The premise of The Long Walk is simple but compelling, a story built around walking long distances with the fear of death ever-present. Turning that into a gripping novel seams like is no easy feat, but Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, pulls it off. King manages to make every step tense, suspenseful, and hard to stop reading.
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.
Stephen King once tells a story that I’d never imagine could work, how to make a competition about walking a long distance interesting? Sure, the threat of characters being shot if they slow down or stop adds suspense, but I still thought it could easily turn very dull, drawn-out and difficult to want to continue if not handle well. Like many of King’s best works, though, it’s done through well-developed characters.
King crafts unique characters, each with their own background, view of the world around us, and personal stakes in the competition. While some have nothing to lose, others everything to lose, but all have reasons to win that go beyond just staying alive. As their stories unfold, you start to see the harsh realities they come from, adding depth to both the characters and the world they inhabit. This also goes rules of the walk and how the competition, gradually revealed, pulling you deeper into the story. This slow-burn approach makes for an immersive and thought-provoking tale.
The Long Walk is a truly excellent book by Stephen King, I mean Richard Bachman. It’s an intense and gripping story packed with more than I ever expected. That said, I find the over sexualization of his stories sometimes can distract me from the heart of the story. With so much already at stake, lives literally on the line, it felt unnecessary and pulled focus from the core of the story. Still, despite that, The Long Walk is another highlight in the many highlights of Kings writing.
The Long Walk is available at bookstores everywhere from Scribner. The audiobook, narrated by Kirby Heyborne, is available via Libro.fm!
