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The Stand  By  cover art

The Stand

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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Publisher's summary

This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.

And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides - or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail - and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the dark man.

In 1978, Stephen King published The Stand, the novel that is now considered to be one of his finest works. But as it was first published, The Stand was incomplete, since more than 150,000 words had been cut from the original manuscript.

Now Stephen King's apocalyptic vision of a world blasted by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil has been restored to its entirety. The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition includes material previously deleted, along with new material that King added as he reworked the manuscript for a new generation. It gives us new characters and endows familiar ones with new depths. It has a new beginning and a new ending. What emerges is a gripping work with the scope and moral complexity of a true epic.

For hundreds of thousands of fans who heard The Stand in its original version and wanted more, this new edition is Stephen King's gift. And those who are listening to The Stand for the first time will discover a triumphant and eerily plausible work of the imagination that takes on the issues that will determine our survival.

Cover artwork ©2020 CBS Interactive Inc.

©1978 Stephen King (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"A master storyteller." (Los Angeles Times)

"[The Stand] has everything. Adventure. Romance. Prophecy. Allegory. Satire. Fantasy. Realism. Apocalypse. Great!" (The New York Times Book Review)

"As brilliant a dark dream as has ever been dreamed in this century." (Palm Beach Post)

Featured Article: The Shining—Book vs. Movie


Set in the claustrophobia-inducing snow-covered peaks of an isolated hotel in the middle of the Rockies, The Shining is a classic work of psychological horror that’s just about as chilling as it gets. But it’s so, so much more than your classic story of spirits and a man’s descent into madness—it’s also a tender yet deeply painful meditation on addiction, family, abuse, and redemption. Stanley Kubrick rejected Stephen King's initial treatment of the screenplay, and the author was largely dissatisfied with his novel’s jump to the big screen. So what exactly are the differences between The Shining movie and the novel?

What listeners say about The Stand

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A Classic

A classic book. The story was captivating throughout. The narrator did a great job. Highly recommend this book.

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Loved it!

I loved this book its the longest I've ever finished and in my top 5.

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Probably the Best of Kings Work

This or The Dark Tower Series are certainly the best of Kings work. He actually does much better in this post apocalyptic writing than in Horror. But the story is still very rambling and unfocused far to often. Maybe the original, that had been cut down considerably would be less this way, but I don't know that it would ring more focus to his writing, only less tangents.

Still enjoyed this book a good deal, I think it represents a form of faith I once lived in well, their theology of a God with bloody hands is spot on here.

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Great voice for sound sensitivity

Fortunately the man reading this goes not cause issues with the sound sensitivities I have with my Fibromyalgia. It was a pleasant listen and I will listen to it again.

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Even better in audiobook

This has long been one of my favorite books. At first I wasn’t to keen on the narrator but as time went on I realized he was the perfect choice. My only small complaint is that he mispronounces Nevada. If that’s all I can pick on it’s damn near perfect.

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loved it sad it's over. where did 47 hours go?

sad about the ending in a good way. sad it's over. sad the movie version is pure crap

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Wow. Great book!

One of the best King books I've read. I really enjoyed it. Voice actor is very talented as well.

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Grover Gardner is amazing!

It's a Stephen King book; it's filled with glimpses of brilliance. My review, though, is of Grover Gardner. His seamless depiction of the many, many distinct characters in this book is amazing. He is my current favorite narrator of all time!

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Thoroughly enjoyed it

An interesting journey with twists and turns that captures you when you least expect it.

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Whoa

There is too much to say about this text in a short audible review. If you're new to Kings writing like me, which I imagine you must be to have not read The Stand, then your search is up. Start here my friend you will not be disappointed!

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