The Long Walk by Stephen King, which was published under his famous pen name, Richard Bachman, is set in a futuristic and dystopian setting in America. The novel centers around 100 boys selected in a yearly competition named the Long Walk, designed to display the prowess and might of America on a national broadcast television system, where each participant must walk an unmeasured amount: walk until you are the final man standing. Competitors must also follow a strict minimum walking speed of 4mph, the inability or refusal to do so results in permanent termination. The winner of this walk receives the iconic Prize: anything that the man desires will be guaranteed to him by the state.
The novel focuses on a few core members: Ray Garraty, thoughtful and silent, and Peter McVries, a rugged and self taught man, Hank Olson, known for his bluster and bravado, Stebbins, a mysterious loner who knows more about the walk than most, Gary Barkovitch, a deeply insecure and troubled man who sought the Long Walk to fill his need to belong.
Rating: The Long Walk brings dystopian horror, thrill and twist together in one, creating a somewhat short and well worth novel.
