The Stand

Published: 1978

The Stand (1978) is King's apocalyptic epic about the aftermath of a weaponized superflu called 'Captain Trips' that kills 99% of humanity. The survivors are drawn into a cosmic battle between good and evil, embodied by the 108-year-old Mother Abagail in Nebraska and the demonic Randall Flagg in Las Vegas. As two communities form around these opposing forces, a final confrontation looms. King conceived the novel as an American Lord of the Rings, creating his longest and most ambitious work to date. The original published version was substantially cut due to publishing constraints, but a complete 'uncut' edition was released in 1990 with King restoring over 400 pages. Critics praised the novel's scale, character development, and thematic ambition, though some found the conclusion less satisfying than the journey. The book has twice been adapted as miniseries—in 1994 and 2020—with varying degrees of success. King has repeatedly cited The Stand as his personal favorite among his works, particularly for its exploration of human society rebuilding after collapse. The novel has shown remarkable staying power, experiencing surges in readership during real-world pandemics and disease outbreaks. Beyond its plague narrative, The Stand is notable for developing the character of Randall Flagg, who would become a recurring villain throughout King's multiverse, particularly in the Dark Tower series. For many readers, the novel represents King at his most epic and profound, balancing intimate character studies with sweeping themes of survival, morality, and the fundamental nature of human society.

Themes

• Plague
• Apocalypse
• Good vs Evil
• Prophecy
• Survival

Adaptations

• 1994 miniseries
• 2020 miniseries

Collector Notes

Highly collectible in its original 1978 format and the later uncut 1990 edition. Central to King's multiverse, especially the Dark Tower saga.