In 1970, 23-year old teacher Johnny Smith falls into a coma after a near fatal car accident. When he awakens in 1975,
Johnny finds that he can sometimes see into a person's past, present or future with a touch of his hand. He uses this gift to warn his physical therapist of a fire at a house, but is greeted with skepticism from the media. Determined to lead a normal life, Johnny ignores the mail and visits from the curious, the believers and non-believers alike. Until that is Sheriff George Bannerman comes seeking his help to stop the Castle Rock Strangler who has raped and
murdered 5 people. Johnny helps the Sheriff solve his case but at the cost of losing a position with his old school.
Leaving his parent's home, Johnny later finds a position as a personal tutor to 17-year old Chuck Chatsworth who has a reading disability. During his time there, Johnny meets Greg Stillson, the then Mayor of Ridgeway who was campaigning to be
elected as Congressman. Forseeing that Stillson would in time be elected as President and cause a war, Johnny decides to assassinate him after much consideration. Although Johnny fails and is himself killed instead, Stillman's career is still destroyed as he attempted to use a young boy as his shield.
Stephen King's The Dead Zone lies among my list of undecided category in Stephen King books. The story is engaging and its protagonist, John Smith likable. But knowing the ending robs my pleasure in the book. Reading this book always saddens me with the unfairness of it all. From the time that John Smith realizes his gift, he does the best that he can. Often with great cost to himself. Yet, his reward is to be killed as a madman. The best that can be hoped for is that John Smith finds the peace that he seeks beyond that dark corridor he sees.