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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)

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Featured Article: We're Your #1 Fans—A Stephen King Character Guide


With a mind-boggling portfolio of 62 novels and more than 200 short stories (and counting!), Stephen King undeniably reigns supreme over literary horror. From Danny Torrance to the dreaded Pennywise, check out some of his most iconic characters with this comprehensive look. (But beware: there are spoilers ahead! So, much like when you press play on a Stephen King audiobook, you should proceed with caution.)

What listeners say about The Stand

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Excellent Adventure from the Master Storyteller

praise for Stephen King. In excellent revamp of a fantastic classic. The Expanded Edition really brings the story to a head rounds it out and drives it home.

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So much better than the movie!!!

The narrator was awesome, Stephen King rock this one!He spins the best yarns I have ever read or listened to.

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Great Story telling

As always, Stephen King never fails to untie the reader. I believe The Stand is my favorite Stephen King book, and I’ve read a lot of them!

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INCREDIBLE

I was never a Stephen King fan. But WOW. what an incredibly well written and gripping book. My hat’s off to him. Genius. Worth every minute of time.

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Stephen King's best work

I couldn't quit listening to it. Captivating story that maintains suspense throughout. Definitely a 5 star performance.

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A classic!

I read this years ago and was not disappointed, of course, in the story and was quite pleased with the narration.

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Truly an engrossing book

Having listened to numerous Audio books, I have found this one to be one of the most enjoyable books I have listened to. The dialog is clear, and while a long book, it doesn't feel like a drag.

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Great narrator! Great story!

A classic King tale! His description of characters and events is dazzling. Highly recommend this book!

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Favorite

I have read this story many many times as I do with all of Kings books I am sure I will read it plenty more times.

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Great story of a modern plague scenario

I came across this after listening to "How Great Sci-fi Works" from the great courses when it was going over wasteland stories. This book gets riveting pretty fast as the whole country is wiped out by a fast spreading military grade flu virus. Stephen King really lays it on with the narration of how the plague spreads and the toll it takes o society. My only complaint with the story is the focus on a religious struggle at the heart of things here but it's a fun ride even if the big drop is a little flat. The narrators is one of the best I've heard.

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