The Running Man by Stephen King Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Running Man
Book Review: Great Novel
Summary: 3 Stars
I had a plane ride across the United States so I read this as my form of enjoyment. I may have seen the movie before reading the book (I am a huge Stephen King fan and have read almost all of his books so I figured it was time to pick this one up) and the movie brings the realistic element that King is known for.
Overall, decent writing - which is why it got knocked down to 4 stars. The premise is good and execution is good but some of the time you feel like you are reading a novel and not engulfed in the game. I'd recommend it as a fun and easy read to anyone looking to waste time.
Book Review: Great Thriller
Summary: 4 Stars
This was the first and most likely the last Stephen King novel I'll read. I'd always been curious about King as a writer, but didn't want to read anything gory. I was told "The Running Man" wasn't, which is true. This novel is a great thriller, well-written, and difficult to put down, but the ending is horribly sad and unsatisfying. What can I say? I like a happy ending, and I don't think King does "happy."Book Review: Great short story by King
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked this book up, as a big fan of Stephen King, but wanted something short. This was a great story, and ended up being one of my favorites by Stephen King. If you want to read King, but don't have time for a 2000pg like The Stand or IT, the Running Man is a great alternative.Book Review: Gritty, fast-paced
Summary: 4 Stars
The Running Man is short on world building and character development but long on page turning action. I read the book in about two days, staying up really late the second night to finish it. I haven't read a book that quickly in many years.
The 100 chapters are titled "...Minus xxx and COUNTING...", where xxx is a number starting from 100 and counting down to 000. These titles convey a sense of time running out for Richards, which is exactly what's happening. A huge bounty is on his head and the latest info on him is televised every night, so practically everyone on the US eastern seaboard is trying to find him and get the bounty. Somewhere in the middle Richards uncovers what looks to be a massive government operation to deliberately misinform the public about rampant industrial pollution of the air. Then it becomes a race against time both to survive and to reveal what he knows.
If you're looking for a quick reading thriller that you can enjoy even without 100% concentration, The Running Man would be a good choice. The setting is Blade Runner esque: Set some 100 years in the future with the migration of the American people to mega-cities completed and the government running practically everything either directly or indirectly. Factories belching smoke everywhere. Seedy underground societies comprised of people making illegal trades to stay above the poverty line. The length of the book and the focus on Richards' flight prevents King from fleshing out this fascinatingly grim future world that I sincerely hope for succeeding generations doesn't become reality.
Book Review: Horrible!
Summary: 1 Stars
this is a very disturbing book. it's pointless, with a horrible ending. it might have turned out good if it weren't for the ending. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! it's terrible, awful.