In Stephen King’s novel The Dead Zone, teacher Johnny Smith’s first name is John.
John Smith is the protagonist, although he is commonly called Johnny by people who know him. After a serious car accident, he awakens from a coma with psychic abilities, including visions triggered by physical contact and glimpses of possible future events.
The character’s familiar name can cause confusion because “Johnny Smith” is used throughout much of the novel, while “John Smith” is the formal version of his name. The surname Smith also deliberately gives the protagonist an ordinary, widely recognizable identity.
The Dead Zone was published in 1979. Its story combines supernatural fiction with medical recovery, moral responsibility, and political suspense. The title refers to a gap or inaccessible area in Johnny’s psychic perception, rather than to a physical location where the entire story takes place.