The Running Man Art
Works / Bachman Novels

The Running Man

The Running Man Art

Released

1982

Available Format(s)

Paperback / Audio

Publisher

New American Library (NAL)

It is 2025 and reality TV has progressed to the point where people are willing to wager their lives in exchange for a chance at enormous wealth. 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 objective is to elude police and specially trained trackers for a month. The reward is a cool billion dollars. The catch is that everyone else on the planet is watching and willing to turn him in for a reward.

From the Flap

IT WAS THE ULTIMATE DEATH GAME IN A NIGHMARE FUTURE AMERICA

Each night all Americans, whether they live in the vast polluted slums or the fortress-like enclaves of the rich, tune in to the nation's favorite TV game show: The Running Man.

Each night they see if the contestant has succeeded in evading death at the hands of the Hunters as he tries to survive for thirty days and win the one-billion-dollar jackpot.

The record for survival is eight days.

But now a new contestant, Ben Richards, has set out to beat the brutal odds, beat the rigged game, beat the entire savage system. He's betting his life that he can . . .

Characters

Hide List Show List
Name
Description
Rolf
Dog that licked Ben Richards in Portland.
?, Dickie
Dead person known by Stacey Throckmorton
?, Frank
A Police officer watching the contestants trying out for the Games
?, Frankie
A drunk in the Boston YMCA was looking for him.
?, Gilley
Old man who owned Gilley's Town Line and Airstop in Rockford.
?, Jake
One of the Games contestants who passed in the same group as Ben Richards
?, Jennifer
Lived down the hall from Ben Richards
Ali, Muhammad
Mentioned in passing
Barrow, Clyde
Mentioned in passing
Burns, Arthur M.
Assistant director of Games
Cowles, Bobby
Turned in Jimmy Laughlin. Brother of Mary.
Cowles, Mary
Turned in Jimmy Laughlin. Sister of Bobby.
Crager, Jack
Neighbor of Richards
Curry, "Old Man"
Sold drugs to Stacey Throckmorton for his sister Cassie.
Deegan, John
Fake name used by Ben Richards in the Boston YMCA.
Donahue, Robert S.
Navigator on the plane that Ben Richards hijacked - Games Council controller.
Donnigan, Flapper
Friend of Ben Richards who saw the money being delivered to Sheila
Duninger, Wayne
Co-pilot on the plane that Ben Richards hijacked.
Friedman, Kippy
Communications man on the plane that Ben Richards hijacked
Goleon, Rich
Driver of the car that took Ben Richards from Boston. Friend of Bradley Throckmorton
Gordon, Sheila Catherine
Maiden name of Sheila Richards.
Grady, Charlie
Guard who loaned Richards 50 cents to call home while he was trying to enter the games.
Grassner, Father Ogden
Fake name used by Ben Richards in Manchester.
Hanrahan, Gerry
Friend of Ben Richards
Harris, Mr.
Worked with Ben Richards
Himmler, Heinrich
Mentioned in passing
Hizzoner, Governor
Governor of Kanzas
Holloway, Don
50-year-old Pilot on the plane that Ben Richards hijacked
Hoover, J. Edgar
Mentioned in passing
Jagger, Mick
A singer mentioned by Molie Jernigan.
Jansky, Mr.
Contestant on the Games
Jenner, Eileen
Sells black market goods.
Jernigan, Molie
Sells weapons & fake ID.
Johnsbury, Governor
Area Governor
Johnson, Jack
Mentioned in passing
Jones, Miss
Secretary of Dan Killen who took Ben Richards to get his make-up done.
Kelly, Liz
Ben Richards says that Liz Kelly and Grace Taylor are Old TV sex stars
Killan, Dan
Interviewed Ben Richards
Laughlin, Jimmy
Contestant in Running Man.
McCartney, Mick
Mentioned by Ben Richards.
McCone, Evan
Running Man chief hunter.
Moran, Dink
Built pollution counter. Brother of Rich, and friend of Bradley Throckmorton.
Moran, Rich
Built pollution counter. Brother of Dink, and friend of Bradley Throckmorton.
O'Sanchez, Budgie
Neighbor of Ben Richards, and father of Walt.
O'Sanchez, Walt
Son of Budgie O'Sanchez.
Parrakis, Elton
A friend of Bradley Throckmorton that helped Ben.
Parrakis, Virginia
Mother of Elton.
Rettenmund, Mr.
Told dirty stories during the examinations for the Games
Richards, ?
Mother of Ben and Todd.
Richards, ?
Father of Ben and Todd.
Richards, Benjamin Stuart
28-year-old contestant on Running Man. Husband of Sheila.
Richards, Catherine Sarah
Daughter of Sheila & Benjamin.
Richards, Sheila Catherine
26-year-old wife of Benjamin.
Richards, Todd
Ben's brother.
Springer, John Griffen
First fake ID used by Richards to buy a ride to Boston.
Taylor, Grace
Ben Richards says that Liz Kelly and Grace Taylor are Old TV sex stars
Thompson, Bobby
Host of the Running Man show.
Throckmorton, ?
Mother of Stacey, Bradley and Cassie.
Throckmorton, Bradley
18-year-old brother of Stacey and Cassie.
Throckmorton, Cassie
Sister of Stacey
Throckmorton, Stacey
A 7-year-old boy who helped Ben escape from Boston.
Upshaw, Mrs.
Mentioned by Richards
Victor, Fred
Running Man director
Ward, Rinda
Ben Richards' tester for the Games
Wells, H.G.
Author mentioned in passing
Williams, Amelia
Richards' hostage from Falmouth.
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