The Long Walk
Jan 2016 · Sold by Simon and Schuster
4.5star
539 reviews
eBook
400
Pages
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About this eBook
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
The brilliant and chilling first novel Stephen King ever wrote tells the tale of the contestants of a diabolically cruel competition where 100 boys start the “long walk” and there is only one winner—the one that survives.
In a dystopian near-future, America has fallen on hard times. Sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk. One hundred boys must keep a steady pace of four miles per hour day and night, without ever stopping. The winner gets “The Prize”—anything he wants for the rest of his life. But the rules of the Long Walk are harsh and the stakes could not be higher. There is no finish line—the winner is the last man standing. Contestants cannot receive any outside aid whatsoever. Slow down under the speed limit and you’re given a warning. Three warnings and you’re out of the game—forever.
Written by King when he was a college student and published in 1979 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk is an unforgettable and timeless masterpiece that showcases King’s genius for character building and his visionary storytelling.
The brilliant and chilling first novel Stephen King ever wrote tells the tale of the contestants of a diabolically cruel competition where 100 boys start the “long walk” and there is only one winner—the one that survives.
In a dystopian near-future, America has fallen on hard times. Sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual grueling match of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk. One hundred boys must keep a steady pace of four miles per hour day and night, without ever stopping. The winner gets “The Prize”—anything he wants for the rest of his life. But the rules of the Long Walk are harsh and the stakes could not be higher. There is no finish line—the winner is the last man standing. Contestants cannot receive any outside aid whatsoever. Slow down under the speed limit and you’re given a warning. Three warnings and you’re out of the game—forever.
Written by King when he was a college student and published in 1979 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk is an unforgettable and timeless masterpiece that showcases King’s genius for character building and his visionary storytelling.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
539 reviews
TheOnlyDibbs
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25 September 2025
Man, what a ride. Took a full six hours to read. Lovely kind of book: "this is the world this is, and they're living it." Gets to the point, I guess I'm going for. Naturally coming pretty quickly after the film and neither story disappoint. Well with the 10-spot, if you're asking me. Not for the faint of heart, mind you, there are a multitude of adult themes -- be wary if children have access to your copy.
Rabb Young
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14 September 2025
Stephen King’s The Long Walk is utter trash. Absolute garbage from start to finish. The plot drags endlessly, the characters are shallow caricatures, and the so-called suspense feels forced and tedious. I can’t believe this book gets any praise, reading it felt like a punishment rather than entertainment. Save yourself the time and skip this disaster of a novel.
Benny Rutherford
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22 August 2025
I got this one due, in part to SK's name. Also, the title was intriguing. What makes it a horror story? Because it begs the question, "Could this really happen?" I'm not one to say absolutely 100%, no. There have always been societies and/or leaders wacky and off kilter just enough to do horrid unspeakable things. A few pages in, I found myself among the walkers. And once the contest started, "What have I done?" There's no way to just tap out. I hope the movie does it justice.
About the author
Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Never Flinch, the short story collection You Like It Darker (a New York Times Book Review top ten horror book of 2024), Holly (a New York Times Notable Book of 2023), Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.
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