The Dead Zone
Stephen King's The Dead Zone (1979) is a horror and circus fiction novel. It takes readers to New England and Iowa in 1953. Characters include Moochie, Otis and R2D2. It deals with brain tumors, rifles, human shields and Assassination.
Open Library readers give it an average of 4.1 out of 5 from 46 ratings, and 560 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 89 editions across 13 languages.
It runs to roughly 426 pages — 7–8 hours of reading at an average pace.
About The Dead Zone
The Dead Zone is a science fiction thriller novel by Stephen King published in 1979. The story follows Johnny Smith, who awakens from a coma of nearly five years and, apparently as a result of brain damage, now experiences clairvoyant and precognitive visions triggered by touch. When some information is blocked from his perception, Johnny refers to that information as being trapped in the part of his brain that is permanently damaged, "the dead zone." The novel also follows a serial killer in Castle Rock, and the life of rising politician Greg Stillson, both of whom are evils Johnny must eventually face. Though earlier King books were successful, The Dead Zone was the first of his novels to rank among the ten best-selling novels of the year in the United States. The book was nominated for the Locus Award in 1980 and was dedicated to King's son Owen. The Dead Zone is the first story by King to feature the fictional town of Castle Rock, which serves as the setting for several later stories and is referenced in others. The TV series Castle Rock takes place in this fictional town and makes references to the Strangler whom Johnny helped track down in The Dead Zone. The Dead Zone is King's seventh novel and the fifth under his own name. The book spawned a 1983 film adaptation as well as a television series.
Awards & lists
- ✦World Fantasy Awards 1980 — Best Novel (nominee)
- ✦Locus Awards 1980 — Best Fantasy Novel (nominee)
Quick answers
Who wrote The Dead Zone?
The Dead Zone was written by Stephen King and first published in 1979.
What genre is The Dead Zone?
It is usually shelved as Horror and Circus & Carnival.
How long is The Dead Zone?
The median edition has 426 pages, about 7–8 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.
What books are similar to The Dead Zone?
Readers who like it often enjoy The Ride of Your Life You're Invited to a Creepover #18 and Scowler.
More by Stephen King
All books →
It
Stephen King
The Shining
Stephen King
Misery
Stephen King
Carrie
Stephen King
Pet Sematary
Stephen King
The Green Mile
Stephen King
Books like The Dead Zone
The Ride of Your Life You're Invited to a Creepover #18
P. J. Night
Scowler
Daniel Kraus