What do you think?
Rate this book
317 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1982
While I am enjoying the sci-fi / dystopia of acclaimed TV series such as "Black Mirror" or "The Handmaid's Tale", the novel "The Running Man" falls into my lap. The fact is that this novel inspired the 1987 movie of the same name. And the fact is that I am one of the few that loved that movie. Therefore, I immediately buy the novel. Stephen King wrote it in his "Bachman" phase, maybe it's a minor novel. No matter, I bought it... and thank God!
The concept of reality shows is exacerbated, and actual life live turns into death live in the future that King presents us. Future in which there are sadistic TV prize contests, such as "Treadmill to Bucks", where the unfortunate individuals (usually with cardiac disease) must answer some questions as they run on a rotating cylinder. But the crown jewel of the prize contests on live TV is the "The Running Man", a manhunt that practically pushes you against everyone, against the world. Need to hide. Prestigious hotels, decadent motels, sewer. One place as good as the next, the important thing is that you never stop in the same place for more than one day. Otherwise you're fucked.
Hell of a ending, direct, essential, minimal. Hell of a future.
Vote: 8
Mentre mi entusiasmo per la fantascienza / distopia di acclamate serie TV quali "Black Mirror" o "The Handmaid's Tale", mi ritrovo per le mani "L'uomo in fuga", che scopro aver ispirato il film "L'implacabile". Il fatto è che io sono probabilmente uno dei pochi fan di questo film del 1987. Quindi compro immediatamente il libro. Stephen King lo ha scritto in fase "Bachman", forse si tratta di un libro minore. Non importa, lo compro. E meno male: minore il caspito!!
L'idea dei reality show viene esasperata, e la vita in diretta del nostro presente diventa morte in diretta nel futuro che ci presenta King. Futuro in cui vi sono sadiche trasmissioni TV a premi, come "Il macinadollari", dove i malcapitati (tendenzialmente cardiopatici) devono rispondere a delle domande mentre corrono su di un cilindro rotante. Ma la vera punta di diamante dei concorsi a premi in diretta TV è "L'uomo in fuga", una caccia ai concorrenti che praticamente ti mette contro tutti, contro il mondo intero. Bisogna nascondersi. Alberghi, motel decadenti, fogne. Un posto vale l'altro, l'importante è non fermarsi mai nello stesso luogo per più di qualche giorno. Altrimenti sei fottuto.
Gran bel finale, diretto, essenziale, minimale. Gran bel futuro.
Voto: 8
أنت عدو للشبكة. هذا ما يقولونه على شاشة فري في. رأيت بعض هذه الأعمال المثيرة للإشمئزاز التي قمت بها.للرعب وجه أخر
سأل ريتشاردز: أتعرفين ما هو المثير للإشمئزاز؟ أشعل سيجارة من لوحة أجهزة السيارة. سأخبرك. إن المثير للإشمئزاز أن يطردوا أحدهم لأنه لا يرغب بالعمل في وظيفة عند جينرال أتومكس تسبب العقم. إن المثير للإشمئزاز هو أن تجلس في المنزل و تشاهد زوجتك و هي تكسب أموال البقالة من البغاء. إن من المثير للإشمئزاز هو معرفة أن الشبكة تقتل الملايين من الأشخاص كل سنة بسبب تلوث الهواء في الوقت الذي بإمكانهم تصنيع مرشحات أنفية بمبلغ ستة دولارات لكل واحد.
THE RUNNING MANis not only different from the movie (with Arnold Schwarzenegger) but has a much deeper storyline and greater sense of desperation and hopelessness among the very interesting characters.
THE RUNNING MAN is still a TV Reality Show (broadcast on the Free-Vee) that survives by ratings and is still corrupt in its methods of revealing less than the truth to further incite wrong-doing by the participants and gain a greater audience.
THE RUNNING MAN contestant hopefuls, as our Ben Richards are all miserable, hungry and filled with despair knowing the only way left to survive in their dark world is to qualify for the game of death and outrun the hunters for as many days as possible to earn the much needed New Dollars for their families.
This intense and suspenseful sci-fi thriller does have a few graphically expressed gross-out moments that are hard to stomach but is filled with "crazy" good non-stop action all the way and worth the read!