The Stand: Expanded Edition: For The First Time Complete And Uncut

Reason for Reading: I am (re)reading King's books in chronological order. This was next on the list.

There are thousands of reviews of The Stand online already. I can hardly assume to add any more insight to what has already been said about the book so I won't try but rather instead give my impressions. I've read The Stand before, the original version, back when I was somewhere between 11 and 13. I know this as Cujo is the first new book of his I waited to buy when it came out. Since I'd read the original version, I chose to read the "uncut" version this time around. With 30 years between reads I am not in a position to compare the two as I only remember The Stand affecting me as a book that has stood out as one of the best books I'd ever read my entire life. It scared me and haunted me at the time.

The re-read has lost that affect on me. I didn't find it scary or incredibly creepy but I've read so many apocalyptic books since then that the novelty has worn off. I must remember though that those other books are all looking back at The Stand as their model and while some may get close, Justin Cronin's The Passage, none ever exceed King's original epic apocalyptic novel. That said it still is an incredibly well-written, compelling story that never lags. It has a huge cast of characters and this is when I enjoy King the most as he is a master at juggling a large ensemble and he can develop even minor characters who only have a few chapters to a point where you remember them long after the book. As a kid I remembered Larry the most and it was his character I was looking forward to meeting again but upon this second read as an adult Larry didn't affect me the same way. This time I found myself attached to Stu Redman much more. He is certainly the man I would want to have around if I was in such a situation! In King's preface he states that this is not his favourite novel but is widely mentioned as his reader's favourite. (I wonder which *is* his favourite). Not having read all his books I can't make that claim, yet, but of the ones I have read it did stay with me the most. After this re-read I can see why. It is not just a story but a world that the reader slips into and loses themselves. The classic struggle of good vs. evil keeps you on the edge of your seat and though I mentioned I didn't find the book scary or creepy, it certainly has many uncomfortable moments of gruesome and pure evil that are not for the faint of heart. In the end the book is not what I remembered it to be but it was a new experience with adult eyes that I understood more deeply and it still has a hold over me. I can truly see an apocalypse of this variety being a possible reality. A story that will consume you for days and haunt you for years.

This story was amazing, and to think that this is the unabridged edition I couldn't imagine it with anything less

all I can say is, it's good, get it.

This book is very intimidating at first glance, with its over 1000-page length. Fortunately, I stood up to it and gave it a go. What followed was a dark journey into the realm of fantasy. The plot is that a scientifically made superflu has killed most of the planet's population. The remaining people that live in USA begin to have dreams of either a 100-year-old black woman named Mother Abagail, or dreams of the terrifying Randall Flagg. The good go to Mother Abagail, while the intelligent and corrupt go to Flagg. Both factions prepare for the ultimate stand of good vs. evil.

It's really a character piece. Each character has a background, a past, and a present. How all the characters interwove is the main thing here.

Anyways, read the book. Don't be scared by the size. Before you know it, you'll finish in less than a week.

I really like king's writing. After reading IT, i picked up the stand (unabridged) to see what it was like. To sum up my experience , i'll type three words. "Boring to Death!". No one should ever have to be this bored in their life. I sat there reading this monster sized bore fest, waiting for the story to pick up. The sad thing was, IT NEVER DID!

This book is amazing. The characters are so real, the conflict between them is great, and the plot of the story just keeps you reading. I highly recomend this book, it makes you wonder 'What if I were in that situation?' and keeps you thinking.

This is one of King's best books; it's long, and the unabridged edition especially so, but well worth the read. The characters are believeable, so much so that you actually begin to care about them. This is what makes the time spent reading such a long book worth the investment. One of King's strengths is writing good characters, as he takes the time to make them real, whether they are 'good' people or 'bad'. This book has lots of both types, and while the situation that he puts them in is, perhaps, a bit unrealistic, he still manages to make it all make sense. If you like Stephen King, you should definitely read this book.

One of the first King books I ever read, and I was impressed with his ability to write such believable characters. This book has a large cast of characters, and they each have their own distinct voice.

The story is long, much of it well crafted, and it pulls you along all the way to the end. Unfortunately, the ending is quite anti climactic, and not what you would expect after the depth found in the rest of the book. I would still recommend it to any avid reader, and especially any would be writers. You can learn a great deal about dialogue and character development from reading Stephen King.

I read this book for the first time about 10 years ago, the watched the movie. Read it again 5 years later. One word....WOW!!! Great book, very hard to put down. Makes you think that the end of the world is not totally impossible...And I will be reading it again very soon. Great King masterpiece. A must read!!

Have you ever thought about the end of the world (as we know it) and wondered, "What happens next?" "The Stand" is Stephen King's answer to that question--and what an answer it is. Having read a great deal of his work, I feel that this is his best piece of work--his masterpiece. It is a complex, well thought out and well told story that draws you in at the outset and never lets go. While the plot itself and the elements of the supernatural that are King's trademark take some of the credit for this, for me, the characters take even more. They are well defined, realistic people that you quickly develop genuine interest in. Wanting to know what happens to them and around them keeps you turning page after page as quickly as you can. And truthfully, at the end of the book, you still want more. I read constantly, and on occasion, find a book that makes my short-list of books to be re-read at some point in time. "The Stand" is definitely on that list. Do not let its length deter you. The scope of the novel is huge and its canvas is enormous; it is bursting with story. If you were to pass on it due to its length, you would be missing something unforgettable. It is, truly, a good read and well worth your time, and as far as I'm concerned, the unabridged edition is the only way to go.

Excellent read. Very hard to put down...couldn't imagine the story being cut...after reading the unabridged version I couldn't bring myself to read the cut one.

The best Stephen King ever. Equivalent to Lord of the Rings in complexity, entertainment, and creativity. You just can't put it down. If you're not familiar with US states, I'd recommend reading it with a US map on your side.

The Stand was the best book I have ever read.The story has many twist and characters.The only draw back was some of the characters have annoying habits and phrases.The story chilled me to the bone.I also had some laughs which made this the perfect book for the regular Stephen King feeder

I was always one of those people who steered away from Horror titles. I had an image of Stephen King as an author whose books I would never think of reading. Then, I saw the movie, The Green Mile and I just had to read the book. I went on to read The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, Hearts in Atlantis, Bag of Bones and On Writing. Some may call his writing horror style, yet I find it is the human condition he is talking about in these titles. In his non-fiction, On Writing title, he states that the book, The Stand was written 20 years ago. He has had more comments about it than any other he has written to date. The Stand is another statement piece, the weighing of good and evil forces. What would we do if a plague wiped out the world as we know it and we had to start over again? What have we learned? What forces are at work? It is an excellent book........ encompassing all aspects of human nature, and questioning our fate.

Sephen King is truly a mastermind when it comes to bringing the fears of humans out into the open. The Stand is based on the end of the world, with the concept that man will be his own undoing. How much more truth can there be to a statement like that?! It's not only the end of the world that Stephen King brings to light in this amazing novel, but also man's battle with good and evil. His novel shows how easily we can be turned if giving the right incentive. It also goes indepth into the darker side of religion and how we ourselves deal with it. It's one of the best books that I've ever read. Each time you read it, you always find something new. It truly is one of Stephen King's best masterpieces.

I was never a Steven King fan until my husband sat me down and got me reading this book. I think now he regrets it :) Even though it took me a year and a half to get through it was well worth the scare and got me hooked!!! It is a novel that is well worth the length of time that is needed to read it. Excellent writing from an excellent author of his genre.

This is an exception depiction of the conflicts between Good and Evil in our world. Characters are dramatically and thoroughly developed, you build a relationship with these characters, and live thru them, and survive with them. Grow with them as they experience tremendous loss, cripling fear, unrealized courage and choices that mold a new world. When it comes down to the "end", on which side will you "Stand"?

this is a great story. This is king prime before he got in to the dark tower series whitch is weird laws yes this is a great book king in top form one of my faviorte king novels monn that spelles great!

When I picked this book up I presumed another extroardinarily long okay read. I presumed this because at the time Stephen King was spewing out an amazingly high number of books, which were alright but lacked the quality of books like The Gunslinger, and The Long Walk. But as I started to read the book, it grew beneath every thought, and actually made me think about what was going on in and around the world. It shows how God is always there behind every curtain and every door literally and metaphorically speaking, while the Devil quietly follows right behind him. One of King's best a definite recommendation.

I may be young but this is by far the best book that i have ever read!!! stephen king is a phenomanal writer/director/producer/creator and i love all of his work!!!