The Stand by Stephen King

# 21.33 of 54 BBC Big Read

In this big list, there were 3 books that I was not really looking forward to read. Of these 3 I have finished two and while it had been hard work, I wouldn’t say it wasn’t enjoyable. Maybe 3rd one would be fruitful too. Will cross the bridge when I need to meet Ulysess.

First the rant. The book was first published in 1978 and had some 800 odd pages. As if 800 was not enough, author revisited and republished adding a few hundred pages coming to 1200 odd pages only. This is the second biggest book I have ever read in my entire life. Credit for first would go to ‘The Suitable Boy’. And the entire lord of the rings has fewer pages than this. Not sue what was added or what needed to be added to make this book more fuller experience for the readers.

The first half is basically about a covid like pandemic and how it spread from a lab leakage from one person to entire humanity. This pandemic had a 99% death rate and only 1% survive. How do the 1% come together. Do they build back society or do they degenerate into savages each fighting for their own survival taking what they want and some more, running after power and killing others ruthlessly.

Out of this pandemic, we are introduced to our heroes some likely and some unlikely. We know they are going to meet and then form army of the good and fight the good vs evil game. Reminded me a lot of Lord of the rings and journey to Mordor. More than that reminded me of ‘The Walking Dead’. The walking dude was so similar to Negan. Harold Lauder to Eugene. Not sure what to make of Nadine. There were quite a lot of characters and after a point I was not sure who Ralph Bretner was. Or what his back story was. Larry is the always taking Musician, Stu Redman one of the first contacts of Patient Zero, Nick Andross visionary like Simon from Lord of the flies, Trashcan Man firebug, M-O-O-N Cullen, Frannie Goldsmith mother of new humanity. 

There is some reference to Poe and Nevermore. Wolves, crows and weasels. What wrong has these animals committed that they are shown in such bad light. Is Jungle book the only book that showed wolves in a good light? What happened to the population of Boulder? Why did they leave empty houses? Some questions have no answers. Its all gods will.

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