The Running Man -- Stephen King writing as Richard Bachman

When I finally got around to reading The Hunger Games a few weeks back, I mentioned that it made me want to re-watch The Running Man and Death Race 2000, re-read Stephen King's The Long Walk, read Battle Royale and get my hands on any other dystopian story that dealt with reality television and our role as audience.  A commenter suggested that rather than watch The Running Man, I should read it, as the book was far, far superior to the movie.  So I did.

And he was right.

The year is 2025.  Ben Richards hasn't been able to find regular work for years.  His young daughter comes down with the flu, and it's so bad that she clearly needs a real doctor -- not, as Ben puts it, "a block midwife with dirty hands and whiskey breath".

So he heads across town to the Network Games Building.  Contestants on Free-Vee shows like Treadmill to Bucks, Swim the Crocodiles and How Hot Can You Take It rarely survive, but their families get the winnings.  And there's always a chance that he'll make it -- he's a powerful man, smart and determined.

But he gets assigned to The Running Man.  Which is basically a death warrant.  In the six years it's aired, not a single man has survived.  He'll get a twelve-hour head start.  After that, he'll be fair game.  Not just to the Hunters that The Network will send out -- regular citizens will get reward money for providing tips on his whereabouts, and they'll get even more if they kill him.  If he survives for 30 days, he'll win one billion dollars.  If he doesn't, his family will receive one hundred dollars for every hour he's free -- and one hundred dollars for every pursuer he kills.

This was a one sitting book for me -- I actually tried to go to bed with twenty chapters unread, but after tossing and turning and tossing some more I finally resigned myself to a serious lack of sleep, got up and finished it.  I ended up exhausted but content.  It's a very fast-paced book -- none of the chapters are more than three pages long, and rather than chapter titles, there's a countdown.  By the time I hit ...Minus 020 and COUNTING..., I was so amped up and tense that it's ridiculous that I even attempted to go to bed. 

As per usual with Stephen King, I felt this story in my chest and in my gut -- reading him is almost always a very visceral experience for me.  And there were a couple of passages that made my stomach flip around in an extremely unpleasant manner.  One of them involved intestines.  But The Running Man was more than action and gross-outs -- this extremely ugly vision of the future isn't exactly enjoyable, but Ben Richards is.  He's angry and smart and unpredictable, all traits I enjoy in a hero.  And the world, while bleak, is an interesting one -- obviously there's the futuristic aspect, but there's also a huge class divide, and within the classes, there seems to also be a huge racial and cultural divide as well -- and rather than do any explaining at the beginning, Stephen King just drops you into the thick of it. 

In the introduction (when it comes to Stephen King books, the introductions are always worth reading), he discusses all of the books he published under this pseudonym.  About The Running Man, he says, "...which may be the best of them because it's nothing but story--it moves with the goofy speed of a silent movie, and anything which is not story is cheerfully thrown over the side."  I don't think he's giving himself enough credit.

Lesson learned?  Reality television is evil.

(cross-posted at Guys Lit Wire)

Comments

[Eric Berlin]

As I understand it, "Running Man" was a one-sitting novel for Stephen King. He wrote it in something like two days. Jeezum crow the guy has talent.

John Scalzi has a column this week where he talks about "unfilmable" novels. "The Running Man" is the king of all such novels. Yes, it was filmed already, but that doesn't count -- all they did was lift the title and put it on a completely different picture. But to do it for real? Impossible. Go back and read those last few pages and tell me how we put THAT on the screen in a post-9/11 world.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I need to reread it again myself.

[Leila]

Yeah, in the introduction he said that he wrote it in 72 hours and it was barely edited at all. And yes, the 9/11 thing. I'm almost surprised that I didn't see it mentioned in the 9/11 aftermath -- mostly because people brought "Rage" up after Columbine, so why not? Then again, maybe it came up and I just didn't notice.

[Brian F.]

I very much remember reading RUNNING MAN for the first time as a teen (mumble, mumble) years ago and thinking how great it was and so imaginative because something like that could never happen. Same thing with VENGEANCE ON VAROS. And ABC's short-lived MAX HEADROOM TV show. Now, of course, I see these all as visionary and frighteningly accurate. Seriously, doesn't it seem like sometimes there are elements of society who look at the cautionary work of sci-fi writers and say to themselves, "You know, I get that this is supposed to scare me but... it's kinda cool. I think I'm going to develop reality TV..."

[Sheila Ruth]

Yeah, the book totally better than the movie on this one. Makes me want to go back and reread it.

Brian: I was a huge fan of M-M-Max Headroom and was so sad when it was canceled.

[Str4y]

Well, Doctor Who already taught us that reality TV is evil...
But I read the Bachman Books a few years ago, and of the 4, Running Man was my favorite. And I loved the end.
On the other hand, I'm a sucker for revolution, so I was lost before I started.

[Kristi]

I'm glad I spotted this review - my Teen Advisory Council wants to do this one for our next book club after having discussed Hunger Games, but not having read it yet, I wasn't sure whether it would be appropriate. We've got a wide range of ages, from a couple of high school seniors to a 12-year-old, and although our younger members are pretty mature, I'm always concerned about running into iffy things. What's your opinion - would this book be okay for our group?

[Angel]

My goodness, this brings memories for me. I read The Running Man ages ago. I have one of those omnibus editions that have the Bachman Books, except for Thinner if I recall. Now I have to go back and look at it. But yes, I remember reading Ben Richards' story and basically holding my breath towards the end, and what an ending. Later on seeing the movie, it was such a letdown. I still find the movie entertaining, in a cheesy sort of way, but it is nowhere near the book.

I am also reading Battle Royale in manga form. Definitely an excellent work and great dystopian literature example. But I certainly have to go back soon and reread Running Man. Oh, and The Long Walk may be worth a look as well.

Best, and keep on blogging.

[Sarah I.]

Ooo, that sounds, er...fun. I'll have to check it out!

[Heidi]

you make me want to go back and read Stephen King. I devoured his stuff in high school, many lives ago. Lost my taste for him in college. Sounds like a much better revisit than Flowers in the Attic.

[Elizabeth]

Oh man. Incredibly (and with shame I admit...), I have never read anything by Stephen King. But boy did this description make me want to read it, RIGHT NOW.

[Sadako]

Oh, I adored this book. I remember being freaked out (in a good way) because I read it on an airplane and...yeah, you remember how it ends, I guess. His Richard Bachman stuff was very twisted, though. I also liked Thinner.

[Lenore]

You convinced me!