Rating: 
Summary: King's best long work
Review: Usually, when a Stephen King book tops the 1000 page mark, the reader is in for a lot of unnecessary bloat. That is not the case with his sweeping, epic end-of-the-world novel "The Stand." For once, the subject matter is worthy of the extended length and the uncut version just adds to the book's pleasures. The best part is still the first two hundred and fifty pages or so, which feature King's descriptions of the world being destroyed by the powerful flu. The survivors' journey and battle in the decimated wasteland of America is also very strong. While some may knock the underlying spiritualism, nobody can deny that this is a fantastic adventure story, expertly told.
Rating:
Summary: The Stand: By Far Stephen King's Best Book
Review: The first thing you notice about The Stand is how individual and real each character is. Each character has a personality so real and so unique that you feel you've met them in real life.Aside from the best and most unforgettable set of main characters to appear in a book other than the bible, this book tells a chilling tale of the ultimate struggle between good and pure evil. It is a highly original and frightening story and its story line and suspense makes it nearly impossible to put down. It is simple enough for the simple minds to enjoy, yet it makes everyone who reads it think. Anyone can relate to this book, horror fan or not. The Stand is a great book that had me hooked from the very first page. I recommend this book to everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Great premise, good characters but unsatisfactory ending
Review: Fantasy/horror writers have it easy. They can write themselves into a corner, but poof, a door can magically appear to let them out. King does that twice in this book. The first third of the book is a fairly fascinating and well written account of how most humanity dies due to a mutant flue bug created by the military. You really wonder how the remaining people are going to survive and rebuild civilization. But, poof, King takes the easy way out. He divides the survivors into good and evil and creates a leader for each group. The survivors then congregate in Denver (good) or Las Vegas (evil). The second third of the book is a detailed account of the two groups rebuilding their societies. The last third is the climatic confrontation between good and evil. Things go really bad for the good, and it looks like good is finished. You wonder how good could possibly triumph, and then, poof, the hand of God swoops down out of the sky and wipes out the bad. I didn't read 1100 pages just to have everything wrapped up in one page by the hand of God. This is one of King's earlier books. It was originally released in a stripped down version. He says that the publisher thought is was too long and spent too much time on the characters. I don't think that's true. In the long version, the characters get fully developed, but the story keeps moving and never drags. I think the publisher correctly recognized that alot of readers would be upset reading through 1100 pages, only to have it all abruptly ended by the hand of God. That kind of ending is OK for a short story, but not an epic. Besides the unsatisfying ending, this is a good story with well rounded characters. The only character I don't like is the up and coming rock star and his horrible no. 1 hit. This guy fulfills King's self indulgent fantasy of becoming a rock idol.
Rating:
Summary: King at his best in this voluminous novel
Review: I don't read King much anymore, but back when I did this book was among his best. Most of mankind is wiped out as the result of a deadly contagion released at a government facility. In typical King fashion, it contains the gore made famous by his work. The book follows the two groups that survive the disease - your classic good versus evil story. The characters are believable and unforgettable, and King's attention to detail is impeccable. Somewhere 2/3 into the book King will bring back some seemingly insignificant detail from early in the book. King fans will love this book. If you've never read King, you'll probably enjoy this one too.
Rating:
Summary: A Story that Sticks to your Ribs
Review: Epic, complex, full of superbly-drawn characters... This novel features all the hallmarks of King's writing that we have come to expect, and then some. I almost wish I could start an argument in my high school English class about whether Harold Lauder was a tragic figure or just a villain. Several of the characters are like this -- they stick to your ribs. After you put the book down, these people stay with you for quite awhile. The science is very cool, as well. You can't stop wondering if it might ever really happen -- some Ebola-like plague that the army cooked up deliberately just somehow escaping, and wreaking uber-havoc on mankind. People have mixed views about the religious, eschatological components to this story. The fact that some people get so worked up about is actually a sort of praise -- it is easy to forget that this is just a story. It feels so real. If you look through people's reviews, some folks seem to feel like Stephen King was just writing down his personal vision of what the end of the world might be like, and people feel obliged to take sides against him. To these people, I would say -- guys, it's just a story. A powerful one, I had that reaction myself, bigtime, but still. Come on. Lighten up. That said, it definitely does get you thinking. I liked Hemingford Home a lot, and found myself wishing I could go there to meet Mother Abigail. Basically there are a lot of really powerful themes going on here, and cool characters, and I recommend picking it up -- you won't regret it, and you won't forget this book.
Rating:
Summary: M-O-O-N
Review: The Stand is Stephen King writing at his best. Mr. King has demonstrated a writer's clinic when it comes to so many well-developed characters in this one book. His description of the plague makes it the perfect "diet" book. As in one can never eat while reading certain portions of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting read
Review: As an atheist I found the ending of this book rather terrible. The climax was nothing I expected it to be, but everything was fine until then...I guess if I were Christian I'd probably give the book 4 stars, but oh well.
Rating:
Summary: The Stand
Review: i'd advise anyone to read this book, especially those who would dismiss King. The Stand is a truely enjoyable reading experience. one of my favourite things about King's writing is his characterisation, and The Stand is populated with well drawn, very believable characters. Because it does not have one main 'hero' to speak of you get to know and love a whole group of people.Although some may find the length of this novel offputting, do not let it deter you, it will keep you hooked!
Rating:
Summary: Epic, One of the best novels of the 20th Century.
Review: The Stand is the ultimate reading experience.....the deadly superflu, the vivid and likeable characters, romance blooming in a dead earth.....Humanity is scrapped in the stand, and is destroyed fittingly by itself. I find the premise unerringly fascinating, how can the survivors rebuild a society? what society will they rebuild? Then there is Randall Flagg. He is King's scariest villian, absolutely frightening...This book can absolutely not be missed, buy it asap, its great to reread also. The uncut version is vital. Trashcan Man's exploits are most enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: The best Stephen King book...
Review: I read this book after reading "Pet Semetary", which I found reasonably nice, and "Thinner", which I thought resembled the prior too much, so you could say I was disappointed with S. King. I picked up this book after missing a bus, and having nothing to do until the next one came along 30 minutes later, I went to the bookstore in the nearby mall. After reading the short summary on the back, I thought "Well, this could be interesting..", and decided to buy it. I must admit I cancelled the appointment I've had because it was getting too late, and went back home and skipped a part of my algebra class just so I can read this book. It took me 2 weeks to finish it, and I admit I liked the first part a lot better than the second one (the "Good vs. Evil"), because I thought it had a ring of truth in it - something like this could easily happen to us nowadays, and it gave me a lot to think about the human race playing games with stuff that would better be left alone...
| 
