#33 – The Running Man

Plot

The Running Man is set within a dystopian future in which the poor are seen more by the government as worrisome rodents than actual human beings. The protagonist of The Running Man, Ben Richards, is quick to realize this as he watches his daughter, Cathy, grow sicker by the day and tread closer and closer to death. Desperate for money to pay Cathy’s medical bills, Ben enlists himself in a true reality style game show where the objective is to merely stay alive.

Review

The Running Man is straight out of the Black Mirror Netflix show – as it involves game-show contestants trying to evade their death in order to win a boatload of cash. America tunes in to be entertained by the hunt. In fact, I would not be surprised at all if Black Mirror’s episode titled Fifteen Million Merits was indirectly inspired by this novel.

Stephen King – who published this novel under the Richard Bachman pseudonym – says he wrote this book in one week, and it shows. The Running Man is an action-packed novel that makes it difficult for readers to catch their breath. Not heavy into building too much character, but more focused on continuing plot, The Running Man is an easy read.

Had King written this later in his career it likely would have raced up this ranking list, but you can easily tell that King was still developing his craft when he wrote this novel. The dialogue isn’t incredibly sharp, and the scene-setting leaves a little to be desired. Those are complete nitpicks, as I would completely recommend The Running Man to anyone who enjoys great premises that immediately race to the finish line.

Details

Pages: 317

Dates Read: April – May 2020

Quote: “In the year 2025, the best men don’t run for president, they run for their lives.”

Best Part: Everything that happened on the plane was riveting – with the initial phone call leading the way.

Hint for #32: We meet Roland’s ka-tet for the first time.

Until next time, peace be the journey.