Cell

Title: Cell

Author: Stephen King

Published in: 2006

Date read: 2nd August 2020

Score: 5/5

Genre: Dystopian, Horror, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Cell" by Stephen King is an apocalyptic horror novel that envisions a world plunged into chaos by a single, terrifying event delivered through modern technology.

The story begins with Clayton Riddell, a graphic artist, celebrating a new comic book deal in Boston. Suddenly, a mysterious signal broadcast over the global cell phone network, dubbed "the Pulse," turns everyone using a cell phone at that moment into mindless, vicious, zombie-like killers referred to as "phoners." Civilisation immediately collapses into anarchy and bloodshed.

Clay, fortunately not on his phone, witnesses the horrifying transformation of society firsthand. He quickly teams up with other survivors, including a middle-aged man named Tom McCourt and a resourceful teenager named Alice Maxwell. Their immediate goal is to escape the ravaged city and survive the relentless attacks from the "phoners."

Clay's ultimate motivation is to reach his estranged wife and young son, Johnny, in Maine, hoping they were spared the Pulse. As the small group treks north through a devastated New England, they encounter other survivors, but also witness the chilling evolution of the phoners. These aren't just mindless zombies; they begin to develop a hive mind, demonstrating rudimentary intelligence, forming "flocks," and even exhibiting telepathic abilities orchestrated by a sinister, controlling figure known as "the Raggedy Man."

The journey is fraught with peril as they constantly evade and battle the increasingly organised phoners. They learn that the phoners are being "rebooted" and "reprogrammed" by the Pulse, potentially creating a new, more dangerous form of humanity. The survivors come to understand that they are part of a larger, terrifying experiment.

The novel culminates in a desperate confrontation at a place called Kashwak, where a large group of phoners, controlled by the Raggedy Man, are orchestrating a final, devastating "reset" of humanity. Clay must use his wits and courage, along with the help of his companions, to thwart this plan and attempt to save his son, even if Johnny has already been affected by the Pulse. "Cell" is a critique of modern technology and a visceral exploration of societal breakdown and the dark potential of human (and post-human) evolution.

Comments:
Nice to see "zombies" in the repertoire, fantastic book all through.

Books that we've read by Stephen King (68):
Carrie (1974), 'Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (The Shining, #1) (1977), The Stand (1978), Night Shift (1978), The Dead Zone (1979), Firestarter (1980), Cujo (1981), The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) (1982), Different Seasons (1982), Christine (1983), Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), Pet Sematary (1983), The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) (1984), Skeleton Crew (1985), It (1986), The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) (1987), The Eyes of the Dragon (1987), The Tommyknockers (1987), Misery (1987), The Dark Half (1989), Four Past Midnight (1990), The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3) (1991), Needful Things (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1992), Gerald's Game (1992), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Insomnia (1994), Rose Madder (1995), The Green Mile (1996), Desperation (1996), Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) (1997), Bag of Bones (1998), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), Black House (The Talisman, #2) (2001), Dreamcatcher (2001), Everything's Eventual (2002), From a Buick 8 (2002), Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) (2003), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, #6) (2004), The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7) (2004), The Colorado Kid (2005), Cell (2006), Lisey's Story (2006), Duma Key (2008), Just After Sunset (2008), Under the Dome (2009), 11/22/63 (2011), Full Dark, No Stars (2011), The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5) (2012), Dr. Sleep (The Shining, #2) (2013), Joyland (2013), Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) (2014), Revival (2014), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2) (2015), End of Watch (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #3) (2016), Elevation (2018), The Outsider (2018), The Institute (2019), If It Bleeds (2020), Billy Summers (2021), Later (2021), Fairy Tale (2022), Holly (2023), You Like It Darker (2024)