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Jilly's Reviews > The Running Man
The Running Man
by
by
Let me give you the most important information you need before you read this book:
Do not read the forward by Stephen King before you read the story!! He spoils his own book's ending in it!
Yeah, that really sucked because I knew what would eventually happen and it was so suspenseful that it would have been awesome to be kept wondering if this poor shlub would actually make it. But, even knowing what I unfortunately knew, I was still on the edge of my seat for the entire book. That Stephen King always gets me. He's the master.
Okay, maybe I don't like him THIS much. But, he's damn good.
So, this book was written in the 1980's and basically shows that SK was a psychic or something because he predicted reality television shows would rule the world by now. Granted, they are a little more brutal than what we have right now, but within the next few years, when the book is set, I'm sure we'll have advanced to this level ofevil entertainment.
Here are the names of some of the reality shows that are popular:
Swim with Crocodiles
Fun Guns
How Hot can You Take it?
Dig your own Grave
and Treadmill to Bucks (you have to have a heart condition to play this one)
In some of these shows, you are just maimed or end up in a hospital, but the biggest show, "Running Man", is the most popular. The contestant in that one ends up dead. But, hey, they rack up $100. for every hour they survive for their family, so unless dad is a selfish ass, he will do it for his family.
Sometimes you just have to take one for the team.
Our MC is on Running Man. His goal is to stay alive as long as possible while there is a nationwide man-hunt for him. He's given money and a head-start, and then there are hunters looking for him. Viewers get $100. if they spot him and call in, and $1,000. if it leads to capture/death. The contestants are always portrayed as horrible criminals, so the public generally wants to see them killed and feel it is justified.
The funny thing is that there was a real reality show that had this same premise, but without the killing part. It wasn't very interesting to me. Maybe if they had added in the killing I would have watched. So, in other words, we are totally ready for this. And, with our new president and most-likely entry into our own dystopia, maybe it will be soon.
It's either the Hunger Games or the Apes. Maybe we can have another vote on which one we prefer?
Or, you can write-in Ants.
This book was non-stop action and I really couldn't put it down. You are rooting for him, but he's not likable. You are disgusted by the society, and there is also a feeling of despair and depression. It's not hopeful, but it's hard not to hope that he will somehow topple the powers that be. If I hadn't been spoiled, I'm not really sure how I would have handled the ending, but it was a helluva ending.
Trigger warnings: everything. There is so much offensive crap in this book that you might not even want to try it if you are sensitive in any way. There is racism, homophobia, offensive language, and gruesome violence.
Do not read the forward by Stephen King before you read the story!! He spoils his own book's ending in it!
Yeah, that really sucked because I knew what would eventually happen and it was so suspenseful that it would have been awesome to be kept wondering if this poor shlub would actually make it. But, even knowing what I unfortunately knew, I was still on the edge of my seat for the entire book. That Stephen King always gets me. He's the master.
Okay, maybe I don't like him THIS much. But, he's damn good.
So, this book was written in the 1980's and basically shows that SK was a psychic or something because he predicted reality television shows would rule the world by now. Granted, they are a little more brutal than what we have right now, but within the next few years, when the book is set, I'm sure we'll have advanced to this level of
Here are the names of some of the reality shows that are popular:
Swim with Crocodiles
Fun Guns
How Hot can You Take it?
Dig your own Grave
and Treadmill to Bucks (you have to have a heart condition to play this one)
In some of these shows, you are just maimed or end up in a hospital, but the biggest show, "Running Man", is the most popular. The contestant in that one ends up dead. But, hey, they rack up $100. for every hour they survive for their family, so unless dad is a selfish ass, he will do it for his family.
Sometimes you just have to take one for the team.
Our MC is on Running Man. His goal is to stay alive as long as possible while there is a nationwide man-hunt for him. He's given money and a head-start, and then there are hunters looking for him. Viewers get $100. if they spot him and call in, and $1,000. if it leads to capture/death. The contestants are always portrayed as horrible criminals, so the public generally wants to see them killed and feel it is justified.
The funny thing is that there was a real reality show that had this same premise, but without the killing part. It wasn't very interesting to me. Maybe if they had added in the killing I would have watched. So, in other words, we are totally ready for this. And, with our new president and most-likely entry into our own dystopia, maybe it will be soon.
It's either the Hunger Games or the Apes. Maybe we can have another vote on which one we prefer?
Or, you can write-in Ants.
This book was non-stop action and I really couldn't put it down. You are rooting for him, but he's not likable. You are disgusted by the society, and there is also a feeling of despair and depression. It's not hopeful, but it's hard not to hope that he will somehow topple the powers that be. If I hadn't been spoiled, I'm not really sure how I would have handled the ending, but it was a helluva ending.
Trigger warnings: everything. There is so much offensive crap in this book that you might not even want to try it if you are sensitive in any way. There is racism, homophobia, offensive language, and gruesome violence.
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Excellent review! Have you ever read The Dead Zone by King? Every time Trump does something else I think of that book. *shudder* 😊
Thank you, Ladies!I think The Dead Zone was the first Stephen King book I read as a teenager. I loved his books. And, yes, I think some of the sci-fi writers are actually time-travelers . ;)
I think there was also boringness in this one...
Carol. wrote: "I think there was also boringness in this one..."Not your thing, my friend? It would definitely not be everyone's bag. ;)
It needed cake. But excellent review-- and agree. It was scarily predictive of reality show.
Fantastic review Jilly! Haven't read this, I think it's too gruesome :(
Cake helps everything, Carol. ;)Sana , thank you. Yes, it's no more gruesome than other Stephen King's, though. :)
You warn us not to read the foreword because it spoils the ending, yet you basically do the exact same thing. Thanks a lot.
Alexandra wrote: "You warn us not to read the foreword because it spoils the ending, yet you basically do the exact same thing. Thanks a lot."Shannon wrote: "^^^"
Actually, I never tell you whether or not the guy survives. I just told you that the show Running Man is about a contestant who will be killed. That is told in the beginning of the book.
Why people who have "strong feelings against spoilers" read reviews at all is a mystery I fear will never be solved. The world will always have a healthy supply of wet blankets 🙄
kookyquinn wrote: "Why people who have "strong feelings against spoilers" read reviews at all is a mystery I fear will never be solved. The world will always have a healthy supply of wet blankets 🙄"
True dat, girl!
I didn't even spoil. If I spoil, I do it on purpose, and if I don't want to spoil, I put it in a spoiler tag. :D
Some people consider legit ANYTHING as a spoiler though. There's really no living with them. Reviewer: I really liked the protagonist's cat.
"Wait, there's a cat in this story?! You bitch! I didn't want to know that! Now the story is ruined!"
kookyquinn wrote: "Some people consider legit ANYTHING as a spoiler though. There's really no living with them. Reviewer: I really liked the protagonist's cat.
"Wait, there's a cat in this story?! You bitch! I did..."
Seriously true.
kookyquinn wrote: "Some people consider legit ANYTHING as a spoiler though. There's really no living with them. Reviewer: I really liked the protagonist's cat.
"Wait, there's a cat in this story?! You bitch! I did..."
Lol!! That's sadly true! Usually the blurb about the book gives up more info than I do. ;)
Thanks, Quinn!
Carol. wrote: "Seriously true.";)
Great review! I agree for the most part. And I'm upset that I accidentally spoiled it for myself by reading the introduction. (and just at a quick glance to the other comments, let me just say that it's not a minor spoiler; it's literally the giveaway to the entire ending)
Rose wrote: "Great review! I agree for the most part. And I'm upset that I accidentally spoiled it for myself by reading the introduction. (and just at a quick glance to the other comments, let me just say that..."Yeah, I was bummed out by the spoiler in the beginning of the book. I don't get why they did it.
Only thing you needed to say was "Don't read the foreward it spoils the ending" THAT'S IT
Oh my god! How will I ever go on with my life when a basic with a snapchat filter avatar doesn't like me???
Alexandra wrote: "Only thing you needed to say was "Don't read the foreward it spoils the ending" THAT'S IT"Only thing YOU needed to do was not read reviews of books you haven't read if you want to avoid spoilers. THAT'S IT.
Getting pissy because someone talks about the book in their review of the book is a fucking amateur move. LOL Good one.
Stephen King has said many times in interviews that he doesn’t care about spoilers. I remember a thing he did before End of Watch was released and he gave a very strong “hint” of something that happens in the book which I am reading now. I guess if I have to be spoiled by someone it might as well be the author LOL. But if I’m being honest I’ve spoiled myself on a good number of Kings books just be watching the movies and I go back and read the books and still enjoy them immensely. In my opinion if a spoiler ruins a book for you then it probably isn’t a good book to begin with.
Becky wrote: "Only thing YOU needed to do was not read reviews of books you haven't read if you want to avoid spoilers. THAT'S IT. Getting pissy because someone talks about the book in their review of the book is a fucking amateur move. LOL Good one. ..."
Victor wrote: "Stephen King has said many times in interviews that he doesn’t care about spoilers. I remember a thing he did before End of Watch was released and he gave a very strong “hint” of something that hap..."Yeah, Stephen King was the one who spoiled it. Not me. Don't blame me! lol!
damn y'all really defensive af out here. it's just that since you went so far as to warn people about spoilers in the foreword, one would think you wouldn't want spoilers in your own review. but hey, i guess that's not your logic, and das cool too. my comment was more to inform you; i personally don't give a fuck.
Shannon wrote: "damn y'all really defensive af out here. it's just that since you went so far as to warn people about spoilers in the foreword, one would think you wouldn't want spoilers in your own review. but hey, i guess that's not your logic, and das cool too. my comment was more to inform you; i personally don't give a fuck."Except she didn't spoil anything. She talked about the way that being spoiled in the book's introduction changed her experience of the book. Jilly saying "Knowing what I unfortunately knew" is referring to the fact that she now, unfortunately, knows what happens in the damn book. If some rando on the internet wants to draw conclusions from that and consider it a spoiler, then hey, that's their flawed logic.
By the way, being spoiled by the author in the book's intro is a TINY bit different than coming to a book that's been out for 36 years, reading a review, and getting pissed off because someone talked about the book in it.
GTFOH.
Shannon wrote: "damn y'all really defensive af out here. it's just that since you went so far as to warn people about spoilers in the foreword, one would think you wouldn't want spoilers in your own review. but he..."Look, I screw up a lot in my reviews. I've written wrong names for characters a bunch of times, gotten facts wrong, and once I even put a review under the wrong book. I admit I'm a screw-up. It's because I'm human.
I've also had people point out my mistakes and never had a problem with it if they are nice about it. I will thank them and go back and edit the review. I probably would have done just that if someone had said nicely to me that in trying to save others from spoilers I mistakenly spoiled. I would have laughed at myself and fixed it.
However, if someone gives me attitude, I'm giving it back.
People need to understand that those of us who write reviews do so for no money and lots of criticism, spending a lot of our time, just so we can connect with other readers. I have no obligation to anyone to write something that they enjoy. I just enjoy writing about books. I also like to joke around about.... everything. So, when someone comes along and is rude to me about it, I have no reason to be nice back to them. This isn't my job. The customer is not always right.
So, that's what happened here.
I would also recommend watching the movie.It's got the Gubernator and Jesse Ventura. Both were in Predator and here, and both ended up being governors. The movie is also super-cliche and utterly fun.
Igor
Igor wrote: "I would also recommend watching the movie.It's got the Gubernator and Jesse Ventura. Both were in Predator and here, and both ended up being governors. The movie is also super-cliche and utterly ..."
I didn't know it was made into a movie. I know this might be surprising but I don't watch a lot of Arnold or Jesse films. But, I am always will to
Alexandra wrote: "Jilly wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "You warn us not to read the foreword because it spoils the ending, yet you basically do the exact same thing. Thanks a lot."Shannon wrote: "^^^"
Actually, I never..."
I’m surprised at the level of hypocrisy you spew. Your comment is literally the most vulgar here. It was disgusting and uncalled for.
I’m not a Stephen King fan. I get bored of his 20 page description of a bed or whatever he’s describing. Lol. But I might give this one a chance. I recently listened to the audio book of The Long Walk and it was about a reality tv show where the contestants walk...until the last man walking wins. I wonder if this was a spin off of this book? Great review as always!!
Hilda wrote: "I’m not a Stephen King fan. I get bored of his 20 page description of a bed or whatever he’s describing. Lol. But I might give this one a chance. I recently listened to the audio book of [book:The ..."The books are different. Different feel, but similar premise in a way. This one had more action.
I've read this one when I was a very young teenager and the realities weren't even on horizon (the TV was BW, but that's another story)! It's amazing to witness how SF becomes reality! See 1984... O_O