It's been a long while since I've reviewed anything on here so I thought I'd give something different a go and review a book; Cell by Stephen King. I understand it's a couple of years old but this review is as much me testing the water with regards to literary critique on the Escapist as it is for the benefit of any people yet to read this book.
So without further ado I'll get to it.
Cell could, in layman's terms, be loosely described as King's take on the zombie genre (it is partly dedicated to the cinematic master of the undead, George Romero after all). The novel follows the plight of comic book artist Clayton (Clay) Riddell amidst the horrors and tribulations of surviving what is dubbed as "The Pulse".
The book opens with as much subtlety as a brick to the face with Clay on his way to a prospective job in Boston when the Pulse hits, immediately turning any person using a mobile phone into a gibbering psychopath. With explosions and arterial spray a plenty, the somewhat uncharacteristic approach to an opening raises many questions that you want answering.
One of the first things that crosses Clay's mind is the immediate safety of his wife and son, which while a very logical thought process to take, begins to drag a little towards the conclusion as it becomes the only force driving Clay to do anything throughout the book. As a whole I didn't think Clay received much development even in comparison to some of the supporting cast like Alice and Tom who just happen to be the first two people Clay encounters after the whole of the civilised world goes completely insane. All of the characters throughout the book are adequate, none are particularly given great depth but the fairly fast pacing doesn't leave a great deal of room to delve into each person's psyche and past. This is not necessarily a bad thing however as this does mean the plot always remains dynamic and interesting enough to compensate.
The most intriguing development however does not occur even with a named character but with the "zombies". That technically isn't the correct term as I'm sure some of you will point out as they aren't actually dead and re-animated so I'll use the survivors more apt pseudonym, "phone-crazies". Their evolution from barbarous, blood thirsty savages to an organised, eerily human-esque hive-mind and even further, constantly moves the goal posts, inch by inch, of what the survivors have to deal with. Much action, moral controversy and self questioning follows with plenty of situations where you will be left questioning exactly what you would do in that situation too.
Little emphasis is placed on finding out exactly what caused or what will end "The Pulse" so please don't go into this book expecting answers. Clay is not some rugged hero with a violent agenda and a burning need to get to the bottom of this series of events, the primary focus is on survival which works far more effectively as a device to create suspense and fear. The constant re-enforced vulnerability of the still sane is key (even when they're armed with heavy assault rifles and handguns) and is accomplished well right to the big finale.
I would recommend this book to any fans of King, zombies or horror in general as the blending of the fairly tried and tested theme of the inhuman monsters with humanoid appearance is given a slightly more contemporary twist with the addition of the modern world's reliance on technology and the constant threat of terrorism. Well worth a read.
So without further ado I'll get to it.
Cell could, in layman's terms, be loosely described as King's take on the zombie genre (it is partly dedicated to the cinematic master of the undead, George Romero after all). The novel follows the plight of comic book artist Clayton (Clay) Riddell amidst the horrors and tribulations of surviving what is dubbed as "The Pulse".
The book opens with as much subtlety as a brick to the face with Clay on his way to a prospective job in Boston when the Pulse hits, immediately turning any person using a mobile phone into a gibbering psychopath. With explosions and arterial spray a plenty, the somewhat uncharacteristic approach to an opening raises many questions that you want answering.
One of the first things that crosses Clay's mind is the immediate safety of his wife and son, which while a very logical thought process to take, begins to drag a little towards the conclusion as it becomes the only force driving Clay to do anything throughout the book. As a whole I didn't think Clay received much development even in comparison to some of the supporting cast like Alice and Tom who just happen to be the first two people Clay encounters after the whole of the civilised world goes completely insane. All of the characters throughout the book are adequate, none are particularly given great depth but the fairly fast pacing doesn't leave a great deal of room to delve into each person's psyche and past. This is not necessarily a bad thing however as this does mean the plot always remains dynamic and interesting enough to compensate.
The most intriguing development however does not occur even with a named character but with the "zombies". That technically isn't the correct term as I'm sure some of you will point out as they aren't actually dead and re-animated so I'll use the survivors more apt pseudonym, "phone-crazies". Their evolution from barbarous, blood thirsty savages to an organised, eerily human-esque hive-mind and even further, constantly moves the goal posts, inch by inch, of what the survivors have to deal with. Much action, moral controversy and self questioning follows with plenty of situations where you will be left questioning exactly what you would do in that situation too.
Little emphasis is placed on finding out exactly what caused or what will end "The Pulse" so please don't go into this book expecting answers. Clay is not some rugged hero with a violent agenda and a burning need to get to the bottom of this series of events, the primary focus is on survival which works far more effectively as a device to create suspense and fear. The constant re-enforced vulnerability of the still sane is key (even when they're armed with heavy assault rifles and handguns) and is accomplished well right to the big finale.
I would recommend this book to any fans of King, zombies or horror in general as the blending of the fairly tried and tested theme of the inhuman monsters with humanoid appearance is given a slightly more contemporary twist with the addition of the modern world's reliance on technology and the constant threat of terrorism. Well worth a read.
