The Stand, Favorite Character & Question

[tak113454]

Well, I finished the Stand complete and uncut. I have never read the book before, so I was wondering for anyone who has read the two versions how the original (cut) version adds up. I felt like the Stand ended way too quickly for my liking, I would have been happy with another hundred pages tacked on fleshing out the last section of the book. So, I'm curious how those who have read both versions feel.

Also just curious as to who your favorite character in the book is?
The Kid is mine, for sure!!!

[Black Flagg]

Also just curious as to who your favorite character in the book is?
The Kid is mine, for sure!!!
Good thing you read the unabridged version then, because Trashy's encounter with him wasn't in the original!

As for my favorite STAND characters, I'd have to go with Stu or Nick because those are the two characters that seem to make the same decisions I would have made if put in their situation.

[Cody44]

Larry Underwood is my favorite. His story was the best of all the characters for me.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

The Uncut is far superior IMO. I believe it's the greatest novel of the 20th century, bar none.

The discussion between Frannie and her mum, and the story of The Kid are missing from the original (cf the Foreword in the Uncut), and it's much fuller and richer than the original.

And Stu Redman. Or Glen. Or maybe Kojak. Oh, I can't choose LOL.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Srbo]

I agree with the previous posts.

As for " another 1oo pages " like you say...I`m pretty sure that nobody would mind another thousand, but Sai King called that book " his own personal Vietnam ", meaning he had a wee bit of trouble finishing it anyhow, so I guess he is pretty happy with those " measely " thousand and change pages...:smile2:

[devious1]

yeah Stephen had quite a time getting through this one. i believe he said he had hit a wall and didn't know where to go with the story so he decided to blow up half the cast and see what that would lead to lol... never read the cut version, only the uncut so i can't help you there... if i had to choose a favorite character? i'd say Stu Redman.

[adrianmarley]

I've just re-read the "cut" version and enjoyed it. Harold Lauder is my favourite character. The Kid doesn't appear in this version, so I've no opinion as to whether he or she is a good character or not. I still have a problem with the ending, though, which makes it a 4-star book as opposed to a 5-star book.

[elysian]

i believe he said he had hit a wall and didn't know where to go with the story so he decided to blow up half the cast and see what that would lead to lol...

I just wish he had chosen a bit differently - well, for one character, anyway :glare:

I first read the original version, before there was a "complete and uncut" edition. I got the new version as soon as I could (It was so painful to see the hardcover in stores and, being a kid, not being able to buy it!) and I love it even more - for a novel as great as The Stand, the more the merrier in my opinion.
Favorite character is Nick.

[bio_chem06]

My favorite character is Larry Underwood. It seems like he has the most depth and his evolution as a human being is great. I also like the way his song connects the story together. Everyone sings it, even if they haven't met him yet.

[nunu_chis]

I read the short version and it didn`t seem any "short" to me. I noted some blank spaces between some chapters and the next one... but I really liked the book and I think that the uncut version would have seemed to long to me.. what I liked from this one is that every conversation, every scene was important.
My favourite character... mmh, it`s hard to say... I think I choose Stu. But the one that I liked most to read about was Harold

[Dark Reader]

I read the original a while back and read the uncut version a couple of months ago, the difference for me was massive, the fall of civilisation was played out in lots more detail in the uncut version and the book ended flowing better because of it.

I have the same favourite characters as Mr Dalglish, great taste John! these are Stu, Glen and Kojak

[wally wonder]

Nick & Tom, both, together.

[karend3]

I preferred the longer unedited version. And I agree Stu and Nick are my favorites because they stood up and took command when needed. Even though it was Larry and the farmer that did the final standing, Stu and Nick lead most of the way. Also I loved MOON man.

[Father Callahan]

????

[linkinjen2001]

favorite character, stu. i have never read the cut version

[Sterling]

I have only read The Compete and Uncut Edition and my favorite character was for sure Nick Andros. I felt as if I had a real connection with him and I was very upset when he died.

[tillyn]

The unabridged was long enough for me, i have to go re-read it because it's been years, and now that i'm finishing the DT series, i have to because it is like ying and yang the two stories. I want to see if DT is mentioned in the Stand as much as The Stand events are mentioned in the DT series.

[Autumnlyn]

Who was my favorite character? Hard to say. If I had to pick I would pick Nick, however I really enjoyed reading the section where you had the 'dog perspective' of Kojack. WASPS IN MY NOSE!!

Uncut version, hands down winner

[cwalrus]

Larry, Frannie, Nick,and of course Randall Flagg are my favorite main characters.

Favorite supporting character would have to be Glen Bateman.

My favorite passages though are the ones that focus on Mother Abagail and her strong religious convictions combined with Glen Bateman's sociological observations and dialogues. Those two aspects of the book really helped make it the thought-provoking brilliant story that it is.

[jchanic]

Of course, the Uncut version is a far better read.

My favorite character is M-O-O-N, which spells Tom Cullen!

John

[Prince of Darkness]

Hi tak113454,

My favorite character was definitely Larry Underwood, mainly because he seemed to suffer the most among them all (besides Nick, who is my second-favorite) and had the most trouble in the beginning when Captain Trips first broke out.

The Stand is also the finest novel ever, and by far my favorite. Neither of the Dark Tower books match up to it (although the series as a whole is about three times better) so it MUST be good.

The best scene had to be the last one, in my opinion, because Russel Faraday just sounds so cool... and I like the illustration there. I don't know if it is in all the editions, but it's in my Signet copy.

Anyway, highly recommended IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Turd Ferguson]

I have never read the cut version. Stu is my favorite character in The Stand.

[Teddy Duchamp]

First of all the Stand is my favourite book of all time. My proudest possession is a letter signed by SK in the late 1970s when I wrote to him telling him how much I loved it and why!

Given this much thought and I would say my favourite character was Larry - simply because he was so "flawed" in a lot of ways and made many mistakes (his mother etc) but in the end his innate goodness came through.

Tom Cullen is up there also - such a lovable innocent - so guileless yet he was the one sent to do such an important job! And in the end he was one of the main characters who contributed to the essence of the story.

Although they werent my favourites by ANY means - I have to say I was very interested in Nadine and Harold's characters - and kept thinking that by the smallest change in the choices they made they could have had a very different future - and in all that came my realisation of what a fantastic writer is (although I already knew LOL)..........he pointed out so well all of our imperfections - the "heroes" in the story werent "real heroes" like a Clint Eastwood film, but real people - and I felt so sad for Harold and Nadine.........

oh Im starting to ramble now sorry!! I just loved this book SOOOO much!:love:

[Ricky]

I read the long version and I do not have any interest in reading the short one, better full than half, my favorites characters were Harold, Larry, Tom, and of course Randall Flagg, I must said I felt very sad about the endings of Harold and Larry, most of Larry, because he died without knowing if he was a good man.

[TheHardcase]

Larry Underwood, by far. The man begins his journey as some kind of quasi-sociopathic manipulator and part-time druggie. He literally agonizes over his life on his journey to character, integrity and commitment.

It was an inspiring, albeit heartrending process to witness.

[JRLauer]

I've only read the uncut version. Randall Flagg is my favorite. He's so charming and evil at the same time. Not to many people can pull that off.

[tess4da]

Abagail Freemantle. She was the glue that held them all together. :)

[LadyHitchhiker]

I loved ALL the characters, but I think I liked Larry and Stu immediately the best, but they are all so real to me now it is hard to choose.

This is my favorite book of his of all time. I prefer the uncut version. So much more Trashy!!!

[Trailmix]

I've never read the original, the uncut version is the original plus a whole lot more.

My favorite character is Larry Underwood, because I actually relate to him. xD

[lazuraspit232]

I read the original about 15 years ago and I did not like it (don't know why), and just recently I read the complete and uncut version, and I think it is not only King's best novel, but the best novel I have ever read. I can't remember any specific differences just the original did not have the same flow to it, I thought it was harder to read, and I left it feeling it could have been a lot better. The uncut version was perfection, the only complaint I had with it was I felt it wasn't long enough.

My favorites are Larry Underwood, and Lloyd Henreid.

[Jax]

I think my fave would be Randall Flagg, and then Larry. I just get a kick out of Flagg's sense of humor. To me in a way he is like the character Dr. Lector, in that he's evil as hell, but there's something about him you like. And poor Larry was just trying to get it right and do the best he could day by day.

[Peut-Etre]

._. Am I the only one who didn't like Stu? He bugged me, and it's not that he was a bad character by any means. I think my stigma with him is that he survived and Glen, Larry, and Ralph died D:

[bopropadop]

I agree with others who find The Stand to be one of the best, if not the best, they've ever read. I read the original 30 years ago and then the uncut when it came out. Hands down, the uncut is better. More story - namely The Kid and dialogue between Frannie and her mom (echoing what John D said earlier). I believe it rivals War and Peace for its epic sweep from coast to coast, multitude of characters, and converging story lines.

I can't pick one favorite character. I love all the "good guys" but I'm most captivated by Flagg due to his appearance in so many other SK works.

The classic final touch is the fact that The Stand (and so many other works) ties into the Dark Tower series. No spoilers here if you haven't read DT, but reading ALL of SK's works makes each individual novel much more meaningful.

[Spaulding]

Larry from the goodguys and Randall Flagg from the badguys.

And i loved The Kid.

[Bad Bear]

My favourite would have to be Tom Cullen. Laws, yes! Harold is also interesting.

Least favourite is Abagail (okay, we get it; you're a God botherer, already!) , plus I don't particularly like Randal Flagg.

I actually think The Stand would have been better if it were a straightforward adventure without the supernatural elements. Abagail and Randal could be replaced with much more believable charismatic leaders, who mesmerised their followers through oratory. The supernatural elements mean that even the most desperate situation can be remedied through a deus ex machina occurance, whilst a non-supernatural tale would have to rely totally on clever plot development.

[Spawn]

I think The Stand could have been a bit longer then it was, the ending was to abrupt and really killed a lot of the book for me. It sucks that endings can ruin that much, and I did enjoy the journey I went on with the characters but the poorly written ending just tainted the story for me.

Well having said that the actual ending I liked the bit with Stu traveling home to Frannie, what I didn't like was how Randall Flagg got beat and that Stephen King seemed to pointlessly blow up half the characters, that really annoyed me. I also can't fathom why Stephen King went for the dues ex machina ending he decided to go for surely he could have done something a bit different, the hand of god coming out the sky, really? Couldn't have he had people rebel against Flagg, he'd even been building that up through the book. The ending just made the whole book seem pointless to me. It seemed to be stating it doesn't really matter what person you are, just so long as you have God on your side then your going to A okay. Really didn't work for me.

Having said that I did really like the book, as for favorite characters I'd have to pick Trashcan Man, just because he was so totally insane yet tragic at the same time. Randall Flagg just because as evil as he was there was something oddly cool about him, and Larry Underwoood because I can relate to him, as I guess a lot of people can.

[K4driver]

Larry Underwood hands down. he changes so much from the start of the book Till the end, that he really had "a change of soul". it also Helps that I kept seeing Larry as my favorite musician,Bruce Springsteen, Or myself the first time around, the second time i kept seeing Bruce.

[sgmonje]

I think Lucy is underrated, she's a nice strong character. But For my favorite It's a nice good/evil tie between Stu and Flagg.

[themadone06]

My favorite characters are Stu, Glenn, Larry, and Nick. Nick and Stu are probably tied for my absolute favorites.

I hated Harold Lauder ever since he was introduced as the fat pimply kid. I don't know why I just couldn't trust him, and in the end I was right.

[michal]

I couldn't disagree more. Another 100 pages? This was an endless saga of characters and story lines all intertwined and I even tough I loved the book and read it (as I do with most of books I like) tens of times, I felt quite a bit of relief having finally put it down.

My fav character is no doubt Tom Cullen, M-O-O-N, that spells MOON. I just love this guy.

[Lily Sawyer]

I refused to re-read The Stand until I owned a hardcover edition of the un-cut version. I am SO glad I made that choice: it had been almost 15 years since I'd read it, and it really was a better read the second, expanded time around.
Favorite character: Nick.
Completely grossed out by Harold Lauder, and the fellow who played him in the mini-series was not frumped up enough by either wardrobe or Hair-and-Make-Up. He needed a fat suit, acne, and greasier hair.

I love The Stand. What a great read.

[aeroplane]

I'd say Glen Bateman is easily my favorite.

Least favorite is either Trashcan Man or Lloyd.

[stellaj]

I read The Stand when it first came out and it is by far my favorite Stephen King novel. I later bought and read the unabridged version, and while I enjoyed the extras, it just filled the story out a little. The story stands on it's own.

My favorite characters are Mother Abagail and Tom Cullen because of what they represent. You have an old, scrawny black woman and a retarded white boy, seemingly side characters, but the whole story hinges on them. The world would view these people as superfluous, powerless, as invisible as the street lights we pass everyday. Yet they carry within themselves the Hand of God, they become the beacons in so many ways. Mother Abagail is aware of it, to her own sorrow; Tom is not. But when he is hypnotized and asked who is responding to the questions being asked, he says, "I am God's Tom." And it is Tom who provides the Boulderites what they need to survive. Even poor Trash Can Man, his fanatic loyalty misplaced, becomes the instrument of the same Creator who guided Mother Abagail and Tom.

I've read and reread the stand many times. Each time it reinforces my faith in humanity and in God.

[Satu]

The book was full of amazing characters, but my absolute favorite was Nick, I was always looking forward to the "Nick chapters" when I was reading it. Tom was a sweetie too!

[LadyHitchhiker]

I liked the unabridged because it allowed a lot more of Danny's story. He and Flagg were my favorite characters because there was so much depth to their stories and so much mystery all in one.

[K4driver]

Favorite:Larry Underwood (My personal character) or maybe nick


Most pitied character: trashcan or Harold
They were both led astray by Flagg who they thought was a god..which resulted in both their deaths

[Leighjavu]

Incredible story, How each the character made their destiny's In the end there was no denying that evil has weakness and can be defeated by it.
Most pitiful dismal characters: Nadine Cross and Trashcan man's short lived sidekick,
"The Kid"..
Poor Harold, He had potential, and figured it out too late..following Nadine, and the same held for her as well..too late.
My favorite good character's were Larry, little Joe (Leo) and Tom Cullen. It was enjoyable how their characters became stronger by making their "Stand" under the guidance of Abagail Freeman.

[DaveN]

My favorite character is Larry Underwood. It seems like he has the most depth and his evolution as a human being is great. I also like the way his song connects the story together. Everyone sings it, even if they haven't met him yet.

Agree 100%. I really liked Nick and Stu as well.


This really is the best book I've ever read. I got to the last 20 pages and didnt want it to end. I wanna forget what happened so i got can pick it up and read it all over again!

[Ted Brautigan]

Nick Andros was absolutely my favorite character. I think of all the characters he was the strongest especially with his disability. I was very upset when he died and wasn't included in the Stand against Flagg. I was even sadder when Mother Abagail said that he was the one who was supposed to lead the Stand but God took him away.
And Larry Underwood was definitely a parallel version of Eddie Dean, or at least to me lol.

[glyde69]

Tough question.

I want to say Larry. I loved his backstory and how he grew over the course of the novel.

Harold was pretty awesome how he changed over the course the book. How close "Hawk" was to turning good!

As I'm a guy that usually roots for the bad guy, this book sports the greatest "bad guy" of all time in Randall Flagg.

In the end though, my favorite character is STU REDMAN. From the beginning(his backstory), he always got the spit end of the stick, and yet his unwavering "goodness" never changed. He always did the right thing at the right time. One of the few "good guys" that I genuinely liked and rooted for. I was so happy he got his happy ending!

[glyde69]

Forgot about THE KID. He was incredible. "I'd PISS Coors if I could." LMFAO!

[Ophelia]

Good thing you read the unabridged version then, because Trashy's encounter with him wasn't in the original!


Eeewie, eewie, that was a disgusting encounter. I hated the kid.




As for " another 1oo pages " like you say...I`m pretty sure that nobody would mind another thousand, but Sai King called that book " his own personal Vietnam ", meaning he had a wee bit of trouble finishing it anyhow, so I guess he is pretty happy with those " measely " thousand and change pages...:smile2:

I did feel like SK just said to himself, "Fine, let's just finish this ASAP." once the four left for the west. It went quickly without much explanation, but I think blowing up half the cast worked.

I kept thinking wondering what would happen when all the canned foods and pharmaceuticals expired. Someone would have to learn to farm, learn to make medicine. What would folks do? And when Frannie and Stu went back toward Maine, what would they do about the diseases from all those damp, rotting bodies??


I was also SUPER thrilled to finally have some of my questions from the Dark Tower series answered.

Oh yeah, my favorite character was Tom Cullen. And then Nick & Stu. And Kojak because he was just stinkin' cool.

[midnightlady]

I read both books, and both are very good. As far as a favorite character, I think Stuart, Nick, Tom Cullen, Glen, Larry, and Kojak. I'm easy!

[DancingCorpse]

Forgot about THE KID. He was incredible. "I'd PISS Coors if I could." LMFAO!

LOL now it comes back to me why i loved that guy. What an odd character. All through his section i found myself laughing and wondering what the heck this guy was on. I just wish i could have seen more of him, it would have been interesting to see how he panned out that's for sure.

You believe that happy crappy? :biggrin2:

[K4driver]

there are four things in this world that do not expire "Slim jims,honey,Water and, Twinkees.

But another favorite quote has gotta be.... "come down and eat chicken with me Beautiful, It's so dark" I just crack up every time I read that

"why did you do that Mr Redman? Sorry that is Classified information"

[curagash]

such a pleasant thing to read all those post, guys.
it's a great experience to read a SK's book and come to read Q & A about it, opinions and impressions.
My favorite character is Glen - the guys who put philosophic depth in the book.

thank you for keeping this place, - Mr. King, moderators and SK's fans.

[Er0tic NeUr0t1c]

randal flagg, of course, and TrashCanMan... crazy muhfuh

[randallFlaggfan1]

I read the short version and it didn`t seem any "short" to me. I noted some blank spaces between some chapters and the next one... but I really liked the book and I think that the uncut version would have seemed to long to me.. what I liked from this one is that every conversation, every scene was important.
My favourite character... mmh, it`s hard to say... I think I choose Stu. But the one that I liked most to read about was Harold

Nunu, you should definitely try the unabridged version. Granted, it is really long, but it's also much more in-depth and rich. Plus, the reader is treated to scenes not found in the original, such as Frannie's confrontation w/ her mother, and the introduction of The Kid.

[Dances_in_Underwear]

Good thing you read the unabridged version then, because Trashy's encounter with him wasn't in the original!

As for my favorite STAND characters, I'd have to go with Stu or Nick because those are the two characters that seem to make the same decisions I would have made if put in their situation.

Stu or Nick are my favorites too. Probably because I could fall in love with men like that.

[LadyDelphia]

Tom Cullen was my favorite character, and his dynamic with Nick Andros was my favorite duo.

[TJLamb0518]

My favorites are Nick Andros and Glen Bateman. I think I'd be more like Glen although I'd want to be more like Nick.

[Stefanie]

Stu or Nick are my favorites too. Probably because I could fall in love with men like that.


Same with me. Absolutley fell in love with Nick, but I wasn´t so much into Stu.
All the characters, their relationships, discussions and motivations are very authentic (in my opinion). That´s why the novel is so special.

[GNTLGNT]

The wealth of detail in the Unabridged version makes it the book of choice for me-and I'm torn between Glen Bateman, Nick Andros or Tom Cullen. M-O-O-N, that spells favorites!

[Haunted]

Dont't forget Kojak!! I think Kojak and Glenn are my favorites. Maybe because they didn't have all the flaws the others did?

[JohnDalglish]

Dont't forget Kojak!! I think Kojak and Glenn are my favorites. Maybe because they didn't have all the flaws the others did?

Hi,

I never figured out why Glen named him Kojak?

Though I can see why Sai King called him Big Steve.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Sarkisaur]

Although i liked the "good guys", and Larry especially had an interesting character development (loved it when he was struggling with nasty Rita Blakemoor thoughts), as always in King novels, it's the psychotic characters that are most intriguing to me. I loved reading about Harold, and of course, The Kid.

[Algernon]

Stu is my favorite character. That's your Tom Hanks//Jimmy Stewart//Everyman character. Plus he gets to cohort with Molly Ringwald in the movie version.

[aspergillus]

Hard to pick, but have to go with Larry Underwood. Interesting how he changed throughout the book, found what was important, and found love just might save him. Which in the end I believe it did.

[bobledrew]

I have to agree with Larry Underwood as a favorite character. I'm torn over whether he's a hero or an anti-hero; he certainly has most, if not all, of his flaws exposed to the world and the reader, and he's tortured by those flaws. But at the end, he certainly behaves as a hero, sacrificing himself for the greater good. Then again, maybe I just want that Gibson 12-string. :blues:

[aeroplane]

Stu is my favorite character. That's your Tom Hanks//Jimmy Stewart//Everyman character. Plus he gets to cohort with Molly Ringwald in the movie version.

Molly Ringwald would have been worth making the trip to Boulder for, at least as she looked in the movie.

But in all seriousness, Stu isn't one of my favorites and I never really identified or related to "Everyman" types in any sort of literature. I'd be closer to Harold (cynical and bitter) or Larry (tortured and occasionally self-destructive).

[dharmageek]

._. Am I the only one who didn't like Stu? He bugged me, and it's not that he was a bad character by any means. I think my stigma with him is that he survived and Glen, Larry, and Ralph died D:

Totally agree, I loved Stu but he became weaker and weaker for me... He's still a great character but I too was mad that he survived while Glen, Ralph and specially Larry died... I was shocked when it said that they never saw Stu again because I totally thought he was going to die but I got it backwards, they were going to die and I refused to accept that :down:

[thebarbster24]

Favorite characters: Nick, Larry, Harold, Glen, Tom, but if I were to choose just one, then I'd say Nick. I just wished SK would have kept him on longer :sad:

[Haunted]

Just finished my third re-read, and my favorite characters are Glenn, Cujo, Tom and Nick. But if it would come down to it...gimme the dog everytime.:biggrin2:

[Pucker]

Harold Emery Lauder.

While everyone else was jumping at shadows and banking on prehistoric mysitcism, Harold cultivated the petty slights that had shaped him and let his tormentors reap the whirlwind. He was a madman, but his madness was his own.

"I do this of my own free will."

I like Donald Merwin Elbert for much the same reason -- he was a true wild card, beholden to neither the ultimately empty Dark Man nor the cackling old witch -- but his insanity was not nearly as focused as was Harold's.

[cormac]

one character actually that i wish would have been fleshed out a bit more was Dayna Jurgens ... her 'solution' to dealing with Flagg (rather than facing ungodly torture) was such a surprise for me reading ... and i was happy she did it ... seemed to weaken Flagg significantly ... a brave strong character

but i think my favorite is Lloyd Henreid ... the back story of the bunny he had as a kid put my stomach in a knot ... since it seemed so real ... such a 'kid thing' to do ... and being trapped in the prison was pretty horrific ... Flagg's conversation with hi thru the bars of the cell really stands out for me as one of the strongest scenes in the book ... and he's loyal ... regardless of what side he ends up on, his life has been bad ... for many reasons ... but when he's given a chance to excel, he does so ... just a great character i thought ...

kojak is high on my list as well ... i couldn't believe they left him behind when they went west ... but his story of perseverance is a moving and stirring one ... but then again, i'm sure i was a dog in a former life so ;)

[Sprite]

There's no way to even pick a favourite....every one of 'em contributed to making this one of the best books ever written and I'm so glad Mr King decided to release the un-cut version.

[cullen fan]

Tom Cullen was my favourite m-o-o-n spells anything.His innocence saved him and Stu in the end.Larry Underwood is my second favourite I found myself looking forward to chapters that were about him.It's great seeing him go from "Your not a nice man Larry".To the best guy in the book.

[king family fan]

My favorite character was Harold Lauder and I preferred the uncut version. But I did read the other version first,so at the time didn't know I was missing anything.

[M.O.O.N.]

Larry Underwood
I was very upset when he died, seemed like King put a lot of things to waste and for the remainder of the book I kept hoping that he'd miraculously survive

Also, Tom Cullem, who I believe makes up his lack of brains for his strong heart several times. He's such a wonderful fella, always brings a smile to my face when I read about him being happy