The Most Dangerous Game

As a die-hard fan of Lord of the Flies, Battle Royale, 1984, Animal Farm, The Beach, and other such dystopian/social experiment genre books--I whole-heartedly recommend this flick. If you enjoy a book that is entertaining yet makes you think, this one is for you. Don't let the length reduce your expectations (it's extremely short); you'd be missing out big time. This book can be read in about 30 minutes, but is perfect for hours of discussion with others or even a high school/college class. In fact, from a teacher's perspective, it's perfect. It is not long enough to lose student interest, but enriching nonetheless intellectually. It would not be difficult reading for high school (especially Social Studies), but would still be great for college as a supplimental text. For the casual reader, it is a classic worth having on the shelf. Simply put, the story line is about a highly accomplished hunter who has become bored of all other worldy game. Thus, he decides to reignite his passion for hunting "dangerous game" by going for the animal that is the most thrilling of all: humans. Telling you anything more would just be a spoiler.

Very fun short read that I was inspired to read from Jack Carr’s novel Savage Son. Leaves one wondering if Mr. Rainsburg stayed on the island or ever went back to civilization

`The Most Dangerous Game' is one of those short stories that have garnered a lot of respect and attention, even by many who have never read it. Almost everyone knows the story or concept of this novel since it has been adapted for the screen many times and has spawned plenty of variations and `inspired' films and novels. I have heard many things about this story yet I have not had the opportunity to read it until this morning. It's much shorter than I had anticipated, it only took me thirty minutes to read through the whole thing, but it does pack quite a gut punch as some have already mentioned. The short story follows renowned hunter Sanger Rainsford who is on his way with a friend to hunt jaguar in the deep jungle. They are aboard a yacht and have another day or two before they reach their destination. During the night, while the rest of the passengers are asleep, Rainsford finds himself falling overboard and washing ashore a `cursed' island. It's ashore this island that Rainsford meets Count Zaroff. He's invited inside and given a change of clothes and invited to dinner where he is informed of the peculiar happenings upon this island. Many know what happens next. The Count explains that his whole life is hunting; that he's hunted every big game, small game, any game animal out there and has found that he was getting board with the hunt. Since his life is hunting, his very being, he needed to find a way to make the hunt interesting, exciting once again. That's when he decided to stock his island with humans. Humans are the most dangerous game because they can think and reason and thus they prove to be the most challenging hunt. Rainsford of course is appalled and wants to leave the island but he soon finds out that the only way off is to outwit the hunter. The story questions the humanity in the idea of `Sport Hunting'. Whether human or mere animal the story questions the morals behind such a sport. When listening to the Count explain his ideas, his feelings (which take up a large portion of the book) we get a glimpse into his inhumanity and sadistic traits. The story also brings into question societies need to be entertained. Throughout the years so-called civilization has called morals into question in order to remain content with life. From the gladiatorial fights to the damaging aftereffects of boxing today, man has no problem with endangering one another for pure entertainment. Why not hunt one another? What's the difference? I'm a little put off that the book was so short (merely 42 pages) because it fails to capitalize on the impact this story could have had. Instead of spending time to delve into the aftereffects of such an ordeal the novel just ends, leaving the reader to ascertain for himself what Rainsford learnt from the episode. In keeping the story so short it also pulls in on the suspense. The whole first and second half build up to this `hunt' where Rainsford is pitted against Zaroff, but it is so quickly dealt with that the reader barely has enough time to register any real fear or dread before the final page is turned. Like I mentioned, this `short' story still packs a punch, it just could have really packed a wallop had it been expanded to novel length, or even just novella. Still, if you have yet to read this do yourself a favor and check it out; in the least it will get you thinking.

Great short story. It has spawned many a novel and movie. A classic.

I choose a 5-star rating because this book/short story kept me engaged from beginning to end. I am a beginner writer and found that the author Jerry Jenkins had recommended it as a good example of how a short story should be written. I plan to examine it and learn from it.

This is the original story on a guy who hunts other men. Fairly short story but this is the basis for a lot of newer stories and movies so it must still have a fairly wide appeal. It lacks the brutal aspects of newer copies of this premise and only hints as what happens to the victims and therefore doesn't have all the sensationalism you see today in stories and movies. But it still makes for a good read.

I read this in high school 15 years ago and remembered liking it but didn't remember details. It came up in a conversation recently and I was reminded of it and compelled to read it. It was even better than I remember. Given it's almost 100 years old it still held my attention and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Short and sweet, Richard Connell's masterpiece reads as well as it did when it was written 86 years ago. A model in lean prose that sticks to the story without unnecessary embellishment, "The Most Dangerous Game" manages to expose weighty issues of war, ecology, and especially human nature that remain relevant today. Yet there is no preaching here - simply a well-told tale that will be enjoyed by grade school students as easily as adults. And if the brevity leaves you wanting, this little gem set the foundation for decades of authors and screenwriters who've picked up on the basic man-hunter theme. At half the price of a movie, "The Most Dangerous Game" is worth a detour back to one of the key building blocks of modern pop fiction.

Oldie but a goody

The Most Dangerous Game foi publicado em 1924, ainda na esteira da 1ª Guerra Mundial, e seu tema já foi adaptado várias vezes para o cinema. O protagonista dessa pequena história é Sanger Rainsford, rico e famoso caçador. Em uma de suas viagens, ele acidentalmente cai do iate em que viajava. Tudo aconteceu durante uma noite em que a escuridão assustava até o mais experiente dos marujos. Tomado de pavor, ele vê a embarcação se afastando. Sozinho e lutando contra as ondas, ele nada sem direção e vai dar numa ilha. Depois de descansar após o tremendo esforço para sobreviver, ele observa o local. Uma mata fechada, ruídos e sons estranhos. O jeito era andar e tentar ajuda com algum habitante local, algum pescador ou algo assim. Logo, ele avista umas luzes entre as árvores...uma casa, uma bela casa. Feliz, ele bate à porta e é recebido por um homem, que reconhece Rainsford e se diz seu admirador, e que havia lido seus livros. Oferece hospedagem e durante o jantar, conta sua história. O homem era um cossaco, o general Zaroff. Ele também adorava caçar. Matou seu primeiro urso aos 10 anos. Entrou para o exército russo e participou de várias batalhas. Com a queda da monarquia russa, ele precisou fugir do país. E se isolou nessa ilha, onde fazia o que mais gostava: caçava. Tinha um ajudante, um homem chamado Ivan. A conversa ia correndo muito bem, até que o general contou a Rainsford que já não achava prazer nas caçadas. Afinal, que graça poderia haver em caçar um animal que só agia por instinto? Ele precisava de um desafio maior. Então achou uma solução, uma caçada que envolvia um animal inteligente, capaz de usar uma arma e o cérebro. Zaroff convida Rainsford para uma caçada no dia seguinte. O livro trata de diversos temas: a relação caça x caçador; a questão caça x assassinato; caça x guerra; inversão de papéis caçador x caçado; animais x humanos. É um livro que leva a questionamentos e discussões filosóficas, merecedor da classificação de clássico da literatura. “Here in my preserve on this island, I hunt more dangerous game”

Loved reading this short story. It was recommended by Jack Carr and inspired his own novel. I was “captivated” and so desperately wish there was more of it.

At all ages, in all ages, one of the best thriller short stories ever. Cat and mouse play: what are you going todo if you are the mouse? Is there a plan or many plans? Hope or not? This story is about all desperation that can get through human feelings and how to still resist. I discovered it a the age of ten in Hitchcock anthology and never got tired of re-reading it. The characters are as fascinating as in a very good movie... as a matter of fact I am still very astonished that no movie was shot out of it. Or is it coming? ... You tell me!

I read this book as part of a creative writing course, it is not a book I would have chosen myself, however I really enjoyed it. Kept my interest from start to finish which is what it is all about. It is a short story easily read in one sitting, recommended.