I am not a horror reader. When I was in elementary school, I used to occasionally enjoy reading a scary story, but, to use a phrase very ironically, "nevermore." I assume it is for this reason that I have never gotten around to reading a single Stephen King book, even though he may be the most renowned author of our time.
Well, I have been missing out.
Just recently, I finished Stephen King's The Stand. It is an excellent book, that is not very scary, but is very powerful and well-written. The Stand is a post-apocalyptic story. The United States government creates a superflu with a 99.4% death rate. The virus leaks out into the country through a morbid mistake. Within a few weeks, only .6% of the world is still alive. In 1985, when the story takes place, that would leave almost 29,000 people in the whole world.
Among the survivors, of whom the story is obviously about, are the following important characters:
Larry Underwood, singer of the hit song "Baby, Can You Dig Your Man?";
Harold Lauder, a teenager with impure thoughts;
Frannie Goldsmith, a pregnant unwed young woman;
Stuart Redman, a tough Texan who does what he can for others;
Glen Bateman, a retired sociology professor;
Nick Andros, an intelligent deafmute;
Lloyd Henreid, a convicted murderer from a Nevada prison.
These people and all the other survivors of the superflu are spread out across the United States. At night, though, they have strange dreams. One dream is of a very old black woman in Nebraska, the picture of goodness and purity. The other dream is of a very dark and evil man west of the Rockies. Every person is drawn to one of these two for their own reasons.
King writes the story excellently. It is not a quick read (800+ pages), so he can truly tell the story of every person and their quest to make a new life when all others have gone. Anyone who loves fiction or science fiction should read this excellent addition to writing.
Note: This book has two versions. I read the original version, although there is also an uncut version of the story that I have not read. Also, younger readers should wait to read this, as it has a lot of mature content.
Original Version:
http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Modern-Classics-Stephen-King/dp/0517219018/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217964325&sr=8-1
Uncut and Expanded Version:
http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Expanded-First-Complete-Signet/dp/0451169530/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217964325&sr=8-2
Grade: 9
Well, I have been missing out.
Just recently, I finished Stephen King's The Stand. It is an excellent book, that is not very scary, but is very powerful and well-written. The Stand is a post-apocalyptic story. The United States government creates a superflu with a 99.4% death rate. The virus leaks out into the country through a morbid mistake. Within a few weeks, only .6% of the world is still alive. In 1985, when the story takes place, that would leave almost 29,000 people in the whole world.
Among the survivors, of whom the story is obviously about, are the following important characters:
Larry Underwood, singer of the hit song "Baby, Can You Dig Your Man?";
Harold Lauder, a teenager with impure thoughts;
Frannie Goldsmith, a pregnant unwed young woman;
Stuart Redman, a tough Texan who does what he can for others;
Glen Bateman, a retired sociology professor;
Nick Andros, an intelligent deafmute;
Lloyd Henreid, a convicted murderer from a Nevada prison.
These people and all the other survivors of the superflu are spread out across the United States. At night, though, they have strange dreams. One dream is of a very old black woman in Nebraska, the picture of goodness and purity. The other dream is of a very dark and evil man west of the Rockies. Every person is drawn to one of these two for their own reasons.
King writes the story excellently. It is not a quick read (800+ pages), so he can truly tell the story of every person and their quest to make a new life when all others have gone. Anyone who loves fiction or science fiction should read this excellent addition to writing.
Note: This book has two versions. I read the original version, although there is also an uncut version of the story that I have not read. Also, younger readers should wait to read this, as it has a lot of mature content.
Original Version:
http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Modern-Classics-Stephen-King/dp/0517219018/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217964325&sr=8-1
Uncut and Expanded Version:
http://www.amazon.com/Stand-Expanded-First-Complete-Signet/dp/0451169530/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217964325&sr=8-2
Grade: 9
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