The Running Man - Stephen King Book Review

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Review Summary

In a decadent, overpolluted future, the most popular game show is The Running Man, where a volunteer is hunted by bounty hunters, police, and viewers. When found, they are killed. An unemployed factory worker volunteers so he get money for his dying daughter.
Rob, Resident Scholar

A near future society is controlled by big buisness corporations who maintain orded by brainwashing society with sadistic game shows. The main character, Ben Richards enters for the deadliest game show, the running man, in order to feed his starving wife and child. The contests gives Richards some "running money" and a head start to go and hide. Thereafter, he is hunted by professional bounty hunters. Richards needs to stay alive for 30 days in order to win a million dollars. The book is a good hunt and chase novel, with themes of corruption in society and unjust treatment of socal classes.
James Xavier, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of The Running Man

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Repressive society story Yes
Repressive because: - has game where people are hunted
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - unemployed
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - soggy whimpering jelly muffin - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - almost none - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Domed/Underground City
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths - explicit references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed - a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only - description of breasts
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog

Most similar books to The Running Man
The Long Walk by Richard Bachman
Still the Most Dangerous Game by Steven Gordon
Andromeda by Steven Barnes
The Long Walk by Stephen King
Contest by Matthew Reilly

Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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