What pen name did Stephen King use for novels such as Rage and The Running Man?

Stephen King used the pen name Richard Bachman for novels such as Rage and The Running Man.

King adopted the name to publish more fiction without overwhelming the market with books under his own name. He also wanted to test whether his success came from talent or from the Stephen King brand. The first Bachman novel, Rage, appeared in 1977, followed by The Long Walk, Roadwork, and The Running Man.

The Bachman identity was exposed in 1985 after bookstore clerk Steve Brown noticed similarities between the writing styles and found publisher records at the Library of Congress identifying King. The revelation came after the publication of Thinner, which sold dramatically better once readers learned Bachman was King.

A common mix-up is assuming Joe Hill was another King pseudonym. Joe Hill is King's son and a novelist in his own right. King later published two additional novels as Bachman: The Regulators and Blaze.