Cell

Published: 2006

Cell (2006) begins with a catastrophic event where anyone using a cell phone at 3:03 PM on October 1 is transformed into a violent, zombie-like being by a mysterious signal called 'The Pulse.' Graphic novelist Clay Riddell witnesses the chaos in Boston and bands together with a small group of survivors, including Tom McCourt and teenage Alice Maxwell. The group heads north to Kent Pond, Maine, where Clay hopes to find his son Johnny, who may have been spared if he wasn't using a cell phone. As their journey progresses, they discover the phone crazies are evolving, developing telepathic abilities and a collective consciousness. They begin herding the unaffected into areas where they're forced to use repaired cell phones, expanding their hive mind. Clay becomes increasingly desperate to reach his son, willing to face any danger to determine his fate. Written in response to the increasing ubiquity of cell phones in modern society, Cell represents King's take on the zombie apocalypse subgenre with his characteristic social commentary. Critics gave mixed reviews, with some praising the breakneck opening sequence and King's social observations while finding the second half less focused. The novel performed well commercially, debuting at #1 on bestseller lists. A 2016 film adaptation starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson received negative reviews. King has described the novel as his exploration of how technology might trigger societal collapse, expressing particular satisfaction with its intense opening sequence. For readers, Cell stands as one of King's most overtly apocalyptic novels, examining how quickly civilization could unravel while focusing on the human connections that endure through catastrophe. The book's ambiguous ending divided readers, with King deliberately leaving certain elements unresolved. Cell continues King's career-long examination of how ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances, stripped of societal protections and forced to rely on their own moral compasses.

Themes

• Technology
• Apocalypse
• Fatherhood
• Hive mind
• Survival

Adaptations

• 2016 film starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson

Collector Notes

King's take on the zombie apocalypse genre, with a technological twist. Features one of King's most intense opening sequences as civilization collapses in minutes.