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  • The Stand

  • Written by: Stephen King
  • Narrated by: Grover Gardner
  • Length: 47 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (2,906 ratings)

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The Stand cover art

The Stand

Written by: Stephen King
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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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

What the critics say

"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)

Editorial Review

Discover what is hailed as one of Stephen King’s greatest novels in The Stand. This bold and imaginative post-apocalyptic story examines the world just after nearly all of civilization has been wiped out. What remains undergoes a mighty power struggle amidst the dangers of a recent pandemic as well as violence, as good and evil battle it out in a drastically changed world.

This audiobook adaptation has been rewritten and remastered to include new themes, new characters, and all that was cut from his original version of the story. Stephen King’s The Stand now has more action, more conflict, and even more epic adventures interwoven with moral dilemmas and heavy themes of what is right and wrong. Main character Randall Flagg aka The Dark Man, a sorcerer and follower of the ‘Outer Dark,’ presides over the story, wreaking havoc on the people of the new world after an ‘end of the world’ superflu pandemic wipes out much of the former world population. The story takes place in a post apocalyptic world but references real world locations like Boulder, Colorado, Las Vegas, Nebraska and New York, adding to the eerie feel of the story.

Though the story remains the same at its heart, in this audiobook adaptation, the uncut version of this King novel is an expanded and heightened tale that includes alterations to the end. Whether you are a long-time fan of the epic series, have watched the Netflix TV show series, or are discovering The Stand for the first time, this uncut option will give you the best idea of the story King most wanted to write, and offer an exciting new ending.

Grover Gardner narrates this version, bringing a brilliant performance as gripping and tense as it is entertaining. He blends his style with King’s effortless storytelling for a perfect marriage of voices, delivering the tone and feel of the story with ease.

Featured Article: Stephen King’s 32 Best Audiobooks: The Definitive List

Stephen King is one of the most prolific authors of all time. He has published 61 novels, more than 200 short stories, and six nonfiction books—and he shows no sign of stopping. With such an extensive portfolio, choosing one audiobook can be daunting. We’ve compiled a list of the 32 best Stephen King audiobooks to make the choice easier. Whether you’re looking to get stuck into one of his creepy, classic stories or a sci-fi novella, you’ll find a title on this list that will get your heart racing.

What listeners say about The Stand

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Brilliant

I read the book years ago and fully enjoyed listening to the audio version. Brilliantly narrated by Grover Gardner. Add this one to your audio collection.

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21 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Storytelling carries this long book

The book itself is quite long, however, the storytelling by Grover Gardner is extraordinary. While King's writing does get heavy, his ability to bring closure to a huge list of characters in this book is impressive. Constantly reminding the reader of Fran or Stu, to smaller characters like Dayna or Kojak, and where we have seen them before.

There's a reason they call him the King of Horror. King's ability to piece together a vivid mental mosaic of the horrifying near extinction of modern society creates a perfect premise for which we begin this tumultuous adventure.

I avidly recommend this.

- B

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15 people found this helpful

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Excellent

The best novel Stephen king has ever written and Grover Gardner does an amazing job reading it #Audible1

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15 people found this helpful

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  • rob
  • 2017-09-14

Fantastic

Totally worth my credit! Despite being long, I wanted more by the end. The reader was fantastic, brought the characters to life!

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10 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fantastic Presentation of a Classic Story

Living in The Stand's universe for 48 some hours was a deeply entertaining and immersive experience thanks to a combination of Stephen King's excellent world-building, and Grover Gardner's fearless commitment to the material.

#Audible1

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8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

A slightly over-rated but still entertaining work

Stephen King is known for writing sprawling epics that not only scare but also provide you with more than enough detail to clearly see what is going on. While this book has some entertaining moments it begins to unravel mainly because of the detailed descriptions of the events leading up to the slight let down of a climax. The first 3/4 of the book will have you excited until you realize you only have a 1/4 left and you know that either things will not get wrapped up, or, they will be wrapped up in a rushed feel that will leave you wanting more.

Hardly his best work and not even close to his worst, the Stand is an entertaining look at humanity (a very narrow Americanized view) and a slightly less entertaining or in depth look at good vs. evil. #Audible1

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6 people found this helpful

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Captivating

#Audible1 one of the best audiobook I have ever listened to. Great story and performance!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Not a fan of the reader but a great book.

So good, reader was meh. I really loved reliving this book again 10 years later.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

couldn't wait to see what happens next....

when the stand 1st came out I was a young child who had zero interest in such a book.. and simply moved on with life I decided to give this book a try because it was "The Kings" book and not once did I feel he was intentionally dragging descriptions or narratives out any more than needed.... I felt like I knew the characters and felt an emotional tie to each one.... I'm scared to watch the tv series because it could NEVER live up to the way his words painted the pictures in my imagination.

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Great Story

The Stand is excellent. Narration was good, but narrator's female voice was a little weak.

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3 people found this helpful