Blaze

A Novel

By: Richard Bachman, Stephen King

Narrated by: Ron McLarty

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

A fellow named Richard Bachman wrote Blaze in 1973 on an Olivetti typewriter, then turned the machine over to Stephen King, who used it to write Carrie. Bachman died in 1985 (from "cancer of the pseudonym"), but in late 2006, King found the original typescript of Blaze among his papers at the University of Maine's Fogler Library ("How did this get here?!") and decided that, with a little revision, it ought to be published.

Blaze is the story of Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., and of the crimes committed against him and the crimes he commits, including his last, the kidnapping of a baby heir worth millions. Blaze has been a slow thinker since childhood, when his father threw him down the stairs and then threw him down again. After escaping an abusive institution for boys when he was a teenager, Blaze hooks up with George, a seasoned criminal who thinks he has all the answers. But then George is killed, and Blaze, though haunted by his partner, is on his own.

He becomes one of the most sympathetic criminals in all of literature. This is a crime story of surprising strength and sadness, with a suspenseful current sustained by the classic workings of fate and character, as taut and riveting as Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

©2007 Stephen King (P)2007 Simon and Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"This diverting soft-boiled crime novel reflects influences ranging from John Steinbeck to James M. Cain." ( Publishers Weekly)

Blaze… spoiler alert!!!

Up until the end, this was becoming one of my favorite books from SK or RB. Still easily one of the best RB books, although Thinner comes close. I kinda loved Blaze. He was basically a good guy with a deck stacked against him early on. But I’m a sucker for big fellas that have a sweet side to them. M. O. O. N. That spells Blaze, if you get the reference to Tom Cullen. I loved that Blaze had a son that became what he himself could not. Ah fate! Had one man not suddenly died of a heart attack, how different things might have been. And the way he loved baby Joe. Sweet and sad, impossible but credible.

I liked this story and though I think the ending could have maybe turned out a little different, I guess it really couldn’t have. The die was cast. Thank you Mr King for taking this out of the trunk, dusting it off, and letting us share in it.

Loved it!

A sad story overall, but worth the credit. Great narration and the storyline kept my interest all the way through.

Don't Listen to the Baddies

This book, including the narrator, are awesome! If our constant readers did not sympathize with Blaze and feel the tragedy of his existence, they should should be reading trash novels. This book may have been written years ago, but it is a testament to our throw-away lives and the divisions we draw between the have's and have-nots. Of the 4 more recent King books (Cell, Lisey, Duma, Blaze), this is far and away my absolute favorite!

will give you conflicting feelings

Any additional comments?

Blaze is the lead character. The story current story of his criminal undergoing unfolds alongside the filling in of his personal history. I found my feelings toward him ever-changing. He's simple-minded and has had a hard life and is caught up is a major crime. For me this was engrossing and sad. It makes you wish for the impossible ending.

Pleasantly surprised

It is a good thing that I overlooked the fact that Stephen King was involved in this; if not, I would have missed reading a very good story. The story of "Blaze" is one filled with "what ifs" and sad turns, but the reader can't help but wishing for the best outcome. In many aspects, it made me reassess some long standing opinions and judgements. The narration was top-notch. I have great respect for Ron McLarty and his ability to create an unique voice for each character, withouth falling in caricature.

Blaze

Well written and very well read. Hard to put my phone down. Made walking around my gyms indoor track 48 times much mire enjoyable!

middle-fo-the-road for king/bachman

If you could sum up Blaze in three words, what would they be?

mice & men

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

shorter

What about Ron McLarty’s performance did you like?

VG voices, especially for george.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

Any additional comments?

read it if you are a big king fan. just to say you did. otherwise, pass.

Good ol' Stephen King

Not any supernatural, sci-fi elements in this heartwarming story, but only good ol' writing. Yet another proof that Stephen King is great at writing characters, describing their thoughts and psyches, their fears and feelings. As sad as a good story should be.

I liked a lot the performance of Ron McLarty, changing voices to illustrate another person.

Recommended.

okay...

the narrator was good. the story was okay.. I don't know why, I expected more from it. kind of like Gwendys box. an abrupt ending

Loved it!

The story was amazing, in the narration was great, definitely pulled you in.
I really enjoyed all of Stephen King's Richard Bozman stories!