Status
Available
Description
Civilization doesn't end with a bang or a whimper. It ends with a call on your cell phone. What happens on the afternoon of October 1 came to be known as the Pulse, a signal sent though every operating cell phone that turns its user into something...well, something less than human. Savage, murderous, unthinking-and on a wanton rampage. Terrorist act? Cyber prank gone haywire? It really doesn't matter, not to the people who avoided the technological attack. What matters to them is surviving the aftermath. Before long a band of them-"normies" is how they think of themselves-have gathered on the grounds of Gaiten Academy, where the headmaster and one remaining student have something awesome and terrifying to show them on the school's moonlit soccer field. Clearly there can be no escape. The only option is to take them on.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member wenzowsa
This apocalyptic novel warns us of the chaos and change that technology can easily bring upon our world. In “Cell”, the culprit is a computer virus that is broadcasted via cell phone signal (duh), and it turns humans into homicidal maniacs (who, incidentally, have also forgotten how to use the
Truthfully speaking, I have mixed sentiments about this novel. I felt that this book started out strong because it was thrilling and exciting. Yet, mid-way through the novel, the tone of the writing seemed to change, and, well, I found myself growing bored with both the characters and the storyline. While the ending was seemingly supposed to be suspenseful, I rather thought it was trite and forced.
If you enjoy King’s books then I suggest you read this one. It’s not one of his best; however ,it’s certainly not one of his worst.
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toilet).Truthfully speaking, I have mixed sentiments about this novel. I felt that this book started out strong because it was thrilling and exciting. Yet, mid-way through the novel, the tone of the writing seemed to change, and, well, I found myself growing bored with both the characters and the storyline. While the ending was seemingly supposed to be suspenseful, I rather thought it was trite and forced.
If you enjoy King’s books then I suggest you read this one. It’s not one of his best; however ,it’s certainly not one of his worst.
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LibraryThing member danizinha
Ugh, what can I say about this book, and why the 2-star rating, something I almost never give, because I usually don't bother finishing books that I don't like. All I can say is that I loved the book throughout the development of the story, like 4-star loved, that's until I reached the final
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sentence. Talk about surprise endings... Well, I wouldn't even call it that way, because I like unusual endings, only that wasn't it for me, what it was, was making the rest of the book pointless, not that I was expecting the cliche HEA, I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't this. So, I just wish myself a better luck next time with Mr. King's books. Show Less
LibraryThing member griggit
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I cannot fathom how such a great writer hashed out such a bad book.
LibraryThing member rphbamf
Cell by Stephen King. When I heard that Stephen King was writing a book about zombies, I was excited. When I heard that the cause of the zombies was cell phones, I was still excited. After finishing the book, I'm disappointed. I really liked the book, dont get me wrong. But I find that I like my
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zombie stories to have hordes of the walking dead, risen from death, being dispatched by ill-equipped survivors. Cell really didnt have that. In its place, is a kinda hokey supernatural filler. I wont ruin anything though. Show Less
LibraryThing member rhohnholt
Really interesting concept and a good page turner. I was a little disappointed with the ending but mostly because I wanted the story to go on.
LibraryThing member Leiahc
Much like "The Stand" and the "Dark Tower" cycle, "The Cell" takes what could have been just another of Kings' amusingly creepy horror stories and expanded it into what I prefer to interpret as a rather interesting bit of symbolism.
It has long been known that human brains operate on electrical
And who is to say it wasn't some branch of our own government, a'la the Tuskegee experiments, biological, chemical, and radiation experimentation on American citizens, all carried out by the American government, (or, of course, "The Stand") who, through monkeying around with a program they are neither intelligent enough, or responsible enough to control, inflicted the signal through sheer carelessness?
Further, it is far from impossible that, given a total 'disk wipe' of the human brain, humans would revert to the most base, vicious animal behavior. Humans began as the most vicious of animals, using the intellect they developed in lieu of teeth and claws in order to slaughter themselves to the top of the genetic heap. Civilization has laid a veneer of gentility over the basic nature of humanity, but the very fact that true sociopaths and psychopaths exist in society tend to prove the base nature of humans as displayed in "The Cell".
There has been scientific iniquiry into the psi capabilities of early humans, which gives weight to the book's concept of a wiped, reverted human mind being able to utilize strong psi capabilities. It is certainly not totally out of the question that the psi capability could be there - humans are pack animals, and any pack animal with psi communication capabilities would be well served by the ability to send signals among pack members, especially when surrounding herds of animals for hunting purposes or to communicate with other pack members over distance, especially before language was developed as a human communication tool.
Overall, I like to think that, though King excels in the horror genre, he has a much firmer grasp on the scientific literature, and of human development and politics, that he likes to admit. While "The Stand" was more deeply entrenched in pure religious symbolism, "The Cell" seems to me to explore the darker side of the human belief systems than even pure 'good and evil'. Instead, I interpret the 'mentality' of the Phone Crazies very much as I interpret the terrorist mentality. Pull out the cruelest, most base portion of a belief, wether it be religious or, in the Phone Crazies case, the basest portions of the humans brain, and use that as an excuse for 'justice' - degenerate the belief system to its base component and force every other person to believe in that component or die. Religious fanatics (terrorists), whatever their denomination, never seem to find the purest, kindest, most generous portions of their religions to put forward, but rather the darkest and most violent. Could this go back to the base, cruel nature of the human brain? Or is it simply that, by reverting humanity to cave dwellers, fearing the dark and the vengeful 'god' figure, that it gives a semblence of control to those who are so mindless and fearful themselves?
"The Cell" is a gripping read, with characters you care about. It does, in inimitable King style, refer to characters, and of course, locations, we came to know and love in previous King novels. Who can ever forget the loveable, and frightening, Charlie the Choo-Choo? Classic.
As for those who are so unhappy because the book wasn't "Finished", I must disagree most stringently with their complaints. No, the book isn't all wrapped up and tied with a big red bow of an ending. But novels, good novels, are designed to make you _think_. To go beyond the imagination of the author to expand the imagination of the reader. King pointed this out in the ending to "The Dark Tower", at least on the CD version. He didn't want to write a 'big red bow' ending to the book - and I would have been deeply disappointed if he had done so without warning me that it was coming. On the CD he gives the thoughtful reader a chance to stop the disk before you got to the bow - to use your own imagination to end the book. Bless him! For those without the wit or imagination to carry forward on their own, he wrote (at his publisher's insistence, I believe) a 'closure' for the book, which described what happened when Roland actually did "To the Dark Tower c(a)me". I never read it, and I never will. What is life without imagination?
The four stars instead of five? I would give it 4.5 if I could, it was indeed a good book. I liked The Dark Tower cycle better for its depth of characterizations and the heart that went into it. I do think that King could have done a deeper bit of work on The Cell, but given that it seems the whole thing started from a bout of frustration over the rudeness of cell phone users - well, I suppose he deserves a five for not simply biting out the offending cell user's throat.... ;-)
It has long been known that human brains operate on electrical
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signals, and functions much like an organic computer. Though it may not be possible at this time for some supposedly "terrorist" group to 'short out' human brains via cell phones and satellite "signals, it is certainly not out of scientific possiblility.And who is to say it wasn't some branch of our own government, a'la the Tuskegee experiments, biological, chemical, and radiation experimentation on American citizens, all carried out by the American government, (or, of course, "The Stand") who, through monkeying around with a program they are neither intelligent enough, or responsible enough to control, inflicted the signal through sheer carelessness?
Further, it is far from impossible that, given a total 'disk wipe' of the human brain, humans would revert to the most base, vicious animal behavior. Humans began as the most vicious of animals, using the intellect they developed in lieu of teeth and claws in order to slaughter themselves to the top of the genetic heap. Civilization has laid a veneer of gentility over the basic nature of humanity, but the very fact that true sociopaths and psychopaths exist in society tend to prove the base nature of humans as displayed in "The Cell".
There has been scientific iniquiry into the psi capabilities of early humans, which gives weight to the book's concept of a wiped, reverted human mind being able to utilize strong psi capabilities. It is certainly not totally out of the question that the psi capability could be there - humans are pack animals, and any pack animal with psi communication capabilities would be well served by the ability to send signals among pack members, especially when surrounding herds of animals for hunting purposes or to communicate with other pack members over distance, especially before language was developed as a human communication tool.
Overall, I like to think that, though King excels in the horror genre, he has a much firmer grasp on the scientific literature, and of human development and politics, that he likes to admit. While "The Stand" was more deeply entrenched in pure religious symbolism, "The Cell" seems to me to explore the darker side of the human belief systems than even pure 'good and evil'. Instead, I interpret the 'mentality' of the Phone Crazies very much as I interpret the terrorist mentality. Pull out the cruelest, most base portion of a belief, wether it be religious or, in the Phone Crazies case, the basest portions of the humans brain, and use that as an excuse for 'justice' - degenerate the belief system to its base component and force every other person to believe in that component or die. Religious fanatics (terrorists), whatever their denomination, never seem to find the purest, kindest, most generous portions of their religions to put forward, but rather the darkest and most violent. Could this go back to the base, cruel nature of the human brain? Or is it simply that, by reverting humanity to cave dwellers, fearing the dark and the vengeful 'god' figure, that it gives a semblence of control to those who are so mindless and fearful themselves?
"The Cell" is a gripping read, with characters you care about. It does, in inimitable King style, refer to characters, and of course, locations, we came to know and love in previous King novels. Who can ever forget the loveable, and frightening, Charlie the Choo-Choo? Classic.
As for those who are so unhappy because the book wasn't "Finished", I must disagree most stringently with their complaints. No, the book isn't all wrapped up and tied with a big red bow of an ending. But novels, good novels, are designed to make you _think_. To go beyond the imagination of the author to expand the imagination of the reader. King pointed this out in the ending to "The Dark Tower", at least on the CD version. He didn't want to write a 'big red bow' ending to the book - and I would have been deeply disappointed if he had done so without warning me that it was coming. On the CD he gives the thoughtful reader a chance to stop the disk before you got to the bow - to use your own imagination to end the book. Bless him! For those without the wit or imagination to carry forward on their own, he wrote (at his publisher's insistence, I believe) a 'closure' for the book, which described what happened when Roland actually did "To the Dark Tower c(a)me". I never read it, and I never will. What is life without imagination?
The four stars instead of five? I would give it 4.5 if I could, it was indeed a good book. I liked The Dark Tower cycle better for its depth of characterizations and the heart that went into it. I do think that King could have done a deeper bit of work on The Cell, but given that it seems the whole thing started from a bout of frustration over the rudeness of cell phone users - well, I suppose he deserves a five for not simply biting out the offending cell user's throat.... ;-)
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LibraryThing member Bridgey
This book is almost a 'Stand' for the digital age. Someone (it is never confirmed who) has found a way to use a cell phone to wipe peoples minds. The only survivors appear to be the young, old and the technically inept.
The affected people walk around like zombies and wouldn't look out of place in
Cell is a typical King story, with good 'v' bad, and his usual entourage of socially inept characers trek across the landscape fighting for survival.
As with most King books, I really enjoyed it and the pages seemed to fly by. Unfortunately the end was just too.... I don't know... convenient. It was almost as if King wanted it to be over, and the last 50 pages appeared rushed. I won't say too much about it as this would ruin the ending for people.
All in all a good read that was enjoyable.... can't wait for the film to come out.
The affected people walk around like zombies and wouldn't look out of place in
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dawn of the dead.Cell is a typical King story, with good 'v' bad, and his usual entourage of socially inept characers trek across the landscape fighting for survival.
As with most King books, I really enjoyed it and the pages seemed to fly by. Unfortunately the end was just too.... I don't know... convenient. It was almost as if King wanted it to be over, and the last 50 pages appeared rushed. I won't say too much about it as this would ruin the ending for people.
All in all a good read that was enjoyable.... can't wait for the film to come out.
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LibraryThing member MAINEiac4434
Probably one of my favorite books of all time, Cell is actually what initially got me into Stephen King, believe it or not. Forget that the plot is implausible, King's plots are never really that plausible (look at 'Christine'). However, I believe each character is written perfectly, and each and
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the plot is filled with emotion and just enough of that King creepy-ness factor to keep you on edge. Show Less
LibraryThing member silversurfer
Terrific story, characters...Would make a good , scary film in the right hands...
LibraryThing member SlySionnach
So, I'm iffy on this book. I gave it four stars because I really liked it, but I'm not quite sure why to be honest.
The plot had great potential: cell phones making people into pseudo-psycho-zombies and only those without cell phones maintain their sanity. Scary, as I have a cell phone primarily for
The ending was a bit...eh, to say the least. The characters were interesting, but sometimes did things that made me blink a bit. Maybe I missed something, but Tom seemed to go to two extremes while I was reading. But that can be forgiven by the fact that the apocalypse is upon them.
Of course, true to King form, the ending became a bit wacky and some things just made me go, "...really?" but overall, I enjoyed it.
The plot had great potential: cell phones making people into pseudo-psycho-zombies and only those without cell phones maintain their sanity. Scary, as I have a cell phone primarily for
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work and I get called at all hours. 3:03 on October 1st? Entirely possible.The ending was a bit...eh, to say the least. The characters were interesting, but sometimes did things that made me blink a bit. Maybe I missed something, but Tom seemed to go to two extremes while I was reading. But that can be forgiven by the fact that the apocalypse is upon them.
Of course, true to King form, the ending became a bit wacky and some things just made me go, "...really?" but overall, I enjoyed it.
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
It's The Stand without the complexity and characters or The Road without the atmosphere, or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies without the Pride and Prejudice (LOL).
It's a very good apocalyptic/horror book for about 4/5 of the way; the end leaves a bit to be desired as it seems like King just wanted
It's a very good apocalyptic/horror book for about 4/5 of the way; the end leaves a bit to be desired as it seems like King just wanted
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to wrap it up so that's what he did - conveniently wrapped it up. But still... it's a very good read. Show Less
LibraryThing member michaeldwebb
I bought this because I'd kind of gone off reading. I was really struggling to get into Wolf Hall, and decided perhaps I needed to read something dumb. I hadn't read Stephen King since I was a kid, but I had vague memories that he was a good story teller. So it proved, and I really enjoyed this,
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even it was miles away from the sort of thing I usually read. It was a sort of group road-trip story, but set after mobile phones had turned everyone crazy. The characters were only sketches, but still worked really well, and the story was just about plausible enough to keep me page turning. Show Less
LibraryThing member KittyCunningham
Telepathic zombies!! What's not to love?
LibraryThing member marysneedle
I just finished the book and have to say that I really liked it. It was fast paced and a quick read that kept me hooked from beginning to the end.
It appears that Stephen King is using an old Sci Fi Formula for this story. He even dedicates it to Richard Matheson (author of I Am Legend along with
I’ve seen others stories that use this type of formula. Besides “I am Legend” there is also “Earth Abides” by George Stewart, and I’m sure there are many more, those are just the two I can think of at the moment.
The story formula is some catastrophic event that nearly wipes out humanity. The Characters usually speculate as to what could have happened but there is never really any direct explanation of what happened. The story is usually about the survivors and how they deal with things and usually has an inconclusive ending as well.
I think King did a very good job with the story and he used modern technology to deliver the bomb so to speak. I think the fact that Clay figured out that it was the cell phones causing the problem so fast was King wanting to get that part out of the way so the rest of the story could develop.
King put his dislike of cell phones to use in this story along with the rumored 90% of our brain we supposedly don’t use and incorporating the premise that our brains are like computers and can be wiped. And what would be left if our brains were wiped like a computer hard drive.
There were a couple other references to our modern society which I think King could have been making a point with. One is the mention of who owns cell phones and the other was the flock.
It was mentioned that most of the normal people were either the very young or the old. Most everyone else had a cell phone and was affected by the pulse with a few exceptions like Tom who had forgotten his cell phone and like Clay who didn’t own one or people who did own one but like Alice and Clay noticed that the cell phone was the problem.
The flock I think is a comment on how much people follow each other. In this story it is the culmination of owning a cell phone. My friend has a cell phone so eventually I get a cell phone and soon all my friends have cell phones. Another aspect is once the flock starts binding together they try to force their will on the normal people, making them avoid certain people or making them go specific places or in some instances kill themselves. In a way I think the zombie like state of the flock and the way they are described as doing everything the same and only turning on each other when their own personal selfishness is threatened is making fun of the types that just follow whatever may be the fad for the day. And as for the forcing their will on people, this could represent society’s intolerance at anyone who dares to be different and show individuality.
The thing I was upset about was the fact that Clay finally was going to get his artwork published and then Murphy’s Law kicks in and destroys the world.
King definitely knows how to tell a story. I really enjoyed it.
It appears that Stephen King is using an old Sci Fi Formula for this story. He even dedicates it to Richard Matheson (author of I Am Legend along with
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some twilight zone episodes) and George Romero (director of Dawn of the Dead). I’ve seen others stories that use this type of formula. Besides “I am Legend” there is also “Earth Abides” by George Stewart, and I’m sure there are many more, those are just the two I can think of at the moment.
The story formula is some catastrophic event that nearly wipes out humanity. The Characters usually speculate as to what could have happened but there is never really any direct explanation of what happened. The story is usually about the survivors and how they deal with things and usually has an inconclusive ending as well.
I think King did a very good job with the story and he used modern technology to deliver the bomb so to speak. I think the fact that Clay figured out that it was the cell phones causing the problem so fast was King wanting to get that part out of the way so the rest of the story could develop.
King put his dislike of cell phones to use in this story along with the rumored 90% of our brain we supposedly don’t use and incorporating the premise that our brains are like computers and can be wiped. And what would be left if our brains were wiped like a computer hard drive.
There were a couple other references to our modern society which I think King could have been making a point with. One is the mention of who owns cell phones and the other was the flock.
It was mentioned that most of the normal people were either the very young or the old. Most everyone else had a cell phone and was affected by the pulse with a few exceptions like Tom who had forgotten his cell phone and like Clay who didn’t own one or people who did own one but like Alice and Clay noticed that the cell phone was the problem.
The flock I think is a comment on how much people follow each other. In this story it is the culmination of owning a cell phone. My friend has a cell phone so eventually I get a cell phone and soon all my friends have cell phones. Another aspect is once the flock starts binding together they try to force their will on the normal people, making them avoid certain people or making them go specific places or in some instances kill themselves. In a way I think the zombie like state of the flock and the way they are described as doing everything the same and only turning on each other when their own personal selfishness is threatened is making fun of the types that just follow whatever may be the fad for the day. And as for the forcing their will on people, this could represent society’s intolerance at anyone who dares to be different and show individuality.
The thing I was upset about was the fact that Clay finally was going to get his artwork published and then Murphy’s Law kicks in and destroys the world.
King definitely knows how to tell a story. I really enjoyed it.
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LibraryThing member Bookmarque
At first, because of the post-apocalyptic nature of the story, I thought this might turn into a clone of The Stand. Survivors of the calamity band together for a journey on foot. Instead of a relatively peaceful journey, this one instead would be plagued by problems with the phoners. But it
One thing that was annoying is the lack of explanation for The Pulse. The survivors speculate that it was terrorists or aliens or some evil government, but they don’t know and we are never told. I realize that King is no Crichton, but I want to know.
It would also have been interesting to see how the evolving phoners coped with the future. At present, they had no idea about health or cleanliness or disease. They lived outside and in winter, most of them would have died because they didn’t have the sense to shelter in doors or wear heavy clothing or make fires. But they were changing, and maybe they would have figured this stuff out. I also wondered if they would breed and if those resulting offspring would have had their brains wiped too, or if the new behavior could be taught since a baby is essentially a blank slate anyway.
The end left me saying "eh, who cares", which is unusual for a King book.
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wasn’t a clone of The Stand. It has echoes, but it’s not a copy.One thing that was annoying is the lack of explanation for The Pulse. The survivors speculate that it was terrorists or aliens or some evil government, but they don’t know and we are never told. I realize that King is no Crichton, but I want to know.
It would also have been interesting to see how the evolving phoners coped with the future. At present, they had no idea about health or cleanliness or disease. They lived outside and in winter, most of them would have died because they didn’t have the sense to shelter in doors or wear heavy clothing or make fires. But they were changing, and maybe they would have figured this stuff out. I also wondered if they would breed and if those resulting offspring would have had their brains wiped too, or if the new behavior could be taught since a baby is essentially a blank slate anyway.
The end left me saying "eh, who cares", which is unusual for a King book.
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LibraryThing member jenny71
stephen king phones it in. not an objectively bad book, but we've come to expect more from the first name in creepiness.
LibraryThing member davidbain
I almost gave up on this book during the first half. Been there, read that. The second half, however, really took off. Two stars for the first half, only avoiding one star because it was competent. Four stars for the second half.
LibraryThing member MisterMongrel
It was a fun read; but I didn't think the characters had enough depth nor the plot enough originality/unpredictability to contend with some of King's classic books.
LibraryThing member wyn
A lot of holes in the plot and areas where it is too unbelievable. He keeps the story within the Boston area and have no idea if problem is worldwide. However, found the storyline gripping.
LibraryThing member TheTwoDs
King's fastest paced and goriest work in years, it reminded me of a cross between 28 Days Later and Night of the Living Dead. Yet, for all the violence and suspense, King manages to slip in a few salient points about the way technology has changed us. After reading this, the next time you are in a
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crowd and see dozens of people on their cell phones, imagine what would happen if Cell's scenario broke out. Scary indeed. Show Less
LibraryThing member MSWallack
I am not a Stephen King fan. Nor am I a horror fan. Nevertheless, Cell was a terrific book, very reminiscent of one of the other King books that I loved: The Stand. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was particularly pleased that King never provides an "answer" as to what actually caused the "pulse"
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but limits his explanations to the theories generated by the characters. This story does not receive four stars for two reasons: First, about midway through, the story took a direction that I wasn't particularly keen on. That isn't to say that the story was bad; far from it. I just wanted to see where King would take the story in a slightly different direction. Second, I was enjoying the story so much, I wanted it to be longer. I wanted another unabridged version of The Stand. I'm virtually certain that you will be seeing Cell on a movie screen someday as the story readily lends itself to screenplay adaptation. Highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member israfel13
Nowhere near his best, the book jumps right into the action with some gooey zombie attacks. With no time for his standard characterization, the book does explore some interesting ideas, (a.k.a. a zombie hive mind) and then the story ends almost abruptly as it started.
LibraryThing member delphica
(#12 in the 2006 book challenge)
Now this was just goofy. Somehow, someone uses the cell phone network to make anyone who picks up the phone turn into a freakazoid. I had read both good and bad (frothing, actually) reviews of this. The plot itself is a non-issue, one of those things where something
Grade: C
Recommended: To people who feel the need to read everything SK publishes. It won't kill you.
Now this was just goofy. Somehow, someone uses the cell phone network to make anyone who picks up the phone turn into a freakazoid. I had read both good and bad (frothing, actually) reviews of this. The plot itself is a non-issue, one of those things where something
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bizarro happens and that's the set-up and you're not going to get too much information on how or why, it just is. Which I'm okay with. My biggest hesitation about this is that it felt like it was going to be one of those great character pieces where you take every breath and live and die with the cast of Stephen King's world ... but there wasn't enough book there to suck you in. It was over before I got a chance to get that attached to anyone. I did feel like the writing was on the level, though, it wasn't one of those where SK phoned it in (har har) ... the book didn't really work but it came by that honestly.Grade: C
Recommended: To people who feel the need to read everything SK publishes. It won't kill you.
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LibraryThing member whitewavedarling
It's a fast read, and not horrible, but it doesn't stand up to most of King's other work. The idea is interesting enough, but past that, this is just a lesser version of The Stand, from any perspective.
LibraryThing member rcgibson
Reminiscent of The Stand. Very good character study of a group of ordinary people who find themselves in a horrible situation - having to fight a world full of crazy zombies. The only bad part is the hanging ending - maybe there will be a sequel by King?