A surprising viewpoint. Great perspective in this book. I never thought I'd sympathize and root for the story's "bad guy", but you really had to. Very, very tense story, because even though you know what's probably going to happen, you feel bad for a guy who's had the deck stacked against him for his entire life. I really enjoyed this book, and my only criticism was that the tension built really strongly, only to have the story end rather abruptly.

Stephen King may be the "master of horror," but with BLAZE he proves that he's also just a plain ole good writer. This story is a mixture of a thriller, a mystery, a police procedural, and a personal struggle to figure out who you are.

Blaze, aka Clayton Blaisdell, Jr., is a dummy, and he knows it. Ever since his father threw him down a flight of stairs (and then hauled him back up and did it a couple of more times), Blaze hasn't had the brains for learning. The dent in his forehead might make him look scary, but we soon learn that Blaze isn't much of a threat -- except when he's really angry. He might look like a giant at 6'7" and nearly 300 pounds, but this man's heart is as soft as his mind.

Blaze has pretty much drifted through life by skirting the law and mostly (with exceptions) avoiding trouble. When he meets George Rackley, Blaze learns the art of the con. The two of them (or, rather, George) have been planning one big job for awhile now. That big job would be kidnapping the baby of a rich couple, collecting the ransom, and living the high-life somewhere with white sandy beaches and lots of sun.

But we soon learn that things aren't going quite the way either man had expected. For one, George is dead, even though he's still helping with the kidnapping plot. For another, Blaze, as we've already learned, isn't the smartest guy around.

What follows is a mixture of present day mystery/thriller as Blaze carries out the kidnapping of little Joey, mixed with the flashbacks of his life that show how Blaze ends up where he's at.

King (aka Bachman..does it really matter the name?) shows great control in the pacing of BLAZE, and expertly weaves the present with the past. You'll also be surprised (and entertained) by the joy that is Blaze, who is a wonderful, fully-developed character.

this book was awesome in my opinion. You get sucked in right from the start. At the end of the book is a teaser for the new book "Duma Key" coming out soon.. can't wait!

This is a fabulous novel. If you have never read a Richard Bachman book before, make this your first.

It is amazing to me that Stephen King thought this book was unpublishable - it was fabulous! Very enjoyable read - refreshing perspective and a title character you can't help but like even though he's far from an upstanding citizen.

Definitely original and with a central character who is easy to sympathize with. I guess I still miss the Bachman/King novels of years ago that were so totally engrossing that I couldn't sleep until I found out what happened at the end. This one didn't do that for me but it was a good story and worth the read.

I enjoyed this book. Have read a lot of Stephen King and this is one of his more mild down to earth books from way back but a good read.

I enjoyed this book vey much. One of those you can't put down.

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I felt so much sympathy and sadness for the criminal in this book.

This SK book was okay. It is quite haunting, but I could see the ending coming a mile away. 6/10

This book again proves that Stephen King is the greatest author of all. I can't blieve he thought of letting this one get away.

I loved it!!!!!!! Was great fn reading a Steven King first writing. His "Disclaimer" in the beginning is a great start to a great book. Not a thriller as one may be used to but none-the-less a twist and turn as is custom King. Worth reading just to get a glimpse of the young writer King.

Stephen King!

Not what I expected. It built up tension near the end, only to have it end too quickly. But I'd like to know what the reference to the birds was about... :/

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