Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing my outlook
Review: I'll confess that I used to be a rereader. It's a habit that I've lost lately, but for some strange reason, I've made my way entirely through all thousand-and-change pages of this novel three times so far, and every time I'm impressed by the depth and effectiveness with which King accomplishes his task. This is a book that anybody interested in Stephen King ought to start with--this is where he first began to describe the fantastic and outlandish in the fashion that his fans have become so accustomed to in his later work, and this is undoubtedly one of the must reads in the library of King literature.All that said, this book is far from perfect. For one thing, it is an exceptionally long work, even for a novel, and that work is split into two almost completely unrelated books. While King masterfully melds the apocalyptic events of the first half of the book with the examination of Judeo-Christian faith in the second, it's certainly understandable why some would view this book as bloated. For my money, I like the changes and additions made in the uncut version--while The Kid certainly isn't crucial to the plot of the story, his presence has its own point and contributes to the overall religious theme of the story. There has been some criticism of the ending of the book, so I should comment on that specifically. I can personally guarantee that this book not only ends well, but it ends in the only way that it possibly could, considering the theme. I won't spoil it for new readers, but suffice it to say that those who would criticise the book for "ending weak" are simply not reading any deeper than the most superficial level of the plot. All things considered, this book is one that anybody had ought to read. Nowhere else in contemporary fiction is there a better examination of Christian faith (save King's own Desperation), the characterization is in full keeping with the author's marvelous talent in that regard, and the plot, while long and meandering, always manages to stay in proper motion and keep to the theme. A good read for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: On the original version
Review: I didn't read the uncut version, but the original was fantastic! If this book is "good, not great" like one reviewer wrote, I don't know what King book is great. This is his best. One thing, though, that seems weird to me. How about anyone else? After all the "good versus evil" stuff the heros never had anything to do with vanquishing the evil! It was just the Trash and the hand of god. The Free Zoners did nothing! Isn't that weird?
Rating:
Summary: Literally Magic
Review: From the beginning of this book, I was trapped in it. I could not put it down for anything. The characters are developed incredibly well and the story itself is a work of wonder. The only thing I wish that I hadn't done is watch the movie before I read this book, it took a lot away from it, but it is still by far the best single book I have ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Not Great
Review: Like a few Stephen King books, This one drags on alot at the begining. It takes about 100 some pages before the "Superflu" accually gets into action. During these pages, King gets into great details about the characters like Frannie Goldsmith, Larry Underwood (a man remarkebly like Bruce Springsteen), Lloid Henreid and his crime buddies. Stu Redman and his friends, and Nick Andros the deaf-mute wonder that always has a pad of paper to write on. This book is quite long, Over 1000 pages. But if you have the patience, the endurance and the desire to read this book you should read it. Its a really good storyline, not horror but a suspence-action-scifi mix. Good not Great because of a long starting.
Rating:
Summary: It's more addictive than a drug
Review: I spent roughly a week gorging myself on this book. I was completely unable to put it down. I was so addicted that I went without sleep. This book pulls out that "What if I was the last person on earth?" thought that we've almost all had and puts it on paper. You know what you want each charachter to do and you have ideas and you want things to happen a certain way but King makes it better than you could imagine. It's a must read for ANY psuedo-SciFi person or heavy thinker. It's great.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Review: This book was one of my favorites by Stephen King. The quality and detail, as well as the theme, inspired me to write my own novels.
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Summary: Ahmed El Genedi
Review: To start with English is not my mother tongue so sorry for all the mistakes. The stand is one of the greatest books I have read. I loved the development of characters. They way they moved in to the story space. The way the book sucks you in page after page. With out losing interest, is just unbelievable. I may have some problems with the king perspective of Arabs. as being an Arab my self. not a terrorist. And they are not the two words are not related if you ask me. But never the less this book is just great.
Rating:
Summary: long but great
Review: The Stand is the longest book I have ever read that I needed no help in understanding. The book goes over 1,000 pages, and is a saga of the end and beginning of the human race. There are times when the book seems to be going into too many details, and it feels dragged out, but later you enjoy and savor in the details, and the richness of the story telling. I don't understand why it's considered horror. Near the beginning of the book, I was spooked by the idea of the superflu, a virus that has the potential to wipe out the human race, but after awhile, I got used to it. The superflu isn't what the book is about. The plot wasn't set out simply to scare people. If it was, it didn't work very well. Just like Buffy: the Vampire Slayer wasn't about scaring people with the demons; it focused more on the people trying to stop the demons. Just like the Sixth Sense wasn't intentionally scary; it was about a little boy with a gift that he needed help using. The Stand focused on the people struggling to survive. It showed the sides of both good and evil without becoming overtly religious. The opinions of the skeptics were shown. The Stand was an adventure in story telling, and I recommend it to anyone with the patience to read it all the way through.
Rating:
Summary: Long but Exhilarating!
Review: Whew! What a read. Honestly, I think that this is the longest book I have ever read. But, I savored each and every word. A Stephen King fan I was not before, but I definitely am one now! It took me approximately 7 nights to read this huge piece of work, but it certainly was worth the time. I think what I enjoyed most out of Kings book, was his unique way of storytelling, the many characters, which at first, seem to overcrowd your mind, but then become such loved friends. Kings accurate description of ordinary Americans, their conversations, their feelings, their life. Splendid. The Stand begins with Charlie Campion, a simple security guard for the Defense Department Laboratory, whose reckless and undetected escape sets off a cataclysm of events that brings the world as we know it, crumbling down. We are introduced to this "Superflu" very early in the story. The horror of its destruction seems all to real. A virus, similar to the flu, yet different, that once absorbed into the human body, it is constantly changing, never the same, never the chance for the body to adapt and fight it off. Deadly. Mass hysteria everywhere. Then suddenly SILENCE. Few survive. Why? No one knows. The only thing in common all survivors share, is their dreams and nightmares. Dreams of old Mother Abigail, and nightmares of the "Dark Man". Alliances are formed, Good vs. Evil. The age old battle once again. Who will win, who will survive? Who will be triumphant in the end? This is a great book to sink your teeth into. Don't be awed by its immense size. Time will fly, and then you will be wishing there was more. Plus, this makes for great conversations, with all of the "what ifs".
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting concept but unbelievably bloated
Review: I like Stephen King and this is a great idea for a novel, BUT here are the facts: this book is in desperate need of an editor who isn't afraid to tell Mr. King (no such person, I'm sure) that his book is WAY too slow. If you like reading novels that unfold with all the speed of growing grass, this book is for you. I got half-way through and had to put it down. These characters are not nearly interesting enough to sustain 1000+ pages! A frustratingly slow read that is both self-indulgent and ultimately uninteresting. I would have given it one star, but it did keep my attention for a little while. The Shining is so much better.
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