Information AboutThe Dead Zone |
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''For the David Cronenberg Film see'' The Dead Zone (film) ''The Dead Zone'' is a Novel by Stephen King published in 1979. ''The Dead Zone'' tells the story of Johnny Smith, a small-town high school teacher from ability to touch certain people and objects and experience visions of the past, present, and- most commonly- the future. Because of his "dead zone" (the damaged part of his brain, somehow connected to his capacity for visualization, as well as processing addresses and numbers), parts of each vision remain unclear to Johnny, forcing him to figure certain things out as he goes along. The full extent of what he must do- or whatever tragedy he must try to avert- is seldom if ever clear to Johnny. Despite using his newfound ability to save a young girl's life, help a local sherriff identify and capture a Serial Killer , and save several teenagers from a disastrous fire, Johnny considers his power a curse rather than a gift and is loathe to use it, longing for his old life. But after shaking hands with Greg Stillson, a popular but unconventional Congressional candidate from New Hampshire , at a political rally, Johnny sees a vision of Stillson being sworn in as President many years in the future, and of apocalyptic devastation so terrible and complete that he feels compelled to try and prevent Stillson's rise to power at any cost. Learning that he is dying of a brain tumor caused by his coma, Johnny is forced to take desperate action and try and assassinate Stillson before he can become President. The attempt fails, Johnny is unable to take the shot at the crucial moment due to his in-built refusal to kill, but he still averts the future; when the bullets began, Stillson attempted to use a small boy as a shield, and the video of that action subsequently ruined his political career. PUBLISHED EDITIONS
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