What Amazon says
On the first day of May, 100 teenage boys meet for a race known as “The Long Walk.” If you break the rules, you get three warnings. If you exceed your limit, what happens is absolutely terrifying…
My review
I read this book [for the second time] with my eyes wide open as to its disturbing dystopian content. I have been reading Stephen King and Richard Bachman books since I was ten years old and I am well aware of the different writing intentions and outcomes between King writing as himself and King writing as Richard Bachman.
This book is exceedingly dark in a way the the King books cannot, in my view, ever match. The reason for this is that The Long Walk depicts a dystopian future world and circumstance that are horrifyingly possible.
The Long Walk is set in the not to distant future, in a world where the overpopulation and employment issues we are currently facing have not been addressed and there are [presumably] millions of young people who are facing uncertain futures in lowly paid and boringly competitive jobs. In order to distract the public from its largely miserable existence a national walking marathon has been introduced to amuse the masses. This annual walk, which is televised and attended by millions of spectators, involves a walk to the last man standing [i.e. the death] by 100 participating teenage boys. In much the same way as the Roman gladiators who entertained the crowds during the days of the Roman Empire, participants of the Long Walk are expected to die with the main difference in this being that the participant’s entering willingly and are young enough to effectively disbelieve in the reality of death.
The book centres around one main character, Ray, and his circle of acquaintances, which develop into deep friendships, over the course of the walk. The walk starts off with all of the boys believing in their own strength and abilities and filled with enthusiasm and tracks the breakdowns of their individual physical and mental health as the walk progresses. The disillusionment of early deaths due to unexpected complaints like charley horses, falls, nose bleeds and illness, are starkly and emotionally depicted as the reality of the proximity of death seeps into each boys mind.
I am most intrigued by dark psychological horrors and this book fits squarely into that category and I found the mental journey that Ray undertakes fascinating and chilling. The ending was appropriate although a bit unexpected for me. Possibly, deep in my mind, I still believe in happy endings and it is disturbing to discover that this is not always the case. If fact, in life, it is frequently not the case and that understanding hit me a bit like a club.
An excellent book which does not rely on the tools of supernatural mythology to make its point.
roberta-writes.com 
Great review, Robbie. Its been so long since I’ve read this I barely remember it. There are definitely some books I need to revisit from an older perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed my re-read of this book, Denise. I always like the Bachman books. I have subsequently read The Running Man and am 3/4 of the way through Different Seasons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved the Bachman books, too. I remember loving Different Seasons and Running Man:)
LikeLike
I read this one many years ago, so don’t quite remember the details, but certainly the dark atmosphere. Isn’t The Hunger Games sort of similar? (Haven’t read that one at all.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have read Hunger Games either, so I also don’t know. I am currently reading 1984 by George Orwell which is also frightening, actually, more so than The Long Walk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
1984 is bleak. And a bit too close to possible reality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, there are a lot of people who would succumb but many than would not – the resistors. I don’t believe people can be subjugated indefinitely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
LikeLike
I don’t like unhappy endings. The difference between tragedy, comedy, and happy are, almost invariably, a matter of where the writer chooses to stop. Why stop on a discord when a few more or less notes will lead to a harmonic resolution?
LikeLiked by 1 person
You will not like this book then, as it has a very miserable ending. Most dystopian books end badly except for Fahrenheit 451 which, I thought, had a very positive ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Which is why I am not into dystopian. If I want to be miserable, I’ll peel onions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent review Robbie..need to revisit the book..
LikeLiked by 1 person
My son, Michael, says I have a very dark mind, Sally, because I like dystopian and supernatural / horror books.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We do need to be in touch with some dark stuff to appreciate how good our own lives are.. I always come away from reading them with a better perspective… some however have given me nightmares!! hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, these books are the stuff of nightmares, Sally. I am on a roll having read Fahrenheit 451, The Long Walk, The Running Man, Different Seasons and now 1984 by George Orwell. I am unable to be as negative as these in my own writing and plan a reasonably happy outcome ultimately for my trilogy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure it will be great Robbie and a satisfying ending is always appreciated however it goes..hugsx
LikeLike
I’ve never read any of King’s books as Bachman. This sounds grim and disturbing, but I’m sure that was the intent. Great review, Robbie!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mae. I am into dystopian books at the moment because I am trying to write one. I am currently listening to 1984 by George Orwell and that is very disturbing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember reading that in high school. There is one particular scene from that book I have never forgotten!
LikeLike
Excellent review, Robbie. It’s funny, I’ve recently decided to revisit some old ‘classics’ myself and will begin reviewing them soon. They will probably be much different from my regular reviews, I imagine, but that remains to be seen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Kevin. I usually have three books on the go at any given time, one indie author, one classic and one poetry or children’s book. I like classics as I learn a lot from the different styles and genres I read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol… Me too! Usually different genres, but having a classic in the mix is a great idea. Thanks for sharing that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reality is often more disturbing than the supernatural. I haven’t read this, but you certainly conveyed the emotional effect well. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
It did, Kerfe, and you are right. Dystopian is much more disturbing than horror or supernatural.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not read this one. You really posted a great review. Gives me much to think about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a very disturbing book, Joan. I enjoyed it a great deal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooo I LOVE the sound of this! I’m a huge King fan but I’ve only read one Bachman book (The Running Man), and though I loved it a lot, I just never got around to reading more of his stuff (I tended to stick to the King stuff). You’ve got me very intrigued by the idea his Bachman stuff is darker, and I see shades of that (if I think back) in The Running Man. I’m DEFINITELY off to add The Long Walk to my TBR pile. Thanks a bunch Robbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Jessica. I have been re-visiting Richard Bachman and have also recently re-read The Running Man and Different Seasons. They are both very frightening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You got me convinced; I bought a three books in one yesterday… can’t wait to read them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure you will enjoy them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful review and considering the author, I’ll bet it’s well done. I’ve read a few books about that sort of dystopian future. We are definitely headed there in parts of the world. Depressing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The world has always been plagued by human greed and corruption, Jacqui. There are lots of good people out there too and we have more of a voice now than in the past.
LikeLike