Book Review -- THE STAND (Stephen King), Unedited Version

[TwilightOdyssey]

After reading the Dark Tower series by Stephen King, I took a small break and read a couple of other books.

But once you've been to Midworld and Endworld, you want to keep going back. Fortunately, King has other books which overlap the road to the Dark Tower. I've read the first one of these, The Stand. The Stand was originally written in 1978, and then revised in 1986 and released in it's unedited form, with an additional 500 pages of story restored.

So, without any spoilers, what is The Stand about? King was spot on with calling it his tale of 'dark Christianity'; the story is very apocalyptic!

Basically, a super-flu is unleashed by the US gov't by mistake and it wipes out about 99% of the population in the world. This seems less farfetched when you are reading the news about these new crazy flus, and riding subways of NYC with lots of coughing people! Actually, it's the perfect atmosphere to get you good and parnoid as you read the book.

After the armageddon, people start having dreams, either of a kind black woman named Mother Abigail, or of the Dark Man, the "Imp of Satan", a one Mr Randal Flagg.

The book then follows the various groups of people as they flock to one side or the other and prepare for the final showdown between good and evil. Along the way, there are many twisted, dark, and frightening things that happen. (Yes, this book will give you weird dreams)

Stephen King has often used the initials R.F. for his bad guys, as well as certain other symbols (the numbers 19 and 99, as well as phrases like "chap", "glammer", and "hidden highways") that reoccur many times throughout his books.

In The Stand, we read about Randal Flagg, the Dark Man, who is known as The Good Man, Walter O'Dim, and the Man in Black in the Dark Tower. RF is in the employ of the good ole Crimson King, and his job is an easy one: sow the seeds of dissent wherever he goes. He was given certain gifts from the Crimson King in order to accomplish this: he can kill with a touch, he can teleport, he can invade your dreams, he can levitate. Yeah, he's a bad mofo!!

Of course, you don't need to know anything about the Road to the Dark Tower to enjoy The Stand, even though "enjoy" may not be the right word, lol. This is some scary business!!

Compared to the other books by King I've read, I would give The Stand an 85 out of 100.

[chrisola]

the TV show put me off ever reading the book :lol:

I read the Dark Tower series, which ranged between brilliance and utter shitee...

Imo the last book was a bit poor, especially the insert before the ending by King telling you not to read on any further as the actual end isnt important, but its the journey there which is what matters.... talk about a mood breaker! Totally ruined it for me (and yes the ending is cr@p!)

Put me off King for a while, i find his endings are usually on the dodgy side, although i have enjoyed many of his other books.

[Davey]

yea, i should buy it one of these days

i found the end rather fitting. and that talk about the journey to the end pissed me off and made me want to strangle king lol


there's a Marvel dark tower comic book going to be released soon

[indysmith]

I hated the dark tower. First book was...interesting, but then it was just boring

[donovan.x]

I read The Stand many years ago now and thought it was amazing I was also a big fan of The Green Mile book but both books were let down by being put to film. The characters were really allowed to grow and you got to know them inside out (V important in The Green Mile).

[jt]

:D i read the Stand years ago personnaly i thought it was his best book. Ben have you read Dean R Koontz "Phantoms" the endings cr@p but the rest of it is really unerving. Check it out.

 :D  8)

[TwilightOdyssey]

Haven't read ANY Koontz yet, so I'll check that one out!

[schmendict]

When i saw the title of this topic, i was intrigued to say the least!  :lol:
I soon found out it wasnt what i was thinking.
I dont like King's Dark Tower series, i like his older books, The Shining or The Green Mile a few of my favourites.
Oh and Rose-Red programme that was on Sky was good, Kingdom Hospital on BBC topped that, although its not a book, but was scripted by Steven and he even appeared in a couple of minor roles.
I loved Kingdom Hospital...

[March]

On a slight tangent...

The Green Mile was not originally a book (it was edited into book format), but originally a series of novellas very much in the style of Dickens. It was originated initially for a British newspaper and printed on a monthly basis. King honestly never knew what he was going to write from one month to the next.

I disagree with the comment regarding the characters in the film, I thought this was one rare portrayal of a book on the silver screen that did develop the characters along similiar lines to the novellas.

The only part of the printed version I wish they had put into the film was the manner in which his wife ends up dying.

[Brow]

I've read alot of the older King books, and The Stand has been on my list of things to read for a long time!

I'm currently reading 'The Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy - A Trilogy In Five Parts', but when I've read that I'll try and track down a copy of The Stand :)