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Halcyon's Reviews > Blaze
Blaze
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Blaze, born from Stephen King's 1970s pseudonym, Richard Bachman, is both what you’d expect � and what you wouldn’t � from King’s writing. I once read that this book features "one of the most sympathetic criminals in all of literature," and I can’t help but agree.
(No spoilers ahead)
Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell Jr. is a giant of a man � physically imposing but mentally impaired by a childhood shattered by abuse and neglect. He clings to anyone who shows him even a scrap of attention, finding fleeting moments of companionship with his partner in crime, George. But George, like everyone else in Blaze's life, is abusive. And when he dies, his voice lingers, berating Blaze from inside his head like a ghost that refuses to let go.
Following this voice, Blaze kidnaps a baby for ransom � but instead of a hardened criminal, we see a broken man cradling the child like a lifeline, desperate for the love he never received. He cares for the baby with heartbreaking tenderness, struggling to resist George’s cruel commands, leading to an ending that feels either tragic or peaceful, depending on how you see it.
A departure from King’s typical horror, it's a crime story that's emotional, forces you to sympathise with the main character, and which dives into the turmoil of a damaged mind rather than the horror of the crime itself. It’s not his best work, but it lingers.
(No spoilers ahead)
Clayton "Blaze" Blaisdell Jr. is a giant of a man � physically imposing but mentally impaired by a childhood shattered by abuse and neglect. He clings to anyone who shows him even a scrap of attention, finding fleeting moments of companionship with his partner in crime, George. But George, like everyone else in Blaze's life, is abusive. And when he dies, his voice lingers, berating Blaze from inside his head like a ghost that refuses to let go.
Following this voice, Blaze kidnaps a baby for ransom � but instead of a hardened criminal, we see a broken man cradling the child like a lifeline, desperate for the love he never received. He cares for the baby with heartbreaking tenderness, struggling to resist George’s cruel commands, leading to an ending that feels either tragic or peaceful, depending on how you see it.
A departure from King’s typical horror, it's a crime story that's emotional, forces you to sympathise with the main character, and which dives into the turmoil of a damaged mind rather than the horror of the crime itself. It’s not his best work, but it lingers.
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Reading Progress
March 12, 2025
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March 12, 2025
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March 12, 2025
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Trixie
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Mar 12, 2025 11:43PM
I have yet to read a Stephen King book. The heavy domes make me want to run away in the opposite direction but this review might have changed my mind. Gorgeous review ml
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I didn't know he had a pseudonym! Great review, Halcyon, I can see why you enjoyed the book.
"one of the most sympathetic criminals in all of literature". Wow. Ok, I'll bite. I'm in and now added will have to check it someday :). Enticing review Halcyon! Bachman, I mean the lingering King rules <3
@Trixie Oh, you should definitely read Stephen King. And I understand, the hefty volumes make you wanna run away but it's really worth all that time you need to get into. Thank you, Trix!
![Vaishali • [V.L. Book Reviews]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1700331868p1/85343546.jpg)
I think you have me, my friend. I'm definitely intrigued. I didn't even know King wrote crime under a pen name, that alone is so interesting to me. At the heart, King's narratives notoriously engage with humanity and the essential idiosyncratic humanness that underpins even some of his more controversial characters and it seems that he aimed for something very very similar in the portrayal of a main character with a clearly disturbed mind, and a story that challenges more than it ascertains. Both apparently questionable but sympathisable. Great review Halycon!
@Persephone He used the name for a few of his earlier works in the 70s and 80s, in an attempt to see if he could replicate his success without his real name influencing sales, if I'm right. But he was outed, and was back to writing in own name. Thank you, Perse!
@Federico I'm eager to read what you think of it when you pick this one, my friend! I agree, the lingering King rules.
@Vaishali You're right, V. While his stories vary and horror elements dominate his works, King’s writing ultimately delves into the humanity of his characters. Here, the focus was more on the inner workings of a deeply unsettling mind, making for a gripping experience. I couldn't help but wince and sympathise, even while acknowledging how problematic it was. Thank you, my friend ❤️
