The Stand Summary and Complete Study Guide

Four volunteers—Stu, Glen, Larry, Ralph—walk to Vegas to confront Flagg, knowing they'll probably die. It's an act of faith. Stu breaks his leg and can't continue. The other three reach Vegas where Flagg's people capture them and prepare a crucifixion. But one of Flagg's followers went insane from evil deeds and Flagg can't control him. The follower detonates a nuke, destroying Vegas and Flagg (though King hints Flagg survives elsewhere). The good guys win, but barely, and mostly through luck or divine intervention. Stu survives, reunites with Frannie and their baby. Society starts rebuilding but will people make the same mistakes? King shows that good/evil aren't abstract—they're choices people make daily. Civilization is fragile. And in apocalyptic scenarios, humans revert to tribalism quickly. It's about faith (even for non-believers), taking stands against evil, and how starting over doesn't guarantee avoiding past mistakes.

Published 1978, expanded edition 1990. King's apocalyptic epic has sold millions and influenced post-apocalyptic fiction profoundly. The 1994 miniseries introduced it to TV audiences. COVID-19 pandemic sent sales surging as readers saw parallels with the superflu. King explores American mythology—good versus evil, frontier rebuilding, religious faith versus technological progress. Randall Flagg became one of King's recurring villains across multiple books. The novel proves horror can tackle big themes about society, faith, and human nature. Its length (over 1,100 pages in complete edition) hasn't stopped it from being one of King's most beloved works.