Rage Art
Works / Bachman Novels

Rage

Rage Art

Released

1977

Available Format(s)

Paperback

Publisher

New American Library (NAL)

A disturbed high-school student with authority problems kills one of his teachers and takes the rest of his class hostage. Over the course of one long, tense and unbearable hot afternoon, Charlie Decker explains what led him to this drastic sequence of events, while at the same time deconstructing the personalities of his classmates, forcing each one to justify his or her existence.

No future printings will be made of this novel at Stephen's request due to the sensitive nature of the content.

From the Flap

THE SLY VOICES IN HIS MIND WHISPERED THEIR TERRIBLE WARNINGS, TELLING CHARLIE EXACTLY WHAT HE HAD TO DO. . .

. . .And one by one the students filed into the room, laughing, talking, never suspecting that today's class would be like no other.

For today Charlie would lead them in his savagely dangerous game of Show and Tell--and all their secrets would explode into a nightmare of violence and terror . . .

Characters

Hide List Show List
Name
Description
?, Annemarie
Sister of Rosalyn.
?, Fred
Uncle of John Dano who gave him an old Dodge car.
?, Rosalyn
Sister of Annemarie.
?, Tommy
Name carved into Billy Sawyer's desk
Anderson, Dr.
Wrote a memo on Ted Jones in the mental institute.
Andreissen, Darlene
Charles looked up her dress in study hall
Bates, Irma
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Belch, Lawrence
TV show
Berry, Chuck
Singer
Brooks, Susan
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Cable, Dick
He beat up Charles Decker at Carol Granger's party.
Caligari, Dr.
Mentioned in passing
Canning, Victor
Writer mentioned in passing
Carlson, John
Chemistry-Physics teacher
Carradine, John
Mentioned in passing
Caskin, Nancy
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Castinguay, Sam
Neighbor of the Decker family.
Christie, Agatha
Writer mentioned in passing
Collette, Dana
Threw a party at Schoodic Point.
Cranston, Lamont
Mentioned in passing
Cross, Sandra
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Dano, John (Pig Pen)
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Dano, Lilly
John Dano's older sister.
Dano, Mrs.
John's mother.
Debbins, Rosanne
Had the locker next to Charles Decker
Decker, Carl
Charles' father. Brother of Jessie.
Decker, Charles Everett
Held up his Algebra class and shot some teachers after being pushed too far.
Decker, Jessie
The bride at the wedding where Charles' parents met for the first time. Sister of Carl Decker. Maiden name of Jessie Hannaford.
Decker, Rita
Charles' mother. Roommate of Jessie Decker at the University of Maine.
Decker, Tom
Brother of Carl.
Deleavney, Samuel K.N.
Judge at Charles' trial
Dench, Carla
Had the locker next to Charles Decker.
Denver, Thomas
Principal of Placerville High School.
Dole, Robert
Presidential candidate.
Earl, Randy
One of Carl Decker's friends
Fazio, Mr.
School janitor in Placerville High School
Fitzgerald, Pat
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Floren, Myren
Carol Granger's secret love - character on the Lawrence Belch show
Frankel, Mr.
Owner of Frankel's Jewelry Store and Camera Store. Placerville's second selectman.
Franklin, Peter
He was supposed to be in the Algebra Class that was held up but was absent on the day because he has the measles.
Franks, Phil
A good writer and possibly a student of Placerville High School
Gannon, Tannis
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Gavin, Mike
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Gavin, Miss
Maiden name of Don Grace's mother
Goldman, Jack
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Gossage, Rich
Works in Admin wing of mental institution
Grace, (John ?)
Father of Don Grace (First name is unknown)
Grace, Don
School psychologist at Placerville High School.
Granger, Carol
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Granger, Mrs.
Mother of Carol.
Green, Mrs.
Typing teacher in room 300 of Placerville High School.
Greenburger, Will
Doctor in mental institution
Hannaford, Brian
Husband of Jessie Hannaford.
Hannaford, Jessie
Maiden name of Jessie Decker. Wife of Brian Hannaford.
Herald, Corky
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Innes, Hammond
Writer mentioned in passing
Jackson, Harmon
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Jannick, George
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Johnson, Mr.
History Teacher at Placerville High School.
Jones, Mrs.
Ted's mother
Jones, Theodore (Ted)
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Katzentz, Mrs.
Charlie Decker weeded her garden
Keene, Dick
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Kesserling, Jerry
Police Chief of Placerville.
Lasky, Anne
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Lathrop, Al
One of Carl Decker's friends
Levesque, Hubie
One of Carl Decker's friends. Hunting guide.
Lombardi, Vince
Football coach
Lordi, Don
In the Algebra Class that was held up
Malvern, Daniel
Sharpshooter who shot Charles Decker
Marble, Miss
Receptionist for Tom Denver at Placerville High School.
McKennedy, Joe
Friend of Charles Decker. In the Algebra Class that was held up. Brother of Pete.
McKennedy, Pete
Joe McKennedy's brother. Lived in Bangor and worked for Bangor Sanitation Department.
Milliken, Randy
Was with Dick Cable when hit by a truck in Lewiston
Moeller, Larry
Supplier of drugs.
Norwiss, Scotty
One of Carl Decker's friends
Orville, Herk
Ate a raw mouse on a dare from Charles Decker
Orville, Mrs.
Mother of Herk.
Parker, ?
Thief in Richard Stark's novels.
Pasterne, Sarah
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Philbrick, Frank
Captain of Maine State Police in charge of the Placerville High School incident.
Quinn, Maynard
Owner of "dirty" playing cards
Ragan, Sylvia
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Redford, Robert
Actor mentioned in passing
Sawyer, Billy
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Simpson, Scragg
Friend of Pete McKennedy in Bangor.
St. Armand, LaFollet
Got Lilly Dano pregnant. Joined the Marines.
Stanner, Grace
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Stanner, Mrs.
Grace's mother who works in a laundry.
Stark, Richard
Writer. This is a pseudonym that was used by Donald Westlake.
Stoneham, Bob (Stone Balls)
Coach of the Placerville High School. Greyhounds
Talbot, Warren
Old police chief before he died in 1975
Taylor, Donna
Friend of Carol Granger
Thomas, Melvin
In the Algebra Class that was held up.
Thorne, Buck
Went out with Carol Granger.
Travolta, John
Actor mentioned in passing
Underwood, Jean Alice
37-year-old algebra teacher who was shot by Charles Decker. His first victim
Vance, John Down
Name given to Peter Vance on the charge sheet of Charles Decker at the end of the book.
Vance, Peter
Teacher shot by Charles Decker. His second victim. He was called John Down Vance in the charge sheet for Charles Decker.
Venson, Mrs.
Teacher at Placerville High School.
Welch, Raquel
Charles Decker had a poster of her in his locker.
Westlake, Donald
Wrote books under the name Richard Stark
Widmark, Richard
Actor mentioned in passing
Wilson, Brian
Singer on the radio
Wolfe, Mr.
Teacher at Placerville High School that called the police.
Yannick, George
In the Algebra Class that was held up
...
...
Toggle Dark Mode Color Scheme