THE GORE SCORE BOOK First Edition 1985 –
The humble beginnings of The Gore Score were as a self-published, limited-run chapbook in 1985. This “little booklet” was only 32 pages long and printed in a few hundred copies for mail-order distribution. Despite its modest start, it struck a chord with gorehounds by compiling dozens of capsule reviews of ultraviolent horror films and rating them for both quality and gore.
Content and Coverage: The primary difference is which films are covered in each edition. The original 1985/87 Gore Score focused on “ultraviolent horror in the ’80s”, reviewing the splatter classics (and duds) up through the mid-80s
Book Length and Format: The page counts grew with each iteration. The original 1985 booklet was just 32 pages
Publisher and Availability: The publisher changed over time, which affects collectibility today. The 1985 first printing was self-published by Balun, making it extremely scarce now
1985 Cover: The original 1985 self-published booklet had a very minimal presentation, including art work of the Arrow in the Eye victim from Friday the 13th on the cover . This first edition is often described as a chapbook or pamphlet.
Rarity: The 1985 first edition of The Gore Score is exceptionally rare. Since only a few hundred were made and it was sold via mail order, finding a copy today (especially in good condition) is tough. It’s considered a “white whale” for horror book collectors. Occasionally a copy surfaces on auction sites – for example, one eBay listing advertised The Gore Score 1985 self-published true first edition (good condition) as a “nearly impossible to find” chapbook ebay.com. Expect to pay a premium for this one; three-figure prices are not uncommon for the true first edition.
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