The Float A.K.A. The Raft

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The_Blight
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The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by The_Blight »

If you've read the Notes section in Skeleton Crew, or perhaps just an online description of The Raft, then you probably know that it (The Raft) was originally published as The Float in a men's magazine called Adam. King was payed on publication, yet a copy has not been found. It was apparently published in 1969.
My recent searches have yeilded no solid results, so I ask you, dear internet, if you would join me in my search. With the original manuscript lost my hopes on finding it are not high, but I would like to find a copy, or at least knowledge that it exists.

Until next time,

The Blight
jhanic
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by jhanic »

I've also been looking for this one for a long time and have never come up with a copy. I seriously doubt it was ever actually published. It's too bad about that, because I think a comparison with The Raft would be very interesting.

I've canvassed most of the sites that offer men's magazines (and there are a LOT of them!) but nothing. I've got standing requests to them that if they EVER come across a copy, I'll be paying top dollar.

John
The_Blight
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by The_Blight »

Thank you very much for the reply, I visited a site (I'll dig up the link a little later in my post...) yesterday that showed issues of "Adam" and "Adam bedside reader" and the things published in them. From the things shown there I couldn't find the issue, however I don't believe I found any issues listed in a 1969 catagory. I will continue my search, though it may be hard seeing as my current computer blocks some sites, and Adam is a men's magazine after all.

Anyway, the site I had visited was:
http://www.philsp.com/homeville/fmi/t33.htm#TOP

I also visited another Stephen King forum, and posted another topic like this one, but after checking the rest of the forum I discovered it was no more then a hub for posting porn.
RIC
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by RIC »

It is interesting that in King’s latest collection, JUST AFTER SUNSET, in his introduction, he is quoted, “I was able to sell to men’s magazines like Cavalier, Dude, and Adam.” (page 2, line 10). I have never seen where any researcher has discovered works in Dude or Adam. His earliest works that I have found in men’s magazine are Cavalier (1970), Gent (1975), Penthouse (1976), Gallery (1977), Oui (1978), Nugget (1979), Adelina (1980), Playboy (1981).. No Dude or Adam. King leaves the door open for the possibility, although, a 1969 discovery would be historical..
Mr. Rabbit Trick
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by Mr. Rabbit Trick »

Stephen King is on record (and film) stating that he published in men's magazines, "Swank" and "Dude". The covers of both magazines were shown on "The Stephen King Biography".
RIC
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by RIC »

I pulled out my copy of his Bio and its true the magazine covers are shown, but after looking closely, there are no credits of him on the covers. I guess someone could investigate the issues and see if anything of interest is inside of either of them. I have seen see somewhere in print that he has published in Jugs too. It would be great if someone could find real proof...
The_Blight
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by The_Blight »

I have my copy of Skeleton Crew oppened to page 570/571 (Notes) now, the whole of The Raft is to much for me to post right now, but lets see what he says about The Float.

"I wrote this story in the year of 1968 as "The Float." In late 1969 I sold it to Adam magazine, which-like most of the girlie magazines-paid not on acceptance but only on publication. The amount promised was two hundred and fifty dollars."

He then goes on to talk about how in the spring of 1970 he was arrested for stealing traffic cones due to anger at one for damaging his car.

He needed exactly 250 bucks to get out of jail, which he recieved before time ran out. He goes on to say

"But here's the thing: Adam paid only on publication, dammit, and since I got the money, the story must have come out. But no copy was ever sent to me, and I never saw one on the stands, although I checked regularly..."

Later (last paragraph on the subject) he writes, asking for somebody to send him proof that he isn't crazy,

"It would have been in Adam, or Adam Quarterly, or (most likely) Adam Bedside Reader..."

So it appears I was wrong about the date, it would be in the spring (most likely) of 1970, not 1969.

So far I haven't found anything called "Adam Quarterly" in my searches. But he (King) did seem dead sure that it was in something with "Adam" in the title.

Edit: Searches show me this result: pristine.lunarpages.com/adam/adamfilmyearbook.html

It's blocked on my computer for pornography.

Adam Film Quarterly? Would that have published The Float?
The_Blight
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by The_Blight »


Hm, has anybody looked into these ones as well? I'll take a look very soon.


Edit: http://www.wonderclub.com/magazines/gallery_1982.htm
Again its blocked, sorry I can't be more help at the momment, Gallery seems to be the one most of the sites listed believe it was published in.

Edit2: It seems The Twilight Zone Magazine was the first to publish The Raft. According to wikipedia (not a good source, I know) King writes in the oppening to The Raft in The Twilight Zone Magazine that "The Float" was published in Adam magazine with no copy ever found. If this can be proved, that would be two times King has stated it was published as The Float in Adam. Two sites say it was published in Gallery in 1982.
According to King he was arrested, and payed, in 1970.
That would mean he was payed for a story that wasn't published until 12 years after he was payed for it, and at that time it was published by a different magazine.

Now I reeeallly wan't to get some answers.
jhanic
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Re: The Float A.K.A. The Raft

Post by jhanic »

The Raft was first published in the November 1982 Gallery as a pull-out booklet. The next publication was in the May/June 1983 Twilight Zone Magazine. The next publication was in Skeleton Crew. I've got copies of all.

There were two King stories published as pull-out booklets-The Monkey in the November 1980 issue and The Raft. Here's a picture of both:

Image

John
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