“HOPE YOU LIKE THESE ODD STORIES”

KING, Stephen. Different Seasons. New York: Viking, (1982). Octavo, original half blue cloth, original dust jacket. $2000.

First edition of King’s collection of four novellas—“among his best written works,” featuring three stories later adapted to the screen (as The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil and Stand by Me)—inscribed by the author in the year of publication, “For Mary – Hope you like these odd stories – Stephen King 7/24/82.”

"It was only natural that the movies and Stephen King would get together… His writing is intensely cinematic" (Bill Warren). Different Seasons collects four novellas that are mostly "mainstream, psychological fiction" (Collings B4) and stand "among [King's] best written works" (Fantasy and Horror 6-197). Three have reached the silver screen: The Shawshank Redemption (1994, from "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption"), Apt Pupil (1998, from the story of the same title) and Stand by Me (1986, from "The Body"—"a seminal piece in King's canon," Collings). "You have to compare King to Twain, Poe—with a generous dash of Philip Roth and Will Rogers thrown in" (Los Angeles Times). Copyright page with "First published in 1982": no additional printings listed. Dust jacket with $16.95 price and date notation "0882" on front flap. Brooks A17.

Book fine, dust jacket with shallow loss to top edge of rear panel and a bit of rear flap. An attractive inscribed copy.