voicenextdoor's review against another edition

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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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voxlunae's review against another edition

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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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mcnamcp's review against another edition

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There are way too many problems stemming from the fact it is aggressively dated. Racial slurs for no reason, gay slurs for no reason, harassment and non-consensual touching of women, etc. (And all of this from the protagonist)

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dibiz116's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

 Overall I enjoyed this book, but I feel like there are just so much better dystopian reality tv books out there (including King/Bachman's other book The Long Walk). I imagine this was fairly original in its year of publication (1999) but even aside from that I don't feel like this had the depth of character that Stephen King is known for and that I have grown to love so much. I know the Bachman books tend to be much faster paced and less suspenseful, but this didn't accomplish the balance the other Bachman books do (the adrenaline packed character study that is Roadwork will forever be one of my favorite books so it's not an issue with King's style when writing as Bachman). It honestly feels like he tried to make something too fast paced for his own writing style and ended up with a story that fell flat. It didn't help that the attempted social commentary didn't make sense. 

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timmeh's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0


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murkyreflections's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


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ro_lux's review against another edition

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

4.25


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benaurelia's review against another edition

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

3.0


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hayleycurtis's review against another edition

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

4.0

I was conflicted with this book. The way that King describes women is challenging. Is the author projecting his world onto the reader or is he attempting to submerse us into the mind of someone who sees women from Richards’ perspective? Maybe both is the answer. I just wish the women characters were more hashed out, I guess. Someone to sympathize and not pity. 

Moving on past my mini rant, the story immediately places the reader into the lowest of low classes - introducing Richards - a solid character rooted in his own beliefs and only wanting to help his family. King takes you on a whirlwind of a chase, leaving the reader flipping through the short chapters begging to see what happens next. The futuristic scene gives us a glimpse into the harrowing potential forecast of what may come to our society.  And it all ends spectacularly. I would recommend this book for the plot alone. 

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pointvirgule's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0


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