Too Real?

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Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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It's my favorite Stephen King novel.

The main character is entirely likable and relatable and trapped by circumstances into doing something horrible against every principle he has. The bad guy is one of the best because he's set up so well to be unlikable yet believable. The love interest story is sad and sweet. And the ending just topped it off very nicely in the mood of the book.

Loved this one.

I enjoyed the TV series, too, but with the understanding that it and the book are not the same. You have character names that are the same, but that's where you leave it, and then enjoy it or not on its own merits.
 

blunthead

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Aug 2, 2006
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Atlanta GA
I wonder what inspired this story? Doesn't say over in the Library at sk dot com. Says for some stories, but not this one. The inspiration for Cell is a hoot. Go look. :)
It seems I read or heard him describe what inspired The Dead Zone, though I might be thinking of another book instead. On an aside, sK has said that he recommends this book as an sK starter.
 

Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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It seems I read or heard him describe what inspired The Dead Zone, though I might be thinking of another book instead. On an aside, sK has said that he recommends this book as an sK starter.
In On Writing, he says the seed of the project was
can someone believably and sympathetically be led to attempt a political assassination?
or something to that effect.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
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Atlanta GA
In On Writing, he says the seed of the project was
can someone believably and sympathetically be led to attempt a political assassination?
or something to that effect.
Yes, I remember that. Maybe that's what I was thinking. My impression after reading was of a very well-written book. Curiously, I decided, when thinking of which sK to suggest to a friend wanting to know where to start, that this was my choice for her. Then later read that sK himself also recommends it.
 

Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
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In my opinion this was one of SK's scariest stories. It seems to me that it could happen in real life. Politicians are scary. :icon_eek:
And I don't think it could have ended any other way.

Oh my, yes.

I would say that politicians are most decidedly scary.

The only thing scarier than a politician is an uninformed voter . . . but I digress.

You would like to think that a guy like this couldn't slip through the cracks in our "information overload" society, but I've noticed an odd thing about the media where I live, and I'm not sure I would be counting either actual media watchdogs -- or even this fine "social" media we've got -- to rid us of someone who was engaging enough and got enough "likes."

This is a thing I see happening more and more:

Everyone is turning inward. Look at me! Look at me!

Here's me at the Grand Canyon. Here's me at the Brandenburg Gate. Here's me on SKMB!

And while we're all busy making sure everyone can see us all the time . . . well . . . who really knows what the Greg Stinson's of the world are doing?

Could it happen "in real life"?

Bet your boots and mittens.

; )
 

Sunlight Gardener

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Jul 22, 2013
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Politicians scare me more than anything else out there fictional or real. Watching how they operate over the course of my life has led me to think that there isn't one alive who has a single moral scruple or wouldn't do absolutely ANYTHING to get what they want...which is mostly power and financial gain.
 

Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
May 9, 2010
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Politicians scare me more than anything else out there fictional or real.

Sometimes I'm not sure if it's really scary . . . or just sad.

I mean, it's true enough that when the Bush/Obama house of cards comes tumbling down (and mathematics dictates that it must) a lot of people who didn't really do anything wrong are going to suffer things they're not ready for. But I'm more troubled by the ease with which so many of these people can look us right in the eye and lie.

I was reading the thread about Cecil the lion a little while ago and somebody posted something like "People. Pffffft."

With a few specific exceptions, I really couldn't agree more.
 
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Sunlight Gardener

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Jul 22, 2013
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But I'm more troubled by the ease with which so many of these people can look us right in the eye and lie.

Aw heck that's a regular way of life to a Politician. All you have to do is tell everyone whatever "your people" tell you is going to win you favor with "those people" and then jump on board with said issue and pretend like you actually believe or care in the least one way or another. They are moral weather vanes just swinging in whatever direction will benefit them. They have no belief system, no morality, nothing. Basically empty shells wanting to be filled up with power and money. Ever wonder why national politicians with $100,000 or $200,000 salaries all have mega million dollar homes and private jets? Me too. I have no doubt that extra money comes in exchange for passing certain laws and getting behind certain issues that will benefit somebody or a lot of somebodies. Seems to be a great investment.

Sorry folks, sore subject. Rant over, lol.
 
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Doc Creed

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King uses the Thomas Hardy quote that 'the best drawn characters in a novel are but a bag of bones' in Bag Of Bones. Yet, in The Dead Zone, Johnny Smith is one of the most relatable King characters ever 'drawn'. Even with all the suffering Paul Sheldon endures, thus earning our empathy, is there not a greater figure than Smith? Despite the tragic event that robs him of his happy life, he somehow summons the strength to seize his destiny. Johnny is Everyman. There's a scene that touches me a lot...(SPOILER AHEAD)
It's Christmas time and Johnny and his father have a heart to heart about his 'gift' and whether Johnny can help find justice for the victims in Castle Rock. Also, Johnny is shaving and he realizes how old he seems and that time has eluded him.
 
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Pucker

We all have it coming, kid
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Even with all the suffering Paul Sheldon endures, thus earning our empathy, is there not a greater figure than Smith? Despite the tragic event that robs him of his happy life, he somehow summons the strength to seize his destiny. Johnny is Everyman.

Hence the name, John Smith, one might assume.

One of my best friends as a boy was a kid named Don Smith. Whenever we would get nabbed perpetrating youthful shenanigans and asked our names by "adults," he would always be looked at askance when he offered up his actual name.

Don Smith? C'mon, kid. Can't you do any better than that?

Me? Oh, I was Charlie Jones, of course.

:upside:
 
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Doc Creed

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Hence the name, John Smith, one might assume.

One of my best friends as a boy was a kid named Don Smith. Whenever we would get nabbed perpetrating youthful shenanigans and asked our names by "adults," he would always be looked at askance when he offered up his actual name.

Don Smith? C'mon, kid. Can't you do any better than that?

Me? Oh, I was Charlie Jones, of course.

:upside:
Lol...Charlie Jones
 

Takoren

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Nov 25, 2015
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I just finished this one and...I thought Stillson was over the top even for a politician. He didn't remind me of anyone who might seriously achieve office. He reminded me of someone like perennial candidate Lyndon H. LaRouche, or crazed 2008 candidate Lee Mercer, Jr.. He should have been more subtly evil.