Rating: 
Summary: The mother of all apocalypses
Review: This book is very widely known and with good reason. It's of epic proportions in terms of it's length (1400 pages in my edition), scope (an apocalypse wiping out over 99% of the population) and characters (a large variety of American archetypes). The story is told very well - at least in this novel King writes in a pulpy prose with frequent changes of scene. It works. We get a feel for the characters being spread out across the country all part of the same thread of fate. The only annoying thing about that for me was the beginning as it felt like he introduced a new character every chapter for like 25 chapters! But bear with it, they DO all appear later...The story is one of desperation (the plague), death and rebuilding. From everywhere in the US, survivors come and gather. The book does a great job in making the reader feel as though they've walked the length and breadth and felt the pulse of the United States. They form a humble settlement. On the other side, in the desert of Vegas, a countersettlement of evil is spawned. The rest is history. As mentioned before, the characters are the strength of the book. They're modern-day mythologies and the struggle between good and evil takes place on a very broad scale. There are almost religious overtones to it and by the end you're left feeling that everything (not only in the book but in life) has its place and purpose and that nothing is for no reason. This book is true horror at its best - not hundreds of gruesomely killed corpses but a great exploration into the depths of desolation and evil.
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting Beginning, Middle and Bad 2 Part & Bad and Good End
Review: Exciting in the way Stephen King wrote this story setting in a apocaleptical world in a way that everybody corruption, violence and drugs running our world, however, a clever and talented way of development! First at all, my decription will be based on the 3 chapters I readed and then will get a review of the total plot of which the creator center his plot "Masterpiece". Maybe I hadn't saw the miniseries but could agreed it wouldn't be much better than the novel, whoever all I can say Stephen King tried to drive us in a world that bad things in a way at last could have good things! In the first chapter we found how the flu kill millions of people around the world and how a few who become inmune tried to reagroup itself in a way by driving in place that they dream on their (a black old woman about 108 years on a cornfield) that in this case would become the light side of god miracously salvation humanity, in a way, God last chance to save the world against a more and evil darkside never seeing before. Those who will dream with the Dark Man, would become their servants and will come across to Las Vegas to know what this evil man plan's had behind his mind. In the second chapter, what we could found is just a development of stories behind the good and the bad characters on this novel, also we can find how a government is began to develop so humanity can regain control in his life and also a few sub plots about trust and mistrust in way that can be found how a way to understand what the dark man had in his plan against them. Third and last chapter in the history, tell the fatal way how the dark man lost control on his followers, found the spies who became to look information about him and his plans, and how he misteriously disappears thanks to "The Hand of God" and how again he appears to tried again to had power on a people how doesn't understand his language, in a matter of say in the Jungle. Now my review is that it was a pretty well story not so well than other King works but it was good, however, with this novel he tried to find on us in a way to be more join with people we love, we care and also to face the problems we had in front of us. Also I like the way Flagg punish his people, that betrays him, because in a way it doesn't make him a bad guy after all by killing people but also make him a sheriff that took control of bad situations that are out of our life like drugs and secrets information. than in way are not a needing on peoples life Another thing I don't like to much of this novel specially the second part, was development of too many stories of the good characters. They tell too much about their sensations and thoughs that in a way doesn't bring nothing important to the novel and also in way doesn't tell to much about the dark man background, only his "other" names than in a way make him like a bourne identity style situation, and also you would know if you continue to reading King novel (If You Want) you will find out how the similarities between this Randall Flagg and the others novels that appears on King Books will be the same, Isn't such Ironic Isn't!!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant
Review: This is, without a doubt, one of the best books I have ever read, and certainly Stephen King's finest and most gripping novel to date.
I have read this book so many times, and yet every time I do, I manage to pick up on some subtlety or minor point that I missed out on previously. At well over 1000 pages, it is admittedly a very long book, but this makes it all the more enjoyable, as it is possible to read it over and over (and believe me, you'll want to), without ever remembering every single detail. So you can read it repeatedly and still get something out of it every time.
The scenario of the book is a plague which wipes out 99.8% of the human race. The survivors band together to form two societies and a 'classic' battle between good and evil, each represented by one of the societies, then takes place.
As with most Stephen King books, if you approach this with the cynical attitude of "How could that possibly happen?", then you probably won't appreciate this book. However, if you open your mind to accept the possibilities that Stephen King presents to us, I can guarantee that you will find it most difficult to put this book down!!
Rating:
Summary: Best novel I have read
Review: I decided to pick this novel up just before Christmas, mainly out of boredom, need something to read while working. I wasn't able to tear my eyes away from the pages, the way King builds the charectors, is astonishing, very detailed entries to paint the perfect picture in your head of what is going on. All I can say is M-O-O-N, that spells best novel I have read (you have to read the novel to understand that part)
Rating:
Summary: Stephen King book for Non-Stephen King Fans
Review: As I understand it, Stephen King wrote The Stand after reading Lord of the Rings. Here you will find the same epic qualities: final confrontation with an ancient evil, the following of multiple viewpoints, and a variety of scenes and landscapes. What made this book intriguing for me is the realistic premise - i.e. the World wiped out by a manmade super-virus. Seeing civilization implode from the safety of your home always makes interesting fiction. One thing that really drew me into this book was King's use of real locations around the country: New York, Las Vegas, Boulder and the Jersey Turnpike were among those present. The religious war that broke out between the survivors was pretty well written, too. I recommend this book for the sheer joy of reading it. The only bad thing I can think to say is that although I really enjoyed reading it, I really didn't learn anything I didn't know before picking it up. Still, that's the case with a great number of books people read. Don't let that stop you here.
Rating: 
Summary: Overwrought,Overlong, Silly, End of the World Epic
Review: As with all of Stephen King's epic novel's they start out great, digress in the middle and sum up with a stinker of an ending. [The Stand] is overwrought, overlong, totally silly, ton's of useless description, dull and drags in the middle, populated by village idiot's (aka.rednecks), a stupid hillbilly villian, a disapppointing ending, incondite dialogue, all around bombastic and unbelievable....I could go on, but I'm boring myself. If the best editor in the buisness would knock out 500 pages of filler this could be a 4 star book. So, if your're in the mood for an end of the world epic, Try reading [Fire]-Alan Rodgers, [Swan Song]-Robert R. McCammon, [Year Zero]-Jeff Long, [Children of the End]-Mark A Clements, [The Bridge]-John Skipp and Craig Spector, [Nightworld]-F. Paul Wilson, [Blood Crazy]-Simon Clark, [Dust]- Charles Pellegrino, they are far superior to [The Stand]. Don't believe most of the reviews you read about Stephen King's book's(only half are awesome). The King Zombies(aka Mental Pygmies) will say anything to get you to read his book's, probably because taking on one of his juggarnaut size novel's challenged their raisen sized brains! and it felt like a life fulfilling achievement. What?... don't believe me?...watch how many 5 star reviews will pop up after this is posted to try and silence me, Hmmmm... could it be to keep his rating's up?! That's scarier than this book!!!!AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: One of my all time favorites.
Review: I read this book every couple years, it is just the best book ever written I think. Note to others who love this book: did the mass exodus out of NYC on 9/11 walking across the bridges make you think of this novel? When a couple of the characters are trying to get out of NYC? Anyway, I personally prefer the original edited version, so if you can get your hands on an older copy I think you will enjoy it more. I hope before I die, and he does, that S. King will write a sequel to this novel. Read it!
Rating:
Summary: absolutely fantastic
Review: WELL THIS IS ONE BOOK THAT HELD MY ATTENTION FOR AS LONG AS I COULD FINISH IT AND THE REREAD IT AT LEAST FOUR TIMES BEFORE FINALLY PUTTING IT DOWN. HATS OFF FOR Mr KING.
COME TO THINK OF IT, ALL THE WORLD IS DEAD. YOU ARE FREE OF ALL TROUBLES. ALL YOUR DREAMS , ALL THAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO BUY BUT COULD NOT AFFORD IT NOW WAIT TO BE PICKED UP AND YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GIRL WITH YOU....WOW. BUT WAIT HERE ....NOTHING COMES FOR FREE..EVEN WHEN MONEY HAS NO VALUE...THERE IS A DARK MAN..DARK DREAMS AND YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU DO NOT ACT HE WILL GET YOU ANYTIME.
THE BEST PLOT I HAVE EVER READ. WORTH EVERY MINUTE YOU SPEND READING IT
Rating:
Summary: Still good
Review: I've re-read this book about 5 times, and recently read it again, I just can't get enough of it. It is King's best book to date, a book that you will read over and over again. It is a mix of horror, romance, and sci-fi, expertly intertwined. It is a tad bit long alright, but well worth the read. If you havn't read it yet, give it a go; its worth it. (also look for references to this book in the dark tower iv: wizard and glass)
Rating:
Summary: Classic King novel as the author intended it to be read....
Review: The Stand, Stephen King's apocalyptic novel that mixes science fiction with horror (think of it as a realistic merging of The Andromeda Strain and The Final Conflict), was a runaway best-seller when it first hit bookstores in the late 1970s and is still regarded as one of King's best works, at least by his millions of fans. Its scenario of an accidental outbreak of a government-created strain of the flu -- which has a mortality rate of over 90 percent -- that wipes out most of mankind and sets the stage for a final showdown between good and evil makes for compelling reading. What many readers did not know was that King was asked by the accounting department of his publisher to trim his already huge novel by several hundred pages to keep costs down and to make the hardcover's price affordable ($12.95 in 1978). Given the choice of doing the edits himself or letting the in-house editors do the cutting, King chose the former. As a result, most -- but not all -- the characters and situations appeared reasonably whole, although King remarks in the Preface that pyromaniac Trashcan Man's westward trek from the Midwest to Nevada has the most scars from the literary surgery he performed. By 1989, though, King had enough clout -- and reader support -- to get Doubleday to publish The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition. Released in hardcover in 1990, the book sold very well and was later adapted by King as a miniseries for ABC-TV. So what are the differences between the two versions of The Stand, besides the heavier weight and higher price? (Remember that
$12.95 retail price from 1978? In 1990 this had nearly doubled to $24.95!) Well, the novel's tale remains the same -- nefarious U.S. military creates a deadly strain of the flu...flu accidentally (and later not so accidentally) infects most of humanity...then the survivors split into two camps, one led by the evil Randall Flagg, the other headed by an elderly woman known as Mother Abigail, thus setting up the ultimate battle between darkness and light. But in this novel, the magic is in the details. The long and fiery journey of the Trashcan Man across the United States is now more complete, and a frightening character who was completely excised from the original novel in '78 is now restored in a literary equivalent of the Extended Editions of The Lord of the Rings DVDs. Another bonus: Illustrator Bernie Wrightson, who has contributed his drawings and artwork to King's Creepshow, Cycle of the Werewolf and one of the Dark Tower books, has added several illustrations to this edition. There are just a few and they are sprinkled sparingly, but they add a powerful jolt of visual effects to King's already vivid prose. King acknowledges his penchant for writing big, sometimes rambling novels, and The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition is surely big and rambling. Yet the cast of characters -- Stu Redman, Frannie Goldsmith, Larry Underwood, Harold Lauder (whose descent from merely obnoxious teen to jealousy-driven traitor is one of The Stand's more interesting subplots), Nadine Cross, Nick Andros, Tom Cullen, Lloyd Henreid...and the mysterious entity known as Flagg -- is one of King's best ensembles of fictional creations, and the mythical landscape of post-flu America is truly unforgettable.
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