I'm going to keep this as spoiler free and as informative as possible.
"Blockade Billy" is the latest release from Stephen King. Its announcement in March 2010 was a surprise for everyone, and I know that I wasn't expecting any new King for another six months or so.
First, some info about the book itself:
Overall, this book is a novella, the physical book clocks in at a little over 100 pages with some excellent Alex McVey illustrations (in the Cemetery Dance and Lonely Road Books versions only).
There are a few editions of this book (some forthcoming). Cemetery Dance Publications had the 1st edition 1st printing of
Blockade Billy with only 10,000 dust jacketed copies that was officially released April 20, 2010. This came shrink wrapped with a bonus William "Blockade Billy" Blakely baseball card (that looks like a Topps 1957 card, very cool). They also had a limited slipcase available at an additional cost. Cemetery Dance will also be doing a second printing of 10,000 that is for libraries only.
Scribner's version of
Blockade Billy will be a non-dust jacketed trade hardcover edition and it will be coming out at the end of May, 2010. Sadly, it will not have the awesome Alex McVey illustrations, but they are adding Stephen King's short story "Morality" that was released last year in Esquire magazine.
In the summer of 2010, Lonely Road Books is releasing a Signed Limited Edition and a Lettered Edition of Blockade Billy. Both of these will come with the same William "Blockade Billy" Blakely baseball card that came with the Cemetery Dance Publications version, and they will also come with a SIGNED Stephen King baseball card (how cool is that!?)!
There will also be an audio book read by Craig Wasson (
Blockade Billy Audiobook), a Kindle version (
Blockade Billy for Kindle), and other e-reader versions.
Now, to the story.... Yes, this is a baseball story. If you aren't a fan, some of the passages will go over your head like a foul ball, but the thing is, you won't care. You'll be too engrossed in the story. The next thing you'll know, the story will be over and you will feel a sense of satisfaction and completion.
This novella is a very fun and very fast read. For sports fans that love King, this book will probably be a dream come true. For King fans that don't like sports... it is a new King story! I'll admit, I don't really care too much for baseball. I know it. I've played it, but I don't watch it. Yet, I still really enjoyed this story. In the end, it is a story about the people, not just the game.
Yes, the book is short, but you will enjoy it. This is a lot more than can be said for many much longer books out there. Stephen King told the entire tale that he wanted, and ended it where it ended. There are no rabid beasties, Dark Towers, or possessed cars, but you will revel in the telling of this tale as if your grandfather were telling you a story about his childhood (one of the good ones that make all the grandkids gather round).
I don't want to give away the plot, but here are the basics: A baseball team loses their catcher. They gain a new one. He is kind of an odd duck, but he plays really well. But... he has a dark secret. Hey, it is Stephen King, you know. That is all I'm going to give you. Buy it and read it. If you like King, you HAVE to get this. I think this book goes beyond King-lovers though. It isn't so... gruesome... as some of his other tales, and I could see people of all ages enjoying this one... well... maybe no under 13 should be admitted without their parent or guardian. Ha ha.
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
