The Dead Zone (Signet)
by Stephen King
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Book Summary Information
Author: Stephen KingEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1980-08-01
ISBN: 0451155750
Number of pages: 416
Publisher: Signet
Book Reviews of The Dead Zone (Signet)
Book Review: "Classic" Stephen King?
Summary: 3 Stars
When I was reading this book while working at a retail store, a customer came up and noticed it and told me it was classic Stephen King and an excellent read at that. I gave him a quizzical look if only because I had been less than enthralled with this 1970's book about a man with special cognitive powers that allow him to see the future when he is physically engaged with an object or person (ie: touching them).
The thing about Stephen King books, and many of the same genre, is they fail to really challenge the reader other than to try and retain certain clues and hints as to what might happen in the future of the plot. Why are we being introduced to a lightning rod salesman? Why do we see a blue and yellow filter in a vision? What is the significance of the main character's interest in meeting politicians?
Well for the most part, the big hints were pretty easy to pick up on in this wide-sprawling tale. The main character's gift of predicting the future remains dormant for most of his life until a near-fatal car crash puts him into a coma for four and a half years. When he wakes up he finds most of his old life - and his old self - has wasted away, except for this newfound gift that continually astounds people, but more importantly freaks them out.
I guess my beef with the book was how much of it felt like filler and fluff. Even the more exciting parts of the book didn't reallllly contribute to the so-called climax of the story. I guess in reflection the story is a lot about checks and balances - ironic since a good deal of it deals with politics. An eye for an eye and all that..the big twist kind of falls in line with other elements of the plot but I can't say it was a BIG twist like say, in Secret Window. The characters fell flat, the descriptions were tideous to get through (and were often skipped), and good portions of the book failed to ignite tension, while others forced it.
I know this is classic Stephen King and I'm sure for the time it was written it was quite a remarkable, exciting book...but it felt flat and pulpy to me unfortunately, and just wasn't my cup of tea overall.
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