Customer Reviews
Horror made by humans for humans - By: Katja Beck, 17 Nov 2008 
I found this story by Stephen King a little unusual to his typical style of horror, but nevertheless, I thought it was an excellent idea & a gripping read. The horrorin this book doesn't come from ghosts, vampires or an alien force, but from human terror inflicted by an imaginary/future government who organize an annual long walk for teenage boys. The winner has everything to gain & the losers have everyting to lose. The Long Walk is a frightening event & along it, the participants must learn how far they can push their bodies & minds.
One of King's best! - By: Waseem Hussain, 01 Oct 2008 I found myself thinking about this book long after it was read.
Its a simple plot, enter a competition, walk for as long as you can & if your the last man standing, claim the ultimate prize. Yet, the simplicity of the plot contrasts with the emotional turmoil which plagues the contestants. They soon come to realise that fatigue is not the only challenge they face...and whilst they walk & fight for their lives, the Crowd watch on.
Not a scary book like Salems Lot but rest assured, this is horror. There are monsters, but not the type you would expect. In a way it feels a little similar to The Mist, the real enemy is the enemy within. spooky :)
One viewer gave this a 1 star rating because you don't find out the prize at the end of the story. I might be wrong but the prize is not relevant to the story or the reader. Worst of all, at the end of the book, the prize isn't even relevant to the contestants either.
Read it, love it.
Enjoy.
fantastic - By: Captain Joe Boston, 24 Apr 2008 really really good. i can't believe this isnt a film yet. it's such a great idea. it got me thinking about it for weeks. my advice would be though, get the bachman books collection, instead of buying the novels seperately
One of the best books King has ever written - By: J. L. Brooks, 22 Apr 2008 This novel was the first full-length novel King ever wrote (completed whilst studying at the University of Maine when he was 19-20). It didn't see the light of day for another ten years until published under his Bachman pseudonym. Charting a competition where the winner takes a large prizein a dystopian future society, it follows the lead characters quest to win. If competitors fall below a certain minimum miles per hour walking pace they are shot. It is writtenin a very tight style (not used muchin the horror novels he is famous for) & the reader is induced into a fast pace of readingin line with the competitors walking pace. I couldn't put the book down & had to read it at one sitting. The competition is a lottery where the defeated are killed & I think there is a strong allegorical parallel with the fate of young American boys during the Vietnam War (which was raging when the book was first written).
All around I think this is one of the finest of his books & deserves to be much better known. (It is now published as a stand-alone title, but can also be found within "The Bachman Books" title.
If you like this review, why not buy my own novel on amazon - "Freya's Quest" by Julian Lawrence Brooks
You will be with them every step of the way - By: Bezerus Bezby, 06 Dec 2007 One of King's finest tales- a brutal depiction of America as a militant state, where the mysterious major has devised a gruelling marathan- a 450 mile walk. It's only as the walk gets underway that you realise that opting out essentially means being shot.
King creates a vivid picture of the hopelessness & pain the long walkers experience. If you want to win, you must accept that all those with you must die. Ray Garraty, the hero of the story, questions why he entered the competition but never seems to question why it exists.
So well does King set the scene, that I swear my feet ached after reading this book. It is by no means a cheerful tale, but it is a tale of friendship, hope over adversity, tragedy & mildly like George Orwell's 1984. This is one of King's finest- certainlyin the same league as the Shawshank redemption. It is also very moving & I will admit to shedding a tear or two.
