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Blaze (novel)
Encyclopedia
Blaze is a crime novel by Stephen King
, published under the pseudonym
of Richard Bachman
. King announced on his website that he "found it" in an attic. In fact it was written before Carrie
and King offered the original draft of the novel to his Doubleday publishers at the same time as 'Salem's Lot. They chose the latter to be his second novel and Blaze became a "trunk novel." King rewrote the manuscript, editing out much of what he perceived as over-sentimentality in the original text, and offered the book for publication in 2007. The book also contains "Memory
," a short story that was first published in 2006 and which King has since worked into Duma Key
.
In an interview with Lilja of Lilja's Library (posted January 16, 2007), King said:
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, published under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Richard Bachman
Richard Bachman
Richard Bachman is a pseudonym used by horror fiction author Stephen King.-Origin:At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was such that an author was limited to a book every year, since publishing more would not be acceptable to the public...
. King announced on his website that he "found it" in an attic. In fact it was written before Carrie
Carrie (novel)
Carrie is American author Stephen King's first published novel, released in 1974. It revolves around the eponymous Carrie, a shy high-school girl, who uses her newly discovered telekinetic powers to exact revenge on those who tease her...
and King offered the original draft of the novel to his Doubleday publishers at the same time as 'Salem's Lot. They chose the latter to be his second novel and Blaze became a "trunk novel." King rewrote the manuscript, editing out much of what he perceived as over-sentimentality in the original text, and offered the book for publication in 2007. The book also contains "Memory
Memory (Stephen King)
"Memory" is a short story by Stephen King that was originally published in the "summer reading" issue of Tin House magazine in July 2006. It is now confirmed to be similar to the first chapter of Duma Key...
," a short story that was first published in 2006 and which King has since worked into Duma Key
Duma Key
Duma Key is a horror novel by American novelist Stephen King published in 2008. The book reached #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List. It is King's first novel to be set in Florida or Minnesota.-Plot:...
.
Plot summary
The story concerns Clayton Blaisdell, Jr. (known as "Blaze" for short, thus the title), a mentally challenged small-time con artist who kidnaps a millionaire's infant child, in the hopes of fulfilling the dreams of George Thomas Rackley, Blaze's deceased best friend and partner in crime. The chapters alternate between Blaze's past — which covers his childhood (including how he came to be brain damaged) and his entry into a life of crime despite an otherwise sweet demeanor — and his current caper, in which he imagines that he is still constantly advised by his friend George. Despite the helpfulness of (the imaginary) George's advice, Blaze's world begins to crumble during his kidnapping venture, especially as he bonds with the baby. In the end, Blaze runs from his inevitable destiny back to the horrors of his old orphanage, the Hetton House. After the cops storm it, he rushes to a cave, where the baby is nearly killed, and Blaze ends up killing two policemen. He is killed by a police officer, and is buried only a few miles away from where his father lived.King's comments on the book
On King's website, the following was posted in the "Future Works" section on November 28, 2006:"Many of you have been asking for more information about publication of Blaze following Steve's mention of it on his recent Lisey's Story book tour. This is another Bachman novel which he recently rediscovered. The original manuscript of Blaze was 173 pages long and was written in 1973. He has rewritten the first 100 pages. A lot of it needed editing to make it more timely since the 1973 references no longer worked. He's hoping to get it done by the end of the year. No publication deal has been signed, but he's sure there will be one."
In an interview with Lilja of Lilja's Library (posted January 16, 2007), King said:
"I have been thinking about [Blaze] off and on for a while and every time I would think about it... you know I did the early books as Richard Bachman books and this is going to be a Bachman because it came from the same time. It was written right before Carrie and finally I thought to myself... the reason I’ve never done it was because, in my memory at least, it was a tearjerker of a book, you know it was kind of sentimental and just kind of... every now and then I think of what Oscar WildeOscar WildeOscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
said about "The Little Match GirlThe Little Match GirlThe Little Match Girl is a short story by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen. The story is about a dying child's dreams and hope, and was first published in 1845. It has been adapted to various media including animated film, and a television musical.-Plot summary:On a cold New Year’s...
." He said that it’s impossible to read about the little match girl without weeping tears of laughter and... you know something that is so sad it’s actually funny.
Connections to other works by King
- Lisey's StoryLisey's StoryLisey's Story is a novel by Stephen King combining the elements of psychological horror and romance. It was released on October 24, 2006, and was nominated for the World Fantasy Award in 2007.-Plot:...
:
- When Blaze is at the pay phone and it doesn't take his quarters, it says "but - bool! - it wouldn't take his quarters"
- Cycle of the WerewolfCycle of the WerewolfCycle of the Werewolf is a short horror novel by Stephen King, featuring illustrations by renowned comic book artist Bernie Wrightson. Each chapter is a short story unto itself. It tells the story of a werewolf haunting a small town as the moon turns full once every month...
:
- The headmaster of Hetton House, the home Blaze lives in, is named Martin Coslaw. Marty Coslaw is also the name of the little boy in Cycle of the Werewolf.
- Rita Hayworth and Shawshank RedemptionRita Hayworth and Shawshank RedemptionRita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is a novella by Stephen King, from his collection Different Seasons . It has been hailed by critics as King's "greatest work", and "masterpiece". The novella was adapted for the screen in 1994 as The Shawshank Redemption, itself a lauded film, nominated for...
:
- Shawshank Prison is mentioned several times throughout the novel.
- Salem's Lot:
- During one of Blaze's flashbacks, he describes going to the movies with John Cheltzman to see a vampire movie called Second Coming. This was the original title for Salem's Lot.
- The StandThe StandThe Stand is a post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It demonstrates the scenario in his earlier short story, Night Surf...
:
- When Blaze is getting a ride to town after shaving his head, the man driving him asks if he lives Palmer Road, and mentions that Jimmy Cullen lived there. Cullen is the last name of Tom Cullen, a similarly cognitively handicapped character, with a major role in The Stand.
- When the clerk at the baby goods store is being questioned by the police, she responds multiple times with "My laws!", an expression often used by Tom Cullen.