Cell by Stephen King (2006)

Stephen King's newest novel is a violent, brutal, unflinching look at the possibilities of "brainwave interference." Cell follows Clayton Riddell, a comic-book writer, on his journey to find his wife and son in Kent Pond, Maine from Boston. Along the journey, Clay meets up with Tom McCourt, who is the best character in the book. Tom is an intelligent, emotional, thoughtful man who truly bonds with Clay and Alice, the teenager they also find in Boston and take along with them.

I wouldn't call this book a "zombie book." The phone crazies are not really zombies, in the general sense of the term, at all. They have some small ability to think and communicate, and have a clear purpose. What starts out as random violence and destruction turns into a specimen of group think, reducing our technologically-advanced society to a vast landscape of rainforest. There are no rules. You aren't safe, and you don't know what you are in danger from and what you aren't. The world that King paints is a scary one. Coming from the viewpoint from a few protagonists, the reader can still get a personal feel from the book, unlike a book that would try and paint a picture of the entire world, and what was happening everywhere. In fact, we don't get an outside viewpoint at all throughout the book, we are just left to assume about what is going on outside of the northeast region of the U.S.

The book starts out on an amazing note. When the Pulse goes out, all Hell breaks loose, and King writes with a style of violence that is second to no other. I have never felt as much of a sense of chaos as the opening pages of Cell. However, after about the first 100 pages, the book slows down a great deal. The middle part of the book is definitely the weakest. Filled mostly with the character's musings about what is going on, and thinking about those they have had to leave behind. Not much action takes place in the middle third of the book, and that hurts the breakneck pace that the first part sets. The third part of the book, when the group sets out on the final part of their journey, it returns to the pacing that doesn't let you put the book down even for a second. King is one of the only writers that I know of that can still have the reader completely guessing as to what is going to happen with only 20 pages left to read.

This isn't one of King's elite novels, but it definitely was a really fun, interesting read.

Stephen King's Cell begins with a "pulse," burns down to a small flame (with the exception of one truly incandescent moment in the middle), and ends with a fizzle. The cover art pretty much sums up the book: bloody with a lot of white space.

In the first pages, you meet the protagonist, Clayton Riddell, a comic-book writer who finally achieves his artistic goal only to see the world, as he knows it, split at the seams. Within a few pages he saves the life of Tom McCourt. The two fast friends set out on a quest to find Clayton's son. Their journey is interwoven with a bushel of minor characters and acres of subplots. Unfortunately, by three-quarters of the way through the book, the end is all too clear.

That being said, Cell was written by Stephen "Master of the Macabre" King: the man who was nearly killed in a traffic accident, the writer who has keeps countless people up at night. Any conspiracy theorist will revel in Cell's plot.

Cell is a horror-novel-by-the-numbers, at times boring, but not unreadable.

I WILL KEEP THIS SIMPLE...AVERAGE.
ANOTHER MAY FIND IT BETTER OR WORSE.
MY SON SAID HE FOUND IT PREDICTABLE ALL THE WAY.
I TENDED TO AGREE.
BUT, IF YOU ARE A STEPHEN KING DIE HARD, READ IT.
OTHERWISE, DON'T BUY IT, GET IT AT THE LIBRARY AND THEN DECIDE IF YOU
WANT TO OWN IT, OR WISH YOU HADN'T WASTED YOUR TIME.

ENJOY!

First off, I've never been so glad that I don't own a cell phone! Secondly, Stephen King has penned another gruesome winner, going back to his days of blood and gore. CELL starts off with the Pulse, where everyone who owns a cell phone answers a call and subsequently goes psycho. Back to their basic days of kill or be killed, these are slobbery creatures with no morals, emotions, or human qualities besides the desire to destroy.

Enter Clayton Riddell, a man happy to have never given in to the need to purchase a cell phone, who watches the people on the street of Boston go murderous. He hooks up with Tom, another "normie" and Alice, who watched her mother go crazy and kill a cab-driver, to escape the city. Clay is heading home to Kent's Pond, Maine, to check on the well-being of his estranged wife, Sharon (who doesn't own a cell phone) and his son Johnny (who does).

What follows is the groups trials and trevails as they're inevitably pushed towards Kashwak, the NO-FO zone. You'll have to read CELL to figure out what this means, but believe me, it's well worth your time and effort!

Stephen King has returned to his days of blood and gore, guts and more blood, and the result is a winner. If you love horror, or King in particular, you won't go wrong picking up a copy of this latest winner.

An excellent title shipped from an excellent seller. I would definitely order from them again. The book is great and arrived in great condition.

This SK book held my attention better than some others...it started out quick and kept me wondering throughout what may happen next. It was a very good book overall but I did not care for the ending at all. I felt like I was cheated out of a good ending and left with whatever was put down on paper. Many unanswered questions, including one very large one.

This is one of the greatest works of the horror master, Stephen King. This is not a common post-apocaliptical story like nowadays, includes as central theme, the technophobia, which is very rare today. Highly recommended to those who want to relive the emotions of those who read "The Stand" for a thriller, action packed story.

One of my favorite books. I've never read a "Zombie Book", however being a fan of horror movies turned me onto this book. Reads like the best kind of Stephen King book...stirs you up enough to keep the pages turning without pushing you over the edge. Very nice find! I recommend it to any horror, or Stephen King fan...I await the return of the story...

Stephen King is one of my favs, can't wait to read this book. I haven't heard anything about CELL as yet so it will all be a surprise. Although I have to say that anything King writes is good.

I am a huge Stephen King fan, and for Stephen King fans, this book rates about a 3 out of 5. For literature fans in general, this book rates about a 5. See, you can't compare Stephen King to everyone else. He's a living legend, and a fantastic novelist. But you can compare his novels to each other to actually come up with a rating. So either way, whether you are a fan or not, you should buy this book.

I grabbed a copy of "Cell" as soon as it came out. The storyline was a five star for me, and I was insanely happy with the "moments" of humor throughout the book. I loved the characters, their interaction with one another and I was throughly enjoying the ride.
While I do believe this book to be a must read for zombie lovers; and liked the book in general, I was very disappointed in the ending. I felt as though I was left hanging. There was no real closure to the story, it just...stopped. I feel King could have done much better with even the slightest of effort.
Love zombies? Read the book. Hate crappy, let down endings? Leave it on the shelf.
King has done with this book what he did with the ending of the Dark Tower series... left us wanting, and somewhat enraged.

Good price, well discribed product, quick shipment, good comunication, would recommend seller for any purchaser, thanks you very much!!

As far as books go, I'd rate this average. But would love to see a movie made about this one. Good read, but typical King ending.

It is a great book and came in great condition. The book has a good plot and is now of my favorite books by King now. It is a must have for all fans.

tephen King's newest novel is a violent, brutal, unflinching look at the possibilities of "brainwave interference." Cell follows Clayton Riddell, a comic-book writer, on his journey to find his wife and son in Kent Pond, Maine from Boston. Along the journey, Clay meets up with Tom McCourt, who is the best character in the book. Tom is an intelligent, emotional, thoughtful man who truly bonds with Clay and Alice, the teenager they also find in Boston and take along with them.

I wouldn't call this book a "zombie book." The phone crazies are not really zombies, in the general sense of the term, at all. They have some small ability to think and communicate, and have a clear purpose. What starts out as random violence and destruction turns into a specimen of group think, reducing our technologically-advanced society to a vast landscape of rainforest. There are no rules. You aren't safe, and you don't know what you are in danger from and what you aren't. The world that King paints is a scary one. Coming from the viewpoint from a few protagonists, the reader can still get a personal feel from the book, unlike a book that would try and paint a picture of the entire world, and what was happening everywhere. In fact, we don't get an outside viewpoint at all throughout the book, we are just left to assume about what is going on outside of the northeast region of the U.S.

The book starts out on an amazing note. When the Pulse goes out, all Hell breaks loose, and King writes with a style of violence that is second to no other. I have never felt as much of a sense of chaos as the opening pages of Cell. However, after about the first 100 pages, the book slows down a great deal. The middle part of the book is definitely the weakest. Filled mostly with the character's musings about what is going on, and thinking about those they have had to leave behind. Not much action takes place in the middle third of the book, and that hurts the breakneck pace that the first part sets. The third part of the book, when the group sets out on the final part of their journey, it returns to the pacing that doesn't let you put the book down even for a second. King is one of the only writers that I know of that can still have the reader completely guessing as to what is going to happen with only 20 pages left to read.

This isn't one of King's elite novels, but it definitely was a really fun, interesting read.

I liked this book. The chilling thought is this could actually happen. What better way to wipe out a country or even the world? Terrorists would love this technology. This is Stephen King at his best. The characters were believable. The pace was slow one minute and then racing ahead at break-neck speed. The trek to safety was long and arduous. Very few made it. Definitely a good read, it could give you nightmares, though.

I just got this book for christmas and i havent been able to read it yet, because i am on another book of his. I will say that this will be an awesome book in my opinion. The title is very intriguing for one, and for two all of stephen kings stuff is just awesome. I am a big fan, and i have almost every one of his books and still looking for more. If you like to read, stephen king is for you, i can almost gaurantee that. Once you read one of his books you will have to read them all. This is just my opinion, but i would encourage you to give it a try.

The book came in the condition stated in the ad. Also itg did arrive in a timely manner. Will enjoy reading it.

I am a huge fan of Stephen King, I am currently reading the book and love it!!!! I decided to buy the book because it was such a great deal. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a Stephen King fan because it is awesome!!!!!!

I purchased this book as a gift for my son who loves to read anything by Stephen King. The $1.00 shipping caught my interest from the start. I was aware that it was a used book, but thought it would be in typical good shape after use. The book arrived with Ohio library stamp markings in several places, even on the outside edge of the pages, which really stood out when the book was in a closed position. I didn't like this fact and wished that it would have been disclosed. However, I did make the best of it and joked with my son that I drove all the way to Ohio to buy it for him. He enjoyed the book non the less.

The Cell is an excellent book and I'm glad to have the chance to add it to my SK collection. Service & processing was a great experiance.

Just wonder if this is going to be another DARK TOWER with more stories to come. Really didn't like the way it ended.

I bought the book as it was a hardback for a paperback price. It said the paper cover showed wear, but when I got it I had to really look to see one tiny scratch on the bottom corner. It had NO earmarks on the pages and was in excellent and clean condition. I was very happy with my purchase and the great deal I got. I collect Steven King hardbacks and this was a wonderful addition. I would have paid three times the amount in the store even after paying S&H. I was in a car accident and cannot work or drive. I have found E Bay to be a wonderful place to get things I need or want. I have boughten a lot of things lately and not had one ounce of disappointment. People on E bay are very careful to keep a good reputation, I think, due to feedback. It has helped me out a lot with in home shopping and good deals.

Reminscent of The Stand in some ways, Cell is a journey into the frailties and strengths of what makes us human. It is also a return to King's greatest strengths as a writer, the complex relationships between us as humans.

The basic premise - the idea of the individual versus the collective - is not new, but it is one which King delivers in his own unique manner. Each of the characters in Cell are rich and finely drawn. They could be people you know, people you love, and people you hate.

It is a fine read, engaging and moving. As much as you remember Stu and Franny from the Stand, you'll remember Clay and Alice and Tom from Cell. If there were any criticism I might have of the novel, it would be that it ended at all. These were truly characters I'd like to continue knowing.

I was wanting the book "Cell" to read over Thanksgiving. I tried Barnes and Noble in paperback, but it wasn't available yet. So I decided to try eBay. I found the book in hardback with a price (including shipping) less than what the paperback would have sold for. The seller was very quick about shipping it, and I had it in time to read over Thanksgiving. It arrived in good condition. I wasn't aware, though, of how gorey the book would be. Stephen King is such a descriptive writer that I thought I was viewing a horror movie. I felt compelled to finish the book yet had the thought that if this is made into a movie, I would not go because of the blood and guts content. It was suspenseful and an interesting concept. I became extremely aware of everyone using a cell phone and took particular notice as to how many comments and stories on TV were about cell phones. I understand that cell phones can harbor many bacteria as phone users rarely clean them. P.S. Stephen King doesn't own a cell phone.