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The Dead Zone Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Stephen King (Author), James Franco (Narrator), Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 7,998 ratings
See all formats and editions

Never before on audio! A number-one national best seller about a man who wakes up from a five-year coma able to see people's futures and the terrible fate awaiting mankind in The Dead Zone - a "compulsive page-turner" (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution).

Johnny Smith awakens from a five-year coma after his car accident and discovers that he can see people's futures and pasts when he touches them. Many consider his talent a gift; Johnny feels cursed. His fiancée married another man during his coma, and people clamor for him to solve their problems.

When Johnny has a disturbing vision after he shakes the hand of an ambitious and amoral politician, he must decide if he should take drastic action to change the future. The Dead Zone is a "faultlessly paced...continuously engrossing" (Los Angeles Times) novel of second sight.

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  1. Listening Length
    16 hours and 12 minutes
  2. Author
    Stephen King
  3. Narrator
    James Franco
  4. Audible release date
    April 25, 2017
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster Audio
  7. ASIN
    B01ITNRLCE
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 16 hours and 12 minutes
Author Stephen King
Narrator James Franco
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date April 25, 2017
Publisher Simon & Schuster Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01ITNRLCE
Best Sellers Rank #3,248 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#27 in Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-In Fiction
#50 in Supernatural Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#120 in TV, Movie & Game Tie-In Fiction

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
7,998 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the suspenseful plot and emotional depth of the story. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with a depth of backstory that allows readers to connect with them. Readers praise the writing quality as descriptive and easy to understand. They find the humor humorous and the pace fast-paced.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilitySuspensefulWriting qualityCharacter developmentHumorPaceEase of readingBoredom
215 customers mention "Readability"215 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it well worth their time, with an excellent tale and a skilled author who keeps them engrossed even when there is a lot going on. The characters are enjoyable to read about, including John's father.

"...An excellent tale that should be a felony for all that haven't read it.5 burning tires out of 5..." Read more

"...between good (Johnny Smith) and evil (Greg Stillson)—are a stroke of genius and very powerful. King really pulls you in by novel’s end...." Read more

"...There are several other characters that are enjoyable to read ranging from John's father to the villain of the piece, Greg Stillson...." Read more

"...King is SO skilled at keeping you engrossed even when there is a lot going on (new characters or situations being introduced) but it's not confusing...." Read more

50 customers mention "Suspenseful"35 positive15 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful and emotional. They describe it as a haunting love story with an amazing climax. The plot is intriguing, with a fast-paced thriller that keeps readers hooked. Readers praise King's skill in portraying relationships and emotions, making the characters feel realistic.

"...The Dead Zone has a bit of everything: emotion, psychological horror, paranormal, suspense, tension...." Read more

"...It packs an emotional punch that few books of any genre have matched...." Read more

"...And at this late stage. Yes, it WAS the least satisfying King story that I've read to date, but the John Smith main character was well set and..." Read more

"...This is a more somber, reflective, regretful King, and an examination of the way community and love strengthen our backs is a balancing aspect that..." Read more

44 customers mention "Writing quality"33 positive11 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, descriptive, and easy to read. Readers also mention that it's one of Stephen King's best works. The book is described as a flowing read that can be enjoyed on audiobook format.

"...It has a literary quality that surpasses many of King’s other novels...." Read more

"...Stephen King’s novels translate well to audiobook. Campbell Scott (The Shining) and James Franco are the best narrators of his work...." Read more

"...Would you take him out?The writing is as good as anything Stephen King wrote, which is to say very good...." Read more

"...Also, some of the dialogue seems contrived and silly if you heard people say it...." Read more

42 customers mention "Character development"42 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of character backstories and feel connected to the characters. They find the introductions and descriptions of characters not overwhelming. The story shifts perspective between characters often as you move through the story.

"...The Dead Zone hit me like a ton of bricks. Johnny is a very likable character and you want him and Sarah to be a couple...." Read more

"...In this way, he gives depth to Johnny’s character, and there are many parts where you can empathize with all he must go through...." Read more

"...The result is a very believable character who is dealing with a talent that they never asked for and would rather not have due to the way it..." Read more

"Loved the depth of character backstory...." Read more

17 customers mention "Humor"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it believable and engaging, with its colloquial style. The story has many great moments with twists and turns. The MC is relatable and the writing style is enjoyable for them. The book is thought-provoking and intense, without being gory.

"...He is humble, self-effacing, funny, and a genuinely nice man...." Read more

"...This is a more somber, reflective, regretful King, and an examination of the way community and love strengthen our backs is a balancing aspect that..." Read more

"...Stephen King’s subtle humor was emphasized well, much better than it comes off when reading it, and the characters’ personalities were portrayed..." Read more

"...It was still a fun read, but I believe it could have been much shorter and still achieved the same level of enjoyment for the reader...." Read more

14 customers mention "Pace"14 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast pace. They find it engaging without feeling rushed.

"...The story is well constructed and moves along at steady pace...." Read more

"...The story was fast-moving without feeling rushed. And while the story is set in the 1970s (when the book was written) it doesn't feel dated or hokey...." Read more

"...I would recommend it as a good, quick read, but don't expect anything in the same ballpark as some of his classics...I LOVE the newer book he wrote..." Read more

"...Bottom line: It's a good read, moves at an acceptable pace, and it kept my interest till the last page." Read more

11 customers mention "Ease of reading"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's well-written, hard to put down, and a quick read. The characters are easy to believe in and the writing is clear.

"...lot going on (new characters or situations being introduced) but it's not confusing...." Read more

"...character development, great storytelling, great vocabulary, hard to put down… pretty much everything you want from a novel...." Read more

"...The plot was very intriguing and made it hard to put down, and the characters were drawn up extremely well...." Read more

"...What a great book! Hard to put down! Highly recommended!" Read more

27 customers mention "Boredom"12 positive15 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some find it vivid and poignant, executed in a unique and realistic way that makes it seem more real. Others find it boring and a waste of time to read, with obtuse metaphors, cringe-worthy adverbs, and pointless words.

"...the over abundance of political commentary, which seemed forced and unnecessary...." Read more

"...The relationship between he and the girlfriend is both vivid and poignant...." Read more

"...is that I found myself skipping paragraphs toward the end...." Read more

"...Sad, endearing and emotional, this novel tells of human goodness and sacrifice a young man makes to ensure the continuity of life." Read more

Destroyed Book.
1 out of 5 stars
Destroyed Book.
When I received my book on 10/11/2017 it was in very bad shape and I can't even read the book.
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Top reviews from the United States

Kenneth A. McKinley
5.0 out of 5 stars What Would You Do If You Could've Stopped Hitler From Coming To Power?
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
The Dead Zone was a re-read for me, as many will be as I go through The Stephen King Challenge, and I forgot how powerful this book was. King was really in fine form during this period in the late 1970s.

Johnny Smith is a young teacher that has started to date Sarah, another young teacher that works for another school. They've started to fall in love and Johnny takes her out on a date to the county fair. They're both excited about the night. Love is in the air and Sarah has hinted that she'd like him to spend the night at her place for the first time. They have a great time at the fair riding the rides and eating all the fair food. As they're walking out, a carnival barker at the Wheel of Fortune lures them over to try their luck. Suddenly, Johnny gets a strange feeling that he knows what number the ball is going to land on and begins to go in a trance-like state. Sure enough, he hits...and hits...and hits, until he has over $500 in his pocket and Sarah mysteriously turns ill. Driving his sick girlfriend to her house, they decide that they'll have to postpone their special evening for when she feels better. Johnny hails a cab and heads for his house. He never makes it home. Two kids were drag racing and hit the cab head on. Johnny is the only survivor...well, kind of. Johnny, battered and broken, is in a coma for 4 and 1/2 years. The doctors had given up on him and eventually Sarah did too. While Johnny was withering away in a hospital bed, Sarah marries and has a little boy. Then, one day, she gets word that Johnny Smith has miraculously come out of his coma. What she was led to believe as impossible has happened. For Johnny, it's as if he's only been asleep for a few days. Instead, his whole life, as he knows it, has been ripped away from him and all he has to look forward to is multiple surgeries and an excruciating recovery. During one of his physical therapy sessions, he touches a nurse and a wave of visions flood through Johnny's mind. He goes into another trance-like state and tells the nurse that she has to hurry. Her house is on fire. She checks and sure enough, Johnny was right and the wary nursing staff look as if Johnny has leprosy and none of them want to get close enough to touch him. For Johnny, this newfound ability is a curse. Newspapers, tabloids, desperate people wanting to know what happened to their missing loved ones all come out of the woodwork and hound Johnny. Then one day, Johnny shakes the hand of Greg Stillson. Stillson is a local politician with big ambitions and Johnny sees what would happen to the world if Stillson is in charge. What would you do if you could go back in time and prevent Hitler from coming to power? This is the burden that Johnny faces.

The Dead Zone hit me like a ton of bricks. Johnny is a very likable character and you want him and Sarah to be a couple. You want his life to be wonderful. You want to see a silver lining. With one kick in the gut after another, it's painful to watch Johnny be forced to travel down the roads that he has to. The characters, storytelling, setting, it's all wonderfully laid out by King. This is King firing on all cylinders. It transports you inside Johnny Smith and makes you ask yourself, "What if this happened to me?" An excellent tale that should be a felony for all that haven't read it.

5 burning tires out of 5

You can also follow my reviews at the following links:

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fra7299
4.0 out of 5 stars Curse? Or Gift?
Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
Stephen King’s The Dead Zone comes across less horror, more science fiction with some paranormal. What I loved most about this novel is the development of its main character, Johnny Smith. King draws the reader in emotionally to Johnny’s life and his gift/curse of being able to see events in the future. In this way, he gives depth to Johnny’s character, and there are many parts where you can empathize with all he must go through.

What would you do if you could forecast and see future events, both good and bad? Is this something you would want to know? Would this be a gift or curse? These are the questions the reader will reflect on while reading The Dead Zone. Johnny can see tragic, often painful or frightening future happenings. He feels a sense of responsibility in trying to alter what is in store. Despite Johnny’s ability, he really comes across as an everyman: he wants a normal, everyday life, to find happiness and love. After a night at local fair with his girlfriend, he is involved in a brutal accident that leaves him in a coma for nearly five years. When he comes back, he realizes how much things have have changed and how much he has lost. His girlfriend has gone on and married someone else. His mother is mentally unstable. His father is just trying to hang on. The ability to see future events is quite profound when he enters “the dead zone”. When the public gets wind of his Johnny’s abilities, his life becomes a bit of a circus. Some label him a freak. Some send him letters asking for his help. Those close to him try to help him get back.

I really felt like the crux of the plot was just Johnny’s cope with life and his new found “power” in the aftermath of the accident. Within this story there are two key conflicts and subplots, though. One of these concerns a mysterious serial killer running rampant terrorizing the small community, preying on children and young women. When the police are desperate, they seek out Johnny’s help. The second conflict involves the true villain of the novel, Greg Stillson, local turned politician and presidential candidate. Greg Stillson may be human in form, but he’s as scary as any beast or ghastly monster or creation from other King novels. Johnny’s intuitions tell him something is very wrong with this guy, and when he sees what the future holds, it is up to Johnny to use his gift.

In an otherwise stellar book, the only negative was the over abundance of political commentary, which seemed forced and unnecessary. King subjects us too often to some political views that have a minor tie in with the plot, but otherwise serve no purpose.

Still, The Dead Zone is a very affecting and suspenseful read. The concluding events—all the leads up to the final confrontation between good (Johnny Smith) and evil (Greg Stillson)—are a stroke of genius and very powerful. King really pulls you in by novel’s end.

The Dead Zone has a bit of everything: emotion, psychological horror, paranormal, suspense, tension. It has a literary quality that surpasses many of King’s other novels. Although often not mentioned as one of King’s better novels, in my opinion, this is King’s best work.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Juan Alberto Hernández Martínez
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente producto
Reviewed in Mexico on June 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
El libro llegó rápido y en muy buen estado. La calidad de impresión es buena y el tamaño de la letra es adecuada, no cansa la vista incluso leyendo de noche. Excelente producto.
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danika
5.0 out of 5 stars Stephen King
Reviewed in Canada on November 14, 2023
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Absolutely great story as all his books are.
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Stewart Cunningham
5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Customer
Reviewed in Germany on October 31, 2024
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arrived promtly
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avagardro
5.0 out of 5 stars King rarely dissapoints me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
I throughly enjoyed this engaging story and I really really rooted for Johnny and Sarah all the way through. Rarely am I so invested in characters at the moment. I read cujo not long before this and that was definitely not one of his best. I didn't connect with, or care about, the characters at all. This was the opposite and the tale of Greg Stillson is so prophetic it's hard to believe it wasn't written post Trump. Definitely one to add to your list if you're a King fan and even if you're not.
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Filippo
5.0 out of 5 stars Not so horror, just simply an excellent story (as usual from Stephen King)
Reviewed in Italy on December 18, 2022
Verified Purchase
There's very little to be said; this is a classic from the early days of Stephen King's production, therefore it doesn't get much better than this.

I'd like to give you a few spoiler-free infos about the style of this specific product from King's literature.

This book is not very horror-themed, and that's just fine as I always appreciated the other qualities of King's work more than the gruesome or overall unsettling situations (which I still love, don't get me wrong).

This is "simply" a thrilling story about a group of characters that, just like most of King's books, are described in such a detailed and realistic manner that you can't help yourself to put the book down.

If you want to get your feet wet with Stephen King's style of writing, I think this is a great book to start with (or alternatively "Needful Things", which is almost 1000 pages, though) and you won't be disappointed.

A word of caution though, which is valid for every Stephen King's books; you must appreciate detailed descriptions and long chapters (which are defining characteristics of King's writing to begin with).

If you want something faster and easier to read it's absolutely fine, but I'd strongly suggest to chose other, still excellent, authors.
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