Gladiator games, dystopic government systems controlled by consumerism and companies promoting slaughter fun, mark the beginning of a debate that has reinterpreted a fuse into a piece of literary history.

One of my favorite, sick, and inhuman Sci-Fi tropes, perfected by the young master himself. I'm not sure who stole what, but this is definitely the first version, and it speaks for itself. Sorry, Battle Royale and Hunger Games. On the other hand, there might be older novels or short stories with similar ideas that inspired King, so it could seem harsh that he roasted the Hunger Games.

Interestingly, he used his pseudonym especially for novels that some people might find a bit controversial. He wasn't famous enough to risk losing readers and reputation by being associated with these entertaining yet indirectly very sociocritical massacres. Officially, he said he wanted to see if he could sell without his famous name, but I think there's a bit more to it.

If King were more inclined towards Sci-Fi, more of these pearls would have been produced, and all the poor Sci-Fi authors would have trembled in agony and fear for their sales. Sci-Fi has even more potential for gore and violence than the fantastic and horror genres King is known for. These future worlds are endless lands of new potential for agony and abnormality.

The second layer of terror, next to the personal drama, executed by an inhuman, authoritarian oligarchy, gives the setting an extra layer of omnipresent fear. Secret police torture chambers and primetime fun for being chosen for any kind of very adult entertainment. Not to mention the social criticism, allegories, exaggerations, and innuendos to a softened, already existing system. The question is whether it might first be realized in a more or less direct and bigoted dictatorship on Earth or in space in a few hundred years, where no legislation ensures that nobody hears you scream, or if it doesn't matter.

The interesting question is whether one might watch it or not once it's socially accepted and not watching it would make one an outsider and/or suspicious to the death squad.

Knocking at the door.

"We've been informed that you're not really enthusiastic about the TV program we're so generous to provide for free, Sir."

"No, I love it, my kids and I always watch it toget…"

"What are the names of the contestants?"

"Hm…"

Military policeman gives an electric shock.

"Stop lying, you rat! Our brainwave detectors show that you're just pretending to enjoy watching it. You missed 3 whole episodes, read about it later, and lied about watching it!"

And the latest candidate is… you!

It could instead be done with robots and cyborgs, empty clones bred without the ability to fear or feel physical pain, and without dictatorship. But of course, nobody would watch that. Cough, cough. But with real human beings? Come on, wouldn't that be the ultimate irony? Living in a potential post-scarcity society with immortality and future tech, and the logical goal of exploring endless space, learning more, and becoming a species of scientists and geniuses instead of replaying the so stereotypical bread and circuses battle to the death game. But we're brutal apes, so…

At least I admit that I'm a hypocrite. But if there are no victims, why can't we be both literate and fascinated by gore? Doesn't that sound like a perfect combination, a duality like so many things in life and physics?

Tropes show how literature is conceptualized and created, and which mixture of elements makes works and genres unique: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

I was truly astonished to come across this book hidden away in a second-hand store. You know, I have been well-acquainted with the film ever since I was growing up. Had you asked me before seeing this book, I would have wagered that the movie wasn't even based on a book, let alone one by the renowned S. King.

My second surprise, of course, was that the book was actually good. Perhaps I shouldn't have been so naïve as to assume that the book would be anything like the cheesy spandex mess that the movie was, but there you have it.

"Running Man"描绘了一个未来世界，在那里底层人民受到电视的控制，无论是在家中盯着屏幕，还是成为节目的一部分。与此同时，污染、腐败和精英主义肆意横行。我们的主角决定参加“Running Man”这个真人秀节目，在这个节目中，参赛者每躲避一小时死亡或被社区中任何想开枪的人捕获就能赚到钱。

这本书比电影更具政治性，而且结局也不太一样，另一个主要区别是：电影描绘了一个痴迷于荒谬“超级英雄”角色的世界，而这本书向我们展示了一个破败的美国荒原，充斥着卑鄙小人与恶棍，他们会为了“新美元”做任何事情。

绝对值得推荐，《Running Man》这本书大约200页，阅读它可能会花费和看电影相同的时间……

Reseña en español de El fugitivo: Click Aquí

*Movie Trailer Voice* In the year 2025, the world economy has collapsed. A vast number of unemployed people are living in misery. Their only glimmer of hope to obtain money lies in participating in extremely violent reality shows such as The Crocodile Bath or The Gun Race. Ben Richards's daughter is sick and in desperate need of medication. His only chance of saving his little girl's life is to take part in a show that nobody has ever survived. Chuck Norris Ben Richards is: The Running Man.

This was the third book that Stephen King published under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. As he expressed in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, it only took him a week to write it. However, this doesn't imply that it's a bad book. In fact, I believe it is on par with The Long Walk as his best book written as Bachman. It's an extremely fast-paced thriller that is impossible to put down.

A great aspect of this book is that each chapter commences with a countdown, which keeps you engaged throughout the entire book, constantly trying to figure out its meaning.

What I enjoyed the most was the setting of this book. King has created a perfect ruined future where misery reigns supreme, drugs are legally sold on the streets, and television numbs the minds of everyone (somewhat similar to today) to prevent any revolutionary act. Richards' character was outstanding. He demonstrates a great deal of resourcefulness and begins to uncover some dark secrets about the sinister society he inhabits. The way we get to know those secrets is remarkable as it doesn't disrupt the flow of the story at all.

So, all in all, I think that this is a good (albeit not excellent) book. It's fast-paced and a highly entertaining read that will keep you on the edge of your seat once the show begins because all the odds are stacked against the main character. To me, it's one of the best Bachman books and is highly recommended.

Este es uno de los libros que más me sorprendieron de Stephen King.

I had not planned to read it as science fiction/futuristic novels or so-called dystopian ones don't attract me much. However, upon seeing that it received very good reviews, I decided to give it a chance.

It was quite an adventure. I couldn't put the book down at any moment. It is superbly addictive and gives you no rest. It has one of the best beginnings that I had the pleasure of reading, and as for the ending... God... What an ending!

As I was finishing it, I tell you that it is a very fast-paced novel and to be very careful because one of the side effects of getting involved in this story is an uncontrollable addiction.

So many Lucky turns but very entertaining.

This statement really caught my attention. It implies that there were numerous fortunate events or twists that occurred, yet despite that, it remained highly engaging and enjoyable.

The brevity of the description adds to its charm, making it seem short and plausible. It gives the impression that the story or experience being referred to was not overly complicated or drawn out, but rather concise and believable.

Based on these aspects, it is understandable why the person would rate it as deserving 3 stars from them. It shows that they found value and entertainment in what they witnessed or participated in, and that the combination of lucky turns and entertainment made it a memorable and worthy experience.

Overall, this simple yet effective description makes me curious to know more about what exactly happened and how these lucky turns contributed to the entertainment factor.

Under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman, it has seemed to me the second weakest.

It has a good plot but little context in that very unjust little world. I think it was so empty that there was no good development, but I attribute it to the fact that I believe it has a bit of that thriller format where the chapters are not extensive and are used more to generate action in the knot of the story and addiction in the reader, because that's for sure, the countdown is an incentive to keep reading... although the end is very predictable and not at all surprising.

Perhaps it is because I have already read many similar books with revolutionary and anti-system protagonists. This type of story is nothing new, but I must give credit to the master in that he could have been one of the first to implement it before it became fashionable.

This is the third Bachman version book of King that I have read, and I can truly say that he doesn't miss a beat. It's beautiful!

The Running Man, written in 1982 and set in a distant (not so much for us) 2025, had a great risk of "aging" poorly, but instead, almost 40 years since its first publication, it turns out to be as prophetic and cathartic as ever.

The future imagined by King is a capitalist world, in the midst of an environmental crisis, with a society completely dependent on television, provided for free to both the rich and the poor in the ghetto. Books are no longer read, just like newspapers, which are now obsolete. All the news and shows are provided by the Network (the agency that manages the Tri-Vu) through reality shows and programs that sweeten and manipulate every semblance of reality so that the population remains stable, without a personal thought and divided into castes, much easier to manage and control by the forces of order.

This social division, with all the associated fake news, has made the economic gap between the rich and the poor so high that it forces the latter to do anything to scrape together some money for their families, even sign up for television games where they risk their lives or stage death for a few hundred dollars. A modern arena given to the masses to distract them from boredom and the real problems. Where the player is not a victim, but a parasite of society in search of "easy money" that he has sought.

This is the reality in which Richards, our protagonist, moves. Unable to afford the drugs to cure his daughter's pneumonia and tired of seeing his wife beaten on the street trying to earn a few dollars for a doctor, he decides to sign up for the television games and, thanks to his subversive temperament, is chosen for the most followed and profitable, but above all, fatal one: The Running Man. No one has ever survived for more than a few days. Will Richards be able to escape?

The tension is palpable, and the doubt of never being safe soon takes root in the protagonist, and by reflection, also in the reader, who, thanks to the brilliant countdown that marks the reading time, is drawn into a vortex of violence and atrocity until a breathtaking ending.

However, as I have already hinted, it is the similarities with the reality we live in today that put the whole thing in an even more disturbing perspective, more than the young King intended to do.

Environmental pollution, habituation to TV (now replaced by social media), social discrimination, and fake news that spread hate and ignorance are concrete and current problems. We have not yet reached the point of creating deadly prize games, but it is also true that we are only in 2021. There is still time.

Relentless.

Stephen King's 1982 novel, published under the pen name of his darker alter ego Richard Bachman, presents a bleak and feral dystopian landscape. In this world, overpopulation, underemployment, financial segregation along cultural and class lines, and a lack of fundamental healthcare have led to a situation resembling Roman decadence, with survival games and cheap entertainment for the pitiful masses. King's malnourished and desperate Ben Richards is a far cry from the character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 Paul Michael Glaser film. Richards signs up for the games to obtain money to help his family when pneumonia threatens the life of his infant child.

Told with an inevitable countdown to the brutal end, King vividly portrays Richard's plight as a contestant on The Running Man, a nationally viewed show where the hunted must stay alive as long as possible to earn more money. All the while, he is pursued by professional hunters, and his whereabouts are televised in a surreal manhunt that is both carnivalesque and absurd.

Published 26 years before Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, King's work lacks the flash and Hollywood-style heroism. Instead, he depicts an ugly, frantic fight to live in a world that has become brutally and dreadfully harsh.

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In the year 2025, a rather astonishing and somewhat chilling scenario unfolds. The best men, instead of vying for the lofty position of the presidency, find themselves in a desperate race for their very lives. “In the year 2025, the best men don't run for president, they run for their lives...”

Book 11 in my project of reading/re-reading the whole Stephen King bibliography

Personally, this particular tale struck me as a mildly interesting foray into the dystopian genre. It did possess certain elements that were enjoyable and engaging, moments that brought a touch of excitement. However, at other times, it delved into such a realm of bleakness that it became almost overwhelming. And, dare I admit it, there were instances where the plot seemed rather predictable, causing my attention to wane. If you are in search of a truly outstanding King/Bachman dystopia, I would highly recommend that you pick up The Long Walk instead. It offers a more captivating and thought-provoking experience that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

What, on a first level, is a pleasant and smooth reading of a truly inspired Stephen King (released in '82 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman), instead turns out to be a fierce and destructive criticism of a sick society that is increasingly divided between bored rich and desperate poor.

2025: in a dystopian and degraded future à la Blade Runner, King's prophecy is at times so centered on what is happening today - from an economic, social, and environmental point of view - that it makes one think that when he wrote The Running Man, King/Bachman had a crystal ball with him.

Not a horror (apart from some truly creepy scenes) but a novel that can be read in one breath also thanks to a tricky countdown that marks the pages and the events of the protagonist: a "poor wretch" who, to accumulate hours of life and money, is forced to flee on live TV from a team of hunters who stalk him to kill him, up to a smashing conclusion.

The year 2025 has dawned, and the world is in a state of chaos. The job market has all but vanished, leaving people with few options. That is, unless one is willing to participate in a game show run by the corrupt government.

Ben Richards finds himself in this very situation. His daughter is not just sick but critically ill. Tired of seeing his wife forced into prostitution, he decides to take a chance and line up at the local welfare agency, hoping to be selected for a game show.

Ben is no ordinary man. He speaks his mind freely, making bold statements about the government and its corrupt practices. He couldn't care less about the consequences. And this is precisely what earns him a spot in a very special game - a "forespecial" game, if you will. Ben is chosen to be one of the star contestants on "The Running Man"!

Ben is given a 12-hour head start, $100 for each day he survives, and an additional $100 for every law enforcement agent he kills. However, he is being hunted by some of the most elite forces on the planet. Cash prizes are offered to anyone who spots him and informs the hunters of his whereabouts. He is now a man on the run, the Running Man.

Ben has to learn to trust someone to help him from time to time, which is no easy feat considering his life is on the line. He doesn't want to hurt anyone; he simply wants the promised 1-billion-dollar cash prize if he can last 30 days. There are special stipulations he must follow - he is given a pocket camera and must mail in two videos per day. Although these videos are claimed to be "untraceable," Ben is skeptical.

Soon, Ben realizes that he is up against insurmountable odds. His chances of survival are already slim, and he knows that even if he were to win, he would never see the payout. The story unfolds in a way that I wasn't expecting. While I was initially "blown away" by it, this time around, I wasn't as impressed.

The audio version was a nice addition and well done, but the whole "down with the man" theme felt overdone and annoying to me. I'm no longer interested in having political statements forced upon me. When I was younger and more impressionable, these things didn't bother me. But now, it seems impossible to escape politics. That being said, I still think it's a good read. I miss King's brutality, which seems more prominent in his earlier works.

Overall, "The Running Man" is a thrilling tale that explores themes of survival, corruption, and the lengths one will go to for their loved ones. While it may not have had the same impact on me this time, it's still a worthwhile read for fans of King's work.

This was my first encounter with a Richard Bachman book, and I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Despite its hefty page count of over 400, I breezed through it in just two days.

The reading experience was incredibly effortless. I adored the short chapters, which made it highly engaging and kept me hooked from start to finish.

The concept of this book is truly fascinating. I have a penchant for the idea of games or competitions within a literary work. In fact, this book can rightfully be considered the precursor to the 'Hunger Games'.

The only aspect that I wished could have been different is that it could have provided a bit more in-depth explanation about the games and what was about to unfold. It felt as if it began rather abruptly, without much prior warning or detailed clarification.

The ending wasn't exactly to my liking, but then again, it's a Stephen King book, and I don't typically anticipate mind-blowing conclusions.

All in all, this was a remarkable book, and I now eagerly look forward to watching the film adaptation.

TW: murder and violence