The Running Man (1st Edition, 1st Printing)

Stephen King

ISBN 10: 0451115082 / ISBN 13: 9780451115089

Published by Signet, 1982

About this Item

Good condition paperback. 1st Edition, 1st Printing. Rubbing to the edges of the cover and around the spine. Wrinkling toward the top and bottom of the spine. Pages toned with age. Initials written in pencil on the back page. EU ORDERS OVER EUR 150 REQUIRE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO COVER IMPORT COSTS (GENERALLY 6-15% OF THE ORDER VALUE). WE WILL CONTACT YOU BEFORE ACCEPTING THE ORDER. ORDERS WILL BE REJECTED IF THE ADDITIONAL CHARGE IS NOT ACCEPTED.

Seller Inventory # RUNMAN-090326-013

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Running Man (1st Edition, 1st Printing)
• Publisher: Signet
• Publication Date: 1982
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0451115082
• ISBN 13: 9780451115089
• Binding: Softcover/Paperback
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

Unabridged CDs, 7 CDs, 9 hours

Read by TBA

The year is 2025. The Running Man

Review

Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) crafted The Running Man early in his career, though after such mega-hits as Carrie and The Shining. A bit of a departure from the supernatural horror that is most frequently associated with his work, the novel describes a science fiction dystopia where market capitalism and television game shows have spiraled out of control, and the separation between the haves and the have-nots has been formalized with separate currencies. King establishes characters quickly, creating sympathy in the first few pages for Ben Richards--whose 18-month-old baby girl is suffering from a horrible cough, perhaps pneumonia. Not able to afford medicine, Richards enters himself in the last-chance money-making scheme of the Free-Vee games. The games include Treadmill to Bucks, in which heart-attack prone contestants struggle to outlast a progressively demanding treadmill, or the accurately named Swim the Crocodiles. After a rigorous battery of physical and mental examinations, Richards is assigned "Elevator Six"--the path of a chosen few--that leads to The Running Man game. In this game, the stakes and the prizes are raised. Success means a life of luxury. Failure means death. Unfortunately, few ever win the game; in fact, as the producer tells Richards, in six years no one has survived.

The Running Man is a short book, tightly written to be read and enjoyed quickly. The future world it depicts is vividly captured with a few essential details. The action is also fast paced and, though the novel differs from much of King's other work, the sardonic social commentary reveals a pleasing glimmer of King's characteristically twisted sense of humor. --Patrick O'Kelley