The Running Man

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly

In the reality TV show The Running Man, the only objective is to stay alive.

This “slam-bang action suspense” (Gilbert Cruz, Vulture) from Stephen King is now a major motion picture from Paramount.

Ben Richards has no job, no money, and a young daughter who urgently needs medical attention. Desperate, out of options, he signs up for The Running Man, “the biggest show in the country.” It’s an ultraviolent competition where the stakes could not be higher. Ben must stay alive for thirty days while an elite strike force, trained to kill, hunts for him. If he can survive for a month, he wins a billion dollars. No contestant has ever lasted longer than eight days. Can Ben Richards win this ultimate game of life and death?

One of the best of the Bachman books.

Skip the intro because it gives the story away. Well narrated and easy to follow.

spoilers in introduction by King

don't listen to the introduction by Stephen King until after the story ends, he gives away the climax on his commentary.

Good but WARNING - skip Chapter 1 - Being Bachman

Right off the bat you MUST NOT LISTEN TO CHAPTER 1 until after listening to the entire book. It contains an unforgivable spoiler for this book. This should have been edited. No excuse for this being in there.

After that though the book is pretty good. Almost science fiction. Definitely along the lines of Hunger Games. I liked it and thought the reader was good.

I’m currently trying to read / listen to the entire Stephen King library in published order. This is not my favorite Bachman book. That goes to Blaze but this is definitely with listening to if you’re trying to cover all Stephen King books. Otherwise there’s not much new here. Another Interesting take on the future of the world.

Beware!

Do not listen to the author notes in the first chapter as it gives away the ending. I hate when they do that...

Some annoying audio clipping. Skip first chapter, spoilers

The story was great but the first chapter had many spoilers. Skip it. Great ending though