The Stand

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

Length: 47 hrs and 47 mins

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)

What can I say?

This book is a classic. A great, sweeping epic that I can never get enough of. I've listened to the audiobook a couple times now, and I'll listen to it again and again. Grover Gardener's voice has become my own internal one. Reading this book, this horrific tale of plague and death and evil, is like slipping into a warm bed and pulling the blankets right up to my chin. If you haven't read this, do so. If you have, do it again. Dust off your acquaintance with Fran and Stu and good ol' Tom Cullen (did I spell that right? I haven't read the actual book for a while). Bring a pen and see what Nick's been up to. Settle in for a bull session with Glen. Can you tell I love these guys?

Let's all give it up for the King.

Too long, but worth the time in the end.

If you could sum up The Stand in three words, what would they be?

Enjoyable, in-depth, well-written

What other book might you compare The Stand to and why?

Reminded me at times of another King novel - Under the Dome.

What does Grover Gardner bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Grover is the reason it's worth the time. The book is obviously well-written being from King, but the vast array of voices and perfectly animated characters makes the story come alive and makes it seem more like a movie or play. You can see it in your mind. And while that may be true in other audiobooks, it's done to such a high degree in this one that it seems unique in that sense.

If you could take any character from The Stand out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I'm sure this is a popular answer, but it's hard not to like Stu Redmond. You just want to pull for him the entire time.

Any additional comments?

It's long, and parts will be more entertaining than others - especially the beginning...I'd suggest getting through the first few sections before you form an opinion - but overall it is a fantastic story with a few remarkable moments. I'm usually not too invested in stories I listen to, however this one really grasps you at times and it had me shed a few tears at random intervals. The large number of characters is at times a chore, but it provides more positives than negatives in the grand scheme.

GREAT!

If you like all the information and how everything got to be to where it is now in any book then you will love this book. It keeps you on your toes, all the negative comments about it being boring and long and not to waste your time it depends on what kind of books you like to read/ be read to. You can not guess anything that will happen in the great story telling. I am glad I choose to get it read to me, get pass the boring phases they don’t last long I promise, this book is amazing I even want to listen to it again. I even looked for television shows portrayed by the book. Even with the on going pandemic this book makes you view things differently. This is by far one of the best books I have ever listened to. Thank you to the narrator for making it so pleasant to listen to. I couldn’t recommend this book anymore. If you liked misery you will love this book.

Such a good book!

lots of tears from me, I was definitely fully invested in this one! loved it

fantastic

could not stop listening after 1/3 of the way in. great character development. love the author

is that Cojack??

didn't understand some chapters and took a while to choose which characters were my favorites but it was a great book building towards the end

The Best he’s ever done

Best book Stephen King ever wrote. I’ve read it and listened to it. The narrator was fantastic!

great story!

This book is what turned me into a King fan about 25 years ago. Great narration of a great story!

Masterfully haunting and hopefully

Narration was a gem. Story was a welcomed descent into our best and most abhorred. I'll save words. Purchase this and you'll have plenty. Beware Richard Faulkner, Russell Fleetwood and Roy Fezzington.

Entertaining

Not incredible, however very interesting and it was great to have 45 hours of something to listen to while I worked on an older RV. I thought this should be a series on Netflix, Amazon, HBO, etc. I then read the small print on my Audible screen which indicated it was a series somewhere. It seems that it could excel in that format. Even though Mr. King warns us to keep our money, I am glad I purchased it. Good bang for the credit.