The Bachman Books
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Bachman Richard
The Long Walk
 List Price: Price: $7.99 Product Details
DescriptionOn the first day of May, one hundred teenage boys meet for an event known throughout the country as "The Long Walk." If you break the rules, you get three warnings. If you exceed your limit, what happens is absolutely terrifying.Customer ReviewsWalk the lineIn some weird dystopian future 100 teenage boys volunteer to walk a death march across America in search of the "Ultimate Prize" for the sole survivor - you see, if you can't walk anymore, you're shot. Thus begins an epic 200+ mile walk in which the endurance of the human body and spirit is pushed to its limits. King does a good job of keeping the story moving despite not much variation in what's happening over nearly 300 pages: they walk, someone falls, is shot, they walk, someone falls, is shot, etc, repeat. The cast of characters is built up and then brought down. We slowly see the characters start to crack up psychologically and then physically, then turn on one another. It's fascinating for a while. King also doesn't give much away about the world this takes place in - it's recogisable except there is talk of a "Change", of "Squads", and the mysterious "Major" who runs the annual (!) Long Walk. The Walk is spectator sport at its bloodiest. We are also kept guessing as to the reward for the winner - a prize is mentioned but walkers talk about how they just shoot the winner instead. The ending is masterfully written to keep the reader guessing as to what really happened. But even if this is one of King's shortest (by his standards), I still think the book was overlong. It's an interesting story that gets a bit long in the tooth due to the slow depletion of the 100 boys and could've been as effective at half the length. Despite the feeling that it dragged a bit for me, I was definitely impressed with the way King portrayed psychological disintegration so well, as well as the subtletly in which he kept the boys' motives for taking part in the race somewhat ambiguous ("volunteer" is a term used loosely as you find out - or is it? Are they all mad or not?). One of King's most interesting works and better than some of his more well known books, a definite book to check out if you're a fan or would like to read King without the supernatural horror he's famous for. Great, strange book This is sort of science fiction, but not really. It is really psycho-horror. Its about an alternate socialist or communist or fascist america, where people march to their deaths in a contest. Very strange book, the horror is they are all young boys and they walk until they can't then they are shot or whatever. They walk to death, in a race of endurance. But there is not SF reason for this, or supernatural reason. Just a political one. The characters are all generally good. There are some things I had trouble getting over, such as the idea they didn't all start off terrified. I mean, if you know it is a march to the death, you should be terrified, they all start off too happy. Also, the whole point of the thing was somewhat shaky. This was one of his very first novels he wrote, I've heard his very first. So, from that angle, its quite good. Good Buy this book was received within the suggested time frame and in the condition advertised. I'm very pleased with my purchase. It was worth the price sent. Interesting, but ends up pointless This book is about some young people who engage on a "death march" in a race that promises big rewards. It is a very different from many of King's other books. Is is quite an interesting read and keeps the reader aksing "what happens next." However, by the end of it the reader is left horriblt disapointed and asking himself, "what is the point of it all?" But this is only my opinion. I do not recommend this book. suspense yes horror no This was an amazing suspenseful read but was there horror? no. the end is a nasty letdown.
Rage
DescriptionCustomer ReviewsToo Unrealistic (And That's Saying Something For "King")In most of the books authored by Stephen King, the Master of Suspense turns crazy topics (evil clowns, little bald doctors, etc.) into mind-blowing reads full of incredible characters and interesting/compelling plotlines. Ironically, though, King's alter-ego Richard Bachmann manages to be less realistic by sticking with more straightforward material in "Rage". Basically, the plot focuses on one Charlie Decker, a high school senior who decides to take a classroom of students hostage, killing two educators in the process. As the hostage situation drags on, the students (ala The Breakfast Club) begin to learn more about both themselves and Mr. Decker as they break down the phony pretenses and barriers put up by all high schoolers. In the end, it is up to the reader to decide which one Decker is...villain or hero. While reading this short novel, the similarities to "The Breakfast Club" were quite apparent to me, although the 80s Brat Pack film handled the material in a much better way. The trouble with "Rage" is that the student's reaction to the situation is so unrealistic as to make all the proceeding material seem hokey. Instead of being horrified, the class instead lets themselves be much too easily suckered into Decker's little mind games. It's not like "Breakfast Club", where the setting is detention and there really isn't anything else to do. In this situation, the children are held at gunpoint talking about their personal lives. Also, I was never too sympathetic to Decker's character, something "Bachman" likely wanted readers to feel at least in part. Sure, he does delve into some interesting topics, but I just never felt as if I could truly understand why he does what he does (and no, that doesn't add to the mystique of the character, either). In conclusion, this novel also reminded me of J.D. Salinger's "A Catcher In The Rye", a novel I struggled to make sense of (or enjoy) during the required high school reading. A mopey, depressed, unstable kid blaming society for his own problems is not, in my book, an interesting enough concept to really hook me into a story. Awful Unlikable characters, irritating dialogue, stupid plot, immature, boring. I gave the story 2 stars for the action away from the classroom. I'm hungry for a good Stephen King novel; will there be no more? Crazy! Rage is about a highschool student named Charlie who goes crazy, shoots a couple teachers and holds a classroom hostage. The crazy thing about it is only one kid in the class really seems to care that they are the hostages. There is more of a mob mentality than anything in the room. I wonder if this book was written any time around the columbine shootings, would it have been published? Stephen King sure has come a long way. His style of writing has changed drastically. I love everything he has written!! I Didn't Get It I must have missed the point of this book. From the beginning, with the heartless killings that take place (and the completely unsympathetic treatment they receive in the book, and the unrealistic reaction of the witnesses), right through the end, I didn't get it. By the end of the book, you could see what was going to happen, but I still don't really know why. I mean, I understand what King was trying to do, but I don't think it played out with any sense of reality, so when I say I don't know why, I think I mean that the events in the book really didn't properly set up the climax in my opinion. It was forced, not natural. Overall the book kept me reading, when I was in the right mood (which is to say feeling a bit pissed off about something), but I didn't feel any real connection with much of the action, or care about the main character even after the woes of his childhood were slowly revealed. I certainly wouldn't recommend this book. I'm not even sure looking back why I bothered to finish it. King can do better, but this is one of his early ones so it makes sense I own a copy of The Bachman Books, but have only gotten around to reading Rage, a book that quite creeped me out. I really didn't like the book beacause i didn't like the main character of Charlie much- maybe because i don't get him- but the book wasn't too bad. Obviously, since this is one of King's early works (I think he wrote this one before he even wrote Carrie) he can do a lot better. The idea that all those students aren't even moved when Charlie shoots their teacher- dead- to the floor- seems a little unbelievable to me. Plus, athough Ted was a pain in the neck, i still didn't see why they all started beating him to the point where he became a slobbering mess. It was alright, i guess, but King's gotten a lot better. (Interesting fact: After Columbine, Steven King requested Rage to go out of print.)
The Running Man
 List Price: Price: $7.99 Product Details
DescriptionThe year is 2025. The Running Man is America's favorite television game show. Ben Richards is the program's latest contestant-and the Hunters' latest target in a rigged game of death.Stephen King (writing as Richard Bachman) crafted The Running Man early in his career, though after such mega-hits as Carrie and The Shining. A bit of a departure from the supernatural horror that is most frequently associated with his work, the novel describes a science fiction dystopia where market capitalism and television game shows have spiraled out of control, and the separation between the haves and the have-nots has been formalized with separate currencies. King establishes characters quickly, creating sympathy in the first few pages for Ben Richards--whose 18-month-old baby girl is suffering from a horrible cough, perhaps pneumonia. Not able to afford medicine, Richards enters himself in the last-chance money-making scheme of the Free-Vee games. The games include Treadmill to Bucks, in which heart-attack prone contestants struggle to outlast a progressively demanding treadmill, or the accurately named Swim the Crocodiles. After a rigorous battery of physical and mental examinations, Richards is assigned "Elevator Six"--the path of a chosen few--that leads to The Running Man game. In this game, the stakes and the prizes are raised. Success means a life of luxury. Failure means death. Unfortunately, few ever win the game; in fact, as the producer tells Richards, in six years no one has survived. The Running Man is a short book, tightly written to be read and enjoyed quickly. The future world it depicts is vividly captured with a few essential details. The action is also fast paced and, though the novel differs from much of King's other work, the sardonic social commentary reveals a pleasing glimmer of King's characteristically twisted sense of humor. --Patrick O'Kelley Customer ReviewsA metaphor for workaholicsI LOVE YOU STEPHEN!!!!! It dawned on me that we are all running men, being followed by guards who keep us in line - buying the right cars, living in the right homes, spending, spending, working, working. . . When we get to the end will we be afraid to stop and collect our winnings? WARNING So this would have been the first Stephen King book I read cover to cover. I was REALLY excited with the story line and could not wait to start reading it. The mistake I made and am warning you about is that during the introduction "The Importance of Being Bachman" King gives away the ending!!! Not just a "Oh, and then something negative happens" but "Blah, blah, and then he blah blah" specifically. If you want to enjoy the book (as I am CERTAIN I would have) DO NOT READ THE INTRODUCTION!!!! Who does that?? Yes, I get it, it has been republished so you want to add a note, but for those who would have picked up the book for the first time (never had seen the movie either so I don't know if it tells the true ending) the book has been ruined!!!. . . I always pictured Stephen King as a smart man. . . WRONG! So please! Add a HUGE SPOILER warning before you give the ending of a book before the story even starts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I should have read this years ago What an idiot I am. I never read this because I've seen the movie. But this is a great thriller action packed short story. This books just reinforces King is the thriller master. (on a side note - also showcases the talent screen writers have to be able to to adapt a short story to a film and not copy the book.) They are not the same story, but have the same premise. Sit back and enjoy. You won't find Arnold in these pages In the history of good books, people have created good movies using the books title (but have nothing really to do with the book). BLADE RUNNER and DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP is a good example of this. RUNNING MAN is another fine example of this. When I was a teenage, I loved the Arnold movie. Now that I am way past a teenager, I decided to read the source material. I was shocked and thrilled that I stepped into almost an entirely different world. The Ben Richards of the novel is not a criminal, fabricated or otherwise. The Ben Richards in the novel is a desperate man trying to find a solution to a nightmare many fathers face. Richards is a character in this book faces a far greater challenge than that of the movie. The game arena is the USA. The foes are the good people of the United States of America. In this Dystopia, Richards finds himself struggle to find commrades and figuring out who to trust. To give too much away would tell major parts of the book. Don't read this book expecting an action adventure film. Read this book expecting a character study of a man who would do anything for those he loves. The writing is not King's best, I thought some of it was a little unbalanced, but the story is captivating. Great Read I was expecting a story similar to the movie staring the governer of california, and it was not! This is very different. It's much better! It is a excellent read, fast paced and detailed with well developed charectars. The low price makes it a must for your Kindle.
The Regulators
 List Price: Price: $7.99 Product Details
DescriptionThere's a place in Wentworth, Ohio, where summer is in full swing. It's called Poplar Street. Up until now it's been a nice place to live.The idling red van around the corner is about to change all that. Let the battle against evil begin.An evil creature called Tak uses the imagination of an autistic boy to shift a residential street in small-town Ohio into a world so bizarre and brutal that only a child could think it up. It's as two-dimensional and gaudy as a kid's comic book, but for this reviewer, The Regulators is a gripping adventure tale about what happens when a mind fixated on TV (especially old Westerns and a cartoon called MotoKops 2200) runs amok. As Michael Collins writes in Necrofile, "[Stephen] King offers his readers a glimpse of the true evil of popular culture ... which has no design or intent, only an empty need to sustain itself. King is, I think, about the canniest observer of what America is, and that he generally writes horror ought to give us pause from time to time." Customer ReviewsLSDI have read alot of kings books he puts alot into the start and the middle but alot of times the end is just bad the only thing i can say about this book is how much LSD did king take? Pretty wild, not his best I know this is a companion to another book, but after finishing it I had no interesting in reading the other. The story was pretty good but I didn't care too much about how it would end. I refer the older King books like from the seventies, but that's just me. Weird, but enjoyable This is a rather scary book, but not quite the style of the usual King book. When I first started reading it, I wasn't sure what might happen. There's a lot of crazy plot twists and surprises to keep you interested, and I had a hard time putting down this book, what with the kids' TV shows coming to reality and that evil spirit who tortures the poor boy and his aunt and the freakout that ensues as the neighbors have to deal with what the heck is happening all around them. There's some fantastic scenes within this book. I definitely enjoyed it, and any SK fan should. A solid 4/5 stars. A good companion to Despertion. Stephen King shows us his vast imagination again and does not disappoint. Kindle readers should be prepared to use the magnifier. Journal passages, crucial to understanding of this veiw of the story, can't be resized with the Aa key but can be magnified. Or read those passages on Kindlr PC. Worth the effort. A nasty and brutal gripper! I loved this novel. Despite what people may say, i think this is a better book then desperation. At first i wasn't sure if i was going to like it or not.....Then the van pulls up......They have shotguns.......Then people start dieing. The town never knew what hit them and nothing they could have done would have ever prepared them for Tak and THE REGULATORS. Awesome book, awesome imagination. Bachman Richard News
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Capitol Hill BlueRound Table for Friday, May 22, 2009 leaving the group in August, 1970 to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Burton Cummings was lead singer starting in 1966. 1972 - The first US president to visit Moscow did so on this day. President Richard Nixon met with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.