Cell - Stephen King > Reviews

Advantages: Exciting, gripping, a welcome return to mainstream horror from King
Disadvantages: None, except for the ending. Frustrating as hell.

...soon as I could pre-order Cell I did, the synopsis on the inside jacket cover gripping - - "Civilisation slipped into its second dark age on an unsurprising track of blood, but with a speed that could not have been foreseen by even the most pessimistic futurist. It was as if it had been waiting to go. On October 1, God was in His heaven, the stock market stood at 10'140, and most of the planes were on time (except for those landing and taking off ... Read review

Advantages: Good Story, entertaining, quick read
Disadvantages: Disappointing ending, not as descriptive as other King novels

CELL STEPHEN KING I have come to the decision that Stephen King doesn't care much for modern technology-or the people who've created much of what we now rely on for everything in life day to day. In some of his other books, King has created worlds where Man-made viruses wipe out more than 99% of the world's population leaving the survivors facing a battle of biblical proportions. Cars inhabited by evil spirits kill people, ... Read review

Advantages: Has a 'What If' feel about it
Disadvantages: Nothing new

...that above, I didn't dislike Cell and actually found it an enjoying read at times, even going as far as being happy I shelled out the extra couple of quid to get the Hardback edition - but it does have a lot of similarities to The Stand, the 'Pulse' wiping out a lot of the world, A 'Good Vs Evil' storyline, The central characters first hearing from the leader of the evil via dreams, and a climatic ending - it was all done 28 years ago in The Stand, ... Read review

Advantages: a new stephen king book!
Disadvantages: seems slightly rushed

This is my first book review so please bear with me and let me know how to improve it! Cell, Stephen King's latest venture - out now in hard back copy, immediately tells us the central theme of the book by its title and the images on the front cover - cellphones. This is slightly unusual for King to choose such a short, descriptive title, but this is about the only break from King's normal style that we see. The plot of this story is (as outlined ... Read review

Advantages: For King fans, it's another book by the master of horror and suspense
Disadvantages: If you are not a King fan, then its another book by King!

...on their mobile phones (or cell phones). Hence the title - Cell. The event that turned the majority of humans into prehistoric becomes known as the Pulse. Clay's first thought is one of survival - after all no-one wants to be killed. He saves the life of another man and they in turn save the life of a young girl. And these three embark on a journey together, a journey to discover what has happened to their fellow men and women and also Clay's own ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic read, involving storyline and characters, long
Disadvantages: Some formatting errors, not horrifying at all, inconclusive ending

...be happy with the way CELL closes. I can understand the concept of letting the reader find their own ending, but that's just not as satisfactory as having an actual ending to go by. Thus, I was not massively impressed when I reached the ending. Overall I would say that CELL is worth a read, especially if you're a fan of Stephen King. If you're not, for the reason he writes horror, then check it out, because it's not that horrifying ... Read review

Advantages: A pretty good page turner
Disadvantages: Fairly run of the mill stuff

...was anticipating some chilling reading. The Cell starts with a bang. A serious event happens that effects a large number of people around the main character 'Clayton Riddell'. This incident revolves around mobile phones. Seemingly anyone that is using one at this particular moment is suddenly turned into a psychotic zombie, or seriously brain-damaged. The mobile phone is the weapon of mass destruction. A pulse has been sent by some unknown ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent stand alone story with possibilities for more
Disadvantages: Ending a bit of an anti-climax

...setting us up for a Cell 2. Or even better, maybe this will be made into a film, which would be a pretty good one I think, and he was setting this up for a Cell 2 on film! Whatever happens in the future with this story, it will go down as one that I thoroughly enjoyed and will read again in a year or so when the kids give me the time again and if you have not read it yet I suggest you do. If you liked The Stand then this will appeal but don't read ... Read review

Advantages: Good, entertaining read.
Disadvantages: Not groundbreaking.

...the first few pages of Cell hooked me, it read pretty much like a King work of old, maybe not as gruesome, but certainly edgey. The basic storyline starts with a young comic book artist (maybe another King experience, he has published comics) called Clay sucsessfully selling his new comic to a publisher which means he, his wife and young son will have a better life, then of course, in true King style, something mucks it all up. That something ... Read review

Advantages: You'll still be able to use your phone
Disadvantages: Strangely Kingless feel

...one of his low points. Cell was in fact the first Stephen King book I attempted to read, and knowing of his renown as a world famous horror writer was massively dissappointed. After stopping a quarter of the way through and working my way through such classics as "It" and "The Stand" I returned to "Cell" to finally finish it - I often wonder why I bothered. * Daily Mail ... Read review

Advantages: Original idea, moral tale, vivid descriptions, likeable characters
Disadvantages: inconsistent, unbelievable at times, poor ending

Cell: Stephen King I'd never read a Stephen King novel until "Cell". In all the years, through all the cases of books, there isn't a complete King novel in my memory. I encountered his short stories once, somewhere along the way ("The Langoliers" has etched itself in my mind as one of the most disturbing stories ever). I started "It", "Rose Madder" and "Insomnia" but none of these readings went past the first thirty pages. Therefore, my preconceptions ... Read review

Advantages: Wonderfully written, captivating and fast-paced.
Disadvantages: none!

...sure. The first chapter of Cell is one of the most captivating, gory and addictive first chapters that I have ever read, which really surprised me as King has a bit of a repuation for slow starts. Absolutely full of horror, the reader is made aware that whenever people answer their mobile (or cell) phones, something terrible happens, like a virus which basically turns them into ravenous terrifying zombies. The main character teams up with ... Read review