Set in the near future, the plot revolves around the contestants of a horrific walking contest, held annually by a somewhat despotic and totalitarian version of the United States of America. 
 
Note: This book was originally published under Stephen King's alter ego, "Richard Bachman".

Pop Culture Connections - Outgoing

It refers to these songs...

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall
performed by Unknown

This Song is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty thinks about the lyrics to this song when there are only 99 walkers left.

Massa's In de Cold Ground
performed by Stephen Foster

This Song is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty starts thinking about what songs Foster and Edgar Allan Poe could have come up with if they had lived to see The Long Walk. He comes up with "Massa's on de Cold, Cold Road".

Molly Malone
performed by Traditional

This Song is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty thinks about this Irish lullaby his mother used to sing which included the lyrics "cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o".

The Star-Spangled Banner
composed by John Stafford Smith; written by

This Song is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A marching band plays this along the route.

It refers to these books...

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
written by

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty tries to remember the name of the book where they "fire guns over the water to bring the body of a drowned man to the surface."

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
written by
part of Alice in Wonderland

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty says that Stebbins reminds him of the Caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland.

Desperation
written by

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
In the introduction, "The Importance of Being Bachman", King references this book.

Holy Bible

This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty thinks about looking back and reconsiders after remembering how Lot's wife was turned into a pillar of salt in Genesis 19.
  • Buy Holy Bible on Amazon
  • Buy Holy Bible on iTunes
  • Buy Holy Bible on GooglePlay

Sartor Resartus
written by

This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote from "The Everlasting No" chapter of "Sartor Resarus" is quoted before Part I of The Long Walk.

Strides
written by

This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
January 1843 Garraty starts thinking about what songs Foster and Edgar Allan Poe could have come up with if they had lived to see The Long Walk. He comes up with "The Tell-Tale Stride".

The Crowd
written by

This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty thinks about a story he read in school about people who gather at the places of fatal accidents.

The Tell-Tale Heart
written by

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty starts thinking about what songs Foster and Edgar Allan Poe could have come up with if they had lived to see The Long Walk. He comes up with "The Tell-Tale Stride".

The Woman in White
written by

This Book is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Baker starts talking about some of his memories including the first time he read his favorite book (Chapter 15)

It refers to these movies...

5 Card Stud

This Movie is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty tries to remember the name of this movie which he describes as starring Robert Mitchem as a revival minister who had also been a compulsive murderer.
  • Buy 5 Card Stud on Amazon
  • Buy 5 Card Stud on iTunes
  • Buy 5 Card Stud on GooglePlay

Knute Rockne, All American

  • Date:
  • Type: Movie
This Movie is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries paraphrases a famous line from this film when he tells Garraty, "You're going to win this one for the Gipper, my boy."
  • Buy Knute Rockne, All American on Amazon
  • Buy Knute Rockne, All American on iTunes
  • Buy Knute Rockne, All American on GooglePlay

It refers to these people...

Algernon Charles Swinburne

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries said he read Keats to a girl, but should have read Swinburne
  • Buy Algernon Charles Swinburne on Amazon
  • Buy Algernon Charles Swinburne on iTunes
  • Buy Algernon Charles Swinburne on GooglePlay

Cannonball Adderley

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty starts thinking about jazz artists toward the end, and this is one of them.
  • Buy Cannonball Adderley on Amazon
  • Buy Cannonball Adderley on iTunes
  • Buy Cannonball Adderley on GooglePlay

Dave Brubeck

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty starts thinking about jazz artists toward the end, and this is one of them.
  • Buy Dave Brubeck on Amazon
  • Buy Dave Brubeck on iTunes
  • Buy Dave Brubeck on GooglePlay

Don Bredes

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries mentions several authors during a conversation
  • Buy Don Bredes on Amazon
  • Buy Don Bredes on iTunes
  • Buy Don Bredes on GooglePlay

J.D. Salinger

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries mentions several authors during a conversation
  • Buy J.D. Salinger on Amazon
  • Buy J.D. Salinger on iTunes
  • Buy J.D. Salinger on GooglePlay

James Kirkwood, Jr.

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries mentions several authors during a conversation
  • Buy James Kirkwood, Jr. on Amazon
  • Buy James Kirkwood, Jr. on iTunes
  • Buy James Kirkwood, Jr. on GooglePlay

John Keats

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries mentions he read Keats to a girl
  • Buy John Keats on Amazon
  • Buy John Keats on iTunes
  • Buy John Keats on GooglePlay

John Knowles

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries mentions several authors during a conversation
  • Buy John Knowles on Amazon
  • Buy John Knowles on iTunes
  • Buy John Knowles on GooglePlay

Thelonious Monk

This Person is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty starts thinking about jazz artists toward the end, and this is one of them.
  • Buy Thelonious Monk on Amazon
  • Buy Thelonious Monk on iTunes
  • Buy Thelonious Monk on GooglePlay

It refers to these television series...

College Bowl

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote from the host of this show starts Chapter 9. "Very good, Northwestern, now here is your ten-point tossup question."
  • Buy College Bowl on Amazon
  • Buy College Bowl on iTunes
  • Buy College Bowl on GooglePlay

Jeopardy!

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote from Art Fleming, the original host of Jeopardy! is used at the beginning of Chapter 3.
  • Buy Jeopardy! on Amazon
  • Buy Jeopardy! on iTunes
  • Buy Jeopardy! on GooglePlay

Let's Make a Deal

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote said by Monty Hall during this show is used at the beginning of Chapter 2.
  • Buy Let's Make a Deal on Amazon
  • Buy Let's Make a Deal on iTunes
  • Buy Let's Make a Deal on GooglePlay

Pyramid

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote from Dick Clark as the host of The $10,000 Pyramid begins Chapter 14, "And remember, if you use your hands, or gesture with any part of your body, or use any part of the word, you will forfeit your chance for the ten thousand dollars. Just give a list. Good luck."
  • Buy Pyramid on Amazon
  • Buy Pyramid on iTunes
  • Buy Pyramid on GooglePlay

Sale of the Century (UK)

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
The opening of Chapter 7 quotes Nicholas Parsons from this show.
  • Buy Sale of the Century (UK) on Amazon
  • Buy Sale of the Century (UK) on iTunes
  • Buy Sale of the Century (UK) on GooglePlay

Sesame Street

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote from Count von Count starts Chapter 10. "Do you know why they call me the Count?" Because I love to count! Ah-hah-hah."
  • Buy Sesame Street on Amazon
  • Buy Sesame Street on iTunes
  • Buy Sesame Street on GooglePlay

The Gong Show

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
The creator of The Gong Show, Chuck Barris, is quoted before Chapter 4.
  • Buy The Gong Show on Amazon
  • Buy The Gong Show on iTunes
  • Buy The Gong Show on GooglePlay

The Price is Right

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A quote from Johnny Olsen from The Price is Right (which was originally relaunched as "The New Price is Right") opens Chapter 13. "Joanie Greenblum, come on down!"
  • Buy The Price is Right on Amazon
  • Buy The Price is Right on iTunes
  • Buy The Price is Right on GooglePlay

Truth or Consequences

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
The opening quote to Chapter 5 references this show and quote Bob Barker - one of its many hosts.
  • Buy Truth or Consequences on Amazon
  • Buy Truth or Consequences on iTunes
  • Buy Truth or Consequences on GooglePlay

Twenty One

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
The opening of chapter 6 quotes Chuck Barry from Twenty-One.
  • Buy Twenty One on Amazon
  • Buy Twenty One on iTunes
  • Buy Twenty One on GooglePlay

You Bet Your Life

This Television Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
A Groucho Marx quote from this show is used at the beginning of Chapter 1.
  • Buy You Bet Your Life on Amazon
  • Buy You Bet Your Life on iTunes
  • Buy You Bet Your Life on GooglePlay

It refers to these groups...

Banned Noisemakers

This Group is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Garraty starts thinking about jazz artists toward the end, and this is one of them.
  • Buy Banned Noisemakers on Amazon
  • Buy Banned Noisemakers on iTunes
  • Buy Banned Noisemakers on GooglePlay

It refers to these poetry...

To His Coy Mistress
written by

This Poem is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
While passing "the boneyard", McVries quotes this poem when he says that cemeteries are "A fine and quiet place, as the poet said."

It is related to these paintings...

American Gothic
painted by Grant Wood

This Painting is related to The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
McVries makes a comment about an old man watching the race about how he just needs a pitchfork and Grant Woods to paint him.

It refers to these comic book series...

Popeye

This Comic Book Series is referred to by The Long Walk written by Richard Bachman and Stephen King
Baker mentions how he used to lay in his yard and sleep with a Popeye comic over his face.
  • Buy Popeye on Amazon
  • Buy Popeye on iTunes
  • Buy Popeye on GooglePlay
  • Buy Popeye on Ebay

Other Connections and Related Pop Culture

 

Pet Sematary
written by

'Salem's Lot
written by

  • Dates: - October 17, 1975
  • Type: Book
 

The Shining
written by

  • Dates: - January 28, 1977
  • Type: Book
 

Carrie
written by

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
 

Christine
written by

More by Stephen King

 

The Regulators
written by and

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
 

Roadwork
written by and

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
 

The Running Man
written by and

  • Date:
  • Type: Book

Rage
written by and

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
 

Thinner
written by and

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
More by Richard Bachman

Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
performed by Cannonball Adderley

Autumn Leaves
performed by Cannonball Adderley

 

The Catcher in the Rye
written by

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
 

Franny and Zooey
written by

 

Nine Stories
written by

  • Date:
  • Type: Book
 

Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction
written by

 

A Separate Peace
written by

 

A Chorus Line
composed by Marvin Hamlisch; written by , , and

Upstage Rhumba
performed by Dave Brubeck

 

The Real Ambassadors
composed by Dave Brubeck and Iola Brubeck

 

To Autumn
written by

 

Bright Star
written by


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