The Most Dangerous Game

One of the most common themes running through men's action-adventure fiction is man hunting man. Books like Penetrator #14 – Mankill Sport (1976), Peter Lefcourt's Deer Hunt (1976), and David Eddings High Hunt (1972) feature men hunting men in a variety of situations. The concept even spilled onto the big screen with Surviving the Game (1994) and the John Woo film Hard Target (1993). But, the origin of man versus man in the printed page began with a short story titled “The Most Dangerous Game”.

Richard Edward Connell Jr. (1893-1949) was an American author and journalist that saw his literary work published by the likes of The Saturday Evening Post. His most notable story is “The Most Dangerous Game”, a man versus man concept that appeared in Collier's in the January 19, 1924 issue. The story was also published with the title “The Hounds of Zaroff”. “The Most Dangerous Game” was adapted into a 1932 RKO Pictures film and a 1943 episode of CBS Radio's Suspense. 

The story begins when big-game hunter Sanger Rainsford falls from the top rail of a passenger ship during a late evening. Plunging into the dark oceanic depths, Rainsford attempts to swim back to no avail. He then makes a difficult swim to a nearby island that the locals scrutinize as a “ship trap”. There he is rescued on shore by a General Zaroff and his deaf-mute servant Ivan.

Over dinner and drinks Zaroff explains to Rainsford and readers that he has hunted wildlife all over the globe. He's desperate for a challenge and had become complacent with the typical big-game variety offered on all continents. Now, Zaroff lives on this tiny secluded island and has sailors conveniently trapped for sport. He stores the men in his cellar and gives them the opportunity to become human prey. They are supplied a three-hour start ahead of Zaroff, a high-powered rifle, and food for three days. If they can survive without being killed for three days then Zaroff will give them freedom. However, Zaroff explains he has hunted men for years and has never lost. The next morning Rainsford himself is forced into the most dangerous game.

Reading this story seemed mandatory after experiencing so much media that used Connell's basic premise. The dialogue between Rainsford and Zaroff dominates much of the story but was compelling enough to keep me vested. I really enjoyed both characters and how the author presented them with different moral codes. I also enjoyed the story's beginning with Rainsford's friend Whitney philosophizing about hunting. Whitney's theory that hunting is cruel and barbaric for the animals was an interesting foreshadowing that's directly opposed by Rainsford. I loved how the narrative unfolded and Rainsford became the animal. It was a neat twist and the book's finale was subjective on just what Rainsford plans next.

If you enjoy action-adventure in general then “The Most Dangerous Game” deserves to be read. The story is now in the public domain and can easily be found online.