Who Would Like This Book:
If you love dystopian stories that blend psychological tension with deep explorations of the human condition, The Long Walk is a must-read. Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) transforms a simple premise - 100 boys forced to walk non-stop until only one survives - into a nerve-wracking, haunting narrative. The book is gripping, emotionally intense, and loaded with character-driven drama. Fans of Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, or other dark competition tales will definitely get hooked. It's especially great for readers who appreciate strong character dynamics, survival stories, and speculative fiction with an edge.
Who May Not Like This Book:
This book isn’t for everyone. Some readers found the pace repetitive, as it mostly consists of dialogue and internal reflection while the boys walk. The lack of worldbuilding details and unanswered questions about the setting or origins of the event left some feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, King's early writing shows through in some dated language, teen boy crudeness, and unnecessarily explicit or sexist descriptions that put off sensitive readers. If you need a clear explanation or a hopeful twist at the end, this one might be frustrating or too bleak.
About:
The Long Walk by Stephen King, originally published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, portrays a chilling event where 100 teenage boys participate in a competition known as The Long Walk. The rules are strict: the walkers must maintain a specific speed and any violation results in warnings, leading to elimination by the guards. The narrative delves into the psychological study of competition, showcasing both likeable and unlikeable characters as they navigate the intense and shocking journey of the race. King's writing style in this novel takes a departure from his typical themes, offering a gripping read that explores the dark facets of human nature within a dystopian setting.
The story unfolds as a group of adolescent boys engage in a marathon where only one can emerge as the winner, earning a prize that could change their lives. The plot, while seemingly simple with the boys walking until exhaustion or elimination, delves deep into the dynamics between the characters, creating an intense and captivating narrative. King's ability to craft a dystopian world filled with tension and horror, while also questioning societal norms and human behavior, makes The Long Walk a thought-provoking and haunting read that lingers in the minds of readers long after the final page.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for The Long Walk include graphic violence, death of characters, themes of suicide, and psychological distress.
From The Publisher:
In this #1 national bestseller, "master storyteller" (Houston Chronicle) Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, tells the tale of the contestants of a grueling walking competition where there can only be one winner-the one that survives.
"I give my congratulations to the winner among your number, and my acknowledgements of valor to the losers."
Against the wishes of his mother, 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 without ever stopping...with the winner being awarded "The Prize"-anything he wants for the rest of his life. But, as part of this national tournament that sweeps through a dystopian America year after year, there are some harsh rules that Garraty and ninety-nine others must adhere to in order to beat out the rest. 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-permanently....
Ratings (181)
Incredible (44) | |
Loved It (69) | |
Liked It (40) | |
It Was OK (19) | |
Did Not Like (7) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (317):
Read It (190) | |
Currently Reading (2) | |
Want To Read (91) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (33) |
2 comment(s)
My first thought was that this was a book version of
Speed - it's basically set in one space (granted, they walk quite a ways in that space).
The reader is set down in the middle of this world - one where 100 boys compete to win a race of sorts. One that gets you killed if you slow down or veer off-course. There is only one winner - one left alive - who gets whatever his heart desires. But at that point - does he desire anything?
I'm curious to know what kind of world this is. Why is this happening? What is the point of the race. Is this entertainment? It's a question that goes unanswered. That portion reminds me a bit of
The Lottery, which King actually references in the book.
The book was interesting. I enjoyed it, but it's not one of my favorite King books.
It sure was a book that had enough words to fill multiple pages, and there were certainly characters and chapters. Was there a plot? Debatable.
I've seen people wax poetic about this book, but I suspect it's a direct reflection of survivorship bias resulting in only the people who don't choose to give up on this book leaving ratings and reviews. But I'm a stubborn jackass and kept reading, despite wondering when the plot would ever meaningfully develop, what King's fixation on minors' libidos was about during this period of his writing, and if he would see the themes of toxic masculinity he (perhaps accidentally) wrote into the middle of the book and actually do anything interesting with them. But not only am I a stubborn jackass; I'm now a disappointed, stubborn jackass for having finished this book. I love a lot of King's works, but this was the most disappointing read of the year so far for me.
What can you read after
The Long Walk?
About the Author:
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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