Rating: 
Summary: A great book!
Review: This is a great book and I recommend it to anybody. But most likely all Stephen King fans have read the book, so this review is for people who are just discovering King or looking for a good book to read. I've read five of King's books, so I am certainly not an expert on his writing. Most of King's books involve horror or the supernatural or other creepy subjects, and that doesn't interest me. But several of his books are first great fiction with just a bit of the supernatural. The Stand falls into that category. Even though it was written about 25 years ago, it has withstood the test of time. The book opens with a super flu infecting the country. We learn about this while meeting several interesting characters. As I read, I thought about the current threat of biological warfare and it made the Stand that much more relevant. King excels in breaking down a worldwide problem into a few individual stories, therefore making the story intimate enough for you to care but broad enough to understand the death and destruction going on. Though long, I kept reading because King allows the reader to role play. What would I do if I was the only survivor in a town that once was home to 30,000 people. King lets you follow along as his colorful characters band together to reform a livable society called the Free Zone. But of course there are the bad guys, led by the evil Randall Flagg. Is he human, or a demon or both? Whatever he is, he is forming his own society and you know the societies of Flagg and the Free Zone are going to have to do battle. I don't think it is the primary theme of the story, but King draws heavily from the Bible to create the Stand. The good guys are drawn to Boulder because of a angelic women named Mother Abigail who seems to be one with God. Flagg has obvious ties with the devil and demons and has supernatural powers. Normally, I wouldn't like this because I can't picture a story like the stand being a realistic occurrence in a world governed by the Christian God. To me, the two don't mix. But King, the great author that he is, makes me believe that God just might have a hand in the happenings of the Stand, and I give him credit. It helps that he has given a framework with which to read the story. I guess I read the edited version, so I'm sure I missed out on a lot. But with a story this long, there isn't a surprise, twisting climax at the end like so many stories have today. Instead, King ends with a natural, satisfying conclusion. One more thing. It took me 2 months to read this book. I remember back when I was reading the parts about the flu and characters sneezing and coughing, I found myself turning when hearing someone sneeze in real life. Did they have the super flu? King's characters seem so real to life, that sometimes its hard to separate the two.
Rating: 
Summary: Good apocalypse, not great, but pretty good
Review: The Stand is Stephen King's grand apocalyptic epic. And while perhaps not great literature, it's a very good book. The nearly 1200 pages are well worth reading if you're a fan. Otherwise, I'd steer more towards his shorter books.
Of course, The Stand is about a massive man-made plague wiping out most of humanity, and the survivors having to restart civilization. Simple concept, it's been done before, but of course with King's flare we have an interesting new take on an old idea. And he's quite successful in this undertaking.
King makes the unbelievable seem real through his ability to see both the big picture as well as the minor, little things we see very day but only notice subconsciously--a regular in a coffee shop, a squeeky door, etc. He then populates his world with real characters that, while mostly unmemorable in the long run, are well-constructed and sympathetic. We also have the advantage of seeing them before and after the plague, which brings in some excellent personality development. King's talent for horror comes in handy in many points of this novel, and enjoyably so. From the terrorfying escape of Stu Redman from the government facility, to Larry Underwood's journey through the tunnle of the dead, and even Harold Lauder's chilling expressions, King brings the frightening situation to the reader while still not making The Stand into a horror novel.
While most of my complaints dissipated as the novel went on, I do have three specific problems with it. Not the length, mind you, which is mostly superficial and shouldn't bother anyone who enjoys reading. First of all, there is a strong conservative bent within the story, sometimes subtle, sometimes painfully obvious. This bias might not always be present, but when it is it can be quite distracting. Second, Flagg is not a good protagonist. I realized this when I saw that the dreams and the thought of him were more threatening than the actual person. Maybe if we saw more of him, I'd think differently, but as it stands he just wasn't frightening enough. Third, the supernatural element might have been essential to the story, but oftentimes King seems to use it as an excuse to take the easy way out. Yet, none of these grievances ultimately diminishes the book. If the length doesn't bother you I don't see why you wouldn't enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Stephen King ever
Review: Stephen King is often telling stories about the Good and the Evil. The Stand is one of them. An epic story which, by today's happenings, appears to be so actual, unfortunately.
It's the story of the "day after". But this time, it is after a global contamination by an artificial virus, escaped from a biological research center. Is the story of the reconstruction too, incredibly detailed from a sociological point of view.
And then the story of the battle against the Evil.
Characters are incredibly well defined and vibrant, that you really get inside them. I don't think King has never managed to reach this point again, at least until today.
Long, but not too much, The Stand is "fascinating" and I suggest THIS as the first reading from Stephen King to anyone interested by not yet convinced.
Rating: 
Summary: Stephen Kings The Stand
Review: The Stand takes place in the quiet Texas town of Arnette where a man named Charles Campion crashes into the local Texaco station. When the locals go in to investigate they find Charles wife and kids dead from some kind of strange disease along with Charles who also has the disease. What the locals didn't know was that the disease is extremely contagious and would soon cause a plague over all of America.
Later in the book King introduces other characters such as Fran Goldsmith who recently became pregnant, Larry Underwood a cracked-out musician who wants to put his life back together, Mother Abigail a 108 year old woman, Nick Andros a deaf-mute wanderer, Harold Lauder, a young boy, Lloyd Henreied a criminal and the list goes on.
As the book goes on you see these characters come together and have complications as many characters pass on. You watch America fall apart while seeing them rise up and over the plague to fight the realities of an empty world and fight evil.
The ending of The Stand will not be revealed because you shouldn't read it from my hastily written review but from the mastermind himself, Stephen King. Steve d. 1st period.
Rating:
Summary: If you want a super-epic, here's what you're looking for.
Review: **contains spoilers** In my personal opinion, this is King's second best book to date; the top honors go to NEEDFUL THINGS. But while that book has the feel of an action film, this is more like a true epic (think "The Godfather"). King creates a superb cast of characters. Will you root for the good guys such as Stu Redman and Nick Andros? Yes, but you can't help but like most of the 'villains.' Lloyd Henreid, Harold Lauder and all the rest turn out to be surprisingly sympathetic characters. They aren't really bad, just a little. The only one you really hate is the dark man Randall Flagg. And you hate him not just for the misery he causes the heroes, but the way he takes the 'villains'--any of whom could have turned good--and made sure to keep them on the dark side. Some people call this novel too long, and for them it may indeed be. But I am a super-fast reader. This book may take many people weeks, but I was able to finish it in the space of a single day. That attests to not only my reading ability, but also to King's writing ability. The 'journey home' sequence from Las Vegas--featuring Stu Redman and Tom Cullen--in particular kept me hooked. THE STAND didn't scare me; but no book has since I was 9. However, it did grip me to my seat. Highest possible recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: An awesome and thought provoking book
Review: I have been a Stephen King fan for quite a while, and I must say that this book really takes the cake. At first glance it can be a bit intimidating because it is so long, so I put off reading it for years...But finally I just dug right in and...'wow' is all I can say. This is definately Stephen King at his finest, probably better than the whole Dark Tower series put together, and that is really saying something. And it's not just the story, which could stand all by itself even with crappy writing. His choice of words continue to amaze and delight me. I have a new favorite line in literature now: "...he had thought her conversation seemed like a careless spray of diamonds on the green felt of a billiard table." (chapter 35) How beautiful is that line?!! And so poignant.
This story is about a U.S. government-bred disease that breaks out into the unsuspecting public, and within weeks kills off 99.9% of the world's population. The remaining survivors in the U.S. flock either to Mother Abigail (the epitome of goodness), or Randall Flagg (evil incarnate). What results is the ulimate battle between good and evil. Although the climax of the book is a bit dissapointing at first("I read 1,000+ pages for THAT!!??"), it doesn't matter because the preceding 1,000 pages tell such a marvalous story that you can't help but not mind too much about the climax.
The characters are so real you really think you know them and feel what they are feeling. You find yourself feeling sorry for sorry characters (Harold), and disgusted with yourself for having originally liked a character that you shouldn't have (Nadine), and crying tears over simple, good old fashioned heroism (Tom Cullen).
This is a book that everyone needs to read in their lifetime, whether they are a Stephen King fan or not. It is not horror, per se, but more science fiction/philosophical. Five stars!
Rating:
Summary: Bowl-Shaking
Review: I decided to create an account strictly for the purpose of writing this review. I probably will never use the account for any other purpose, but this is worth it.
The book was phenomenal. I read it so long ago, but the intense fear I experience just from seeing the cover art is a testimony to classical conditioning.
Read it. That's my only review. Forget the other comments, just trust me and read this book. The scene where Stu is running in the empty hospital hallways is like a white light seared unto the back of my eyelids, like a barely remembered nightmare.
Please read it. In fact, when I get home, I'm going to read it again.
Rating:
Summary: A Recommendation
Review: THE STAND was the first Stephen King novel I read (I think it was in 1985). The similarities to biblical prophecy in this marvelous story are hard to miss for even the the novice student of the book of Revelation. That fact played a large role in my interest in The Stand. The book is so enthralling that even when I became aware that King had veered a long way from the scriptural story, I didn't really care. And after all, no other writer had managed to figure out what all those seals, and trumpets, and vials of the Apocalypse were either. Continuing my interest in the subject, I have read a number of other books in the same general vein. Or perhaps I should say that I started to read several. The problem is that every writer that tries to stick with the original concept of end-times prophecy is also out to force a load of preaching down your throat. Their stories are less coherent that comic books and they seem to think their relationship with God makes up for the fact that they can't write. I have very recently found an exception to this rule and I wanted to recommend it. It's THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY by James BeauSeigneur. BeauSeigneur does an incredible job of story telling while sticking very exactly to biblical prophecy. He even blends in prophecies from several other religions! An interesting difference is that in THE CHRIST CLONE TRILOGY the antichrist/Flagg character plays his role and tell his lies so well that you can't help but sorta be pulling for him even though you know he's the bad guy. Or is he?
Rating:
Summary: Good Kicks Evils Butt
Review: I won't be long winded with this. My favorite part is when the hand of God comes down and vaporizes the evil people. This is a "CAN NOT PASS UP" book. Warning, if you start reading, leave yourself plenty of time. Because you will not put it down.
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: This has to be the best book I have read in my life. An excellent view of the war between good and evil, this book is filled with brilliant characters and excellently constructed plots and sub-plots. Although it was a long book, I never got bored of it and at this stage I have read it twice.
If you have read "The Dark Tower" series to date, you would notice that the character Flagg appears in it aswell, and so does the plague, the superflu. I love the way King intertwines stories this way, another example being the regulators and desperation.
And back to the book in question, I think that anyone who has read any of Kings books, or enjoys reading at all, this is a must read. Put it at the top of your reading list because it is simply, the best.
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