Stephen King

Richard Bachman

Every night the whole nation watches the ultimate live game show on TV, as the contestants try to beat annihilation at the hands of the hunters in order to win the billion dollar jackpot. And now there is a new contestant, the latest "Running Man", staking his life while a nation watches.

The Running Man

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. With an introduction by Stephen King on “The Importance of Being Bachman.”

A Novel

Zachary Roberts

Glen Powell is SO well cast for this it’s crazy. Also Suzanne Collins definitely read this

Margo Koss

I understand why his work is often adapted bc there’s a ton of plot here. In fact it’s mostly plot. Fascinated by the success of our most commercially viable writer. 

Jess Rez

Evan

I read this in high school and remembered liking it, but revisiting “The Running Man” now has me wondering why.
 
To avoid any spoilers, I’d say the first third or so of the book is the best part. It’s when our impersonable lead, Ben Richards, is going through the Games’ vetting and then the first couple days of The Running Man. 
Eventually, King seems overtaken with clumsily hamfisted messages on classism rather than an actual plot. I don’t disagree with 1982 King’s sentiments, I just wonder why we had to come to a painful halt to point out “poor people live shittier lives.” Thanks, Stephen. Wise words from the guy whose book pauses during a hostage situation to comment on how “perfect” a woman’s covered breasts were for zero reason. 
 
I think “The Running Man”, for a moment, really made me feel as stressed out as the The Running Man would. Reading this, I felt a certain type of sick to my stomach during Ben’s early fleeing moments. The dread is quite palpable. Unfortunately, this is pretty brief and the rest of the story is pretty boring, despite the stakes. The ending is kind of neat, I guess, but not in a way I’d consider redeeming.
 
I do not recommend “The Running Man”.

Nate Niederkorn

Yulande Lindsay

I'd like to make a serious request to that someone remake The Running Man movie, because seriously, the original film simply cannot be allowed to stand as a representation of this excellent work. I ask that the movie be made (with the appropriate updates re technology and language)with closer attention to the book, that the portrayal of the utter bleakness of the society and the true horror and brutality of the Running Man game be done accurately. It would be a great movie. It would. Just saying. The original film was an insulting piece of crap. Nuff said.

It was....ok. I didn't like the constant derogatory racial comments in this book. To me there was no need for it. There was no horror, thriller or suspenseful aspects of this book and it just all around left a bad taste in my mouth. It will be a long time before I read one of his books again and unfortunately I have quite a few.

Ben Nathan

Wow. This was fantastic. Very very very different from the book, but I see how they made the movie they did. This is much darker, much grimmer. There is a sense of humor in it, but it's kind of messed up. The whole book is intense and the last chunk leaves you on the edge of your seat and a mixture of horrified and impressed by what the story has done to the character (and you).

Jiayi

Couldn't put this down omfg 5 STARS FOR THIS BOOK

envy

Konrad

Kyla Mackaman 

François Declercq

It is 2025, and reality television has progressed to the point where people are willing to wager their lives in exchange for a chance at enormous wealth. Ben Richards is desperate: he needs money to treat his daughter's illness, which grows worse by the day. In a dystopian America where the poor are seen by the government as worrisome rodents rather than actual human beings, he knows his last chance is entering a game show called The Running Man. The objective is to elude police and specially trained trackers for a month. The reward is a cool billion dollars. The catch is that everyone else on the planet is watching and willing to turn him in for a reward.

Welcome to America in 2025, when the best men don't run for president—they run for their lives.

The Running Man

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