The Long WalkThe Long Walk
Score Classic
What it's about
In a dystopian near-future, America has fallen on hard times, and sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual contest of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk, where losing means much more than losing.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of Stephen King's most harrowing novels, published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman.
You'll love it if you liked
The Hunger Games
Thinner
Lord of the FliesGood to know
It's bleak and relentless.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #59 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #218 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #615 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2155 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Dark, Gripping, Thought-provoking
More by Richard Bachman
If you like this, read next
The Library at Mount Char
Annihilation
Swan Song
The Robots of Dawn
Gideon the Ninth
The Tainted CupExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Long Walk worth reading?
Yes. It's one of Stephen King's most harrowing novels, published under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. It ranks #2,155 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Long Walk about?
In a dystopian near-future, America has fallen on hard times, and sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty is about to compete in the annual contest of stamina and wits known as the Long Walk, where losing means much more than losing.
How long does it take to read The Long Walk?
About 8 hours (328 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Long Walk?
If you liked it, try The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Thinner by Richard Bachman or Lord of the Flies by William Golding.