Stephen King's 10 Best Non-Horror Tales
1. The Running Man
If you haven't read The Running Man, it's time. First though, wipe the memory of the Arnold Schwarzenegger film adaptation from your memory. That had almost nothing to do with actual story.
Written as Bachman, The Running Man is arguably King's most relevant work to date. It foreshawed the obsession with Reality TV before there was such a term, and tackled America's culture of violence, and the ever growing concern over air pollution.
Set in 2025, when America is crumbling, the story features Ben Richards, whose daughter is severely ill, unable to find work. His wife has turned to prostitution. His only hope is the Games Network, who offer big bucks to appear on TV game shows - some of which are potentially deadly.
Richards gets recruited for The Running Man, in which contestants are designated enemies of the state, and must survive thirty days on the run hunted by Network employed hitmen, submitting videos of themselves for the show daily. The hero uses his airtime to try to expose the Network, which is really a propaganda machine, only to find they edit him into a villain.
While seemingly far-fetched, the concept really works; sadly, there will never be a proper film adaption, as the ending involves Richards hijacking a plane and crashing it into the Games Network building.
Which is your favourite non-horror King novel? Share yours below.