The Long Walk is on a different level

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Gamecrazy500

Member
Jul 24, 2014
7
40
33
I finished The Long Walk about 3 days ago, and to say that I was completely infatuated with this story would be the biggest understatement. That being said having a book with 3 other Bachman novels I decided to read The Running Man which is arguably the more famous of the original Bachman works. After reading it I have to say it does not hold a candle to The Long Walk. Now the thing is The Running Man was not a bad book. In fact I found to be very entertaining and even had some useful commentary on poverty and exploitation. Had I read it first I probably would have praised it. It's not about what The Running Man lacked but more about what The Long Walk had.

To me The Long Walk was a story that was told on such a deep and intimate level that few books can ever compare to. It made me seriously think about the issues of death, and war and brutality that our society currently promotes as entertainment. The images that I congured up of the horrible suffering the boys went through will not leave my head. To me it felt like such an emotionally baring book that had the ability to disrupt my current mood an thoughts and continues to do so. Where as the running man just served as momentary entertainment. Did anyone else fell this special connection with The Long Walk? And that the book was just on a deeper level than most fiction? If so does King replicate this in any of his other books?
 

Ex nihilo

Member
Aug 7, 2014
10
55
61
I finished The Long Walk about 3 days ago, and to say that I was completely infatuated with this story would be the biggest understatement. That being said having a book with 3 other Bachman novels I decided to read The Running Man which is arguably the more famous of the original Bachman works. After reading it I have to say it does not hold a candle to The Long Walk. Now the thing is The Running Man was not a bad book. In fact I found to be very entertaining and even had some useful commentary on poverty and exploitation. Had I read it first I probably would have praised it. It's not about what The Running Man lacked but more about what The Long Walk had.

To me The Long Walk was a story that was told on such a deep and intimate level that few books can ever compare to. It made me seriously think about the issues of death, and war and brutality that our society currently promotes as entertainment. The images that I congured up of the horrible suffering the boys went through will not leave my head. To me it felt like such an emotionally baring book that had the ability to disrupt my current mood an thoughts and continues to do so. Where as the running man just served as momentary entertainment. Did anyone else fell this special connection with The Long Walk? And that the book was just on a deeper level than most fiction? If so does King replicate this in any of his other books?


I did. Especially the part when Garraty realizes that he can die and the world will just go on without him.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
You are spot on about "The Long Walk," Gamecrazy5. I wish King would come up with a high concept like that again. It was so fun to read when I was in high school, I think that's the best time to read such a piece. And I still don't fully comprehend the ending.
 
Nov 15, 2014
23
148
49
Wichita Kansas
You are spot on about "The Long Walk," Gamecrazy5. I wish King would come up with a high concept like that again. It was so fun to read when I was in high school, I think that's the best time to read such a piece. And I still don't fully comprehend the ending.
Just reread this about a month ago (actually read this in my 20's for the first time), remember liking it more then. This time around I ended up switching to audio and listening while I painted. I picked out bits and pieces and kept comparing it to some more recent fiction I have read (you can figure it out they are being made into movies currently). I will certainly go back again at some point.
 

Sunlight Gardener

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
375
1,273
Oh yeah most definitely. It is right at the top of the list for me too. As I said in another conversation about it, when I read it, I was shocked to my core.....in a great way. It shifted me fundamentally when it comes to what is possible in literature. Each successive re-read of it makes it no more less astounding to me.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
The Long Walk will always be one of my favorites. I remember it clearly despite having read it a long time ago. It's a feeling that I remember; a gritty, dark, ominous one which is like the opposite of a secret:
we know that only one contestant, if any, may not meet certain death. It's in the rules!
A brilliant concept brilliantly realized.
 
Mar 12, 2010
6,538
29,004
Texas
I watched the film Never Let Me Go this weekend. The film was adapted from the dystopian novel by Kazuo Ishigure. It's a wonderful film and the film's mood got me thinking about The Long Walk. I loved The Long Walk. I didn't know dystopian fiction was a genre back when I read it. I wonder if SK purposefully wrote it as dystopian fiction or if his imagination just took him there? I think The Long Walk could become SK's best film ever.
 

KingAHolic

Banned
Feb 3, 2015
6,926
20,505
Old Dominion
I watched the film Never Let Me Go this weekend. The film was adapted from the dystopian novel by Kazuo Ishigure. It's a wonderful film and the film's mood got me thinking about The Long Walk. I loved The Long Walk. I didn't know dystopian fiction was a genre back when I read it. I wonder if SK purposefully wrote it as dystopian fiction or if his imagination just took him there? I think The Long Walk could become SK's best film ever.

I agree! Make the film! Ron Howard should direct. PLEASE!
 

Mike187

New Member
Mar 6, 2015
2
12
46
I Don't think the Book translates to film, Unfortunately. But this isn't a criticism, Catcher in the Rye is a literary masterpiece and easily one of the best ive read however it also wont translate to the visual medium. In fact very few books do, Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk) and Jaws (Peter benchley) are among the few exceptions. I have read The Long Walk more times than I can remember, I continue to be fascinated by this story, Garraty and Stebbins. King has this ability to create characters that are so interesting and almost seem real.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I Don't think the Book translates to film, Unfortunately. But this isn't a criticism, Catcher in the Rye is a literary masterpiece and easily one of the best ive read however it also wont translate to the visual medium. In fact very few books do, Fight Club (Chuck Palahniuk) and Jaws (Peter benchley) are among the few exceptions. I have read The Long Walk more times than I can remember, I continue to be fascinated by this story, Garraty and Stebbins. King has this ability to create characters that are so interesting and almost seem real.
Virtually no book translates to film easily, and of course some less easily than most. It's amazing what a good screenwriter can do, though sad to say too usually fail to. I'm no expert on how moviemakers choose stories for film; I've never been one to read a story and realize it belongs on the screen as well as page. Nevertheless, I think The Long Walk could work on film because the premise is perversely attractive so that an audience could readily believe it.
 

KingAHolic

Banned
Feb 3, 2015
6,926
20,505
Old Dominion
Virtually no book translates to film easily, and of course some less easily than most. It's amazing what a good screenwriter can do, though sad to say too usually fail to. I'm no expert on how moviemakers choose stories for film; I've never been one to read a story and realize it belongs on the screen as well as page. Nevertheless, I think The Long Walk could work on film because the premise is perversely attractive so that an audience could readily believe it.

Preach it brother! Amen!
 

KingAHolic

Banned
Feb 3, 2015
6,926
20,505
Old Dominion
I watched the film Never Let Me Go this weekend. The film was adapted from the dystopian novel by Kazuo Ishigure. It's a wonderful film and the film's mood got me thinking about The Long Walk. I loved The Long Walk. I didn't know dystopian fiction was a genre back when I read it. I wonder if SK purposefully wrote it as dystopian fiction or if his imagination just took him there? I think The Long Walk could become SK's best film ever.

:okay::clap:
 

Machine's Way

“Go then, there are other worlds than these.”
Jul 13, 2009
671
2,877
44
Baltimore
I absolutely love this story, very underrated in my opinion. I read this when I was much younger and it still stands out to me this day. I think this will always be in my top 3 for sure. I also think this would transfer to film well. I rarely say this, and most books to film are slaughtered and make everyone that loves the book pissed. but for some reason I can see this being a very good movie. I doubt it will ever happen but this could be made into a very dark film. There is not much more I can say about this story that hasn't already been said here, except wow, this one grabs you and don't let go.
 

Dashex88

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2011
50
8
I finished this story last night and I have to say it's criminally underrated. I had heard about it and presumed it was a short story. It's now one of my all time favourite King stories. I love the way he takes a simple concept like 100 boys just walking and brings out the humanity and nuance of the situation.
As for a film version apparently Frank Darabount holds the rights so who knows...