The Stand

[afroelf]

FOr some reason - despite haveing read SK other work, I have never read the Stand. I filled that gap this weekend by reading the uncut version. I must say, like a lot of SK's work, although generally a good read, it does get a bit boring in the middle when he seems to be putting his view of governance forward as the conversations of the free zone committee.
Basically my criticism of it is that it feels very dated. I think because he tried to set it in what was then the future it has a very 70's feel and you cannot get away from the feeling that the free zone characters are all old college liberals from the 60's civil rights movements. Nothing wrong with that, but it does give the book a definate nostalgic lilt.
My other problem is that some characters get flu, get sick, linger and then die, but then why is the US covered by people in cars who seemed to have died instantly? Or fallen face down in their soup? Is the idea that the flu killed some people so fast that it was basically instant, but then others took a few days? THat was not very cler and bothered me somewhat.
Otherwise a fun read - just a pity my spring hayfever has the same syptoms as captain trips.

[Lenny]

One of the reasons it might seem a bit dated is that he originlly wrote and published it in the late 70s. It was then re-released as an unabridged version in 1990, with a few changes by King - namely changing the dates from 80s to 90s, and adding in a few pop culture references.

How long did it take the guy right at the beginning to die (Campbell, was he called?)? It was a matter of hours, wasn't it? Most people would carry on driving if they had a cold, and with something that's as quick as Captain Trips, it would lead to them all dying in their cars. I suppose that the mass exodus would have caused traffic jams, too, which would have meant a lot of people would have been in their cars for much longer than usual, too.

I know what you mean! I've read it twice, and both times I've had a cold!! Scary stuff, ain't it?

[Lioness]

Originally Posted by Lenny

I know what you mean! I've read it twice, and both times I've had a cold!! Scary stuff, ain't it?

I was reading it, and my dad kept coughing. Then my sister coughed.

[j. d. worthington]

Moving to the King subforum, where it is likely to garner more responses....

[Omphalos]

I have always loved this book. Lots of typical Stephen King junk in it, but overall a great story. I wrote an essay about it recently. Here is a link:

Omphalos' Book Reviews: Book Info