The Running Man
by Richard Bachman / Stephen King
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Reviews
Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) crafted The Running Man early in his career, though after such mega-hits as
Carrie and The Shining. A bit of a departure from the supernatural horror that is most frequently associated with his work, the novel describes a
science fiction dystopia where market capitalism and television game shows have spiraled out of control, and the separation between the
haves and the have-nots has been formalized with separate currencies. King establishes characters quickly, creating sympathy in the first
few pages for Ben Richards--whose 18-month-old baby girl is suffering from a horrible cough, perhaps pneumonia. Not able to afford
medicine, Richards enters himself in the last-chance money-making scheme of the Free-Vee games. The games include Treadmill to
Bucks, in which heart-attack prone contestants struggle to outlast a progressively demanding treadmill, or the accurately named Swim
the Crocodiles. After a rigorous battery of physical and mental examinations, Richards is assigned "Elevator Six"--the path of a chosen
few--that leads to The Running Man game. In this game, the stakes and the prizes are raised. Success means a life of luxury. Failure
means death. Unfortunately, few ever win the game; in fact, as the producer tells Richards, in six years no one has survived.
The Running Man is a short book, tightly written to be read and enjoyed quickly. The future world it depicts is vividly captured with a
few essential details. The action is also fast paced and, though the novel differs from much of King's other work, the sardonic social
commentary reveals a pleasing glimmer of King's characteristically twisted sense of humor.
--Patrick O'Kelley
Commentary
In a near-future America, the public is controlled by Free-Vee, a medium much like
television. Economic disparity is even more pronounced: in order to get food and
medication for his family, Ben Richards volunteers to play a deadly game called the
Running Man. He must survive for a month, while one man tries to kill him, as the country
watches and jeers Richards via Free-Vee.
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