Stephen King's "The Stand" is a sprawling and ambitious novel that attempts to描绘 the end of the world. The story begins with a highly contagious virus, the superflu, escaping from a U.S. Army biological weapons facility. Despite efforts to contain it, the virus spreads worldwide, killing most of the population. A small number of people, for mysterious reasons, are immune and begin to have shared dreams that lead them to either a good or evil figure. The good survivors gather in Boulder, Colorado, and attempt to rebuild society, while the bad survivors make camp in Las Vegas. The two forces eventually come into conflict, and the good people of Boulder must make the titular stand.

King's writing style is both a strength and a weakness. His prose is easy to read and full of vivid descriptions, but it can also be overwrought and overly reliant on pop culture references. The characters are well-developed, but they all tend to talk and think the same way, which can make them seem a bit homogenized. The pacing of the novel is also a bit uneven, with long stretches of setup followed by sudden bursts of action.

Despite its flaws, "The Stand" is a remarkable achievement. King's ability to create a fully-realized post-apocalyptic world is truly impressive, and the book is filled with memorable scenes and characters. The supernatural elements add an extra layer of depth and mystery, and the biblical themes give the story a sense of grandeur and significance. While the ending may disappoint some readers, the journey to get there is well worth taking. Overall, "The Stand" is a must-read for fans of Stephen King and anyone interested in post-apocalyptic fiction.

It is a novel that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.

Our modern ethical framework is disintegrating, hanging precariously over the abyss of a grim future as depicted in "The Stand." It will soon collapse entirely. But what then?

We all know that Hell is deep.

Should we listen to Dante's warning and "give up hope, all you who enter in here"?

No. Because we're not there yet. The Window of Opportunity for repentance is still open!

Tibetan Buddhists describe the Land of the Dead as a place where all reference points are lost. Soon, we will know nothing for sure. Our pride, which once gave us direction, has vanished in a puff of smoke. No friends, no distractions.

Sartre was wrong - Hell is not other people. It is our narrow, naked self under the Bardo's Bright Light. Where is forgiveness now?

Remember that puff of smoke?

This is the anteroom of Hell - or Heaven, depending on how we lived our lives. You pays your money and you takes your chances. Life is tough, and then you die. That's the bottom line of the Bardo.

But there's another option. We can make the best of a bad situation, as King's band of fighters do. "It is not too late to seek a better world!"

I read "The Stand" in the languid summer of 1980, in a paradisal resort in Canada's Kawarthas. It was a gift from my Mom to my girlfriend and me. She knew she was dying of terminal cancer, but she wanted to see our wedding bands before she left. And she did.

What had I packed in my luggage? As much of Stephen King's work as I could carry! It was like a Perfect Storm.

You know I'm an Aspie who refuses to read signals, but on that vacation, I read them all in our neighbours' gestures. I got very antsy and turned to those novels for self-medication. It worked.

Ever since, I've been in a state of simmering High Anxiety, but now I'm confidently medicated. I remember St. Paul's words - "marry or BURN." That was Mom's Fifth Business, and it did the trick.

Now, we all face The Disaster daily. Its aftermath, as King says, is Anarchy. There will always be sorrowful survivors who must face the new disaster.

King says we can never go back to utopia. So what? Should we put on a glum face and sink into nothingness? Heaven forbid! At that time, all our preferred anodynes will be out of stock forever.

No. Remember November 22, 1963? Kennedy was gunned down, and Anarchy loomed. Auden wrote: "Remembering his death, How we choose to live, Will decide its meaning."

Fast forward sixty years. Now we're all burning and must pay the piper. Hell is murky, and the Death's Head has appeared again. What will we do? How we choose to act or not act will decide the meaning of the Disaster. And when that time comes, I know I'll make my STAND. Will you?

Goodness me, this book was truly a chore to get through. It took me nearly a whole month to finally finish it. And by the 12th day, I was really regretting my decision to read the unabridged version. Along the way, I came to the realization that this is a classic case of me having a much stronger liking for the idea of the book than the book itself, which is really quite unfortunate.

I thought the beginning of the book started off really strong. I was thoroughly enjoying seeing how the plague affected each and every person differently and the extreme lengths that everyone had to go to in order to survive the mass confusion and the constantly looming threat of death. Oh, and Nick. Nick is hands down the best thing to come out of fiction since goodness knows when. And although having an attachment to a character can be enough motivation to finish a book, sometimes it's just not enough to actually enjoy the entire book.

What really made me lose interest was when the dreams started becoming a major focal point of the plot. I simply could not get behind the whole story line of Mother Abigail versus Randall Flagg. I understand that Stephen King has wonderful and deep messages in his books, but if I'm not really engaged with the story, then I'm not going to invest the extra time to try to analyze everything. So I know I missed out there, but I just can't bring myself to care more about it.

So what began as an initially interesting story ultimately turned into a very religious subtext of good versus evil. It's an ambitious story, no doubt about it, but it's one that I just wasn't quite feeling by the end.

↠ 2.5 stars

M-O-O-N that spells DONE!!

Damn, what a long book. It's not the longest I've ever read, but it's definitely close.

However, I didn't find myself thinking "wow this could have been cut out" or "gee this is dragging". So, to be honest, I can't say I'd recommend the abridged version over this. You just have to be prepared to settle in for a while!

I think part of what affected my perception of this book were my pre-reading expectations. This is widely regarded as one of King's best works, if not his best. But opinions on King vary greatly because he really has a vast number of different books to choose from.

For some reason, I had it in my mind that this book would cover an epic battle between the forces of good and evil. But that didn't really develop as I expected. Or at least, it wasn't as epic as I thought it would be.

The book is very character-driven, and while I did enjoy the characters, it felt a bit disproportionate to the action. There was a coherent web of characters that spread out from the core, and many of them were likable in their own ways. It just took a long time for things to start happening.

I was much more interested in Randall Flagg, who was the embodiment of evil, than in Mother Abigail, who was the embodiment of good. I knew beforehand that this book had many religious themes, but unfortunately, those themes didn't fully resonate with me. I appreciate what King did with them, but they didn't have the impact on me that I like for religious themes in books.

King also mentioned quite a few classics such as Lord of the Rings and Watership Down, and I could see elements from those classics reflected in this work. I thought the way he incorporated them was clever.

Now that I've read both this and The Passage by Justin Cronin, I think Cronin's work might be a bit closer to what I'm looking for as a reader. Both books have their pros and cons, and I've rated them similarly, but Cronin's characters have stayed with me in ways that I don't expect King's characters to. Cronin's apocalyptic scenario also felt a lot more terrifying to me, which is ironic considering how closely King's scenario resembles a possible outcome of our real-life Covid-19 situation.

Overall, I'm very glad to have finished this beast. It's one of those books that you can't easily ignore because so many people consider it essential reading. It's also my highest-rated King book to date! So that gives me hope that maybe he's written a few other books that I'll enjoy.

**"The Stand": A Post-Apocalyptic Epic**

“None of us want to see portents and omens, no matter how much we like our ghost stories and the spooky films. None of us want to really see a Star in the East or a pillar of fire by night. We want peace and rationality and routine. If we have to see God in the black face of an old woman, it’s bound to remind us that there’s a devil for every god—and our devil may be closer than we like to think.”

A plague escapes a lab, wreaking havoc on the world. It kills most of the population, leaving only a tiny fraction with immunity or the ability to survive infection. In just a few weeks, civilization comes to a grinding halt, then collapses, and chaos ensues. A Mad Max-like world is born. This virus, which kills 99.4% of those it infects, seems almost too stupid to be natural. It must be man-made. After all, a virus that kills its host is dooming itself.

"Now most of the young folks and old folks were gone, and most of those in between. God had brought down a harsh judgment on the human race."

Inevitably, when faced with such a disaster, people bring God into the equation. But this is man's doing, not God's. Some might argue that God could have intervened, but when have we ever been truly worthy? The concept of God is built on good and evil. If evil exists, then God, in a strange way, exists too. The Vatican has long tried to prove the existence of pure evil to justify its own existence. Maybe the proof is emerging from the ashes of this virulent plague.

The survivors are haunted by dreams of the Dark Man and the old black woman in the Nebraska cornfields. There is a battle for their souls. They must choose between Randall Flagg and Abagail Freemantle. You'd think it would be an easy choice, but as the two groups grow, it seems to be an even split. Abagail leads her flock to Boulder, Colorado, hoping to use the Rockies as a barrier between the "good" and the "evil." But are those following the Dark Man really evil? When the people from Boulder mingle with them, they find them to be normal, just like themselves. The only difference is fear, which is a powerful tool for control.

"He was coming, Flagg was coming like some terrible horror monster out of the scariest picture ever made. The dark man’s cheeks were flushed with jolly color, his eyes were twinkling with happy good fellowship, and a great hungry voracious grin stretched his lips over huge tombstone teeth, shark teeth, and his hands were held out in front of him, and there were shiny black crow feathers fluttering from his hair."

It's interesting to speculate about the existence of truly evil beings like Randall Flagg. Do they wait for the right opportunity, for people to need a leader? Their power grows as people believe in them. As long as civilization is intact and people are content, someone like Flagg has no chance to thrive. But we, through our own discontent, empower evil.

This novel is one of Stephen King's epics. A fan poll on Goodreads shows that many still consider it his best book. My favorite, and the one I think will be considered his masterpiece, is IT. It brings together all of his best skills in character building and plot creation. The Stand has a large cast, and readers will have their favorites. I liked Stu Redman, a hick from Texas who shows unexpected depth. His response when facing a possible slow death made me smile: “Ralph came over to Stu and knelt down. ‘Can we get you anything, Stu?’ Stu smiled. ‘Yeah. Everything Gore Vidal ever wrote—those books about Lincoln and Aaron Burr and those guys. I always meant to read the suckers. Now it looks like I got the time.’”

In the forward, King talks about the size of The Stand. It was originally published at 800 pages, but when the uncut version was reissued, he was able to put back 400 pages that had been cut. The cuts were made for accounting reasons, not editorial ones. King was happy to have the missing material reunited with the rest of the book.

The book does have its slow moments, which is inevitable given its size. But King tackles larger themes and mostly keeps all the elements in balance. I read a lot of post-apocalyptic books, and while immersed in The Stand, I found myself with a greater appreciation for my own life and the safety and comfort that civilization provides. Maybe I'm not as obsessed with the END OF THE WORLD as I am with finding new ways to appreciate the wonderful life I have.

"But Bateman himself hadn’t wanted to get in on the ground floor of society’s reappearance. He seemed perfectly content—at least for the time being—to go for his walks with Kojak, paint his pictures, putter around his garden, and think about the sociological ramifications of nearly total decimation."

I have to admit, I agree with Glen Bateman's lifestyle philosophy. I hope I could ignore the calls of the ancient woman and the Dark Man and just enjoy the peace of a more tranquil world. Without the constant noise of modern life, it would be truly amazing to be able to think clearly.

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They dubbed it Captain Trips on the West Coast, and Captain Trips is a bitch - but that was many days in. When it first comes, it comes by car traveling through a gas station. Of course, we'd say, that's just where a car would go. Ah, notice I said “through”, and not so quietly. From there, Trips is all stealth, like a pinball wizard bouncing around the States. Picking and choosing. Mostly picking. Cause that's what it was made for. To the few who remain, the dreams will come. Red eyes watching from the darkness, or the sound of a rocking chair and the calming voice of the sweet, old lady.

Can you like a book more the second time around? For this book, the answer is yes. Not that I remembered all that much from before. “Funny how a memory works”, I mentioned to a friend while reading, or doesn't work. But I could not forget how quickly the story had grabbed me back then. A summer of reading King. And another summer now, separated by many years, but a feeling that's much the same. There I found Stu again, flipping the switch, just as the car smashed into those gas pumps. And Larry taking the long, dark walk through the Lincoln Tunnel. Nick, fatefully meeting Tom Cullen while walking north to Nebraska. “M-O-O-N”, that spells Tom, laws yes. And then Nick coming to see Tom much later in the story, fatefully once again. The Trash Can Man did not forget his date with those giant oil tanks standing outside Gary, Indiana, nor his own trip westward. How many times was he burned? On the outskirts of Ogunquit Maine, Fran fell asleep once more as Harold hung “ass to the wind” to paint that sign along the roof of a barn. The trip for each of these people, West towards those calling dreams.

The cast of characters is large, and yet it is personal to only a couple of handful, making it just right. For such a big book, in ways this story feels short - another reason why this is an exceptional read. Somehow, its pace rarely slows, excepting a time or two for what seem like a short heartbeat. I read the original '78 Doubleday version this time around, cut down by order of the publishers. In these pages, that trip west flew by, so time and again I wondered what I'd just missed. I knew there was more there, just out of memory's reach. And so I already know I'll return to read the uncut version again. Someday. This story of Captain Trips and the characters' journey west is truly a captivating one, filled with mystery, adventure, and a touch of the supernatural. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and makes you want to know more about each character's fate. Whether it's the first time reading or the second, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Do you ever stop to think about the sheer magic that books possess?

They have the remarkable ability to transport you to far-off lands, plunge you deep into the strange and unfamiliar minds of characters, present you with novel and extraordinary circumstances, make you feel an intense connection to even the most flawed of individuals, and project the most vivid images of unexplored locations.

The Stand accomplishes all of these feats for me in ways that no other book has ever managed to do.

This is my second time reading this book, with my first encounter dating back to last June. And this time around, I fell so incredibly deeply in love with it.

It not only ascended to become my all-time favorite book but the story has somehow managed to haunt me in a way that no other narrative ever has.

These characters are etched into my very consciousness and consume my waking thoughts.

Character I Loved & Hated: I am a die-hard Larry Underwood fan. He is perfectly imperfect, morally warped, and quite frankly, a self-absorbed jerk. But I absolutely love witnessing his inner struggle unfold in relatable and altogether familiar ways.

I love every single character in this book. Yes, every one of them. Even those I despise. Harold, I'm looking right at you.

Themes: This is the ultimate tale of good versus evil, but what makes it so exquisitely beautiful and compelling is that there are very few characters who are completely aligned with either side. They all operate with the most human of nuances and moral dissonances.

This is also a story about the dissolution and reconstruction of American society itself, and an in-depth interrogation into everything that implies. It offers a profound look into the American experiment in all of its beautiful complexities, the abhorrence of its evils and moral ineptitude, and the freedom of spirit that unites us.

One Thing I’ll walk away with: It is nearly impossible to distill it down to a single thing, but what stands out to me the most are the indelible images of the Boulder Free Zone, an area that I am very familiar with and one that inundates me with a flood of nostalgia.

“The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there... and still on your feet.”

One of King's greatest masterpieces is a colossal battle between good and evil, featuring a seemingly infinite cast of characters. It delves into mankind's final folly and the intense struggle between darkness and light over what remains. If you haven't read it yet, you must do so immediately!

Despite its hefty 1,325 pages, the story never loses momentum. I adore the understated beginning and how King skillfully navigates numerous character arcs in this rapidly evolving world. We also get a comprehensive portrayal of the Dark Man. Almost every character undergoes a genuine journey of growth or descent, as if King is determined to show that no matter how far one may fall or limit oneself, we all possess the potential to be more and give more.

Captain Trips, which is the very scourge of humanity, could easily be a bestselling novel on its own! Never has mankind been so comprehensively and creatively routed. Remember the names that will linger in your memory forever - Stuart Redman, Franny Goldsmith, Nick Andros, Tom Cullen (spelled as M O O N), Larry Underwood, Mother Abagail, Harold Lauder, Nadine Cross, Glen Bateman & Kojak, Ralph Brentner, Susan Stern, Dayna Jurgens, Lucy Swann, Judge Farris, Randall Flagg AKA The Dark Man, Lloyd Henreid, Trashcan, 'The Kid'. M O O N rates a solid 9.5 out of 12 (a strong Four Star read).

2003 read; 2006 read; 2018 read

4ish stars.

In February 2020, I began reading this book. Then, in March 2020, a viral pandemic similar to the one described in the book ravaged the world, and I had to stop reading. However, by August 2020, seeing that the world had not ended, I resumed reading and finally finished it in September 2020.

What a journey it was. Stephen King truly knows his craft, and this has been evident since at least 1978 when this book was first published. The only other King books I've read were written in the last three years, and in comparison, this one did feel a bit dated. But considering it's 40 years old, it shows how his writing has evolved and remained relevant over the decades.

King has a talent for writing dialogue that makes his characters seem genuine and three-dimensional. Again, some of it might come across as corny, but I wasn't around in 1978 to be familiar with the language. While the characters are believable, not all of them are especially likable. I can name two characters that I really connected with: Nick Andros and Frannie Goldsmith. I felt sympathy for several others and witnessed the growth of many, but those two are the only ones I truly loved.

This was a grand mythical fable about the battle between Good and Evil. I was a bit surprised by the many Christian elements King used to make his points. Of course, he never explicitly stated whether there was actual divine intervention, agnostic fate, or if the characters just convinced themselves one way or the other. The differences between Mother Abigail's people and Randall Flagg's seemed rather arbitrary. Neither group seemed to solely represent Good or Evil. In fact, there were some extremely evil inhabitants in the Boulder Free Zone, and who knows how many good people were in Las Vegas.

(Spoilers) The actual climax of the stand-off was, to be honest, underwhelming. I had expected a huge, LOTR-level battle of bloody hand-to-hand combat. Sending a few guys over to distract and unnerve Flagg before one of his own men blew everyone up seemed like a waste of potential.

One thing I really appreciated was the actual denouement. It's something I feel many contemporary books skip in order to build the climax until the last possible page.

Posted in Mr. Philip's Library.

The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there...and still on your feet.

  
    This statement holds true for my journey through 'The Stand' by Stephen King.
  

So I finally completed this massive brick of a book. This freaking huge and heavy brick, and all I can say is that it's probably the best freaking brick ever made. With a whopping 1439 pages, it managed to take a toll on both my wrists and perhaps even injured some of my fingers. But that was the price I was willing to pay to read this amazing novel. I never once thought I wouldn't finish it, and hell, I didn't even consider putting it down and reading something else in the meantime. All in all, Stephen King managed to impress me yet again. Not that I ever doubted him.

It's a typical King thing to present us with multiple characters having different stories and then merge them at some point. And as usual, some were amazing, and some were unforgettable (though I initially thought some were dreadfully boring). This was also my experience while reading 'Needful Things', but the characters here are far better. I got an in-depth description of each one, and I either loved or hated them. King's technique of character development is truly remarkable. What pairs best with an amazing plot? Well, freaking amazing characters, that's what. If you ask me who my favorite is, I'll probably end up describing most of them because I loved almost all of them.

I remember complaining about how long the novel is. I've read quite a few epics, but all of them were much shorter than this. However, when I finished and thought about what could've been excluded, nothing came to mind. I believe everything happened for a reason, or rather, everything was written for a reason. You can't really remove something from the story because then the plot holes would resurface. The length of the novel is directly proportional to the enjoyment I had while reading it.

Once again, the characters were outstanding and fully developed. I actually cared about them and didn't want them to die. This novel focused on the battle between good and evil, with a lengthy epic-like feel. We have Mother Abagail on the good side and Flagg as the devil. It's King's second time to introduce a devil-like character, and the character turned out just as amazing. Flagg truly represents a strong devil. He's such a powerful character that I would love to read more about him in his other novels (really hoping for a guest appearance).

Harold was the one I despised the most while reading. That pig really irritated me. Everything he did was annoying, and at one point in the novel, I wanted him to die. Although I must point out that I hate him for a good reason. My hatred for him actually enhanced my enjoyment of the novel. We all hate a character and want to see bad things happen to them. I'm more than satisfied with the characters King created.

Lloyd and Nick were also really amazing. One is part of the dark team, and the other is of the good team. I won't spoil who belongs where. All you need to know is that Nick is a kickass deaf-mute, and Lloyd is an annoying yet funny character. Tom is really cool too, despite being a retard. I didn't care much for him in the beginning, but things started to change as I read further.

Stu and Fran's story has to be my favorite among all the ones in the novel. Ever since the early parts of the novel, Fran's story already caught my interest, and it lasted until the end. Larry Underwood's story is also really interesting. His pride getting the better of him and then more terrible things happening really kept me engaged in what would happen to him. I'll only mention those characters because who wants to read a spoiler and ruin their reading experience, right? Those 3 are my favorites, but that doesn't mean the others were boring. I'll repeat, almost all the characters are amazing. There will obviously be a few that stand out, and those 3 are my choice. Oh wait, I forgot to mention another favorite, the freaking dog Kojak!! I always love dogs in novels, and Kojak didn't disappoint!

Yes!! The baby lives, and King kinda went Sci-Fi with all the science talk, and I loved it. He further expanded the world-building, and in the end, he actually created a perfect world. With 99% of the world gone and a super virus that is still haunting the citizens even though it's eradicated, the readers will wonder what would happen to the human race, and what King gave us is probably the perfect solution. The baby problem in the latter part of the novel was really cool for me, and the solution was even cooler. I actually thought either the baby or Fran would die, thankfully neither did.

STU DIDN'T FREAKING DIE. I actually thought he would because King freaking wrote "and they never saw Stu Redman again". But that actually meant that the other three died. Even though Larry died, Stu's still my favorite, so I'm not complaining. His survival was also really interesting for me. Pneumonia and other sicknesses associated with his situation. Flawless writing from King.

Okay, enough gushing and let me get on with some negative aspects of this novel.

The back of the book states that "The survivors who remain are scared, bewildered, and in need of a leader. Two emerge - Mother Abagail, the benevolent 108-year-old woman who urges them to build a community in Boulder, Colorado; and Randall Flagg the nefarious "Dark Man", who delights in chaos and violence. Yes, both of them possess those amazing qualities, but I don't think it's right to say that both of them are the leaders of the novel. I understand that people in the novel looked up to both of them (in fear and in doubt), but neither of the two became my genuine favorite. I really liked them both, yes, but that's it. Randall is really outstanding with all the violence, don't get me wrong, but Mother Abagail was presented as somewhat disgusting. Obviously, this is just my opinion, but hey, aren't all reviews opinionated?

Maybe I should've said that I had one problem because that's all I can think of at the moment. I had other problems while reading the novel, but all (except the one stated above) were resolved. Major problems like plot holes and such were resolved at the end of the novel, and that's great. Mostly when I read a novel, the problems I have while reading don't get fixed. 'The Stand' proved otherwise. The main problem would be that we tend to complain even if we're not yet done with the novel.

The ending is really great. I'm not going to complain anymore because I really liked it. It gave me closure, and honestly, the ending is really witty. You'll have to read it yourself, but I really liked it. I'm not going to put it in a spoiler tag anymore because there's no reason to. Just read this amazing novel and see for yourself. Once again, you're really witty, King. This is why you're my favorite author.

The nuclear blowout in the end was not as amazing an ending as I was hoping. Flagg being the devil, I kind of figured he wouldn't end up dead. Why use a man-made creation to kill a supernatural being, right? I'm not considering this as a major problem of mine, though. I just thought that King could've ended the novel in a different way. I can't think of a better ending, so I also don't understand this contradicting and useless spoiler tag.

So to sum it up, this is now my favorite King novel. It is clearly superior to 'The Long Walk' and 'Needful Things', both in length and substance. I'm not saying don't read the other two because they are both amazing in their own ways, and I'm also recommending them. 'The Stand' is just King's novel that had the biggest impact on me, as of now. It's such a shame to say that he's my favorite author, yet I believe I've read less than ten books of his, and I've only read this now. I'm planning to change that soon, though. I can't wait to read more amazing novels written by King. 5/5 stars, and a worthy addition to my favorites list. A clear recommendation, and I can say that this is one of my best reads of 2014.

Dear Stephen,

I'm truly sorry. But the truth is, I just don't have those romantic feelings for you. We've been friends for a long while, and even after reading eleven hundred pages about our story, my heart just didn't take that turn. I feel like our relationship has been progressing in a rather haphazard way, with fits and stops. We never managed to maintain a consistent and exciting development that one really desires. You know, when you shock someone too many times with snot running out of their nose, it loses its impact and becomes rather meaningless. And there are only so many ways to look at a dead body before you start to feel numb instead of scared. Using the journal device to advance the plot seems a bit simplistic. What we really need is some good old-fashioned communication.

I have to admit, I've felt a bit uneasy watching you grapple with religion and spirituality. When you proposed that this could be a battle between the age of reason and that of "irrationalism," and the dark man was the last remnant of doomed rationalism, it really piqued my interest. For a few minutes, I thought we were headed in a really extraordinary direction. But then you didn't seem very confident, and the theme kind of fizzled out.

I will say that there were a few pleasant surprises along the way. I appreciate that you avoided the typical and obvious character arcs, especially when it comes to redemption. I was glad to get to know most of your friends, like Joe/Leo, Stu, and even Kojak. But your military friends really bored me to tears, especially Starkey. I just don't understand why you like spending time with those guys. They seem so outdated. I do have to give you credit, though. The way you must have studied disease modelling and progression was really impressive. It almost felt like I was right there experiencing it.

Sometimes I get the sense that you don't see me as a whole person, but just as a baby-maker. You even have a long soliloquy about it, as if I wasn't right here reading your words. It really bothers me because you took the time to develop complex male relationships (like Larry, Stu, and Lloyd), but the women were either reduced to their reproductive functions or were just there as cannon fodder. Since you allowed technology to still exist, I'm not going to buy into your idea of a lowest most-functional society, no matter how many sociological theories you throw at me. And then there's the elderly black woman being used to represent all things spiritual. Maybe even Mother Earth? If I'm rolling my eyes, it's because it's just another example of compartmentalizing women as either maidens, matrons, or crones, and people of color as being closer to God(s) (as you so unhelpfully illustrate in your "The Circle Closes" afterward). Honestly, it's kind of childish and a bit disappointing considering I know you're capable of so much more.

It's time for me to move on. I'm sure you'll find someone truly special eventually, Stephen, because you are such a great guy. And you're so unique too.

With Three Stars,

Your Friend Always.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...

Full review now posted!
Original review can be found at Booknest.

Rating: 6/5 stars.

Yes, you read that right. Six out of five stars. This is truly one of the best books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. The word "phenomenal" doesn't even begin to do it justice.

Going into this book can be a bit intimidating. It's a hefty 1153 pages in its complete and uncut edition, making it one of King's largest works. It's also widely regarded by many King fans as his best. Of course, there's some disagreement. Some swear by "The Dark Tower" as his magnum opus, while others hail "IT" as their all-time favorite, and still others have their own personal favorites among King's other works. I haven't read "The Dark Tower" yet, so my opinion might change, but for now, I'm firmly in the camp that "The Stand" is King's masterpiece.

This massive book blends so many genres. The setting is an apocalyptic dystopia, but it also contains romance, adventure, humor, theology, satire, and fantasy. If I could only re-read five books for the rest of my life, this would definitely be one of them because it offers so much to the reader.

There were some fantastically well-developed characters in this book. They all joined the side of either Mother Abigail or Randall Flagg, two of the most charismatic characters of all. Mother Abigail is a 108-year-old black woman chosen by God to lead the side of good. Randall Flagg is the dark man, the tall man, the Walkin’ Dude, and the face of evil in this new world ravaged by Captain Trips, the worst plague in history. With 99 percent of the earth's population wiped out, those remaining must choose sides as they try to remake the world.

One thing I really loved about this book was King's portrayal of the characters. The "good" characters were not perfect, and the "bad" characters were still sympathetic and relatable. There were no flat cardboard antagonists or perfect protagonists. These were all real people, and I connected with them all.

Besides the characters, my absolute favorite thing about this novel was its religious commentary. There was a level of theological depth here that's not present in most religious fiction. The theological debates between the characters and within their own thoughts were incredibly thought-provoking. I would read this book again just for that.

I highly recommend this book. If you're going to read one Stephen King book, I wholeheartedly believe that this should be at the top of your list. It's a commitment, but it's incredibly worth it. "The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there … and still on your feet.” My first buddy read with my wonderful friend Caleb!