SynopsisIn 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. In the near future, when America has become a police state, one hundred boys are selected to enter an annual contest where the winner will be awarded whatever he wants for the rest of his life. Among them is sixteen-year-old Ray Garraty, and he knows the rules--keep a steady walking pace of four miles per hour without stopping. Three warnings and you're out--permanently. A "psychologically dark tale with commentary on society, teenage life, and cultural entertainment, The Long Walk is still poignant decades after its original publication" ( Publishers Weekly ). This edition features an introduction by Stephen King on "The Importance of Being Bachman.", *SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE COMING SEPTEMBER 12, 2025* In this #1 national bestseller, master storyteller 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. 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.