The Long Walk
By Stephen King
- Release Date: 2016-01-01
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
The brilliant and chilling first novel Stephen King ever wrote tells the tale of the contestants of a diabolically cruel competition where 100 boys start the “long walk” and there is only one winner—the one that survives.
In a dystopian near-future, America has fallen on hard times. Sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk. One hundred boys must keep a steady pace of four miles per hour day and night, without ever stopping. The winner gets “The Prize”—anything he wants for the rest of his life. But the rules of the Long Walk are harsh and the stakes could not be higher. There is no finish line—the winner is the last man standing. Contestants cannot receive any outside aid whatsoever. Slow down under the speed limit and you’re given a warning. Three warnings and you’re out of the game—forever.
Written by King when he was a college student and published in 1979 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk is an unforgettable and timeless masterpiece that showcases King’s genius for character building and his visionary storytelling.
Reviews
King wrote at 18
1By 1009090909090This book was drafted by King when he was only 18, and it reads exactly like that, a thin short-story idea dragged out to 400+ pages with all the melodrama and fatalism of a teenager.Excellent
5By oneperspectiveisallI loved this book. Its riveting and moving. It’s a dark dystopian march whose existence says everything about man at his worst while appearing to be at his best. It is a glare at deeply awful things normalized as necessity, or pseudo ideals to strive for, all under a misguided abuse of power. I couldn’t put it down.Stupid beyond words
1By twozeetooYou’ll need to turn your suspension of disbelief up to maximum just to read beyond the first third. No way this many people walk nonstop for that long. The first 50 pages… not too bad. Then boring, then stupid, then who cares, then it just ends abruptly. Awful.Hate it
2By Exene23Wasn’t worth itCaptivating
5By Buffettfan22I have read this book 3 times. The first time I was in middle school,the second time in college. Now as a middle-aged person. I never understood why this book was not made into a movie? If you’ve never read it, it is a captivating read.Incredible
5By Auggie's ManMuch like King’s “The Body” (Stand by Me) this is a character study that’s written so well you feel you were there walking, and getting to know, each of the characters.Good read
3By RespiratoryTherapistThis book was honestly really good. The plot was interesting and it was well written. My problem were the random sexual topics and racist remarks. They just came up abruptly and kind of interrupted the plot. Also lots of unnecessary details, like this book could’ve been 100 pages shorter. Besides that, it was good read.First read under Richard Bachmann
5By Chicago_AmethystHad to re-read after seeing a movie is coming out in a few months. Just a great story that still resonates after so many years.Wow……
5By ychbfm John f hth giJust good.Before there was the Hunger Games
5By 2young2boldCould not put this book down. Stephen King can take what should be a continuous repeating monologue as the plot is a straight line (literally) on a road. Somehow he keeps it fresh and interesting.Gsa
1By UdbhcMonotonousAlmost okay…
1By Takes too much time to load.Not really worth the time it takes to read. Bad ending if you could call it an ending. Kings’ most disappointing piece of work, IMHO.Dragged on and on…
2By Kristofor ParmleyConfusing and boring.Waste of time
1By BelliemayStupid story. Ending? Pffft. Don’t waste your time or money.Can’t
4By AtomicCougsay that I liked many of the characters in this one. But, still, it’s Stephen King and so…4 stars.Meh
3By dck2213Good book, I know it’s kings style to not tell you much of anything about backstory which you know is fine I guess but, the ending blew, like bad. So yeah it was worth my time but it only broke even.Skip it
1By VSabioStupid. ……….>>>…….>…………..Long walk
5By Wizard1569Only King could come up with this bazar story .I kept thinking more than one would be standing when said an done , no maybe the winner was the loser in all of this . Great read !!The long bore
2By Elaper111Stephen King once again proves that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can produce more exciting works of fiction. Like all his stories, the long walk is dry, talentless, and reads like it’s written by a depressed teenager for a creative writing class.
