The Running Man Discussion

[jenboxer77]

I just finished the story and wondered if the Network really did kill Shelia and Cathy, Ben's wife and daugher or was it just a ploy to try to get him to join their forces. What do you think?

[wally wonder]

Didn't they also fiddle (edit) his words on camera so that he came across as something he wasn't? i think there was a sci-fi show, babylon 5, maybe where they did something like this, to get a point across, their point. you saw the actual "interview" as ben was interviewed, or something like at, then saw the edited version. so no and yes, the network does what it wants, when it wants, with little regard for the truth.

[michal]

I think that if the network was willing to kill him, it's only reasonable that they didn't mind killing his family. Plus, if they didn't kill him I'd find the ending depressing - as if he did it for nothing, you know?

[Perse Jr.]

That's a good question! It's been a long time since I read the book (I enjoyed the movie too)! Ben took them all down in a plane at the end, right? I think the Network people really did kill them. I think it was just a knife in Ben's back. They had to know he wouldn't work for them if they killed his family. But again, it's been a long time since I read it; I could be forgetting something.

[jenboxer77]

I view the Network as pretty relentless and I am sure they killed Sheila and Cathy. Ben made them pay for it, though. Great story!

[cwalrus]

I think the family was killed too. There's no way to know for sure, but it makes sense that the Netowrk would resort to that in order to get their man. It fits in with what I remember of the story. It was a good story but I think I read it too quickly since i can't recall too many details about now after several months.

[bryantburnette]

I just finished rereading the novel for the first time in years. As good as I remember it being. (Funny story: that was my introduction to King, and I only read it back in '87 because my mom wouldn't let me go see the R-rated Schwarzenegger movie! The library had the book, though ... and the rest is history.)

I don't personally think that the Network had Ben's family killed. After all, part of the reason the novel carries so much weight is that it's about the precariousness of life for the downtrodden. And for the downtrodden, the constant threat of dying in a violent, unnatural fashion is a threat looming over them every day. That's true in real life, and is definitely true in this particular piece of fiction.

As I see it, Killian wouldn't be above using Ben's family against him, but he would have done something like [I]threaten[I] to murder them if Richards wouldn't be swayed. Having them killed wouldn't actually buy him (or the Network) anything; there's no percentage in it for him.

I love the fact that this issue is left open-ended, so that readers can make up their own minds. I, however, take Killian at his word.

[JustAfterReading]

Just read this story today. Really good I must say. I found myself cheering for Ben and was really glad that it ended the way it ended; bittersweet but kinda righteous.

"And he was giving him the finger" is such a great detail.

[Princemeister]

I have to say I think Killian was telling the truth also. It would of made more sense if they'd captured Ben's family as that way they know they'd have him onside.
After all if he was willing to basically sign his own death warrant by taking part in Running Man to keep his daughter alive then he would of taken the role of head hunter to keep access to his daughter. I really can't see what killian had to gain by either lying that they were dead or by killing them.

[sam peebles]

Yeah, I agree with you Princemesiter. I don't think the Network killed Ben's family either. I think his wife was running tricks (understandable, considering the circumstances), and the most probable explanation was an angry John or pimp killed them. One of my favorite stories ever.