The Stand by Stephen King (1978,1990)

[AE35Unit]

This is the full uncut edition and its a truly incredible tour de force of writing. And its only his fourth novel!
Quite emotional near the end too...but no spoilers from me. One thing though, for those who've read it. The very end, the final chapter (more of an epilogue) was a bit weird! Is that Flagg returning, but as a good guy?
A 5 star read from me,(apart from the god stuff) although I feel it should have been called Surviving or The Survivors as they don't actually make a stand as such.
Brilliant

 

[Rodders]

One of my favourites. I'm glad you're on the side that enjoyed it.

 

[Steve Harrison]

It's one of the very few books I re-read every few years. Brilliant, indeed!

 

[Danny McG]

I always feel (my opinion only!) that the uncut edition was needlessly bloated, the original 1978 version was a lot crisper and better flowing.

 

[Danny McG]

Years earlier, I think in 1968 or 1969, he wrote the short story Night Surf.
About some students who have survived the initial phase of a virus they call "Captain Trips", this plague has wiped out most of mankind.
They realise that phase 2 is kicking in and they'll all be dead soon.

 

[Toby Frost]

I really ought to read this, as I've enjoyed the early King books that I've read. I vaguely remember seeing the old TV show. Am I right in thinking that it turns from a post-apocalyptic drama to an outright religious parable?

 

[AE35Unit]

I really ought to read this, as I've enjoyed the early King books that I've read. I vaguely remember seeing the old TV show. Am I right in thinking that it turns from a post-apocalyptic drama to an outright religious parable?

Well I wouldn't put it like that. There is some religion in it but mainly on the part of Mamma Abagail, a 108 year old black woman who's had a hard, religious life. Its basically a journey, a tale of survival. A bit like Stand by Me /IT but with a dark cloud hanging over everything.

 

[Steve Harrison]

I really ought to read this, as I've enjoyed the early King books that I've read. I vaguely remember seeing the old TV show. Am I right in thinking that it turns from a post-apocalyptic drama to an outright religious parable?

It's just a bloody good story, very well told!

The post-apocalyptic genre has been done to death in recent years, but this one still stands out as one of the best, IMO.

 

[Toby Frost]

I really should give it a look. I remember an actor - maybe Gary Sinese - exploring the ruined world at the start, and it was very engrossing.

I might be confusing the ending with something else. Not that I greatly mind it turning supernatural, but it was quite a surprise, IIRC.

 

[AE35Unit]

I really should give it a look. I remember an actor - maybe Gary Sinese - exploring the ruined world at the start, and it was very engrossing.

I might be confusing the ending with something else. Not that I greatly mind it turning supernatural, but it was quite a surprise, IIRC.

Yea he played Stu Redman in the original series