Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Stand  By  cover art

The Stand

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $43.34

Buy for $43.34

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

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: 15 Poignant and Postapocalyptic Listens for Fans of The Last of Us


Naughty Dog's postapocalyptic video game The Last of Us is a masterclass in storytelling. Celebrated for its complex ruminations on grief, morality, and redemption, this unique take on dystopia has maintained a steady fanbase since 2013. That following is set to grow following the debut of HBO's television adaptation—a breakout hit that sacrifices none of the emotional stakes or brilliant character work of its source material.

What listeners say about The Stand

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    59,212
  • 4 Stars
    12,142
  • 3 Stars
    3,050
  • 2 Stars
    907
  • 1 Stars
    646
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    56,045
  • 4 Stars
    9,225
  • 3 Stars
    1,850
  • 2 Stars
    369
  • 1 Stars
    330
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    52,083
  • 4 Stars
    10,864
  • 3 Stars
    3,187
  • 2 Stars
    912
  • 1 Stars
    646

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stephen’s the King !

We’ll narrated . Crisp clear voice . Discernible character impressions. The story is long and the details were spot on . Very Good!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth it.

Absolutely fantastic. The production was very good and the story was equally as good. Read it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I mean… it’s The Stand.

You can’t get any better than this. Really. Best story telling ever. I can’t stand SK’s openly hard left views, but damn can this man write. Just reaches out and snatches you up, sits you down and subliminally forces you to listen. I haven’t read this in a long time (like 20 years) but damn if it’s not relevant now! So, he’s still my fav author and the audio book was well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

The Stand

Overall I think this is a great story. For me it drug on in the character development side of things, but it’s still an amazing story and worth listening too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Long but intriguing…

I understand that not everybody likes long books… I like getting to know the characters and their psyche. This book allowed me to do that. I also have a fascination with the pull between good and evil. This book gave me both and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must listen whether you are King fans or not

Usually Stephen King books bore me to tears, but everything about this audiobook have me gripped unable to stop listening. The chapter lengths are perfect for my schedule as well. I can easily finish a chapter, or two during my walks and commute. I hate having to pause in the middle of chapters so 20-30min chapters are ideal for me. then at night when I can listen longer I do. like I said I couldn't stop listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator Superb!

Read this in my own when it came out and it took 3 months to finish. Stephen King doesn't disappoint here but Grover Gardner as the narrator is a treat! Love all the distinct character voices! I'll be sure to eat up all his works in this media!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beware of Capt’n Tripps

This audiobook is as good as you can ask something to be. Better listen to it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stephen King is always great!

Perfect narrator and one of King’s greatest stories. Listening after the covid-19 pandemic was fun. The depth that the author goes into on each character makes you pick favorites and really feel like you could meet these people on the street.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Still timely

Considering the most recent pandemic, this book dives deep into the struggle between civilization and fear

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!