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)

Downloaded at 2 am on the 14th

I downloaded this just as soon as it showed up and so far I can tell you a couple of things:

#1. The reader is doing his part and his style fits what I was expecting!

#2. The story, for those that don't know what it is about, is classic King but with an apocalyptic type of plot. The character building is huge and wonderful here but don't worry your self as it DOES NOT SLOW DOWN THIS BOOK at all. King gives us maybe the biggest and best set of characters that he has ever had published and I'm not kidding about that!!!

#3. The overall feel of this classic is ....well it's just classic! It got me from the first few minutes on and carried me on a journey that somehow leaves no doubt that I learned a few things that are useful in life, but I'm biased when it comes to The Stand as it has had a place in my heart for years. If you are looking to get into a very long book that will teach, scare, bring sadness and joy as well as new memorable characters into your thoughts then you have found a classic for sure!

Just keep that in mind that many of us readers are revisiting this book in it's new form and are only looking for word that the reader has delivered what Stephen King wrote for us many years ago so all the reviews may not be what a new reader is looking for. I hope I was able to give you a review that will help in some way.

Finally!!!!!

Where does The Stand rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the absolute best.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Stand?

Why don't you ask which of my kids I like better?! One thing that sticks out are the snippets of random people's fate, such as a little boy falling down a well while wandering alone after his family died.

Have you listened to any of Grover Gardner’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I heard the previous version he did of The Stand, which was a library cassette audiobook. The sound quality was awful but he did a good job. I wish he put a bit more emotion in his voice but for the most part I think he is a great narrator.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

That isn't even possible. There literally aren't enough hours in the day. I did fall asleep several times listening to it because I couldn't put it down.

Any additional comments?

I would definitely say this is worth your credit. I'm glad they didn't make it a two credit book like some of the other really long books.

Fan--freaking--fastic performance of a favorite

Stephen Kings seminal novel "The Stand" is performed by Grover Gardner and I am very impressed with his ability with giving different voices and accents and bringing out the personalities of the key protagonists and antagonists in The Stand.

Others have mentioned the profanity, however it is only there when specific characters are being performed and is essential to who they are, especially "The Kidd"..it starts about 5 hours in and is not constant at all. I did not fine it distracting from the reading of the book at all.

I've been listening to books for several months now and though I'm a comparative newcomer, I want recommend this to anyone who wants a book that is enthralling and entertaining.

You're there!!

I have to have books that grab my attention on page one, and The Stand does just that. King's best. In my top 5 listen list.

An Apocalyptic Classic

I'm not sure why, but I've been enjoying "apocalyptic fiction" lately: end-of-the-world stuff where characters are challenged in unique ways.

I remember reading "The Stand" when it first came out and being really invested in the characters lives as the pages turned. The ending to me was always a little of a disappointment for me --- it was then, and it is now -- but the book is still a good listen, and I am glad to have listened to it all these years later. The characters, looking back on them now, after having listened to it anew, seem a little dated, and probably made more sense when it was originally written in the late 80s. But, it's still highly entertaining.

If you like this kind of book, here are a few suggestions you might really like: The Passage (Justin Cronin), The Strain Trilogy by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. These books are wonderfully apocalyptic with strong characters that really propel the story.

Perhaps Audible can create a section of great "end-of-the-world" fiction for listeners who like these books, The Stand, and others.

"Laws yes!"

A really good story, and pretty coincidental given the current situation with Covid-19. I worried I would not be able to track the storyline over 48+ hours, but that wasn't the case.. very easy listening.

One of King’s Best

Love this story. It’s an incredible story at any time, but really, really fun to read during a global pandemic. Highly recommend this ride.

Covid 19 overreaction

Amidst the Covid 19 chaos I was reminded of the great novel The Stand. There is nothing better than New England wisdom and King is a master at writing it. Early on in the book there is a line that goes something like, He tipped the pretty waitress with a dollar bill that had all kinds of death all over it.
After hearing that I've re-doubled my hand washing fervor.

Fantastic

Amazing plot, interesting and flawed characters, and a great narrator? Do yourself a favor. Please note, NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.

My Favorite King Book Yet

This story is amazing. It did begin to drag a little bit but the book as a whole was my personal favorite. It was deep had a great plot and huge investment into the characters.