The Running Man
Published: 1982
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Action, Adventure, American, Dystopian, Fiction, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Survival, Suspense
Check the summary of this book here:
The Running Man Summary
The Review
Stephen King's dystopian thriller novel The Running Man was initially released in 1982 as a paperback original under the alias Richard Bachman. It was included in the omnibus The Bachman Books in 1985. The story is set in the dystopian United States in 2025 when the country's economy is in shambles and global violence is on the rise.
The plot follows protagonist Ben Richards as he competes in the reality program The Running Man, in which participants are free to travel anywhere in the globe but are pursued by members of the public who can earn a large reward if they kill him.
Anyone who thinks Stephen King isn't a serious writer with anything to say about our times should sit down and read this book. This novel transcends all of his signature features, such as his ingenuity, the freshness of his writing, and the accessibility of his form.
There is true moral and cultural understanding here, as well as a genuine social awareness. It's a credit to how brilliant a writer he is that he can speak in this manner while conveying what is consistently a riveting, engrossing story. Both as a suspense story and as science fiction with a purpose, the novel succeeds.
The book is divided into 101 chapters and is organized in a "countdown" structure. The first chapter is named "Minus 100 and Counting...” with the numbers dropping until the last chapter is labeled "Minus 000 and Counting" or simply "000" in a few editions. The chapters are divided into the amount of time he has left, making you feel like you're racing against the clock as you read.
Stephen King takes the reader on a deadly search for survival by Richards and professional hunters, with every civilian posing as a potential game show snitch. Richards may be welcomed into the government machine if he is ready to sell his soul to those who want him dead in this gripping drama.
The book differs from the screenplay for the film of the same name; this Richards is an anti-hero who was shaped as much by society as by his rage at the gigantic colossus of a state.
In 1987, five years after the book's publication, The Running Man was loosely made into a film of the same name. Only the main premise of the violent program and a few names were kept in the adaption.
Richards was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the film. Later, the film was adapted into a video game that was distributed on a variety of home computer systems.
A new cinematic version of the novel is in the works, directed by Edgar Wright and written by Michael Bacall.
Both the book and the movie were fantastic in my opinion, despite the fact that they are only loosely connected.
So, if you've watched the movie but haven't read the book, do so and don't think about it while you're reading it, but you can envision Arnold Schwarzenegger as Richards while reading the book, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the book as much as you enjoyed the movie, even though they aren't the same.
One of Stephen King's masterpieces that is largely underappreciated. Most people, I believe, will overlook this since they have watched the film of the same name.
But that's where the resemblances end. The book is far superior to the film (as is customary!) The novel is a fast-paced thriller with a lot of action. It's one of those novels you don't want to end and can’t put down. It's such a quick read that you could easily finish it in one day.
This is why I enjoy Stephen King's work. He creates a character you care about in a dire circumstance, yet one that everyone can relate to. Then, over the following several hundred pages, he offers you every reason in the book why things aren't going well for your favorite character.
But you can't give up on your character; he's the one you want to succeed. So you continue to read. And, in the end, your person is incredible that he is, on top, the winner. That is why I enjoy Stephen King's work. Because the underdog always triumphs.
Without reading the inner cover, you can tell that this was a very early Stephen King work published under his Richard Bachman identity. It is nicely written and does meander a little, but there is no supernatural aspect for which the author is famous.
The book's concept is quite similar to the now-popular Hunger Games series. I realize it's only a concept, but it's the granddaddy of that series and many others.
Final Thoughts
The first time I saw the film was with my father, who enjoyed it as much as I did, and who believed that the authors must have created this character specifically for Arnold Schwarzenegger and that the film itself was made for him.
My father and I had no idea that the book's Richards was almost as tall as the movie version, but that was it when it came to the resemblance because he was underfed and only 165 pounds, whereas Arnold Schwarzenegger as Richards is a big guy with huge muscles because he's simply Arnold Schwarzenegger, but I still imagined him as Richards while reading the book.
We had seen the movie many times over the years, and I had grown up watching and rooting for Arnold Schwarzenegger portraying "The Butcher of Bakersfield" squaring off against hunters like Jesse The Body Ventura long before either was a governor, so I knew what to expect.
But I was pleasantly delighted to discover how unique the book was in so many ways. It's a fast-paced, exciting plot with a massively bigger scale than a typical action film from the 1980s. Naturally, Ben Richards seemed to have a strong Austrian accent as I read along.
It's not like the movie, which is one of my personal favorites. Who doesn't enjoy The Running Man? Finally, I finished the book. Obtaining this book gave a whole new and unique perspective.
It's like seeing a new version of The Running Man for the first time; it's just as good, maybe even better, yet it's not the same at all. And the finale was fantastic.
One of Stephen King's better books, in my opinion. I give it my highest recommendation.
Synopsis
“A desperate man attempts to win a reality TV game where the only objective is to stay alive in this #1 national bestseller from Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman.
It was the ultimate death game in a nightmare future America. The year is 2025 and reality TV has grown to the point where people are willing to wager their lives for a chance at a billion-dollar jackpot. Ben Richards is desperate—he needs money to treat his daughter’s illness. His last chance is entering a game show called The Running Man where the goal is to avoid capture by Hunters who are employed to kill him. Surviving this month-long chase is another issue when everyone else on the planet is watching—and willing to turn him in for the reward.
Each night all Americans tune in to watch. So far, the record for survival is only eight days. Can Ben Richards beat the brutal odds, beat the rigged game, beat the entire savage system? He’s betting his life that he can…
With an introduction by Stephen King on “The Importance of Being Bachman,” The Running Man is a terrifying novel about the eternal fight of good versus evil.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bachman Books, Ben Richards, Fast Paced, Game Shows, Gives Away, Hunger Games, Long Walk, Main Character, Maria Conchita Alonso, Paul Michael Glaser, Yaphet Kotto
Rating: 90/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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