward is classic King, incorporating all the self depreciation and schmaltzy irony that is typical of him. In some ways the Bachman books show greater range in style than his own. Blaze is some distance away from the Long Walk, but avoids the pacing issues of some of Kings own larger novels. For fans of King and his "come with me now style", I would have to recommend the homage CONSTANT READER

I haven't enjoyed a Stephen King book this much in a while. His early writing style got me hooked originally. Blaze is a sympathetic slob that in one instant you abhor and in the next instant you want to hug him and help him to see reality. Great read. Easy read. Wonderful characters.

Also highly recommend Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill

It just seems as though I have been reading Stephen King forever.
And as usual it seems I either LOVE the book or just want to get the thing finished.
Unfortunately, this is one of those novels I couldn't wait to be done.
Certainly not his best work.

I always enjoy Mr. Kings books, but normally they are not what I would define as "rock star books". Blaze was an average book out of the mind of Stephen King, the set up was great, the characters have a good amount of depth, and then the ending was a nonevent. Books like this are designed to be read in the middle of winter when snowed into the house and no place to go.

This novel shows how good SK was when he was just getting started. It has a good storyline and held my interest, but it does not have the complex, multifaceted plot of some of his better works. It was a good, quick summer read.

I entirely enjoyed this read. It was intelligent and brought to me a desire to empathize with the 'villan.' Blaze awakened to the possibility of love in his life to raise the question again...Nature v.s. Nurture? Honostly, I wished for his escape.

This book is different from what I am used to reading from Stephen King.
althought different I still enjoyed reading the book. Very quit and easy
read and anyone who reads Stephen King books will enjoy this book because
you can see how his writing has changed over the years. I think anyone
would enjoy this book even if they haven't read any of his books.

kate

There's a good reason the Bachman books are kept separate from King's other work; with the exception of Thinner There all fairly weak efforts and Blaze adds nothing to "Bachman's" rep. It's a one note pulp; think of it as an alternate life for Steinback's Lenny of Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck Centennial Edition)if Lenny's George was a two-bit criminal with delusions of grandeur. An ill-fated kidnapping, a haunting figment of Blaze's overtaxed imagination and flashbacks filled with missed opportunities are what make up this mess. King always has the ability to make you turn the pages, but I was glad that money from this one was donated to charity; at least it served a purpose other than wasting my time.

I was really excited to get this book and it did not disappoint. Stephen King once again shows how well he writes - as himself or Richard Bachman. I was unable to put it down. I enjoyed Blaze very much and would recommend it highly.

A short story about the life of a man being the victim of a life full of tragedy and missed opportunities. This book is a page turner and despite the end being obvious very soon you want to read through to the end, even if it's already past midnight and you have to go to work the next morning.

I really enjoyed the book. It was written like his eariler stuff, better than recent things. I read the thing in a day and half. I couldn't wait to see what was happening next. My only complant was I got finished to quickly, I wanted it to continue longer. I highly recommend it. Thanks

I've enjoyed all of King's books and short stories. Many of them more than once. Blaze is no exception. It's typical King. Well plotted, fast paced, with interesting characters and great back stories. I read it the day I received it because it really held my interest.

I liked the story but it started pretty slow. It stuck in my head and after a few hours listening to other things I had to know what happened.
If you can get through the beginning its a good story.

Don't get me wrong. Our family loves Stephen King (and Richard Bachman). We have nearly every book he's written and many of them are "comfort reading" material. But this book is not one of them. The character development is surprisingly limited for King, and much of the writing is overdone. One of the things we love about King's typical writing is his ability to create memorable, albeit often uncomfortable, passages that stay with you forever. The sad thing about this book is that even though I just finished reading it, I really couldn't tell you anything memorable about it.

Sad to say, this book won't be joining the rest of the SK/RB family on our bookshelf.

I'm a Constant Reader, but this one is very disappointing. The characters are annoying and fall flat, story is not engaging and I wouldn't read it again (and i could and do read most ALL of his stuff multiple times). Don't bother with Blaze - it's very disappointing.

I mean it really should have stayed in the trunk too. I mean Stephen king is one of the best storyteller ever. Why would this book be out ruining his spotless great sheet of incredibly fullfilling novels? If you are not a king fan yet, don't start with this one.

Over the years, I've watched Stephen King grow wordier and wordier - no big deal since I just tend to skim a lot of the prose now. Although the story behind BLAZE is not bad, I was extremely disappointed in the actual writing. Is he getting paid by the word now? If you removed 3/4 of the pointless obscenity -- pointless meaning it didn't add to the story in any way -- you'd probably cut out 50 to 75 pages of the book. Blaze was ridiculous. You tell a story in however many words it takes to tell it. You might flesh it out with any number of things that add to the story, but don't pad it with indiscriminate use of expletives. It detracts from the story and is in really bad taste. Hard to believe this is the same guy who wrote "The Stand" and "Firestarter" and "Insomnia."

This book just doesn't get it done. This is the second book I've read by "Richard Bachman" ie Stephen King and both have left me rather empty. I feel as if I've wasted $20. Blaze is rater predictable and possess' virtually no suspense. Save your money and wait for Koontz' next effort.

I picked this off the library shelf remembering that I liked SKs Bachman stories. Not even thinking ...why wasn't it published long ago with the rest.

But as SK makes clear on page #1 under what he calls "FULL DISCLOSURE", "This is a trunk novel, okay?" Meaning it didn't make the grade and was to be used only in dire desperation/need.

The thing that makes me so pissy about SK is that surely he knows he is pawning off bad books on us, because he was SO GOOD before. So you can only conclude that he is taking advantage of his 'constant readers' trust in order to keep himself wealth.

I genuinely do not understand why people still read SK. To me SK stopped being SK after The Green Mile (maybe bag of bones). His stories and writing of the last eleven yrs. is so radically different that it's like it's not SK.
Maybe he's hiring writers under the table and splitting the profits. Maybe he's using those hard up freelance artists via his foundation. Maybe his son Joe writes for him.

SK says "If it matters to you (it shouldn't--hopefully you came for a good story, and hopefully you will get one), any royalties or subsidiary income generated by Blaze will go to The Haven Foundation, which was created to help freelance artists who are down on their luck."
The Haven Foundation is a non-profit grant-making foundation King established.

On his HF website SK says;
"In the summer of 1999, I was struck by a careless driver ..... It was ten months before I was able to work productively again. Some years later, a good friend of mine, audio reader Frank Muller, suffered terrible head injuries as a result of a motorcycle accident. He will never work again. My luck was infinitely better than Muller's, but the two events set me thinking about the uniquely perilous situation of many freelance artists."

I don't see what took SK so long to figure that out. Had he forgotten his own past? Even I remember reading (from him) about his poor childhood and money struggles before Carrie (1974).

King's other nonprofits: The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, The Barking Foundation. Grantmaker Member of the Maine Philanthropy Center. Frank Muller related; Wavedancer Foundation

The Chronicle of Philanthropy (the newspaper of the nonprofit world) reported that abuses by charities and donors may be costing the taxpayer about $15-billion a year in lost revenue.
The Senate Finance Committee recently held a hearing on nonprofit abuse. The hearing discussed nonprofits that pay excessive salaries to their executives; individuals who they say defraud our tax system by using charities as a facade to assist in paying their personal expenses; and people who write off phony amounts for in-kind gifts
The IRS Commissioner admitted to the committee that the IRS is having increasing difficulty policing the booming nonprofit sector, which is made up of approximately 3 million organizations and manages around $8 trillion.

After 10+ yrs of garbage books from SK yes I'm a cynic. Lambaste me all you want.

The "FULL DISCLOSURE" is no excuse to publish garbage and to ask money for it to boot.

Oh and the story was implausible. A person as mentally bad off and huge in size as Blaze wouldn't be able to pull off a kidnapping.

Very disappointing. It's as if King wrote in a two days.

There was not a single redeaming quality; except if you hate republicans, which the author expresses frequently. But not only in this novel, but a lot recently. He has contempt for all conservative thought.