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Roadwork Audiobook
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(3.03) - 9,610 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Only Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, can imagine the horror of a good and angry man who fights back against bureaucracy when it threatens to destroy his vitality, home, and memories. “Under any name King mesmerizes the reader” (Chicago Sun-Times).
Barton Dawes is standing in the way of progress when his unremarkable but comfortable existence suddenly takes a turn for the worst. A new highway extension is being built right over the laundry plant where he works—and right over his home. The house he has lived in for twenty years and where he created loving memories with his family. Dawes isn’t the sort of man who will take an insult of this magnitude lying down. His steadfast determination to fight the inevitable course of progress drives his wife and friends away while he tries to face down the uncaring bureaucracy that has destroyed his life. But before the city paves over that part of Dawes’s life, he’s got one more party to throw—and it’ll be a blast.
What happens when one good (and angry) man fights back…and then some? This #1 national bestseller includes an introduction by Stephen King on “The Importance of Being Bachman.”
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"The Bachmann books are really quite brilliant--prescient of contemporary obsessions with/concerns about technology, privacy, big business, alienation, the breakdown of communities, even reality television. There's more to King than monsters and bloodies prom queens, and Roadwork proves it. "
— Maryse (4 out of 5 stars)
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“With its James M. Cain[-esque] attention to occupational detail during mental derailment, this is [a] restrained, thoughtful, nicely observed novel.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Roadwork Listener Reviews
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" This was one of the few books I have ever read that disturbed me. "
— Amy, 2/10/2014 -
" One of the best books I have ever read. I usually don't care for King, but this is one of the few novels which are touching and ghost free... "
— Isreal, 1/23/2014 -
" There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and respected, but overall the story was dull and ultimately didn't go anywhere. Too bad as I generally adore King and Bachman. "
— Laura, 1/22/2014 -
" Good book as usual from Uncle Stevie, but I thought there were a number of very sad moments. Kind of choked me up at times! "
— Glasgowgal, 1/15/2014 -
" I liked this, but it's not any where near the top of King's works. I think this story tries a little too hard versus his best works where it just kind of flowed. Not a bad read, but nothing special either. "
— Jones, 1/8/2014 -
" This Bachman book was nowhere near as enticing as the first two. Okay, so the main character went a little cucko because they were going to tear down his house and his laundry business, and he ruins his marriage and loses all his friends. So he decides to just blow everything up, seems like the perfect solution. Sounds pretty intriguing, doesn't it? Wasn't too impressed with it this time around, maybe next time. "
— Jennifer, 1/5/2014 -
" reminded me of humpty dumpty in oakland by Philip K. Dick. Just a pissed off old-school dude, trying to stand up for what he believes in. nice, short novella. "
— City_of_lud, 1/1/2014 -
" Not your typical Stephen King horror story, but still compelling and intense. My least favorite of the Bachmann books thus far, but I haven't read Running Man or Thinner yet. "
— John, 12/26/2013 -
" Somewhat predictable, but I enjoyed the journey to the ending. The main character was likeable and you could empathize with his troubles. Looking forward to reading The Running Man in the near future. "
— Ryan, 10/2/2013 -
" Not even close to King's best work. "
— Mike, 6/14/2013 -
" Just a little slip into insanity. Fun. "
— Joy, 2/22/2013 -
" I haven't read that much of Stephen King, so far, and never one of the books he published under a pseudonym. But I liked this one. The insight into Barton George Dawes' mind and the way the events unfold was very interesting. "
— Noria, 2/13/2013 -
" For me, this book was 300 pages of monotony. That's the best way to put it. Now that I've finished it I will never open it again. Why did the publisher spend money to print this? I can usually find something good to say about a book and with this one I can't. I'm just glad it's over with. "
— Brian, 11/25/2012 -
" If you like Stephen King, it's a fine book. It's engaging, but like a lot of his books, I feel the end really lacked some punch. As a result, I wouldn't really recommend it unless you are really into King books. "
— Eric, 10/2/2012 -
" Talking about living with a purpose... gee whiz. He lived for that one vengeful day; I almost patted him on the back. Many plans/plots end in failure; that jerk deserved that... Of course I say this because it was just a character in a book, and yet.... "
— Alondra, 7/19/2012 -
" This isn't one of my favorites. It's very slow and drags quite a bit. "
— Gwen, 7/2/2012 -
" I still remember so much of this story, even though I haven't read it in a while. It's a fave. Not cheerful, but good. "
— Belinda, 4/4/2012 -
" Not terrible but certainly not great. This is pretty much straight fiction and the psychological aspects fell kinda flat for me. The story just wasn't up to par and the writing was typical for King/Bachman in this time period. "
— Luke, 7/6/2011 -
" Having trouble getting into this. It's kind of depressing. "
— Jeanne, 5/26/2011 -
" Wasn't the greatest. It was suspenseful, but didn't give me that bang I was looking for. "
— David, 4/1/2011 -
" classic King "
— Jill, 3/17/2011 -
" Read this on my iPhone and I loved it. The main character is a little nuts, but the world around him has lost all purpose so he's just gonna do a little Roadwork. "
— Austin, 3/16/2011 -
" Me gusta el trabajo de SK como Richard Batchman. Me gustó muuucho (por eso las 5/5 estrellas). Me lo leí en dos días! <br/><br/> "
— Jaz.parks, 12/11/2010 -
" An interesting trip through the mind of a guy who completely loses his shit. "
— Michael, 11/29/2010 -
" It was way too long & way too much details and info for not much to actually happen "
— Stephanie, 9/15/2010 -
" reminded me of humpty dumpty in oakland by Philip K. Dick. Just a pissed off old-school dude, trying to stand up for what he believes in. nice, short novella. "
— City_of_lud, 9/14/2010 -
" There is an over abundance of the usual Steven King words put together the usual Steven King way to tell an unmemorable story about one man’s war with eminent domain. "
— Tom, 8/21/2010 -
" Kind of depressing, but a good story nonetheless. "
— Snowcat028, 4/11/2010 -
" This one wasn't as good as the Long Walk. Kind of predictable and not very suspenseful at all. Moving on to the Running Man. "
— Tim, 3/23/2010 -
" I've enjoyed several King writing as Bachman Books, but this was just disappointing. I knew exactly what would happen from the start. "
— Jodi, 2/22/2010
About Stephen King
Stephen King has written more than sixty books, many hitting the #1 spot on the New York Times bestsellers list. He has won the World Fantasy Award, several Bram Stoker Awards, and the O. Henry Award for his story “The Man in the Black Suit.” He is the 2003 recipient of the National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and in 2007 he received the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America. His epic works The Dark Tower and It are the basis for major motion pictures.
About G. Valmont Thomas
G. Valmont Thomas, a longtime member of the acting company at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, has also been a faculty member at the Johnny Carson School of Film and Television at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. His voice may also be heard in a number of video games and in advertisements for radio and television.