A review by ericdow1994
The Running Man by Stephen King, Richard Bachman

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

3.25

Not the strongest of the Stephen King… ahem Richard Bachman… books that I have read but this moves as fast as Ben Richards in this story. Parts of this really feel as if it were written in the last five years and you can see how modern dystopian stories like The Hunger Games and Squid Games borrow heavily from the themes and plot of this story. You can tell that King was definitely battling his own demons while writing this story and there is some language in here that let’s just say has not aged well that can be off putting. It’s not complicated, it’s a popcorn book that has exciting moments that breeze by. Can’t wait to see what Glen Powell and Edgar Wright can do with their movie version coming out in 2025. 
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