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)

The best

Where was the resistance when we cowered in our bedrooms in 2020. Freedom has already been stolen I guess. One of the best books I have ever read, better than the cut version.

Worth the time

This was worth the time to listen. The performance was excellent. The story is Stephen King at his best. Much better than the movies. It keeps your interest and is explicit without being vulgar. Don’t pass this chance to read The Stand.

Engaging and epic tale

I consider this an epic tale that expands with plot and character development. Instead of culminating in a grand finale, the story rather fades away in a less than appealing ending.

About 200-300 pages too long

Probably the best apocalypse story out there, however it’s far too long. It was mentally exhausting getting through this. It’s NOT a page turner, it certainly feels like a marathon. However, it is good. It just doesn’t make my Top 10.

Extensive Saga - Timely

I have to admit that I'm not a regular reader of Stephen King, certainly one of the most prolific writers of the late 20th and early 21st Century. in fact, this is only the second book of his to which I have listened (The Green Mile a couple of years ago). This listen is a marathon.
I understand why King re-released it with a fresh editorial eye. One of the main themes is a deadly flu-like virus, most likely released accidentally by the military. And this was redone before the Corona Virus.
There is an underlying spiritual theme that I think King handled quite well - basic good versus evil.
There are two transcontinental trips across the U.S., and a variety of interesting characters. Several subplots keep it interesting.
The narrator does a good job with the many varying voices.
Recommended.

So worth it!

I'll admit that I thought going through the Uncut version seemed a bit daunting, being King's longest novel. I couldn't have been more wrong. Took me less than a month to complete because there was just so much to be had here. So many different characters with their stories and backgrounds. Seeing them all come together and evolve into their new selves was utterly fantastic. I have never been more invested in a novel and wow what an ending! Usually I don't fully digest the endings to King's novels but there couldn't have been a better ending to this epic. Exactly what I wanted from near 50 hours of run time.

Anti-Climatic Finish

Even though the book is extremely long, it was a good read overall. This is the second time I enjoyed the story. Read the original and listened to the audio many years apart. Both times, the end beginning after the Las Vegas incident seemed to be rushed and
fid not unravel at the same pace as the majority of the story.

Amazing

Great story, incredible narration. In the beginning I felt like it was too much character development, it seemed to drone on. But it was later very much needed. Great Stephen king book like always.

Long but entertaining

This was a fictional but believable story. I enjoyed The Stand which was the first Stephen King book I have listened to, I have not read nor have a seen any movies made from his books. Will I in the future? Only if I have a week to kill based on the length of this book.
Narration was excellent, plot entertaining, and characters believable. I would recommend buying this audible book.

Too good.

A classic masterpiece told perfectly. Gardner's diction is otherworldly. I highly suggest this version of the book.