KING, Stephen (b. 1947) (“Richard Bachman”). [The Bachman Books], including: Rage. New York: New American Library, 1977. 8vo. Publisher’s pictorial wraps (spine wear, creasing). FIRST EDITION. Perhaps the most infamous of Stephen King’s works, Rage was published in 1977 under pseudonym “Richard Bachman,” with King reasoning later that he wanted to see if his success with Carrie and ‘Salem’s Lot was due to talent or just dumb luck. Rage was originally set to be published before Carrie and under Stephen King’s name, however due to last minute concerns with the content the book was ultimately pulled from consideration by King’s publisher. Regrettably, the book’s content would later be claimed to have inspired numerous school shooters, and it was because of this that King eventually allowed the book to go out of print, writing in his introduction to Blaze that its unavailability was “a good thing.” –– The Long Walk. New York: New American Library, 1979. 8vo. Publisher’s pictorial wraps (spine wear, creasing, bookseller stamp along edge, inscription on inner rear wrap). FIRST EDITION. Though not the first of his novels to be published, The Long Walk is the first complete novel King ever wrote. –– Roadwork. New York: New American Library, 1981. 8vo. Publisher’s pictorial wraps (bookseller’s stamp on inner front wrap, light spine wear). FIRST EDITION. –– The Running Man. New York: New American Library, 1981. 8vo. Publisher’s pictorial wraps (light spine wear, creasing). FIRST EDITION. This novel was later adapted into a major motion picture of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. – Together, 4 works in 4 volumes. A COMPLETE SET OF THE ORIGINAL FIRST EDITION PAPERBACKS published under the Bachman pseudonym before King was outed by a bookstore employee in 1985; the experience was the basis for King’s 1989 novel The Dark Half.