Rage

By Richard Bachman (Stephen King)

            This is a special review of Stephen King’s only out of print work.  Being a Stephen King nut, my wife knew that I was dying to read this rare King work.  She was able to find a hardcover copy of “The Bachman Books,” and in an effort to add to her lengthy list of “Best Wife Ever” she bought it for me.  I probably would have finished the story in a single day, if day to day responsibilities hadn’t gotten in the way.

            The story begins with Charlie Decker being summoned to the principal’s office from his math class.  Mr. Denver has called Charlie down to expel him for almost beating his Chemistry teacher to death with a pipe.  While being lectured, we get our first insight to Charlie’s mental state.  Soon after being informed that his chemistry teacher survived the beating, Charlie begins to rebel against Mr. Denver’s psychoanalysis and starts to deride Mr. Denver personally.  Making inappropriate comments; Charlie leaves the office, grabs his weapon, sets his locker on fire, and takes his class hostage when he shoots his math teacher in the head. 

            While Charlie is in control of the classroom, we gain further understanding about his mental health.  We learn about his life and struggles through a shared story time with his classmates.  This is a very effective way to provide backstory, motive and compassion for the main character without doing so in some overt way.  His fellow students share stories as well, further supporting the motif of teenage angst.  As the story reaches its rapid conclusion, Charlie has changed in the eyes of the reader from a nebulous hard case to a relatable troubled teen.  The story kept a moderate pace and quickened slightly at the conclusion as the reader anxiously waits to see what will happen to Charlie and his classmates.

            I found this story to be edgy, relatable and distinct.  As always, Stephen King has created an interesting story with relatable characters.  I am sure that my enjoyment is somewhat colored by the rarity of this story, much like an expensive pair of shoes or clothing just feels “better.”  But I must say that this early story (started when King was in high school) caries all of the familiar elements of a Stephen King book.  In a recent interview; Stephen King stated that he does not believe that music, video games, and other media are to blame for violent behavior.  He does, however, feel that these types of media can act as an “accelerant” for certain individuals who are looking for a specific outlet for their behaviors.  This “book control” is the reason he has pulled “Rage” from print.  Having read the story, I can understand why the book was pulled.  While the book does not romanticize or glorify violent behavior, the attention Charlie gets from his classmates as well as the sheer fantasy provided by the plot of this book could be dangerous in the wrong hands.  I respect Mr. King’s resolve to keep this controversial (and possibly dangerous) story out of the hands of the general public, as a sacrifice to keep this story out of the hands of “broken” individuals.  I would definitely recommend that you read this book if you are a fan of Stephen King as I am.

Rating: 4.25 out of 5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next:  I have really fallen behind on my postings.  My intention is to post my reviews of the following stories which I have read within the past few months.  Fall of Giants (Follett), Winter of the Worlds (Follett), Something Wicked this Way Comes (Bradbury), NOS4A2 (Hill), The Given Day (Lehane), and Micro (Crichton and Preston).  I am also currently reading Coma by Robin Cook.  I apologize for the delay, but keep coming back if you’re looking for a good read and don’t know what to get.