The Dead Zone Author:Stephen King If any of King's novels exemplifies his skill at portraying the concerns of his generation, it's The Dead Zone (1979). Although it contains a horrific subplot about a serial killer, it isn't strictly a horror novel. It's the story of an unassuming high school teacher, an Everyman, who suffers a gap in time--like a Rip Van Winkle who blacks out d... more »uring the years 1970-75--and thus becomes acutely conscious of the way that American society is rapidly changing. He wakes up as well with a gap in his brain, the "dead zone" of the title. The zone gives him crippling headaches, but also grants him second sight, a talent he doesn't want and is reluctant to use. The crux of the novel concerns whether he will use that talent to alter the course of history.
The Dead Zone is a tight, well-crafted book. When asked in 1983 which of his novels so far was "the best," Stephen King answered, "The one that I think works the best is Dead Zone. It's the one that [has] the most story." Fiona Webster (from review on Amazon)« less
A man has an accident and goes into a coma. When he wakes up, he finds his latent psychic power to read the future by touch has been amped up to an unbelievable level. This is a pretty good read. It's slow moving in parts, but it's old King and still in his really good years.
I did run into the same problem I encounter with some of his work. He sets up wonderful concepts and characters in the first third of the novel, they struggle and endure through the second third of the novel, and I spend the final third wondering when the damn thing comes to an end.
Overall, though, The Dead Zone is fun and spooky and weird, which is what I expect when I pick up a King novel.
Not as widely read as some other KING novels, this book will still make you a fan. Concept of novel is as valid today or maybe even more so than when written...chilling
Much MUCH better than the new TV series....What would you do if you could see the horror of the future...how would you stop it? Definitely worth a read and far better use of your time than watching the USA series.
Johnny, the small boy who skated at reakneck speed into an accident that for one horrifying minute plunged him into...
THE DEAD ZONE
Johnny Smith, the small-town school teacher who spun the wheel of fortune and won a four-and-a-half year trip into...
THE DEAD ZONE
John Smith, who awakened from an interminable coma with an accursed power- the power to see the future and the terrible fate awaiting mankind in...
THE DEAD ZONE
John Smith awakens from a coma with an accursed power - the power to see the future and the terrible fate awaiting mankind. This is one of my favorite from this author, hope and death go hand in hand in this novel.
Johnny, the small boy who skated at breakneck speed into an accident that for one horrifying moment plunged him into THE DEAD ZONE
John Smith, who awakened from an interminable coma with an accursed power--to see the future and the terrible fate awaiting mankind in THE DEAD ZONE.
Stephen King has done it again.
Amazon.com
In the St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers, Gary Westfahl predicts that "King has already earned himself a place in the history of literature.... At the very least, he will enjoy the status of a latter-day Anthony Trollope, an author respected for his popularity and social commentary.... More likely, he will be enshrined as the Charles Dickens of the late 20th century, the writer who perfectly reflected, encapsulated, and expressed the characteristic concerns of his era."
If any of King's novels exemplifies his skill at portraying the concerns of his generation, it's The Dead Zone (1979). Although it contains a horrific subplot about a serial killer, it isn't strictly a horror novel. It's the story of an unassuming high school teacher, an Everyman, who suffers a gap in time--like a Rip Van Winkle who blacks out during the years 1970-75--and thus becomes acutely conscious of the way that American society is rapidly changing. He wakes up as well with a gap in his brain, the "dead zone" of the title. The zone gives him crippling headaches, but also grants him second sight, a talent he doesn't want and is reluctant to use. The crux of the novel concerns whether he will use that talent to alter the course of history.
The Dead Zone is a tight, well-crafted book. When asked in 1983 which of his novels so far was "the best," Stephen King answered, "The one that I think works the best is Dead Zone. It's the one that [has] the most story." --Fiona Webster--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Johnny, the small boy who skated at breakneck speed into an accident that for one horrifying moment plunged him into the Dead Zone. Johnny Smith, the small town school teacher who spun the wheel of fortune and won a 4 and1/2 year trip to the Dead Zone. John Smith, who awakened from an interminable coma with an accursed power-the power to see the future and the terrible fate awaiting mankind in the Dead Zone.
I couldn't put this one down. The ending was really unexpected and left me wanting more but if you're a Stephen King fan then The Dead Zone is a must read.
John Smith awakens from an interminable coma with an accursed power-the power to see the future and the terrible fate awaiting mankind in...the dead zone.
Really a gripping book. Not a bad television series either! But then Stephen King knows how to weave that magic. This is a very entertaining book. Scary too!!
