Your Reaction To The Dead Zone!

[JellybeanJay]

Can a book really be banned anymore? If so who decides what's appropriate and what isn't and why do they have the right to make that choice for me. Know what I'm sayin'?

[Shoesalesman]

This was the first Stephen King book I got my hands on in grade eight (1983 or so). Our school librarian ordered every SK book on the market after fifteen-or-so of us went up to her and promised we would frequent her library more if there were more SK books available. She was so proud of us until she picked up one and read a bit - not sure which she skimmed through but the next day they were all gone from the shelves. The ones we had signed out were to be returned immediately. It was my first experience with Stephen King followed almost immediately by my first taste of censorship.

[CCAL]

Just to make a point here-books CAN and WILL be banned/burned &/or CENSORED IF we tolerate it. We as a nation have fought this paticulaar battle many,many times since the beginning and will continue to do so. To NOT be watchful is total foolishness. We MUST be careful and never,ever allow our written thoughts and feelings to be censored by someone else. Because if allowed then someone will censor our sites, our very own thoughts, and our souls. We must always be watching. (ok, I'll get off my soapbox now, you know if someone we were implying WAS censoring this site ,it wouldnt be here for us to enjoy at least much longer!

[dirtypoolfilms]

I don't believe that any book should be banned ever, and I love the notion that people banned The Dead Zone in which a principal goes on a very specific rant about a school board banning books and not endorsing the contracts of certain colorful teachers. There is some grin-worthy irony in that at least.

On the flip side, The Dead Zone is incredibly dark. It is a book that is hopeless and incredibly nihilistic at times, with that pervasive aura of a dirge happening before us page after page. This is one of the things that in my mind makes The Dead Zone unique, and so incredibly compelling. Though I'm sure that isn't at all why anyone chose to ban the book, more likely it was over the concept of psychic powers which ultimately is merely the catalyst for the story not what the story is in fact about.