The Dead Zone by Stephen King

Book Details
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
Paperback, 416 Pages
2004, Signet
ISBN: 0451155750

Synopsis
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.

Review
I was a big fan of The Dead Zone TV show starring Anthony Michael Hall and couldn't help comparing the book to the show as I read. Knowing pretty much what to expect from having watched the show, the book had less of an impact than it would have if I had gone into the reading without any expectations.

The television show made some, mostly minor, changes in the interest of being able to produce the show long term. I personally liked their changes better than the book itself. Walt's role in the book is tiny and he isn't even the sheriff. Johnny never impregnated Sarah, so there was no JJ. And the Greg Stillson story line, my least favorite aspect of the show, ended up being a major part of the book.

Read today, The Dead Zone loses a lot of its scare potential. It's horror, but it isn't particularly traumatic. It felt a lot more like a paranormal thriller, with Johnny's psychic ability and the race to prevent a Stillson caused armageddon. More than anything else, Stephen King has the ability to really flesh out his characters, making them and not the horror the true focal point of his books. The Dead Zone features a lot of inner struggle and moral dilemma, mostly from Johnny and Sarah, but stretching beyond to Johnny's parents and Sheriff Not-Walt Bannerman.

The Dead Zone isn't horrific or gory. It is thrilling and psychological in nature. It's not the best of Stephen King's works, but it is a solid King classic.

Rating

Links

Stephen King's

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