The Stand (1978) by Stephen King is a landmark apocalyptic epic that cemented King’s reputation as a master of large-scale horror. Published by Doubleday in its original, edited form (later restored in the 1990 “Complete & Uncut” edition), this sweeping tale of good versus evil follows the survivors of a government-engineered superflu that wipes out 99% of humanity. The narrative divides between Boulder, Colorado—where Mother Abagail leads the forces of light—and Las Vegas, where the demonic Randall Flagg gathers his followers for a final confrontation.
Early printings are prized for containing King’s original, tighter narrative before he restored 400+ pages of cut material in later editions. The novel’s blend of pandemic horror, American mythology, and spiritual warfare resonated deeply with post-Watergate, post-Vietnam anxieties, making it a cultural touchstone.
