|
 Description: Written
by Richard Bachman. In quiet Placerville, Maine, a slightly twisted boy named Charles Decker holds the
24 other students of his algebra class at gunpoint after shooting 2 teachers.
Abused by his father as a child, he describes the important parts of his life,
and in the process, lets a lot of the students he holds hostage tell the rest of the class their "Dirty
Secrets". Things almost come to an early end when Charles is shot by a sniper, but the bullet hits
a padlock he had placed in his pocket earlier.
As things progress, the students become more and more responsive to their
captor, all except Ted Jones. The students get their own back, and play one last nasty trick on another
student before being released unharmed. But Charles is out of luck...
This was initially titled "Getting it On" (After Deckers favourite
saying) but was later renamed Rage, and released under Bachman's name. It has not been reprinted in the
last few years as Stephen King thought it too violent, and similar to many killings in some American
Schools. This is a pity as it is an excellent insight into the mind of someone that it walking the thin
edge of sanity.
Published: Signet, 1977
Dedication: For Susan Artz and
WGT
Characters:
| ?, Annemarie |
Sister of Rosalyn. Went of a double date with her sister and Charles Decker. Charles was sick on
her leg. |
| ?, Fred |
Uncle of John Dano that gave him an old Dodge car. |
| ?, Rosalyn |
Sister of Annemarie. Went of a double date with her sister and Joe McKennedy. |
| ?, Tommy |
Name carved into Billy Sawyers desk in '73. |
| 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. Fat girl that screamed each time someone was shot. |
| 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. He died when hit by a car in Lewiston. |
| Caligari, Dr |
Mentioned in passing |
| Canning, Victor |
Writer mentioned in passing |
| Carlson, John |
Chemistry-Physics teacher that was hit in the head with a pipe wrench by Charles Decker after he
picked on him in class. |
| Carradine, John |
Mentioned in Passing |
| Caskin, Nancy |
In the Algebra Class that was held up |
| Castinguay, Sam |
Neighbour of the Decker family. |
| Christie, Agatha |
Writer mentioned in passing |
| Collette, Dana |
Threw a party in Schoodic Point. A friend of Scragg Simpson, that invited Charles Decker to have
sex with her, but he could not get an erection. |
| Cranston, Lamont |
Mentioned in passing |
| Cross, Sandra |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. She was a lover of Ted Jones. Always seems to loose buttons
off her clothes. |
| Dano, John (Pig Pen) |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. Fainted when the 2 teachers were shot. |
| Dano, Lilly |
John Dano's older sister. She got pregnant to LaFollet St Armand and was sent to her aunts. |
| Dano, Mrs |
John's mother. A snoop that listens in on phone conversations and enters every conversation that
she can. Lives in Gates Falls. |
| Debbins, Rosanne |
Had the locker next to Charles Decker |
| Decker, Carl |
Charles' father. Ensign in the navy when he met his wife. Brother of Jessie. |
| Decker, Charles Everett |
Held up his Algebra class and shot some teachers after being pushed too far. He calls his little
adventure "Getting it On". |
| Decker, Jessie |
The bride at the wedding where Charles' parents met for the first time. She died in a house fire
less than a year after her marriage. She was roommates with Rita Decker at the university of Maine. 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. He gave Rita a jigsaw that was all white except for a small blueberry in one corner
as a joke. She completed it in 2 days. |
| Deleavney, Samuel K N |
Judge at Charles' trial |
| Dench, Carla |
Had the locker next to Charles Decker. Wore a lot of perfume. |
| Denver, Thomas |
Principal of Placerville High School. He expelled Charles Decker after the incident with John Carlson.
This was the catalyst for Deckers holding the class at gunpoint. A teacher since 1947. |
| Dole, Robert |
Presidential candidate. |
| Earl, Randy |
One of Carl Deckers Friends that went hunting with him. |
| Fazio, Mr |
School janitor in Placerville High School |
| Fitzgerald, Pat |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. Black student. |
| Floren, Myren |
Carol Grangers 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. Helped Irma Bates with her rather plain looks. |
| Gavin, Mike |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. He saw 2 fireman collide outside. |
| 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. Class president, Virgin, and Valedictorian. |
| Granger, Mrs |
Mother of Carol. Big woman. |
| 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 - an alcoholic |
| Jones, Theodore (Ted) |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. He used to be a football player but gave up to help with his
family when mother was recovering from alcoholism. He was picked on by the class before they were released,
and ended up in a catatonic state in a mental institution. |
| Katzentz, Mrs |
Charlie Decker weeded her garden |
| Keene, Dick |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. Fairly aggressive. |
| Kesserling, Jerry |
Police Chief of Placerville. Took over from Warren Talbert. |
| Lasky, Anne |
In the Algebra Class that was held up |
| Lathrop, Al |
One of Carl Deckers Friends that often went hunting together. |
| Levesque, Hubie |
One of Carl Deckers Friends. Hunting guide. |
| Lombardi, Vince |
Footballer who died |
| Lordi, Don |
In the Algebra Class that was held up |
| Malvern, Daniel |
Sharpshooter who shot Charles Decker in the padlock in his pocket |
| Marble, Miss |
Receptionist for Tom Denver at Placerville High School. |
| McKennedy, Joe |
Friend of Charles Decker that used to stick up for him. In the Algebra Class that was held up. Good
writer. 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 Deckers Friends that often went hunting together. |
| Orville, Herk |
Ate a raw mouse on a dare from Charles Decker, but was forced to vomit it up. |
| Orville, Mrs |
Mother of Herk. Saw him eat a mouse and forced him to vomit it back up. |
| Parker, ? |
Thief in Richard Stark's novels. |
| Pasterne, Sarah |
In the Algebra Class that was held up. Started laughing on numerous occasions. |
| Philbrick, Frank |
Captain of Main 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. She smoked Camel cigarettes. |
| 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. A small girl that got into a fight with Irma Bates in the
class. |
| Stanner, Mrs |
Grace's mother that works in a laundry. She was called a prostitute by Irma Bates. |
| 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. He was the one that pulled down the shades. |
| Thorne, Buck |
Went out with Carol Granger. Centre for the Placerville High School.Greyhounds. |
| Travolta, John |
Actor mentioned in passing |
| Underwood, Jean Alice |
37 Year old algebra teacher that 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 in the throat and killed 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 |
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