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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 definitive guide to the very best Stephen King adaptations


If you’re a Stephen King fanatic, or are interested in learning about the movies and shows made from his books, this round-up will provide you with a comprehensive list of the very best Stephen King screen adaptations. Watch the adaptation and then listen to the audiobook, or vice versa—this choice is yours. Either way, you can see how the adaptation stacks up against the source material and experience these legendary frights over and over again.

What listeners say about The Stand

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Great book!!

This was a great book and I would recommend to anyone. I'm a slow reader and was very happy it was on audible.

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Super natural saves the day

Good character development, but the super natural causes and solves the conflict more than characters

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A cautionary tale

A story more relevant today than when it was first written. Frighteningly prophetic and wonderfully read.

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GOAT of all books.

This book has everything. Drama. Good vs Evil. Hero’s. Villains. Smart people. Dumb people. Introverts. Extroverts.

Stephen King finds a common sense way to explain a version of the end of the world. Take a journey. It’s worth it.

Will Garcia

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One of Stephen King's Best

Loved the narration. One of my favorite books to revisit and the audio performance was great. Some of the female voices can be breathy but a great listen.

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Awesome as always

This is a classic King story that I've already read in hardcover years ago, but having it brought to life in the audiobook version was on another level! Gardener did great bringing these characters to life, would definitely recommend!

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Good Stuff

As expected, typical Stephen King fashion, vivid writing, characters come to life in your head.

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good king, but not my favorite

it took me a while to finish this book. I honestly wasn't hooked until the last 6-8 hours of the book.

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great book

amazing to listen to , love this book. listen to it and be in awe of a finely woven story.

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excellent

although some points seemed to be seen ahead of time it was a well crafted good vs Evil tale

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