I first read Stephen King’s “The Stand” more than a decade ago. A dear friend of mine recommended the book, claiming it is one of King’s best books, and I, being so naïve, fell right into the trap.
Don’t get me wrong. I will never say this book is not good, and it is definitely one of Stephen King’s best works, but you know what they say about his good books. You don’t really want to read them. King writes an average of two books a year, and has now written more than fifty, and luckily he did, because if he weren’t all occupied with writing, he would have probably killed us all. This author’s mind is so full of crazy and horrifying ideas, that you just have to wonder from time to time if there is something wrong with this guy.
Take this book for instance – a simple malfunction causes the release of a deadly genetically engineered flu virus. The virus spreads around the world and eliminates over ninety percent of humanity. Fun Fun Fun. And this is just the first third of the book. The survivors, which for some reason did not catch the disease are slowly gathered around two main forces – good and evil – and now have to get ready for the inevitable war between the two sides.
This is probably one of Stephen King’s less frightening books, and it is most definitely not even close to It on the horror scale, but his descriptions can send shivers down your spine. Say what you will about this madman, he knows how to make the reader bite his nails and think twice before turning off the lights at night. Just imagine New York piled with rotting bodies. Go on, imagine it. Why should I suffer all alone?
I truly have no idea why I read this book again. Maybe after I recently read King’s “11/22/63” I thought it wouldn’t be so horrific. And in some aspects, it isn’t. But between you and me, who am I kidding? It is.
A horrifying, excellent and unbearable book. Highly recommended for horror lovers and for any of you who don’t like sleeping at night.
Five beakers filled with germs
The Stand / By Stephen King / Doubleday
P.S
Whatever you do, don’t even try to read this book in the midst of a flu epidemic.
