obradbrad's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
scoutmcrout's review against another edition
5.0
Much MUCH better than the film this is my favourite book of his (controversial I know) but I just could not stop reading it’s absolutely marvellous and a book I think everyone should read.
maegan090's review against another edition
4.0
Holy shit...
I.
I luckily didn't have anything about this book spoiled with a foreword or by seeing the movie or anything, and I did NOT expect that. Like...... nothing could have prepared me for that ending? I've read a good bit of King and I've never really known him to be huge on pure body horror, but the body horror was so intense at the end that I almost gagged.
There really isn't a reason to not give this five stars, but I'm gonna hold back and just keep it at four for now because it feels right.
I.
I luckily didn't have anything about this book spoiled with a foreword or by seeing the movie or anything, and I did NOT expect that. Like...... nothing could have prepared me for that ending? I've read a good bit of King and I've never really known him to be huge on pure body horror, but the body horror was so intense at the end that I almost gagged.
There really isn't a reason to not give this five stars, but I'm gonna hold back and just keep it at four for now because it feels right.
leejean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
alliemco's review against another edition
4.0
for the love of God, don’t read the introduction. Stephen King wrote an introduction for his book in which he tells you the ending.
THE RUNNING MAN is a look into a dystopian version of America that could be easily plausible with the way our world has evolved over time. Nothing is overly science fiction, but all elements of a world that could be created in today’s day and age. The America of today, much like this America, is obsessed with reality television and has a clear prejudice of those with less money. It’s fast-paced, dark and realistic. My only critique is that all character including Richards are incredibly unsympathetic characters and the addition of his gravely ill daughter was clearly nothing more than a plot device used to flesh the main character out and give him purpose. Wished we could have seen a bit more depth in the characters but overall I enjoyed it very much.
THE RUNNING MAN is a look into a dystopian version of America that could be easily plausible with the way our world has evolved over time. Nothing is overly science fiction, but all elements of a world that could be created in today’s day and age. The America of today, much like this America, is obsessed with reality television and has a clear prejudice of those with less money. It’s fast-paced, dark and realistic. My only critique is that all character including Richards are incredibly unsympathetic characters and the addition of his gravely ill daughter was clearly nothing more than a plot device used to flesh the main character out and give him purpose. Wished we could have seen a bit more depth in the characters but overall I enjoyed it very much.
literatetexan's review against another edition
4.0
I'd read this once before, but it was years ago, and I had no memory of it. I watched the movie with my daughters last week, and I thought it would be fun to revisit the novel. I liked the storyline and the characters in the novel better. The Ben in the novel is less of a superhero, and the dystopian future from the book is more terrifying and grim than the future from the movie. The movie is only loosely adapted from the book, but it would be more accurate to say that it was inspired by the book.