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 schoolteacher 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.

I purchased a copy of this book for my own reading.

Although I watched the movie starring Christopher Walken for the first time last year, I’ve never read the original source material. While the film was still somewhat fresh in the memory, I was really excited to dive into another Stephen King that was new to me.

The Dead Zone might actually be a new entry in the top tier of books by King for me. The story felt familiar enough thanks to a surprisingly faithful film (despite an iconic scene only appearing in the film – if you know, you know). I couldn’t help but think of Walken as I read the book; his portrayal was so good. Naturally, for a King book, it’s heavy on the descriptive, even more so than the film. This is in no way a negative though, as I felt it allowed for deeper exploration of the lives of Johnny Smith, Sarah and Greg Stillson.

The Dead Zone also does a fantastic job of exploring the cause of Johnny’s condition, the rehabilitation he underwent to recover, and the discovery of his abilities. While it’s not a traditional horror as many might expect from Stephen King, it’s a wonderful supernatural thriller riddled with depth and richness making this an instant hit for me.

My rating: