The Stand

The Stand is an apocalyptic horror novel by Stephen King. The novel, originally published in 1978, remains a favorite of many King fans.

Plot Sequence

The story begins with the decimation of the population of North America (and presumably the world) following the escape and spread of a man-made biological weapon (a superflu virus) known formally as "Project Blue" and colloquially as "Captain Trips". The novel continues with the intertwining cross-country odysseys of the small number of survivors, including a pregnant college student, a laid-off factory worker from Texas, a high school outcast, a deaf-mute wanderer, a mentally-impaired man, a dissatisfied pop musician, and a pessimistic sociology professor. They are drawn together by their shared dreams of an elderly psychic woman whom they see as a refuge. This woman, known as Mother Abigail Freemantle, becomes the spiritual leader of this group of survivors, who begin to attempt to re-establish a democratic society in an adopted Colorado town. Meanwhile, another group of survivors including a common thief, an arsonist, and the ex-chief of the Santa Monica PD are drawn to Las Vegas, Nevada by another entity, an evil being with supernatural powers known as Randall Flagg, the "dark man", or the "walkin' dude". Flagg's rule is tyrannical and brutal yet effective. The two camps become aware of one another, and each recognizes the other as a threat to its survival, setting up a final confrontation involving a salvaged nuclear weapon.

Related Topics:
Biological weapon - Superflu - Virus - Sociology - Santa Monica - PD - Las Vegas - Nevada - Nuclear weapon

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