Stephen King, the legendary author behind some of the most iconic horror novels like The Shining and IT, has written numerous bestsellers since his debut in 1974 with Carrie. Known for his prolific output, King has penned 65 novels, many of which have been adapted into films, solidifying his place as one of the greatest writers of contemporary fiction. However, there is one novel in his extensive bibliography that you won’t find on bookstore shelves or in any new print editions: Rage.
Released in 1977 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, Rage was a psychological thriller that follows a troubled high school student who, after being expelled, takes violent revenge by carrying out a school shooting. The novel was controversial even at the time, and King has since made the decision to have it permanently pulled from circulation.
The Plot of Rage and its Troubling Connections
In Rage, the protagonist, Charlie Decker, is a high school student who, after being expelled, brings a gun to school, killing two teachers and threatening others. As the story unfolds, Charlie holds his classmates hostage, negotiating with them while holding a gun to their heads. The novel concludes with Charlie being arrested, found not guilty by reason of insanity, and committed to a psychiatric institution. While fiction, the portrayal of a school shooting resonated uncomfortably with real-life incidents.
For years after its release, Rage was included in The Bachman Books collection, which compiled several of King’s works written under the Bachman pseudonym. However, after a series of real-life school shootings, King made a bold decision to withdraw the book from publication.
The Trigger: The 1997 School Shooting by Michael Carneal
The event that prompted King to pull Rage from print occurred in 1997 when 14-year-old Michael Carneal opened fire at his school in Paducah, Kentucky, killing three students and injuring five others. Investigators found that Carneal had a copy of Rage in his locker at the time of the shooting, leading to media speculation about whether the book had played a role in influencing his actions.
In response to the incident, King made a public statement, explaining that he felt the book was too dangerous to continue circulating. “Now out of print, and a good thing,” King wrote at the start of his novel Blaze, referring to Rage. Speaking further in a 1999 address, King shared how the Paducah shooting and the revelation about Carneal’s possession of the book led him to take action. He asked his publisher to remove Rage from print, and the publisher agreed.
King’s Reflection on the Impact of Rage
After the tragedy in Paducah, King elaborated on his decision in an essay titled Guns, written after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. He reflected on how Rage had been associated with a number of other school shootings, reinforcing his belief that the novel’s continued existence in the public sphere was not appropriate. King explained that he didn’t want his work to be linked to violence, particularly when it had the potential to influence impressionable readers.
The decision to pull Rage from circulation was not taken lightly, but it was one King felt was necessary in light of the tragic events it appeared to have influenced. In interviews, King has reiterated that while he doesn’t believe his book directly caused the tragedies, he does understand the potential harm it could cause, especially considering the context of school shootings in the United States.
The Legacy of Rage
Although Rage will never be printed again, it remains a part of Stephen King’s history. Copies of the novel can still be found in used bookstores, second-hand shops, or auction sites, but no new editions will be available. For collectors, owning a copy of Rage has become a rare, almost forbidden treasure. Despite its removal, the book continues to spark conversations about the relationship between media and real-world violence.
Stephen King’s decision to remove Rage from print underscores his awareness of the influence that art can have on society, and his responsibility as a creator. Though Rage is no longer a part of King’s active bibliography, it remains a poignant reminder of the complex intersections between fiction and reality, and the lasting impact that stories can have on the world.
