KING STEPHEN : STAND (Signet)

The population of the world is decimated by a super-flu virus, this leads to strange dreams of a dodgy demon-bloke for those few survivors left on the face of the Earth...nuff said on plot. IMHO King is the master of characterization, he has a knack of depicting plausible and interesting people in every day life, then systematically destroys their lives. I think this is where the horror comes...more

The population of the world is decimated by a super-flu virus, this leads to strange dreams of a dodgy demon-bloke for those few survivors left on the face of the Earth...nuff said on plot. IMHO King is the master of characterization, he has a knack of depicting plausible and interesting people in every day life, then systematically destroys their lives. I think this is where the horror comes from, seeing someone you've kinda grown to like be consumed by terror and/or death - at least in this book anyhow. I found the demonic, supernatural elements are about as scary as Gordon the Gopher, incidentally. The way he describes his various characters journeys through desolate cities and landscapes littered with corpses is pretty damn spooky, though, much more so than aforementioned Satanic elements. At over 1300 pages definitely recommend this massive book on value for money alone; kept me turning the pages despite being thicker than Jade Goody.   hide

This was the first Stephen King book that I read, and I figured even then King was a contemporary Dickens. His story-telling style is brilliant - he actually makes you understand the characters, rather than just know their names, or how they look - he fills them up. The book itself is a great read - one of my all time favourites - a post-apocalyptic world where the survivors are divided into two...more

This was the first Stephen King book that I read, and I figured even then King was a contemporary Dickens. His story-telling style is brilliant - he actually makes you understand the characters, rather than just know their names, or how they look - he fills them up. The book itself is a great read - one of my all time favourites - a post-apocalyptic world where the survivors are divided into two sides - essentially good and evil. Some strong characters, and it is easy to suspend one's disbelief regarding the fantasy element of the plot. It's a huge book, but it's hardly felt as you pile through the pages. And a pretty good dramatisation has been made with Robe Lowe and Gary Sinise.    hide

I still consider this novel as one of King's greatest accomplishments. Not only did he create the greatest fictional battle between good and evil, but a better part of the novel takes place in Colorado; specifically Boulder. I recommend every avid reader at least give this King work a shot. I have to agree with some readers' comments - the lack of a stronger villain (Randall Flagg) and the rushed...more

I still consider this novel as one of King's greatest accomplishments. Not only did he create the greatest fictional battle between good and evil, but a better part of the novel takes place in Colorado; specifically Boulder. I recommend every avid reader at least give this King work a shot. I have to agree with some readers' comments - the lack of a stronger villain (Randall Flagg) and the rushed ending. King is one of my favorite writers, but he does tend to drag on through the middle of these longer novels, but overall I think this is a great testament to his writing style. BTW...I always thought Peter Jackson would make a great director if ever there was a major motion picture.   hide

One of King's best novels, finally printed the way it was intended. It rivals the entire "Dark Tower" series for my all-time favorite Stephen King book of all time. It manages to be entertaining, realistic (well, as realistic as a world-wide apocalypse CAN be), and the inclusion of a Sociologist to debate what will happen to a world almost devoid of humanity and how it will continue on it pure...more

One of King's best novels, finally printed the way it was intended. It rivals the entire "Dark Tower" series for my all-time favorite Stephen King book of all time. It manages to be entertaining, realistic (well, as realistic as a world-wide apocalypse CAN be), and the inclusion of a Sociologist to debate what will happen to a world almost devoid of humanity and how it will continue on it pure genius. And the arguments make sense! My favorite chapter is the one chronicling the spread of the Superflu throughout the US. One of King's most memorable chapters in ANY of his books. A definite must-read.   hide