Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Running Man by Stephen King, Richard Bachman

25 reviews

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Violence

rikh's review against another edition

dark emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Violence, and Classism

bailiehildebrand's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Violence

Moderate: Child death and Rape

spicychicknnugget's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

4.75

What a dystopia this man creates. As someone who loves Orwell I love the reference and work that King puts into this book. My fourth or fifth reread honestly

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Addiction, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Slavery

isabelleceline's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder

sighclopss's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Quick read 3.5⭐

This concept again plays on (as many of Kings works do) the age old "humans are the real monsters" trope. In a totalitarian future, society is kept in check with entertainment of human suffering (not much of a difference from what the 2020's of our current lives have to offer.) I think there's lots of good concepts in this one, and considering it was written over 40 years ago it can be eerie what elements have been prophesied in a way. 

In terms of writing, it's not as waffle-ly as some of King's other works, this one definitely made a good go at an "action" genre, while still having the in-depth complex character thought that I enjoy about King's books. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury

readingiscool96's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Stalking, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

lukel's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Violence

Moderate: Child death and Racial slurs

Minor: Sexual assault

voicenextdoor's review against another edition

tense fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence

voxlunae's review

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

2.75

I've nearly read all of King's books, and I committed this year to finishing the ones I haven't gotten to yet. The problem is, the ones I haven't gotten to are pretty much all of the ones that are supposed bad to middling, including the Bachmann books and some of the bad '80s years. The Running Man wasn't terrible, but it's a rough hang, to be sure. The premise is interesting, and the world-building is effective, but it paints a picture of such a dreary and dismal world, where pretty much everyone is deplorable and vile. The casual racism, sexism, classism, fatphobia, murder, etc. just make this a really unpleasant journey, despite the propulsive plot and the messaging at its core. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and Classism

Minor: Homophobia