The Stand is a postapocalyptic dark fantasy novel by Stephen King, first published in 1978. The story unfolds in the aftermath of a global pandemic, caused by a weaponized strain of influenza. After the disease eradicates the majority of the world population, the survivors find themselves drawn into a fundamental conflict between good and evil.
The novel begins with the accidental release of the deadly virus from a US Department of Defense lab, rapidly leading to societal collapse and the near-extinction of humanity. Amidst the chaos, a group of survivors emerges. Stuart Redman, Frannie Goldsmith, and Larry Underwood, among others, are drawn together by shared dreams of a benevolent figure called Mother Abagail. They converge in Boulder, Colorado, forming a new community called the Free Zone. Meanwhile, the evil Randall Flagg gathers his followers in Las Vegas, preparing for a confrontation with the forces of good.
The expanded 1990 edition of The Stand restores much of the material cut from the 1978 publication and updates the setting to the 1990s, adding depth to characters and a new dimension to the narrative. Named among The Atlantic's Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years, this edition affirmed The Stand as one of King's most comprehensive, compelling, and morally complex works. Highly acclaimed and adapted into television miniseries, The Stand is widely considered a masterpiece of modern horror and dark fantasy that remains chillingly plausible.
Themes
Apocalyptic and postapocalyptic struggle for survival
Contrast between good and evil
Moral complexity and the nature of humanity
Formation and reconstruction of societies
Leadership and governance
Spirituality and faith
Fate and free will
Isolation and community
The role of technology and its consequences
Environmental and biological threats to human existence
Personal growth and redemption
Hope and despair
Setting
is set in a postapocalyptic era after a devastating pandemic, referred to as "Captain Trips" or the "superflu," has wiped out most of the world's population. The story primarily takes place in the continental United States, with events unfolding across various states and cities.
The Stand
In the early stages of the story, the superflu spreads rapidly from the small town of Arnette, Texas, where it was accidentally released from a government laboratory in the Mojave Desert, to wreak devastation across the country. As society collapses, survivors are drawn to two opposing camps, one led by the elderly Mother Abagail in Boulder, Colorado, and the other by the sinister Randall Flagg in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother Abagail's refuge in Boulder and Flagg's totalitarian regime in Sin City are the primary settings that drive the plot, culminating in an epic confrontation between the forces of good and evil.
Characters
Stuart "Stu" Redman: A quiet man from Texas who is immune to the superflu virus.
Frannie Goldsmith: A pregnant college student from Ogunquit, Maine, who becomes Stu's love interest.
Harold Lauder: A teenage outcast and neighbor to Frannie who harbors unrequited love for her.
Mother Abagail Freemantle: A 108-year-old woman who becomes the spiritual leader of the survivors who represent good.
Randall Flagg: The main antagonist with supernatural powers, embodying evil.
Larry Underwood: A pop singer struggling with his inner demons and trying to be a better person.
Nick Andros: A deaf-mute who becomes one of the community leaders in Boulder.
Tom Cullen: A kindhearted, intellectually disabled man who spells out an important role in the battle between good and evil.
Nadine Cross: A teacher haunted by dark dreams, who faces a critical moral decision.
Glen Bateman: A retired sociology professor who provides wisdom to the Free Zone community.
Lloyd Henreid: A petty criminal who becomes Flagg's right-hand man.
The Trashcan Man: A mentally unstable pyromaniac who is pivotal in the climax of the story.
Ralph Brentner: A farmer who is drawn into the core group of protagonists.
FAQs
What is the basic premise of The Stand?
The Stand is a postapocalyptic novel, following the course and aftermath of a deadly pandemic that wipes out most of the world's population. The few survivors gravitate towards two opposing groups—one representing good, led by Mother Abagail, and the other embodying evil, led by the demonic Randall Flagg.
What was the inspiration behind writing The Stand?
As King has shared, he was inspired to write The Stand by a news story about a chemical-biological weapon spill in Utah, George R. Stewart's novel Earth Abides about a plague wiping out humanity, and his fascination with the Patty Hearst case. He wanted to write a fantasy epic like the Lord of the Rings trilogy but set in the real world of contemporary America.
How long did it take King to write The Stand?
King started writing The Stand in February 1975 and the book was first published in 1978, so it took roughly three years to complete.
What was cut from the 1978 debut version of the novel?
The original 1978 hardcover edition of The Stand was abridged, with around 400 pages (150,000 words) cut from King's original manuscript due to his publisher's concerns over the book's length and production costs.
What is different in the uncut edition?
The 1990 uncut edition reinstated the portions cut from the 1978 version, updated the setting to the 1990s, and added a new preface by King and illustrations by Bernie Wrightson. At 1,152 pages, The Stand became King's longest book.
Who are the main characters in the novel?
The main characters in The Stand include Stu Redman, Frannie Goldsmith, Larry Underwood, Mother Abagail, Randall Flagg, Lloyd Henreid, The Trashcan Man, and Harold Lauder.
What happens to society after the pandemic in the novel?
In The Stand, society completely collapses after 99.4% of the world's population dies from the virus. The survivors split into two groups—one trying to reestablish society in Boulder and the other following the evil Randall Flagg in Las Vegas, setting up an eventual confrontation.
Has The Standbeen adapted to other media?
The Stand had been adapted into two television miniseries—the first in 1994 for the ABC network and the second airing on CBS All Access between late 2020 and early 2021. The novel also inspired a series of comic books by Marvel Comics, released from 2008 to 2012.
What awards or recognition has King's fantasy epic received?
The Stand was nominated for the 1979 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel. It has been included in lists of the best books of all time by Rolling Stone, TIME, The Atlantic, the Modern Library, Amazon, and the BBC among other outlets.
What themes does the book explore?
Major themes in The Stand include the elemental struggle between good and evil, the power of faith and moral strength, the consequences of human beings abusing science and technology, and humanity's ability to rebound from devastation.
Quotes
"That wasn't any act of God. That was an act of pure human fuckery."
"No one can tell what goes on in between the person you were and the person you become. No one can chart that blue and lonely section of hell. There are no maps of the change. You just come out the other side. Or you don't."
"The place where you made your stand never mattered. Only that you were there...and still on your feet."
"People who try hard to do the right thing always seem mad."
"A person can't change all at once."
"The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want for nothing. He makes me lie down in the green pastures. He greases up my head with oil. He gives me kung-fu in the face of my enemies. Amen."
"He smiles a lot. But I think there might be worms inside him making him smile."
"You couldn't not like someone who liked the guitar."
"If we don't have each other, we go crazy with loneliness. When we do, we go crazy with togetherness."
Quick facts
The Stand was originally published in 1978 but was significantly cut down due to concerns over the market's acceptance of its length, leading to the removal of about 400 pages from the initial manuscript.
The novel marks the first appearance of Randall Flagg, a recurring antagonist in Stephen King's universe, who appears in later works.
The 1994 and 2020 televised adaptations of The Stand were significant undertakings, with the 1994 miniseries directed by Mick Garris and the 2020 series featuring a cast including Alexander Skarsgård and James Marsden.
King initially envisioned Robert Duvall as Randall Flagg and Marshall Crenshaw as Larry Underwood.
Stephen King's son, Owen King, was involved as a producer and writer in the 2020 miniseries adaptation, which featured a new ending written by Stephen King himself.
The book's influence extends beyond literature into music, with Metallica's Ride the Lightning album's title and Anthrax's song "Among the Living" drawing inspiration from The Stand.
Marvel Comics adapted the novel into a series of graphic novels from 2008 to 2012, demonstrating The Stand's impact on various forms of media.
In preparation for the 1990 uncut edition of The Stand, King updated the novel's timeline from the 1980s to the 1990s, revising cultural references to suit the new setting.
About the author
Stephen Edwin King is a prolific American author known as the King of Horror. His extensive body of work spans horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, sci-fi, and fantasy, selling more than 350 million copies worldwide with numerous adaptations into films, TV series, and comics. King has also written under pseudonyms such as Richard Bachman and John Swithen.
Born on September 21, 1947, in Portland, Maine, King was raised by a single mother after his father's departure, marking his early life with abandonment and financial struggles. His childhood experiences in Maine would later permeate his stories. A graduate of the University of Maine at Orono, King began his career contributing to magazines before achieving success with his debut novel, Carrie, in 1974. From there, his career flourished with classics such as The Shining, Salem's Lot, IT, and Pet Sematary, each showcasing King's adeptness at portraying the macabre within small-town America.
King's accolades include the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters and the 2014 National Medal of Arts. He won the Edgar Award for Best Novel for his debut crime thriller, Mr. Mercedes. King makes his home in Maine with his wife, Tabitha King, also a novelist. They have three grown children—a daughter, Naomi, and two sons who are both writers. The oldest is a published author under the pseudonym Joe Hill, and the younger, Owen King, collaborated with his father on the novel Sleeping Beauties.
