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)

Best Book, Best Narrator

"The Stand" originally came out in 1978. In 1990 (or close thereabouts) Stephen King, in response to his fans requesting it, edited and expanded this classic work to include hundreds of pages that were cut from the original version on account of the billing department. Now, the entire story is here, and included are more details about the characters familiar readers will recognize.

If you're a first time reader, get ready for the ride of your life through Stephen King's description of a world where 99% of the population is wiped out by a flu plague. And more...what happens to the 1% left to survive. What would it be like, REALLY?

I loved this book, still do, have my own hard copy along with this version on audio.

Grover Gardner is, to me, the STANDARD for good narrators. I wish some other books I've bought here were read by him and not the folks who mispronounce words and names and can't seem to read consistently and read too fast. Gardner's reading is so smooth it's almost enough to make you think you are thinking the book rather than hearing it. He's not slow, he's not fast, he's easy to listen to, he gets emotion across without blasting your eardrums and without overdoing it. His vocal characterizations are consistent and again, not overdone. A pure joy to listen to. Here's a narrator that makes you actually not want to read yourself. Other narrators I could name but won't, make me want to give up and go read the hard copy myself. If you want a nice long story, like end-of-the-world scenarios, like Stephen King or are curious, and want to hear a REALLY PROFESSIONAL narrator: this is the book for you. Well worth it.

One of King's best

A 47 hour long book seems crazy, but there wasn't one bored moment. The characters were layed out perfectly. The story was perfectly written. Completely captivating.

After spending so much time listening to this, there was only one thing I wanted to do when it was finished. Start it again!

My favorite book ever!

I have read this book 3 times before, watched the movie, and I'm looking forward to the remake. I wanted to read the book again, however I never have time to read so decided to do the audiobook. it was fantastic!

Life was such a wheel that no man could stand upon

This is the first time I've tried using recorded 'books on tape'. I've always loved The Stand and can say I actually enjoyed some of the mini series. The narrator is wonderfully expressive and does an incredible job putting King's words into an excellent performance. I can't wait to listen to more, this has made my long commute to and from work so much better!

Masterfully Written and Narrated

King's story is epic, frightening, and still manages to tug at heartstrings. Gardner's reading is impeccable, and overall this is an audiobook any fan should add to their collection.

Incredible !

Steven Kings never fails to please. Fantastic thrilling story. Like so many others so hard to put down.

Marvelous

Steven King wrote the greatest post apocalyptic story of all time here, not much right? Each character has so much depth and the story is without parallel. I hope this is made into a mini-series like GoT or three movies along the lines of what is being done with It. This story needs to on TV but done right like the second version of It.

Amazing

I have listened to this book at least 3 times and will several times to come! My only issues with this book is that it seems to come to its end very abruptly. All characters are accounted for but it feels like this is this great story and it goes from climax to end in one or two chapters. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE END OF THE BOOK! VERY MUCH worth the money!

Great book! Highly recommend.

Narrator was very good. Story was filled with memorable characters. I've read many other Stephen king books and this one definitely didn't disappoint.

Best King novel I've experienced

I went into this expecting just another dystopian "patient zero" type novel, but I should have known better. It was an absolutely captivating book, and the almost fifty hours seemed to fly by. There were a few parts where the characters were hard to decipher from each other (this was only in parts where a lot were talking at once, or interrupting each other), but overall the narrating really brought each of the characters to life for me. You really don't know how it's going to end until suddenly it is the end, and you're left dreaming of more.