The Stand cover art

The Stand

Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection of 900K+ titles.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto-renews for $8.99/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Stand

Written by: Stephen King
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
Try Standard free

$8.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $57.33

Buy Now for $57.33

About this listen

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 more than five hundred pages of 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 read The Stand in its original version and wanted more, this new edition is Stephen King's gift. And those who are reading 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.
Fantasy Fiction Horror Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary Survival Dystopian Social justice Zombie Thriller Classics

What the critics say

"[The Stand] has everything. Adventure. Romance. Prophecy. Allegory. Satire. Fantasy. Realism. Apocalypse. Great!"
—The New York Times Book Review

"A master storyteller."
—Los Angeles Times

“An undisputed master of suspense and terror.”
—The Washington Post


“King is one of the most powerful storytellers we have. His work satisfies on first reading and is even better the second time around.”
—Chicago Tribune

“Crackling . . . with explosive climaxes.”
—The Boston Globe

“[For] those who like their horror on a humongous scale.”
—Los Angeles Times

"As brilliant a dark dream as has ever been dreamed in this century."
—Palm Beach Post


“Peerless imagination.”
—The Observer (London)

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.

All stars
Most Relevant
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.

Brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

There's a LOT of meat to this edition of The Stand, and Grover absolutely nails it.

God-like Gardner Delivers!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Narration was terrific, great book also. I started reading the paperback and after years of trying to get through it due to it's size (and reading other books in between); I decided to audiobook it. Good call 😂

Excellent experience

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Great novel. Narrator is amazing and manages to create distinct personality for each character. #Audible1

Get comfortable constant listener

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very entertaining. But, I am definately a long time Stephen King fan. I guess me and millions of others.

Excellent!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews