Question about The Stand

[Mr. Rainey]

I just finished reading this book (uncut edition, mailed by a King fan from Wisconsin) and am currently deep into The Tommyknockers.

Now obviously only Mr. King has the answer but while i'd love to ask him, I don't think i'll get that opportunity soon, so...Why did Mother Abagail send Glen, Stu, Larry, and Ralph to Vegas? They weren't really needed there, were they? After all, they had no part in ol' Trashy's nuke-fetching incident or the freak miracle that blew the whole thing to pieces. Just seems unnecessary...


Also, is it strange that I find myself absentmindedly reciting the numerous Tommyknocker-related rhymes from King's story while i'm in Algebra class?

[md10pc]

This is just my take on your question, but I think it ties into the title, The Stand. Someone had to take a "stand" against evil. Possibly if the three you mentioned weren't there, the Hand of God might not have appeared when Trashy showed up with the nuclear weapon. It's a great question, I'd love to know what others think.

Not surprised the Tommyknocker rhyme is staying with you. When I saw "Storm of the Century", the "I'm a Little Teapot" song kind of stuck for a while.

[Haunted]

Good men needed to confront evil men on their own turf or be destroyed along with their loved ones at home?

[Matticus]

If they had not gone, everyone in Vegas would not have been gathered in the same place for Trashy to show up.

Public execution tends to bring people out.

[CorbinKale]

This is my personal opinion, and probably has no basis in reality. :biggrin2:

The act of love and loyalty, serving at a level above 'self' was a necessary plot point. Willingly confronting and countering evil at the cost of their lives was possibly a requirement for 'the hand of God' to take action. Requiring a sacrifice says 'god-like' to me.

[Mr. Rainey]

If they had not gone, everyone in Vegas would not have been gathered in the same place for Trashy to show up.

Public execution tends to bring people out.


...Of course! I should've thought of that! Ah well...Back to the rhyme...Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at my door...

[Terry B]

It's your classic good verses evil thing.

[Mr. Rainey]

It's your classic good verses evil thing.


That doesn't really answer the question...And good and evil are petty, why bother with either one?

[scratchesass]

Mother Abagail din't send em..... God did....

[garykingfan]

...Of course! I should've thought of that! Ah well...Back to the rhyme...Late last night and the night before, Tommyknockers, Tommyknockers, knocking at my door...

oh great now its stuck in my head..... good thing i am considered mad anyway!

[md10pc]

If they had not gone, everyone in Vegas would not have been gathered in the same place for Trashy to show up.

Public execution tends to bring people out.

If a nuclear weapon was involved, wouldn't it destroy the whole town, though? I don't think people would need to be gathered in one spot.

[Matticus]

Depends on the size of the nuke I guess, I would consider it a much more efficient way to get it done for sure. Vegas is a huge place and he had all kinds of people in the out laying areas. Certainly make sure you got the leadership.

It is just an opinion though.

[mstay]

I think Matticus is right - And Flagg probably would not have been around when Trashy came back if the boys hadn't been there. Also, Stu had to go with them and fall by the wayside so there would be someone to return and tell what happened to Vegas. Otherwise they would have never stopped worrying about what was going on over there.

[adrianmarley]

The only reason I can think of is that the God portrayed in The Stand is an Old Testament God. Personal sacrifices must be made. He sent Mother Abigail away because she had committed the sin of Pride. So, maybe it was a test to see if the folks in Colorado were worthy of being saved. Dunno. Just a thought.

[LadyHitchhiker]

I think she was probably told by God.

[Q'smum]

oh great now its stuck in my head..... good thing i am considered mad anyway!

Haven't been able to get rid of that rhyme since Tommyknockers was first published. Only thing in a SK novel that raises the hairs on the back of my head. Don't know why, but it does.

[tillyn]

My mother is 76 years old and can you believe when she saw me reading that book,(she has never heard of SK) she recited the poem, to weird.:eek2:

[Q'smum]

My mother is 76 years old and can you believe when she saw me reading that book,(she has never heard of SK) she recited the poem, to weird.:eek2:

:oo:Okay, you just made it worse.....