Just Finished Cell

[wally wonder]

network television and the education establishment has been prepping us for a "pulse" for years. whatever the fashionable ideology of the day is, we're all fully inoculated with it, able to repeat the catechism, with nary a hitch in the telling, unlike the story that is begun at one end of the circle only to become something entirely different with each passing. that, or something in our cherrios.

[Robster]

The only thing that I disliked about the book, is the origin of the "Pulse" was never fully explained. Being a techie and a geek, I'm curious in the fictional technology used to create such a thing to wipe memories back to their most primal, and activate the telepathic and kinetic abilities of the phone-crazies. [/QUOTE]

I just don't get it. Do you think if such a thing happened, with the majority of the population dead, do you would ever find out the true origin in your life time? A Geek in a garage, Terrorists, North Korea, Aliens - Does it really matter?

[nicklove09]

Cell was awesome! I think about it every time my cellphone rings.
I read it along time ago, i remember the football field(sorry if it wasn't exactly a football field) but all the zombies...BLAH so scary!

[Leland]

I'd like to see it on TV too. I tried to read it but really struggled and gave up in the end. I keep promising to go back to it but never have so far.

[thebarbster24]

I've just finished Cell last night after reading the Eyes of the Dragon. Definitely a huge improvement. Probably not one of my faves but a great and enjoyable read nevertheless.

[Audaciousfox]

It matters.

[DancingCorpse]

I think it matters too, this is one of the reasons i don't know whether i 'like' Cell. It is well written and interesting obviously or i wouldn't have finished it. Though the fact that we are not given an explanation and the ending is just kind of 'done' so abruptly lets the book down for me. I know King has done this before, with better tales, but this just makes Cell more difficult for me to really like. It would make the tale more rounded and have more substance if we are given more to the Pulse in my opinion. The Stand worked so much more because of the background we get to the cause of the predicament, i feel the mystery aspect of the unexplained is powerful naturally, though with the nature of this particular story, it is not executed as effectively.

[steve-w]

I recently read Cell and from page three I was gripped. Couldn't put it down, although like other readers I would've liked to know more about what caused the pulse. Didn't spoil my enjoyment though.

[JRM]

Yeah, that was one of the things that disappointed me as well. Overall I enjoyed the book, but it's probably among my least favorites.

[Rand]

I recently read Cell and from page three I was gripped. Couldn't put it down, although like other readers I would've liked to know more about what caused the pulse.

I can understand feeling that way, but uncovering the truth about the pulse wouldn't have been easy for the characters we followed, and sticking someone into the story who was part of whatever triggered it would probably have come off as contrived.

I like it being an open question that people can fill in their own answers for. Was it terrorists? A government experiment in remote killing or mind control? Sunspots, or some technological glitch?

Or is it undefined even in the author's mind, and only presented as a strong social comment about how we're all being changed every day by the technology we're so quick to accept?