One of Stephen King’s early novels has been permanently pulled from publication due to the disturbing controversy it stirred, and it won’t ever be printed again.
Known as the undisputed master of horror, Stephen King has built a legendary career with unforgettable titles like It, Carrie, Pet Sematary, and The Shining. His stories often delve into dark and unsettling territory, pushing boundaries and sparking debate over the years.
While some of his more infamous scenes (such as one in It that was intentionally omitted from the 2017 movie adaptation) have caused backlash, none have drawn the kind of real-world consequences as his novel Rage.
Originally published in 1977 under King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, Rage was first titled Getting It On.
The psychological thriller tells the story of Charlie Decker, a high school student who, after a violent altercation with a teacher and a confrontation with his principal, retrieves a pistol from his locker. He shoots his algebra teacher and proceeds to hold his classmates hostage in a tense standoff.
Over the years, the novel would become linked to a number of school shooting incidents in the U.S., some of which had chilling connections to the book itself.
In several cases, the shooters reportedly had read Rage, and one even wrote an essay on it.
But it was a specific tragedy that finally prompted King to pull the plug. On December 1, 1997, a 14-year-old student named Michael Carneal opened fire at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky.
He killed three of his fellow students and injured five more. When authorities searched his belongings, they discovered a copy of Rage in his locker.
That discovery deeply disturbed King. In response, he made the decision to take the book out of circulation in the United States, requesting that it no longer be printed due to growing concerns that it could be influencing violent behavior, The Express detailed.
The novel has remained out of print ever since, making existing copies highly sought after by collectors. Some editions have been known to fetch considerable prices on the secondary market.
Reflecting on the novel’s origin, King has acknowledged that he channeled his own inner turmoil into writing it. Discussing his inspiration for Rage, King has previously said that he drew upon his own frustrations and pains as a high school student.
Though Rage may never be republished, it remains a haunting example of how fiction can sometimes intersect with real life in tragic and unintended ways, and a rare case where an author chose to silence one of their own stories out of conscience.