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The Stand

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The Stand

Written by: Stephen King
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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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 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
Fantasy Fiction Horror Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Scary Survival Dystopian Social justice Zombie Thriller Classics

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

Average Customer Ratings
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Wow

This was great. It didn't take me long to get hooked. 10/10, would recommend. The narrator is also fantastic.

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A masterpiece

What can i say, no fake hype there, after maybe 2 or 3 chapters i couldn't stop. The narrator is very good. Now imagine they decided to make a serie of 9 episode? How could anyone screw it up? Well watch the serie and find out !

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The stand

Thought provoking, what a book to read following a pandemic. I could not put it down.

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Excellent book, perfectly narrated

I thoroughly enjoyed this book for the second time. I can’t say enough for the narrator. I would definitely recommend.

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what a ride....

I read the stand a number of years ago, it still as awesome now as it was then.
this is a great story by Mr. King.

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Very well done.

Awesome as a page Turner or an audio book. Money well spent. Tons of listening hours

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So good

What a great story. if you haven't read it or listened to it you are missing out. The reader is good and makes a great performance of the various characters.

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great telling of a great story.

It's a great story with a fantastic narrator. Keeps you on the edge of your seat.

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The Stand

Very interesting story written last years ago now, but aspire to correct time times.

Glad not to be Ling through that, but some do does apply to 2021.

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Narrator is beyond amazing

Ive listened to about a dozen different audio books, and would say that this Narrator and this performance is the best I've ever heard. He expresses the characters and words in the demeaner its meant to be presented in, and does different voices and tones for each character. I actually thought at times there had been multiple narrators. The story is very good and the narrator sells the narrative amazingly well. would 100% recommend this book for those that love Stephen King stories.
The story is broken into 3 books, with the first book having alot of smaller chapters which made it very easy to pick up and put down. Book 2 was a little harder, as most chapters seemed to lend to 1-2 hours length, and crossed multiple story paths. book 3 went back to more manageable chapters sizes, if you like listening to in little splints (As a book thats 48 hours long, sorta has to be). Overall, would definitely recommend

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