The Long Walk stands out as a notable novel written by Stephen King but published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. This story, depicting a grueling and deadly marathon among young men, reflects King‘s early talent and ability to craft powerful narratives. King began writing The Long Walk during his freshman year at the University of Maine, making it one of his earliest novels created while he was still a teenager.
At that time, King was still experimenting with his writing style and voice. He paused work on The Long Walk for a period to focus on short stories and other projects, including what would become his breakthrough novel, Carrie. After Carrie’s success, King returned to complete The Long Walk, eventually releasing it through the Richard Bachman pen name.
The Creation and Purpose of Richard Bachman as a Pen Name
Stephen King developed the Richard Bachman pseudonym as a response to publishing industry norms that discouraged authors from releasing more than one book per year to avoid diluting their brand. King wanted to produce more stories at a faster pace but without saturating his own name. Using Bachman allowed him to publish additional novels while maintaining distinct identities.
King also viewed Bachman as a test of his writing abilities, challenging himself to succeed without relying on his established reputation. This alter ego was crafted to stand on its own, and several books were issued under that name. The Long Walk was among those titles, alongside other works such as Rage, Roadwork, The Running Man, and Thinner.
Over the years, the Richard Bachman bibliography grew to include seven original novels along with a 1985 compilation called The Bachman Books, which gathered several of these early titles.
The Discovery of Richard Bachman’s True Identity and Its Impact
The Richard Bachman persona remained hidden for about seven years, during which King was simultaneously releasing high-profile novels like The Stand, The Dead Zone, and Pet Sematary. The pseudonym’s secret ended when Steve Brown, a bookstore clerk in Washington D.C., noticed strong similarities between the writing styles of King and Bachman. Intrigued, Brown checked the Library of Congress’ public records and uncovered King’s name linked to Bachman’s books.
After contacting the publisher, King confirmed the truth himself and gave an interview regarding the revelation, effectively bringing Bachman’s separate identity to an end. At the time, King was working on Misery, which he had initially planned to release as a Bachman book, but after the unmasking, it appeared under his real name.
The Lasting Legacy of Richard Bachman in King’s Career
Although Richard Bachman “died” as a distinct author persona, the name was revived posthumously for two further books, The Regulators in 1996 and Blaze in 2007. The dynamic between King and his pseudonym served as inspiration for King’s 1989 novel The Dark Half, which explores a writer struggling with his literary alter ego.
The Bachman identity gave several novels, including The Long Walk and The Running Man, a distinct place within King’s body of work, resulting in early adaptations planned for 2025. The use of this pseudonym allowed King to broaden his influence and experiment creatively without compromising his main brand. In many ways, while The Long Walk was King’s first true manuscript, it was Richard Bachman who ensured it reached readers and secured its place in popular culture.
