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  • The Running Man

  • Written by: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
  • Length: 7 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (106 ratings)

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The Running Man cover art

The Running Man

Written by: Stephen King
Narrated by: Kevin Kenerly
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Publisher's Summary

A desperate man attempts to win a reality TV game where the only objective is to stay alive in this number-one national best seller from Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman.

It was the ultimate death game in a nightmare future America. The year is 2025 and reality TV has grown to the point where people are willing to wager their lives for a chance at a billion-dollar jackpot. Ben Richards is desperate - he needs money to treat his daughter's illness. His last chance is entering a game show called The Running Man where the goal is to avoid capture by Hunters who are employed to kill him. Surviving this month-long chase is another issue when everyone else on the planet is watching - and willing to turn him in for the reward.

With an introduction by Stephen King on "The Importance of Being Bachman".

©1982 Richard Bachman (P)2010 Penguin Audio

What listeners say about The Running Man

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Don’t listen to the forward

There is a forward by Stephen King about writing as Richard Bachman and it literally spoils the ending to the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A must read

The narrator is amazing in addition to the story. My only advice for people that don't remember the movie and haven't read the book is to skip the first chapter. It is only a pre word by King and contains spoilers

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

don't listen to forward. spoils whole book

amazing book amazing reading wonderful story don't listen to the forward it will spoil the ending

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Do NOT llsten to the first chapter

Would have been really cool if it didn't have a MAJOR spoiler in the intro.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Twisted and fun

The bachman books are by far the most interesting. The drug and alcohol fueled whirlwind that is "bachman" Persona writes with freedom and insanity Is that more recent stephen king work lacks.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of his best

As a kid I remember watching the running man film which is why I originally gave the book a read in my teens. I loved that movie but the book was far superior and truly different.

It holds a special place for me as the first book to ever make me paranoid while reading and also the first book that had me so engaged that I read it in two sittings.

Life has gotten very busy so I’m trying audible and this was my first book through this service, the audio was clean and the reader did a great job in capturing the mood and tone of the characters in this world.

Long and short this is well worth your time.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

STEPHEN KING SPOILS CLIMAX IN FOREWORD

Aside from that, no complaints. Super entertaining story and great voice performance. Just wish I didn’t know the ending before I started.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

DONT LISTEN TO FORWARD until after

if you haven't read this book, do not listen to the forward, it gives away the ending. pretty disappointed that the authors forward literally tells the ending of the book. the story is fantastic, but I would have loved to find out the ending at the end of the book

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Woah

The Bachman books are by far the most interesting. The drug and alcohol fuelled whirlwind that is the “Bachman” persona writes with a freedom and insanity the more recent Stephen king work lacks. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves Scarface King as much as I do.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very good story

if you haven't read or listened to the Running Man it is worth your time.

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