The Dead Zone (1979) by Stephen King is a gripping psychological thriller with a supernatural twist. The novel follows Johnny Smith, a mild-mannered schoolteacher who awakens from a five-year coma after a car accident with a terrifying ability: psychic visions triggered by physical contact.
When Johnny shakes hands with a rising politician, Greg Stillson, he foresees a future where Stillson becomes a genocidal U.S. president. Torn between moral duty and the fear of being labeled a madman, Johnny grapples with whether to act on his premonition—a dilemma that escalates into a tense, fateful confrontation.
King’s exploration of fate vs. free will and the burden of knowledge makes this one of his most philosophically rich novels. The 1983 film adaptation (starring Christopher Walken) and TV series further cemented its legacy.
For fans of: *11/22/63* (King), Firestarter, or The Manchurian Candidate.
