Rare artifact with bloody history. 'Banned' book by Stephen King now worth thousands of dollars

How did the idea came up to create the novel Rage

Rage was King's fourth novel and the first to be published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. It was an experimental period in the author's career when he wanted to test whether his books would be successful without using his own name.

Rage tells the story of a high school student, Charlie Decker, who brings a gun to school, kills a teacher, and takes his classmates hostage. This book had a powerful psychological subtext, exploring the topic of youth violence and its causes.

Rage was originally part of The Bachman Books collection, but eventually, this particular work became the reason for the removal of the entire collection from the press. For King, this novel became a kind of mirror that showed the dark corners of human nature. He admitted that while writing the book, he tried to explore how aggression can be formed and released in society.

Why the book was withdrawn from sale

The decision to withdraw Rage from sale was made after the tragic shooting at Heath High School in Kentucky in 1997. The attacker, 14-year-old Michael Carneal, opened fire on his classmates, killing three people and injuring five others. A copy of Rage was found in his school locker.

This was a turning point for King, who realized that his book could have influenced the teenager's actions. In 1999, the author said during a speech: "The case of Karnil was the last straw for me. I asked the publisher to stop printing the book, and they agreed." King also noted that he never expected that his work could be perceived as an instruction manual for violence.

Cover of the first edition of Rage (photo: Wikipedia)

What makes Rage unique for collectors

Rage occupies a special place in King's oeuvre because it was his first book published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. However, the main reason for its value to collectors is that the novel will never be reprinted.

In the 1990s, King decided to withdraw the book from print because of its controversial subject matter, which was related to real tragic events. Since then, the number of copies has decreased significantly, and the demand for them has increased. Today, rare copies of the novel are a collector's dream, as they are difficult to find even in private libraries.

The first edition of 1977 is especially popular. These are real gems for lovers of rare books. Their rarity and history make Rage an extremely desirable copy.

How much do these books cost today

If you have a copy of Rage, you're really lucky. Today, its value depends on the condition of the book and the edition, but prices start at several hundred dollars. The most sought-after are the original 1977 editions, which can cost up to $4,000.

Less valuable, but still desirable for collectors, are the copies of The Bachman Books collection that contained Rage. However, even these editions are now being sold for considerable sums of money, as they have been out of print for a long time.

Why is Rage so valuable among collectors

The value of Rage is not limited to its rarity. It also has enormous historical and cultural significance. The withdrawal of the book from print made it unique among King's other works, as it was one of the few cases in which the author himself decided to stop the distribution of his work.

For collectors, this means that owning Rage is not only an investment but also a way to touch the history of literature. This book symbolizes an era when the question of an author's responsibility for his or her works became particularly acute.