Library Journal Review
With Cell, King returns to his roots as an author of horror/suspense. Playing up to our fears of technology, he uses the ubiquitous cell phone as the transmitter of a demonic "pulse" that instantly turns listeners into murderous zombies. Only technological Luddites (i.e., those without cell phones) survive the devastating effect. In a plot that plays out like a shorter, simplified version of The Stand, we follow three unaffected characters ("normies") as they carefully make their way from Boston to the most remote (cell-free) areas of Maine. The considerable acting talents of Campbell Scott do justice to the reading, but the audio program is so badly and unevenly spliced together that the total package cannot be recommended on its own merits. It will be popular, however, so libraries should purchase as demand warrants.-Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Publishers Weekly Review
It's probably a good idea not to use your cell phone while you listen to Scott's beautifully understated reading of terrormeister King's latest take on technology run amok: you might just toss it down the nearest storm drain. The excellent film actor (who catches the power of his late father George C. Scott's voice but smooths off the rough edges) adds an important element-quiet believability-to King's bloody, occasionally over-the-top story of a short but lethal electronic signal that seriously damages everyone in the world using a cell phone at that moment. The Pulse, as it comes to be known, turns idle chatterers into weirdly rewired killing machines. Scott makes the lead character-a comic book artist from Maine (where else?) named Clayton Riddell, who is in Boston with his phone off and in his pocket-a touching and surprisingly tough survivor, much like the nonpods in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He also resists the temptation to make the "phoners" (those affected by the Pulse) sound unusually strange or dangerous-until their real motives become obvious. Simultaneous release with the Scribner hardcover (Reviews, Jan. 2). (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved |