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Cell

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Campbell Scott
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Publisher's summary

On October 1st, God is in His heaven, the stock market stands at 10,140, most of the planes are on time, and Clayton Riddell, an artist from Maine, is almost bouncing up Boylston Street in Boston. He's just landed a comic book deal that might finally enable him to support his family by making art instead of teaching it. He's already picked up a gift for his long-suffering wife, and he knows just what he'll get for his boy Johnny. Why not a little treat for himself? Clay's feeling good about the future.

That changes in a hurry. The cause of the devastation is a phenomenon that will come to be known as The Pulse, and the delivery method is a cell phone. Everyone's cell phone. Clay and the few desperate survivors who join him suddenly find themselves in the pitch-black night of civilization's darkest age, surrounded by chaos, carnage, and a human horde that has been reduced to its basest nature...and then begins to evolve.

There are 193 million cell phones in the United States alone. Who doesn't have one? Stephen King's utterly gripping, gory, and fascinating novel doesn't just ask the question "Can you hear me now?" It answers it with a vengeance.

©2006 Stephen King (P)2006 Simon & Schuster
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Critic reviews

"King's imagining of what is more or less post-Armageddon Boston is rich, and the sociological asides made by his characters along the way...are jaunty and witty." (Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about Cell

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story but needs closure

I really liked this story. Stephen King has once again spun a tale of bizarre expanses with believable characters and circumstance. This is well worth your time but I do have to say that I was disappointed in the ending....there is so much that is left undone I can only hope that King plans another entry into this saga that will take us to the next level.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Throw away your cell phone!

This was a masterful story! I couldn't stop listening to it. I walked around in a daze wearing headphones not wanting to miss what was to come next. Would make a terrific Movie! A must listen to story. But, throw away your cell phone! The story makes you think twice before making another call.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I think this is a great Stephen King Novel

I had seen this book for years and for some reason never read it. It is very similar to his other books, but with a unique premise. Once you give up on some basic reality (the cellphone being able to turn you into a zombie), it's really quite entreating. It's very similar to earlier books such as The Stand, but different enough to be a good listen. I suppose I liked it even more because it starts off in Boston where I live so I could better imagine the scenes. Stephen King has better books, but if your are a King addict this will work quite fine. Ringing off now.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A Familiar Story Well Told

In many ways this is a retelling of Stephen King’s epic, “The Stand.” Following a sudden and devastating viral epidemic, a plucky group sets off on a dangerous journey to defeat the forces of evil, culminating in a big explosion. Except this time the virus is of a digital nature. If someone else had written it, King could probably sue for plagiarism.

On the other hand, it is a gripping story, with diverse characters and surprising twists of plot at every turn. With an excellent narration, the action starts immediately and keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

not his best but still very good

I have to start this with I have been a King fan since the seventh grade or for 20 years. I have never read anything that I disliked that he has written. I did thourghly enjoy this book but I was shocked I guess, by the ending. I was hoping for just a bit more and felt like it ended too abrubtly. The narrator, Campbell scott was wonderful and I was able to get lost in his voice.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Nice Read of a Fast Paced King

Cell is a well read version of another high quality Steven King. The narrator has the knack of reading King - just the right twist of irony to make the listen come to life in a way I imaging King intended. This one is worth the credit and was a fun listen.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome book, but the ending?!?

what the heck kind of ending was that!?! excellent book but way to leave us hanging!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

crappy ending

it was great but he forgot to add an ending. incredibly frustrating and not worth the read given that

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

WOWED AGAIN!!

King at his best! I could hardly tear myself away from listening to this book. The narrator deserves an award as he brought the characters alive over and over.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Typical Enjoyable Stephen King-Frustrating Ending

I don't know - I love Stephen King's books not because they are literary masterpieces, but because they are enjoyable. He's an easy read and has a wry sense of humor. I quite liked Campbell Scott's narration and may seek more audiobooks performed by him. I believe that my disappointment really has to do with the lack of resolution in this ending. I don't want to guess what happened next. Now I'm about to watch the movie and frankly - the movies based on Stephen King's work are almost ALWAYS a disappointment (I never understood why he allows his stories to be changed so much from paper to film). This story DOES move along and made me want to keep listening. I didn't want to shut it down! I savor audiobooks for my commutes to and from work and looked forward each day to hear what Clay, Tom, Jorden, et al were doing next. The weak ending hurt though (and I don't think the movie will make me like it any better because I can already see that the characters have been changed - like they usually are). Overall - a good performance and a good listen with some interesting speculation about how the human mind works...or could potentially work.

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1 person found this helpful