How did I not know this about The Stand?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I have a copy from 1978. It is my all time favourite book.

Why did I not know that it was released as an abridged version? I've just discovered that there are about 300 pages missing that are included in a version released in 1990.

I feel like I've stepped into an alternate reality - how did I not know this?

Is there anything else I'm missing, any secret books that SK wrote that I've somehow not come across?

[PepeLePew]

I love The Stand too. It's one of
the few books I've reread and one of the very few I recommend when asked for suggestions.

I've never read the abridged version; I can see there could (could) be an argument for trimming it a bit! I know it was a prerequisite of it being published first time round.

Have you read The Dark Tower series? No secret books but if you like The Stand there are lots of good reasons to read them. And they are pretty great even if you don't.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I have :)
I'm reading It at the moment. I thought I had read every book of his, some several times. I've no idea how I hadn't read it, I think I tried it when I was young, gave up then assumed I'd read it. It's given me proper nightmares.

[Bails2014]

I can remember watching The Stand on TV as a two part thingy when I was about 14, we were on holiday and it was the first scary thing my parents ever let me watch, it was terrifying but enthralling, my first apocalyptic drama, I've been fascinated ever since.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I think it might have been the book that helped me get interested in emerging diseases.

[CheerfulYank]

I love Stephen King so much.

Except today because I was hiking alone in a nature park at dawn and suddenly my stupid traitorous brain decided to recall the plot of A Good Marriage in minute detail and I began to see serial killers behind every tree.

I actually prefer the more edited version of the Stand though there is one storyline that isn't included that I like.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

His stuff has a way of emerging at odd moments doesn't it. I'm going to get The Stand uncut for my holidays. Should keep me going!

[CheerfulYank]

I was actually scared. What a knob! Luckily I had my gigantic Labrador with me. He's as friendly as they come so I couldn't count on him to attack but he WOULD leap on someone and knock them to the ground with joy, giving me time to escape. :o

It also put me in mind of The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, which is so good. Have you read it?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I have, but not for a long time. I should put it on my re-read list. Dh bought me End of Watch yesterday. I prefer his horror stuff, but Finders Keepers was ok, so hopefully this one will be too.

[CheerfulYank]

I haven't read those yet because I'm so upset that his tour for them sold out immediately so I can't go meet him. I am bitter and petty. :o

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

lol! I'd love to meet him. No idea what I'd say mind.

[CheerfulYank]

Oh God. It's probably better that I don't. I'd babble a few words and then burst into tears.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

[CheerfulYank]

Oooh I've just seen that you're reading It! I LOVE It so much but it breaks my heart every time. So does the Stand though, come to that.

"Goodbye, East Texas. It's been pretty goddamn good to know you."

Have you read Dolores Claiborne? And what did you think of Dr Sleep? I have no one to discuss SK with in real life so please humor me

[birdsdestiny]

Dolores Claiborne was good. I think his books with women as the main characters are particularly good, I love Gerald s Game, and Rode Madder.

[birdsdestiny]

Or Rose Madder even.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I enjoyed Dr Sleep, it was a good tale. I don't think it had some of the nuances of The Shining though. But I did like the link between Abra and Danny, It would be quite nice to have that!

I didn't get on so much with Dolores Claibourne, I'm not sure why, my favourite short books are Running man and the Long Walk. What about yours?

[PepeLePew]

I'm too scared to read It. I keep going to download it and stopping because I know I won't be able to sleep afterwards. I've just downloaded the Mr Mercedes trilogy and can see myself getting lost in that. I know what you mean about sobbing; The Stand gets me every time. And I just reread Salem's Lot (off the back of the Dark Tower) and thought how good he is at depicting childhood. I remember Thomas in The Eyes of the Dragon which I read as a teenager and how perfectly he depicted jealousy and loneliness and alienation.

I didn't love Rose Madder. Or rather, I was absorbed for much of it but then it all went very weird and I got bored. I've never felt that about any other Stephen King book I've read.

I said this once before, but please please please can we have a Stephen King web chat, MNHQ? He's promoting his new book - I'm sure he'd love to talk to us all!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

oh yes! a web chat would be amazing!!

[TrionicLettuce]

Lisey's Story is another great one with a female protagonist, though it seems to be a bit of a marmite book. I absolutely love it.

I love Rose Madder as well, I'm listening to the audiobook yet again at the moment

[PepeLePew]

OYBK, I think my favourites, after The Stand, are 11.22.63, Duma Key and Thinner. I have never read The Shining, but it's on my holiday list.

[vikingorigins]

It wasn't sold as an abridged version though. The later one was released as Uncut, so you wouldn't have known.

It's my all time favourite too. I have read it many times (and always expect it to be different)

[littlejeopardy]

I love The Stand! Its my epic of choice, I wish they would do a Game of Thrones style series of it.

I've only read the unabridged version. I'm curious to know what all the differences are. Is it The Kid story that was cut from the original?

[birdsdestiny]

It's funny, most people aren't that keen on Rose Madder, and I think I read somewhere that he SK thought it was one of his weaker books so am on my own on that one! The only book of his that I couldn't finish was the Dome, just could not get on with it . Have you read the talisman ones.

[YoureSoSlyButSoAmI]

I love Dr Sleep except what happened to the baseball boy made me actually feel nauseous and cry.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I guess the Kid story is missing as I don't know that bit. From what I've googled it misses a whole chunk about Captain Tripps. The abridged version says very little about it, it just exists.

We just finished watching 11.22.63 Not too bad for a SK adaptation.

The Shining is a good holiday book :)