Reviews

The Running Man by Stephen King, Richard Bachman

jp_ginger's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

remjunior's review against another edition

2.0

Mmmm....Not my favorite King (Bachman) novel considering what else he was writing at this time. It's odd, because as fast paced as the story is it still manages to be boring. Everything that happens is slightly too convenient and the book is possibly a little...racist. Not overtly, but a little bit of a caricature in my opinion, which may be a token of the time.

Anyway, it was OK. Had to push myself to finish it and it's not a very long novel.

racquellemulvey's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Mr. King depicts some pretty messed up stuff, but regardless this novel was well done. Shocking and gut-wrenching ending, definitely do recommend.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

kittyburritoland's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

3.75

thommie's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

vaudevillianveteran's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

bhable's review against another edition

dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

tyrannosaurussx's review against another edition

3.0

I was disappointed by the lack of imagination by S. King in The Running Man. The main protagonist, Ben Richards, is using a VIDEO TAPE RECORDER and has to send two tapes a day by POST in this futuristic America in 2025. In 1982, I would have imagined a future where people would be recording with their eyeballs by 2025 and sending it through some supersonic hyperlink or something like that. Instead, S. King is using technology from the time when he wrote it. I still enjoyed the story; just this aspect was a bit of a letdown.

jennarendell's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

3.0

aziraphales's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

wow holy shit i LOVED this!!!!