Movatterモバイル変換

[0]ホーム

Jump to content

The Long Walk (novel)

Edit links

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1979 novel by Stephen King

This article is about the novel. For other uses, seeLong Walk (disambiguation).

The Long Walk
First edition cover
Author	Stephen King (asRichard Bachman)
Language	English
Genre	Psychological horror^[1] Dystopia
Publisher	Signet Books
Publication date	July 3,1979
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (paperback)
Pages	384
ISBN	978-0-451-08754-6

The Long Walk is adystopian horror novel by American writerStephen King, published in 1979, under thepseudonym Richard Bachman. Set in adystopian alternative version of theUnited States ruled by atotalitarian regime, the plot follows the contestants of a grueling annual walking contest. While not the first of King's novels to be published,The Long Walk was the first novel he wrote, having begun it in 1966–67 during his freshman year at theUniversity of Maine, some eight years before his first published novel,Carrie, was released in 1974.^[2]

It was collected in 1985 in thehardcover omnibusThe Bachman Books, and has seen several reprints since, as both paperback and hardcover. In 2023,Centipede Press released the first stand-alone hardcover edition.^[3] In 2000, theAmerican Library Association listedThe Long Walk as one of the 100 best books for teenage readers published between 1966 and 2000.^[4]

Plot

[edit]

Set in an alternative, dystopian version of the United States, the plot revolves around the Long Walk, an annual contest in which 100 young men walk continuously along a pre-arranged route (presumably onRoute 1). Walkers must keep a minimum pace of 4 miles per hour (6.4 km/h), and are issued verbal warnings by soldiers monitoring their progress if they fall below this speed for 30 seconds. A walker can lose one warning if he walks for an hour without earning another. If a walker receives three warnings and falls below the minimum speed for 30 seconds again, he is shot and killed by the soldiers. There are no breaks or rest periods of any sort, although the walkers do receive food and water, and the Walk does not have a set distance or time limit; it ends only when one walker remains alive, receiving whatever he wants for the rest of his life as his prize.

Ray Garraty, fromAndroscoggin County, Maine, arrives at the start of the Walk on the Canada–Maine border, where he meets the other walkers, among them the sardonic Pete McVries, the friendly Art Baker, the cocky Hank Olson and the enigmatic Stebbins. The Major, the leader of thesecret police force known as the Squads, starts the Walk. Throughout the first day, Garraty befriends Baker, Olson, and several other walkers such as Abraham and Pearson, growing particularly close to McVries and becoming intrigued by Stebbins. The men speculate on who will be the first walker to be eliminated. A walker named Gary Barkovitch reveals to a reporter that he is in the Long Walk to "dance on the graves" of other participants, and later provokes another walker into attacking him, resulting in the latter's death and Barkovitch being ostracized.

Garraty succeeds in surviving the night. Scramm, the odds-on favorite in Vegas, tells Garraty that he has a pregnant wife and will have sufficient motivation to keep going. Garraty decides that his motivation is to survive untilFreeport, where he hopes to see his girlfriend Jan in the crowd. The walkers begin to resent the Major, and McVries stops walking in an attempt to fight the soldiers, but is saved by Garraty. In return, McVries saves Garraty's life after Garraty experiences apanic attack. This camaraderie infuriates Olson, who is now severely fatigued. Garraty reveals to the others that the Squadstook his father away, and a fight almost breaks out between McVries and another walker, Collie Parker, when Parker claims that only "damn fools" are "Squaded".

Stebbins tells Garraty that he believes he will win, but that all walkers have a death wish. McVries tells Garraty that he will sit down when he cannot walk farther. Stebbins advises Garraty to watch Olson, who has become unresponsive. After Garraty brings Olson out of this state, Olson attacks the soldiers and is executed. Scramm falls ill withpneumonia and seems likely to collapse. The other walkers agree that the winner should provide financial security for Scramm's wife. Garraty asks Barkovitch to join the agreement, and Barkovitch agrees, as he has suffered in isolation from the others. Scramm thanks the others and is killed in an act of defiance against the soldiers.

After developing acharley horse, Garraty receives three warnings, but recovers and resumes walking with less than two seconds to spare. To distract himself until he can lose a warning, he tells McVries about how he felt a compulsion to join the walk and that his mother allowed herself to be persuaded by the thought of financial security. McVries reveals that he joined the walk against his family's wishes. Abraham tells Garraty that he did not withdraw after being accepted due to the amusement it provided to his town. Garraty begins to suffer from doubts about his sexuality and masculinity due to suppressed memories re-emerging, especially after McVries hints that he is sexually attracted to Garraty. This causes Garraty to lash out at a deteriorating Barkovitch, and Barkovitch kills himself when the rest of the walkers begin taunting him. The next morning, Garraty finds that many walkers (including Pearson) have died overnight, as Barkovitch predicted.

When the walkers arrive in Freeport, Garraty attempts to die in Jan's arms but is saved by McVries. As a response, Abraham convinces the walkers to make a promise to stop helping each other, which Garraty does reluctantly. This has disastrous consequences: Parker starts a revolution against the soldiers but is killed when nobody joins in; Abraham removes his shirt and catches a cold overnight because nobody can offer him a replacement, resulting in his death; Baker falls over and gains a severe nosebleed, and is given three warnings as nobody helps him up. On the morning of the 5th day, Stebbins reveals to Garraty and McVries that he is the Major's son, and his prize would be acceptance into the Major's household. However, Stebbins has become aware that the Major is using him as a "rabbit" to cause the walk to last longer, which has worked, as seven walkers make it intoMassachusetts. Baker, now delirious, tells Garraty that he cannot walk any farther and thanks Garraty for being his friend. Garraty unsuccessfully tries to talk him out of suicide.

With Baker dead, the only remaining walkers are Garraty, Stebbins, and McVries. As Garraty tells him a fairy tale, McVries falls asleep and walks towards the crowd. Garraty breaks his promise and saves him; however, McVries chooses to sit down and die peacefully. A distraught Garraty is beckoned by a dark figure further ahead and decides to give up because Stebbins cannot be beaten. When he tries to tell Stebbins, Stebbins clutches at him in horror and falls over dead.

This leaves Garraty the uncomprehending winner. He ignores the Major and keeps following the dark figure (whom he believes to be another walker), declaring that there is "still so far to walk" and, hoping to catch up, even finds the strength to run.

Characters

[edit]

Raymond Davis "Ray" Garraty (#47): The novel's main character and point-of-view character, a 160-lb. 16-year-old boy fromPownal. Garraty's father was Squaded for his outspoken political opinion when Garraty himself was very young, shaping his identity over time and leaving his mother - and himself - alone and with very little money. Garraty is a natural leader, demonstrating sincerity, benevolence, and a considerable measure of discipline. He also tends to be sensitive and somewhat naïve, as well as insecure in his masculinity. Garraty is more familiar with the Long Walk area, and the boys find themselves consulting and relying on him throughout their struggles; he is also one of the few Walkers who has seen a previous Walk in person. He felt a compulsion to join the Walk that he struggles to understand, but exhibits a tenacious will to live. He is played byCooper Hoffman in the film adaptation.
Peter "Pete" McVries (#61): Garraty's closest companion and staunch ally; one of the original "Musketeers", a 167-lb. 16-year-old boy fromPassaic, New Jersey, where he lived with his mother, father, and his four-year-old sister, Katrina. He is described as very fit, with black hair and a bad scar along one cheek that stands out when he is nervous, frightened, or angry. A natural leader in his own right, McVries demonstrates wit, charisma, and compassion; he is also very bitter, and despises himself after a recent traumatic breakup. McVries struggles to reconcile his own altruistic nature with the brutally competitive reality of the Walk. He encourages and often saves his companions through his actions, advice, and quick thinking; conversely, in several instances, he intentionally goads them into pushing him away. McVries is Barkovitch's foil and openly detests the other boy for his deliberate cruelty. He is played byDavid Jonsson in the film adaptation.
Stebbins (#88): A loner who walks at the rear of the group, Stebbins is described as "skinny and blond, wearing purple pants and a blue chambray shirt under an old green zip sweater." Stebbins is enigmatic, sardonic, and self-assured. He is also intelligent and very insightful, with an uncanny ability to predict others' thoughts, feelings, and reactions, which he uses to rattle the other boys. He later reveals himself to be one of the Major's many illegitimate children and presumes that he was chosen for the Walk as a tool to galvanize the other Walkers and prolong the competition. He is played byGarrett Wareing in the film adaptation.
Arthur "Art" Baker (#3): One of the original Musketeers, a 17-year-old former Night Rider from a large impoverished family in Louisiana; before the Long Walk, he was considering a career as a mortician. He is described as "young and beautiful," walks with "deceptive leisure," and speaks "with a very slight Southern accent" that he consciously suppresses. Baker is gentle, thoughtful, and soft-spoken, but he is also elusive, acquisitive, and somewhat morbid: death intrigues him, and he dwells on it constantly. He is played byTut Nyuot in the film adaptation.
Henry "Hank" Olson (#70): One of the original Musketeers, Olson is a boy of unknown background who is full of bluster and bravado. His audacity quickly fades, however: he becomes panicky, helpless, withdrawn, and—eventually—nearly unresponsive, though he persists with the help of McVries and Garraty. He considers himself a man of simple needs and doesn't believe in love as an earthly concept. Olson is deeply religious; his profound devotion to theCatholic faith shines through in moments of desperation and despair. He is played byBen Wang in the film adaptation.
Gary Barkovitch (#5): A boy from Washington, DC, described as a "dark, intense-looking boy" with olive skin, a rather sharp nose, and hooded dark brown eyes. Barkovitch is sadistic and provocative, with narcissistic tendencies. He demonstrates a craving for attention, but due to his personality, he tends to be either ignored or ridiculed, which agitates him; he is ostracized after goading a boy to his death. Scramm speculates that Barkovitch willingly joined the Walk in order to watch others suffer and die. He is loathed by most, if not all, of the other Walkers, but particularly by McVries. He is played byCharlie Plummer in the film adaptation.
Scramm (#85): The predicted winner of the current Long Walk, he's from Arizona, where he lives with his pregnant 17-year-old wife, Cathy. He is described as a "big bull of a fellow" with a moon face, a crew cut, a "mooselike" build, and few remaining teeth. Though he is considered dim-witted, Scramm is friendly and remarkably dignified. He appears to have a great deal of respect for theHopi. He does not appear in the film adaptation.
Abraham "Abe" (#2): One of Garraty's companions, a 17-year-old described as "a tall boy with reddish hair in jeans and a T-shirt" as well asOxford shoes. Abraham is droll, somber, and irritable; he applied to the Walk on an impulse, then followed through out of spite after his acceptance—an achievement he was proud of—was treated as a joke by his loved ones. He is understandably bitter about his resulting participation. He does not appear in the film adaptation.
Collie Parker: One of Garraty's companions, a boy fromJoliet, Illinois, described as "a big-muscled blond in a polo shirt." Parker is naturally cocky, rowdy, and abrasive; Garraty initially dislikes Parker, believing him to be a bully. Parker mellows over time, however, and they earn each other's respect. Parker demonstrates an astonishing capacity for camaraderie and fortitude; he is the only Walker known to have successfully killed a half-track soldier. He is played byJoshua Odjick in the film adaptation.
Pearson: One of Garraty's companions. He is described as a tall young man with glasses and pants that are too big for him. Pearson is morose and enjoys poetry, game theory, and chess, and views the Walk as a competition that can be solved logically. For luck, Pearson keeps 99 pennies in one pocket and moves a penny to his other pocket whenever another Walker dies. He is played byThamela Mpumlwana in the film adaptation.
Harkness (#49): One of Garraty's companions, a boy described as wearing "glasses and a crewcut," with a naturally florid face. He carries a notebook to record the other Walkers' names and numbers and aspires to write a book about the Long Walk from an insider's perspective. He is played by Jordan Gonzalez in the film adaptation.
Curley (#7): The first walker to die. After he gets a charley horse in his leg, he is unable to maintain the limit despite encouragement from Garraty, and is promptly executed. He is played byRoman Griffin Davis in the film adaptation.
The Major: The Major is described as "a tall, straight man with a deep desert tan" and a salt-and-pepper mustache wearing khakis, reflective sunglasses, and a pistol strapped to aSam Browne belt. He appears intermittently throughout the novel, riding a "dun-colored jeep" and speaking seldomly through a battery-poweredloudhailer. He is an authoritative, almost mythical figure who awes and haunts the boys in turn throughout the Walk; he is compared to both God andMammon. He is played byMark Hamill in the film adaptation.

Order of character eliminations

[edit]

Elimination of characters
Order	Last name	First name	Number	Reason for elimination
1	Curley	Unknown	7	Charley horse in his leg
2	Ewing	Unknown	9	Blisters
3	Unknown			Slowed down too much
4	Zuck	Unknown	100	Bleeding from a cut on the knee
5	Travin	Unknown		Had diarrhea
6	Fenter	Unknown	12	Had cramps
7	Larson	Unknown	60	Sat down
8	Unknown
9	Toland	Unknown		Fainted
10	Quincy/Quentin(?)	Unknown
11–12^[a]	Unknown
13	Baker	James	4	Unknown
14	Rank	Unknown		Fight with Barkovitch
15	Unknown
16	Unknown			Attempt to flee
17	Unknown		45	Fall
18–24^[a]	Unknown
25	Davidson	Unknown	8	Unknown
26	Unknown
27^[b]	Unknown
28	Yannick	Unknown	98	Unknown
29	Unknown			Convulsions
30	Gribble	Unknown	48	Stopped due to cramps
31	Harkness	Unknown	49	Fatigue
32	Unknown	Percy	31	Attempt to flee
33	Unknown
34	Unknown
35^[a]	Wayne	Unknown	94	Unknown
36^[a]	Unknown
37	Morgan	Frank	64	Unknown
38	Unknown
39	Unknown		38	Foot run over by half-track
40	Unknown
41	Tressler	Unknown	92	Sun stroke
42	Unknown			Convulsions
43	Aaronson	Unknown	1	Had cramps
44	Unknown			Sun stroke
45	Unknown
46
47
48	Jensen	Unknown		Panicked during thunderstorm
49	Unknown			Fainted
50	Fenum	Roger	13	Fainted
51	Unknown
52	Unknown
53	Olson	Hank	70	Attacked soldiers
54	Unknown
55
56^[a]
57^[a]
58
59^[a]	Scramm	Unknown	85	Sat down
60^[a]	Unknown	Mike	Unknown	Sat down
61	Unknown	Joe	Unknown
62	Unknown
63	Gallant	Unknown
64	Milligan	Unknown		Overstimulated; stopped
65^[b]	Unknown
66	Unknown
67	Quince	Harold	Unknown
68	Barkovitch	Gary	5	Tore out own throat
69–73^[a]	Unknown
74^[a]	Pearson	Unknown
75	Field	Charlie	Unknown
76^[b]	Unknown
77^[a]
78^[a]
79^[a]	Klingerman	Unknown	59	Appendicitis
80	Tubbins	Unknown	93	Insanity
81^[b]	Unknown
82	Parker	Collie	Unknown	Attacked soldiers
83	Wyman	Marty	97	Exhaustion
84	Sledge	Bobby	Unknown	Attempt to flee
85	Unknown
86	Unknown			Exhaustion
87–89^[a]	Unknown
90	Unknown	Abraham	2	Exhaustion
91^[b]	Unknown
92^[b]	Unknown
93^[b]	Pastor	Bruce	Unknown
94	Fielder	George	Unknown	Insanity
95	Hough	Bill	Unknown
96	Rattigan	Unknown
97	Baker	Art	3	Internal hemorrhage
98	McVries	Pete	61	Sat down
99	Stebbins	Unknown	88	Exhaustion
100	Garraty	Ray	47	Winner

Notes

^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿThe deaths of different walkers are reported at the same time in the book, which does not allow the reader to know the exact order of their deaths.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^gThe death of the walker is not explicitly mentioned in the book and the author only refers to it indirectly.

Analysis

[edit]

Heidi Strengell describes the book as anaturalistic novel, noting King's representation of human nature through the characters. She called it one of King's "most pessimistic novels".^[5] CriticDouglas Winter similarly viewed the novel as King's most despairing work, calling it a "bleak science-fictional mirror of contemporary America".^[6] Reviewers have also categorized the novel as a metaphor for theVietnam War. James Smythe ofThe Guardian connects several elements of the novel to the conflict: "the televised draft, the horror of seeing new friends die, the seeming lack of reason for it occurring in the first place".^[7]

Film adaptation

[edit]

Main article:The Long Walk (2025 film)

In 1988,George A. Romero was approached to direct the film adaptation, but it never materialised.^[8] By 2007,Frank Darabont had secured the rights to the film adaptation of the novel.^[9] Darabont said that he would "get to it one day" and planned to make it low-budget, "weird, existential, and very contained".^[10] In April 2018, it was announced thatNew Line Cinema would develop a film adaptation of the novel. Darabont's rights to the film had lapsed, and filmmakerJames Vanderbilt stepped in to write and produce the film with Bradley Fischer and William Sherak of the Mythology Entertainment production company.^[11] On May 21, 2019, New Line announced thatAndré Øvredal would direct the adaptation,^[12] and on November 28, 2023, Øvredal was no longer attached to direct andFrancis Lawrence was announced to direct the adaptation and the rights were moved toLionsgate after it lapsed from New Line.^[13]^[14] On June 10, 2024,Cooper Hoffman andDavid Jonsson were announced to be in talks to star.^[15] In July, Hoffman and Jonsson were confirmed to star as Ray Garraty and Pete McVries respectively, along withGarrett Wareing,Tut Nyuot,Charlie Plummer,Ben Wang, Jordan Gonzalez,Joshua Odjick, andRoman Griffin Davis.^[16]

The film’s plot differs from the novel’s in several ways. King himself asked the filmmakers to reduce the walking pace from 4 miles per hour to 3 miles per hour (the average walking pace), as he felt the original speed was unrealistic for the duration of the marathon. The number of initial walkers is reduced to 50, with one contestant from each state. Scramm and Abraham are not present, with some of their traits instead incorporated into other characters. In the film, Garraty declares that if he wins he will use his wish to ask for the Major’scarbine and then kill the Major with it. After Stebbins dies third-to-last instead of as the runner-up, Garraty sacrifices himself to allow McVries to win, and McVries fulfills Garraty's wish.^[17]

References

[edit]

^Beahm, George (2010).Stephen King from A to Z: An Encyclopedia of His Life and Work. Kansas City, Missouri:Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 128.ISBN 9780836269147.
^King, Stephen (2010). "Afterword".Full Dark, No Stars. Scribner.ISBN 9781439192566.
^"The Long Walk".www.centipedepress.com. RetrievedMarch 14, 2023.
^Crutcher, Chris."ALA 100 Best Books for Teens". Archived fromthe original on March 26, 2012.
^Strengell, Heidi (2005).Dissecting Stephen King: From the Gothic to Literary. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 199.ISBN 9780299209742.
^Winter, Douglas (1986).Stephen King, the art of darkness. New American Library. p. 200.ISBN 9780451167743.
^Smythe, James (August 30, 2012)."Rereading Stephen King: week seven – The Long Walk".The Guardian.ISSN 0261-3077. RetrievedDecember 17, 2024.
^Lilja's Library – The World of Stephen King – Unproduced Screenplays
^"Interview: Frank Darabont".Lilja's Library – The World of Stephen King. February 6, 2007. RetrievedJune 27, 2018.
^Frank Darabont Interview Archived 2011-05-11 at theWayback Machine
^Foutch, Haleigh (April 25, 2018)."Stephen King's 'The Long Walk' in Development at New Line".Collider.
^D'Allesandro, Anthony (May 21, 2019)."André Øvredal To Direct Stephen King's 'The Long Walk' For New Line".Deadline Hollywood. RetrievedMarch 25, 2020.
^Kit, Borys; Gajewski, Ryan (November 29, 2023)."Lionsgate Picks Up Stephen King's 'The Long Walk' with Francis Lawrence Attached to Direct (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter. RetrievedJune 11, 2024.
^Squires, John (November 28, 2023)."'The Long Walk' – Francis Lawrence Now Attached to Direct Stephen King Movie".Bloody Disgusting. RetrievedNovember 28, 2023.
^D'Allesandro, Anthony (June 10, 2024)."Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson In Talks To Lead Lionsgate's Feature Take Of Stephen King's 'The Long Walk".Deadline Hollywood. RetrievedJune 11, 2024.
^Grobar, Matt (July 24, 2024)."Charlie Plummer & Roman Griffin Davis Among Seven New Additions To Lionsgate's Stephen King Adaptation 'The Long Walk' As Production Begins".Deadline Hollywood. RetrievedJuly 24, 2024.
^Crow, David (September 12, 2025)."The Long Walk Movie vs. The Book: What Changed Beyond the Ending?".Den of Geek. RetrievedSeptember 18, 2025.

External links

[edit]

The Long Walk at Stephen King's official site

Stephen King

Novels

Carrie (1974)
'Salem's Lot (1975)
The Shining (1977)
The Stand (1978)
The Dead Zone (1979)
Firestarter (1980)
Cujo (1981)
Christine (1983)
Pet Sematary (1983)
Cycle of the Werewolf (1983)
The Talisman (1984)
It (1986)
The Eyes of the Dragon (1987)
Misery (1987)
The Tommyknockers (1987)
The Dark Half (1989)
Needful Things (1991)
Gerald's Game (1992)
Dolores Claiborne (1992)
Insomnia (1994)
Rose Madder (1995)
The Green Mile (1996)
Desperation (1996)
Bag of Bones (1998)
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999)
The Plant (2000; unfinished)
Dreamcatcher (2001)
Black House (2001)
From a Buick 8 (2002)
The Colorado Kid (2005)
Cell (2006)
Lisey's Story (2006)
Duma Key (2008)
Under the Dome (2009)
11/22/63 (2011)
Joyland (2013)
Doctor Sleep (2013)
Mr. Mercedes (2014)
Revival (2014)
Finders Keepers (2015)
End of Watch (2016)
Gwendy's Button Box (2017)
Sleeping Beauties (2017)
The Outsider (2018)
Elevation (2018)
The Institute (2019)
Later (2021)
Billy Summers (2021)
Gwendy's Final Task (2022)
Fairy Tale (2022)
Holly (2023)
Never Flinch (2025)
Talisman 3 (TBA)

The Dark Tower series	The Gunslinger (1982) The Drawing of the Three (1987) The Waste Lands (1991) Wizard and Glass (1997) Wolves of the Calla (2003) Song of Susannah (2004) The Dark Tower (2004) The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012)
Richard Bachman novels	Rage (1977) The Long Walk (1979) Roadwork (1981) The Running Man (1982) Thinner (1984) The Bachman Books (1985) The Regulators (1996) Blaze (2007)

Short fiction
collections

Nonfiction

Danse Macabre (1981)
Nightmares in the Sky (1988)
On Writing (2000)
Secret Windows (2000)
Faithful (2004)
"Guns" (2013)

Screenplays

Creepshow (1982)
Cat's Eye (1985)
Silver Bullet (1985)
Maximum Overdrive (1986; also director)
Pet Sematary (1989)
Sleepwalkers (1992)
A Good Marriage (2014)
Cell (2016)

Teleplays

"Sorry, Right Number" (1987)
Golden Years (1991)
The Stand (1994)
The Shining (1997)
"Chinga" (1998)
Storm of the Century (1999)
Rose Red (2002)
Kingdom Hospital (2004)
Desperation (2006)
"Heads Will Roll" (2014)
The Stand (2020–21)
Lisey's Story (2021)

Comics

Heroes for Hope (1985)
American Vampire (2010)

Musical
collaborations

Michael Jackson's Ghosts (1997)
Black Ribbons (2010)
Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (2012)

Anthologies
edited

The Best American Short Stories 2007 (2007)
Six Scary Stories (2016)
Flight or Fright (2018)

In-universe
concepts

Characters	Carrie White Margaret White Sue Snell Rita Desjardin Kurt Barlow Richard Straker Father Callahan Jack Torrance Danny Torrance Wendy Torrance Dick Hallorann Rose the Hat Roland Deschain Randall Flagg Crimson King Pennywise Bill Denbrough Beverly Marsh Richie Tozier Georgie Denbrough Gage Creed Johnny Smith Annie Wilkes Tanya Robertson Holly Gibney
Locations	Castle Rock Derry Jerusalem's Lot Shawshank State Prison