In this #1 national bestseller, “master storyteller” (Houston Chronicle) Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman, tells the tale of the contestants of a grueling walking competition where there can only be one winner—the one that survives.
“I give my congratulations to the winner among your number, and my acknowledgements of valor to the losers.”
Against the wishes of his mother, 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 without ever stopping...with the winner being awarded “The Prize”—anything he wants for the rest of his life. But, as part of this national tournament that sweeps through a dystopian America year after year, there are some harsh rules that Garraty and ninety-nine others must adhere to in order to beat out the rest. 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—permanently....
Download and start listening now!
"Uno de mis favoritos de King, sin duda. Es ese king perturbado que nos castiga psicológicamente. El detonante de la historia es excelente y está muy bien desarrollado y aprovechado. Y sin alargamientos innecesarios en páginas. Un final tan fantástico como confuso. "
— Adriii (4 out of 5 stars)
“Strangely surreal…The work of an angry, impulsively fresh voice…The debilitating suspense will leave you trying to catch your breath.”
— Powells.com, Review-a-Day“King (writing as his alter ego, Richard Bachman) delivers another psychologically dark tale with commentary on society, teenage life, and cultural entertainment that is still poignant decades after its original publication. Kirby Heyborne’s skills shine in the narrative passages, which he executes with a good mixture of rhythm and emphasis. Heyborne’s light and youthful-sounding voice exudes the needed attitude of the mostly male adolescent characters.”
— Publishers Weekly (audio review)“The Long Walk is perhaps the most original and character-driven story King has ever written…Narrator Kirby Heyborne delivers a stunning performance that sounds as if it was recorded in a single marathon session. Heyborne’s voice waivers throughout, battling fatigue as he walks every step of the journey in Garraty’s bloody shoes.”
— AudioFile“One of [King’s] most intense, horrific, and disturbing(ly wonderful) works…An excellently fast-paced, darkly suspenseful book.”
— Examiner.com" Possibly my favorite story ever written by Stephen King. "
— Summer, 5/22/2011" I couldn't put this book down, I literally read it straight through. A lesser known King story, but a great one. "
— Shane, 5/21/2011" This is the King book that has stuck with me most over the years. Will need to read again for a more grown-up view-point. "
— Seestars, 5/20/2011" It's a very interesting concept, the gameshow. Somehow I don't find it hard to believe that such a competition could someday happen "
— Dan, 5/18/2011" My favorite King book. Period. A must-read! "
— Andrew, 5/17/2011" Good book. Say what you want about King, but the man knows how to write a character. [spoilers removed] "
— Jim, 5/11/2011" Favorite King ( Bachman ) book. "
— Kermit, 5/10/2011" One of the my favorite novellas to read, out of every genre/author/etc. Simply wonderful! "
— Jeffrey, 5/8/2011" This book is hard to put down once you start. The whole story is filled with a sense of inevitability and you can just picture this book making a fantastic movie. I heard that someone is working on a film in fact and it should be out this year or by 2012. <br/> "
— Joe, 5/7/2011" One of the best character studies I have ever read. Simply a superb story line...a real page turner. "
— Thomas, 4/27/2011" My favorite King book to date!! I read it once and I remembered the story and character several years later and had to go back and re-read it. "
— Mandi, 4/21/2011Stephen 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.
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.