The Stand
by Stephen King
Dystopian
Horror
Science Fiction
Supernatural
Suspense
Thriller
Review #1
* * * * * Stars (Amazing!)
Stephen King’s “The Stand” is a dystopian genre novel (though flavorings of multiple genres are present in the text) that chronicles the journeys of an ensemble cast of characters as they learn to survive in an America that has been ravaged by a genetically engineered plague known as the Superflu. As the survivors of the plague begin to adjust to their new reality, they are thrust into a supernatural standoff of sorts when they begin to experience visons of two different leading figureheads, one representing the forces of good, and the other representing the forces of evil.
The first thing that will likely stand out to readers when they access a copy of “The Stand”, whether it be a hardback, ebook, or audiobook, is that the text is possessed of an incredible length. The book is around 1145 pages in total, and this might understandably put off some readers. Readers might also find some passages of the book to be slower paced than others. However, aside from these few negatives, “The Stand” is an epic in the truest sense, borrowing elements from the dystopian, horror, and science fiction genres to answer questions about human nature in a way that feels coldly honest despite some the more fantastical elements of the text. The novel, once fully consumed, can be viewed as a satisfyingly full dark fairytale about human beings and the effects of the choices they make. Published for adults, but older teens may also enjoy.
