I'm looking to buy the four story collection, I've found a copy for around £20, is this a fair price for a copy including rage? I'm in the UK and it seems pretty difficult to track down. Update: I bought it for £20, hopefully that's not too bad a deal. It's a hardback 1st BCA Edition (I have no idea what that means, just want to read it!)
The Long Walk has always been one of my favorite King stories. I have a stand-alone copy of it, and have read it probably a dozen times. I also own a copy of the Bachman Books that I got when I was a teenager. I read all four stories initially, and while I loved The Long Walk, I didn't remember being blown away by any of the others. My copy of The Bachman Books is one of the few books from my high school days that has made it through six or seven moves, a couple ex-girlfriends, 1 ex-wife, and two kids who are now in college... My book and record collection is pretty picked over by now. Having run out of anything new, about a year ago I picked it up and read it from cover to cover over a period of a week or so. Since then, it seems like I am constantly picking it up, picking one of the stories, and reading from beginning to end, in the same way I might get on a kick of one of my favorite bands, and obsessively listen to them, concentrating on different albums at different times... and like those albums, my favorite constantly changes. These four novels are damn near perfect. Words like "dark" or "bleak" come to mind, but can't begin to adequately convey the mood of these books. With the exception of maybe pet sematary, I can't think of any King novels since that are so emotionally draining to read.
The other novels written under the pseudonym don't compare. Thinner is very good, but it reads like a Stephen King book. The Regulators is odd and entertaining, but nothing about it felt real. I have yet to read Blaze, and I'll probably get around to it someday, but it is low on the list.
I was originally going to go through the books one by one in this post, but that could take hours, and internet people, including myself, have a pretty short attention span.
Anyway, I have been reading this sub off and on for a while. I just recently decided to start posting because I am a Stephen King nerd, and it's just nice to be able to say shit like this and have people know what you're talking about.
Hello all,
This is a quest thats been plaguing me for many years.
A very long time ago, I got a hold of The Bachman Books, Four Early Novels as read by Bob Askey from some file sharing site or another, and I was hooked. I believe them to be the definitive versions of those stories, though I have given the later releases a shot. Its driven me to madness trying to reclaim these since I love these stories, The Long Walk in particular.
Now I no longer have this file, and have searched high and low for any scrap of info I could find. They were originally recorded for the National Library Server in 1985, and may have been released on cassette tape as well. I cannot apply for the NLS as I am not disabled, nor do I know anyone who is so it appears that avenue is closed. Ive seen some old forum posts about trading audiobooks as well, but those have lead to dead ends too.
Any of you constant readers have a lead on where I can get my hands on it? Ill take any format, mp3, CD, cassette, and pay a fair price for it in turn.
Thanks in advance!
I've posted on book exchange but it doesn't seem to get much attention so thought I'd ask here too. Looking for an older paperback copy of Salem's Lot specifically the one with the vampire dripping blood. I have a paperback copy of the Bachman books to trade for it. Thanks for looking!
Really loved it. I can see why someone might not like this especially if you typically like plot driven narratives.
I am really impressed King came up with something so bleak in his teens. Broadly speaking I interpreted the story as a metaphor for young soldiers. I never had to deal with that but I related to the broader themes of aimlessly moving along in life and the people you meet along the path. The book has a specific tone which gives you the feeling of life being long and painful. I am not sure if that was intended (given that King was young author) but it really helped me connect to the book. Can't stop thinking about the ending.
My current book ranking for King - The Shining > It > Pet Semetary > the Long Walk > Carrie. Probably gonna read Misery next unless the Institute's audiobook comes out first.
Video is a wakeup call.
Name: Niklas Bachman
Age: 112 years old
Appearance: A aged man that appears as a gentle grandfather type, with well defined Eastern European features.
Personality: When not in a feeding frenzy, Niklas Bachman comes across as a kind but shy gentle old man. the type you'd see feeding pigeons at a park, while reading the newspaper. This form of himself is consumed when his hunger kicks in. When the stomach calls to him, a predatory natures takes over, leading to a beast that only wishes to eat.
Background:
Code Name: >!Am-Heh!<
Subject: >!Niklas Bachman!<
>!Niklas Bachman!<, born in>! Buchberg, Austria !< was found to be a spontaneous member of the ever growing population of >!anomalous humans!<. >!Niklas Bachman!< was first discovered in >!1998!<, after word reached us of a man who was capable of sustaining himself off of virtually anything. At first thought to be a hoax, several members offered to visit the location and discover more about the man. Upon arrival, the members discovered >!the man was originally a orphan!<, housed within a Asylum after displaying odd tendencies such as eating tree branches. Upon reaching the age of >!16!<, >!Niklas Bachman!< was let out, and started his own road show, akin to a Circus Freak or Carnie. Labeling himself as >!Der verhungernde Mann!< or >!The Starving Man!< claiming to be so hungry he could eat a horse, and on one occasion actually did so. Having people bring him food, or random objects to eat.
>!Niklas Bachman's!< plan worked for roughly >!4!< years, until he reached a small farming village to show off his talent. While there a unchecked predator population attacked and decimated the villages cow population, leaving the town in dire straits. Rather then take the blame, the local hunter >!Kilian Bahr!< claimed the bites matched a humans, pointing the finger at the strange newcomer, >!Niklas Bachman!<. After a unfair, and rapid trial, >!Niklas Bachman!< was placed in prison. There he spent roughly >!8!< years, serving time, in as high a confinement as the small prison could afford. While there, >!Bachman!< continued showing off his ability, amusing the guards to a great degree. One guard interviewed, even described a event where >!Bachman!< ate the bars of his cell, yet didn't use the moment t
... keep reading on reddit ➡Erlich is the Yiddish name that means honest or honorable
About halfway through The Long Walk, I like it well enough, but I'm finding it hard to read more than a little bit at a time.
What's your favorite story wroiten under Bachman?
