Stovington, Vermont
First edition cover
|
|
| Author | Stephen King |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | John Cayea |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Post apocalyptic |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
|
Publication date
|
September 1978 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover) |
| Pages | 823 |
| ISBN | |
The Complete & Uncut Edition cover
|
|
| Author | Stephen King |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | John Cayea |
| Country | US |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Postapocalyptic |
| Publisher | Doubleday |
|
Publication date
|
May 1990 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 1,152 |
| ISBN | |
The Stand is a post-apocalyptic horror/fantasy novel by American author Stephen King. It expands upon the scenario of his earlier short story "Night Surf" and outlines the total breakdown of society after the accidental release of a strain of influenza that had been modified for biological warfare causes an apocalyptic pandemic which kills off the majority of the world's human population.
The novel was originally published in 1978 in hardcover, with a setting date of 1980. The first paperback release in 1980 changed the setting date to 1985. The book was later re-released in 1990 as The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition; King restored some text originally cut for brevity, added and revised sections, changed the setting of the story to 1990, and updated a few pop culture references accordingly.
The Stand was nominated for the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1979, and was adapted into both a television miniseries for ABC and a graphic novel published by Marvel Comics. It marks the first appearance of Randall Flagg, King's recurring antagonist, whom King would bring back many times in his later writings.
King dedicated the book to his wife, Tabitha: "For Tabby: This dark chest of wonders."
Note that depending upon the edition of the novel, the dates of The Stand occur in either 1980-1981, 1985-1986, or 1990-1991.
June 16 – July 4
At a remote U.S. Army base, a weaponized strain of influenza known as "Project Blue" is accidentally released inside a secret underground laboratory. Charles Campion, a soldier charged with security, manages to escape the base by car with his wife and child. By the time the Army tracks Campion down to the East Texas town of Arnette and establishes a cordon sanitaire around it, he as patient zero has already died of the Project Blue virus and spread it to numerous others beyond the cordon. A pandemic of apocalyptic proportions is triggered, which eventually kills off 99.4% of the world's human population.
...
Wikipedia