M-O-O-N that spells inaccuracy **Spoilers**

[Jeff87]

Let me first start by saying that The Stand is a very good book. However, I was disappointed based on all the people raving about it. I read IT just before The Stand and loved it. And people have said that The Stand is even better. I found IT to be much more exciting, and a better read. Here are my issues with The Stand.

First of all, there seemed to be so many technical errors and liberties taken. Most of the time I can shrug them off, but after a while they tend to get irritating. For example, how come people can get superflu when no one around is contagious? Even if you assume it to be air born, are we supposed to believe that the virus survived for 9 months with no hosts? Granted, I'm not a doctor and maybe I'm completely wrong; it may be possible. But it seems too farfetched even for Stephen King.

Also, at some point in the book (i forgot where exactly) it was clearly concluded that immunity to the virus was not in any way genetically based. And this conclusion was rational since there were no known cases of two family members surviving. Certainly, if there was any genetic basis to it, then family members would be fairly common in the free zone. Yet, at the end, they conclude that the immunity is genetic and Fran's baby lives because it has Fran's half of the immunity, and that two immune couple will certainly make an immune baby.


Another more trivial one is that Harold and Larry both were able to siphon gas out of a ground well. Its almost common knowledge that a siphon does not work against gravity.

Another minor one that always puzzled me was Harold's "risky" task of painting the words on the barn roof. I don't understand why his feet had to be dangling off the edge off the roof. Who said he had to be directly under the letters when painting them? Why couldn't he paint them on upside down or just stand to the side of them as he painted?

This was very trivial, but I also couldn't figure out why Flagg kept switch back and forth between being extremely hot and extremely cold. Its like King couldn't make up his mind on whether he wanted him to represent the devil by being hot and radiating heat, or having a cold chill pass through people in his presence.

Oh and why were there all kinds of things running like saws and blenders in the free zone when the power was turned on? Who gets terminally ill with such a debilitating virus and then decides to go cut some wood or bake a cake seconds before dieing? The book seemed full of little stuff like this that became frustrating.

Lastly, I am not a feminist by any means, but there were certainly tones of sexism that I did not appreciate. Fran at one point thanked all men for their sacrifices essentially concluded that they are much more important than women after the apocalypse.

I want to reiterate that I did like the book. Overall, it was very good, and its a shame that it had so many of these minor flaws. I know there's a lot of diehard fans that are not going to like this post, and I'm just hope that I don't end up in a cage with two square holes and handcuff-chains.

[JohnDalglish]

I know there's a lot of diehard fans that are not going to like this post,

Hi,

Yup, that's right.

And even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

Long days and pleasant nights

[ConstantReader1973]

Ummmmmm, it's a STORY! And fiction.

Everyone has a right to their own opinion, and mine is that you have wasted a goodly amount of time complaining about little things that may or may not be far-fetched. It is, after all, a work of fiction, and most writers use "poetic license" when writing fiction.

Welcome to the SKMB. I certainly hope that all the comments on your post (they are sure to come, hard and fast) don't scare you away. This is a wonderful place to gather, but you have poked the bear, so I hope you are prepared for the growls and the roars!

[PatInTheHat]

Most of the time I can shrug them off, but after a while they tend to get irritating.


Ya know, I know exactly what you be talkin' 'bout, spooky idnit:eyebrow:?

[J.T. Adams]

I'll just comment on one of your rantings . . .

Why do you think the power has to go out the second before people were dying??? Some died later than other people, and power goes out at different times for the country.

[blunthead]

Hi, and welcome to the SKMB! Let me ask are IT and The Stand the only Stephen King books you've read so far? If that's so I don't imply anything except do you think you're perception of The Stand may be skewed by a preference for IT? Your objections to The Stand sound to me as if while reading you meant to have a critical attitude.

I'd like to know your response, but in any event, keep posting and especially keep reading!

[fushingfeef]

For example, how come people can get superflu when no one around is contagious? Even if you assume it to be air born, are we supposed to believe that the virus survived for 9 months with no hosts? Granted, I'm not a doctor and maybe I'm completely wrong; it may be possible. But it seems too farfetched even for Stephen King.

I'm not a doctor either. I think a virus can live in a dead body for a little while, but probably not 9 months. The main thing to remember is that this is not a naturally occurring disease, but a man-designed one, so all bets are off. Maybe it was designed to last much longer. This notion didn't seem particularly farfetched to me.


Also, at some point in the book (i forgot where exactly) it was clearly concluded that immunity to the virus was not in any way genetically based. And this conclusion was rational since there were no known cases of two family members surviving. Certainly, if there was any genetic basis to it, then family members would be fairly common in the free zone. Yet, at the end, they conclude that the immunity is genetic and Fran's baby lives because it has Fran's half of the immunity, and that two immune couple will certainly make an immune baby.

It could be such a rare mutation that even family members didn't share it, but it could still be passed on to children of 2 parents with this mutation. It would be rare for any two people with this mutation to meet before the superflu virus wiped everyone out, but now all that are left are immune people, they can easily find an immune mate.



Another more trivial one is that Harold and Larry both were able to siphon gas out of a ground well. Its almost common knowledge that a siphon does not work against gravity.

Good catch, although if you were significantly downhill from the tank and ran a long enough tube, you could do it.


Another minor one that always puzzled me was Harold's "risky" task of painting the words on the barn roof. I don't understand why his feet had to be dangling off the edge off the roof. Who said he had to be directly under the letters when painting them? Why couldn't he paint them on upside down or just stand to the side of them as he painted?

I've worked on roofs and gutters and it would be very awkward to put your head lower than your feet, it just doesn't feel right to your normal sense of balance. Harold probably didn't make the wisest decision but painting upside-down is probably even more dangerous. I am not sure how he could go to the side of the letters if the end of the letters were close to the edge of the roof.


This was very trivial, but I also couldn't figure out why Flagg kept switch back and forth between being extremely hot and extremely cold. Its like King couldn't make up his mind on whether he wanted him to represent the devil by being hot and radiating heat, or having a cold chill pass through people in his presence.

These would both be characteristics of someone who is not human, and I think that was the point King was trying to get at. King doesn't necessarily have to be tied down to the old notions of what hot and cold represent, after all it is his story. Also historically Hell has been represented by flames, but in Dante's Inferno there are extremely cold parts as well.


Oh and why were there all kinds of things running like saws and blenders in the free zone when the power was turned on? Who gets terminally ill with such a debilitating virus and then decides to go cut some wood or bake a cake seconds before dieing? The book seemed full of little stuff like this that became frustrating.

These are just the devices that were running when the power went out. Surely when the power went out, there were plenty of people who did not yet have the debilitating flu symptoms. The power went out when there wasn't enough staff to keep the power going. If the power station guys got wiped out by the flu first, lots of people had yet to contract it.


Lastly, I am not a feminist by any means, but there were certainly tones of sexism that I did not appreciate. Fran at one point thanked all men for their sacrifices essentially concluded that they are much more important than women after the apocalypse.

King has always been a vocal champion for women and women's rights, that doesn't mean that one character can't say what she is thinking at the moment. You wouldn't hold King accountable for all the things that Flagg says and does, so why do you assume Fran is speaking for King? Maybe at the moment Fran wanted to say something nice about men.



I want to reiterate that I did like the book. Overall, it was very good, and its a shame that it had so many of these minor flaws. I know there's a lot of diehard fans that are not going to like this post, and I'm just hope that I don't end up in a cage with two square holes and handcuff-chains.

I thought the story worked very well and I'm sorry you were distracted by these flaws you mention. You did mention you liked It, which I also like, but I'm sure we could find lots of technicalities to hold against that as well. Perhaps you just had very high expectations that were going to be difficult to meet after hearing so many good things about the book.

[~Ally~]

It's been a long time since I've read The Stand so I don't really feel qualified to answer your queries. I've read it twice, though, and enjoyed it immensely both times. If you're finding such minor points irritating then it sounds like maybe this isn't the book for you. That's no big deal, ya can't love 'em all...in fact, I posted a thread here about that a while ago. It seems some people CAN love 'em all. Sheesh, who knew? :dunno:

Anyhoo, what other SK books have you read and enjoyed, apart from IT? Maybe we could give you some recommendations of other's you may like, based on your likes, and apparent dislike of The Stand. Welcome to the board!

[GNTLGNT]

This novel is my all-time favorite STORY..it's not a scientific friggin' treatise...nor a textbook or a technical manual-items that are supposed to be error free!!!!It's a tale to be enjoyed, not dissected...GOOD GOD, am I weary of all the anal retentive "picker aparters" out there...move on and flame somebody else's world!

[melindaville]

I don’t know what you mean by “how come people can get superflu when no one around is contagious?” Campion WAS contagious—that’s how it spread originally. Then it was so highly designed, it spread very quickly—and plus, the virus kept changing and modifying and was also different for different people. Some people succumbed right away—yet others seemed to get better then became very sick again. I thought the government creating this kind of biological weapon was one of the most believable aspects of the book.

As far as who is immune and who isn’t—let’s try to suspend the same disbelief we did to believe that Mother Abigail was a modern day Moses leading the children who survived into Boulder. Certainly, there are mysteries in the Stand that no one can explain—kind of like how the Red Sea parted or the whole water into wine stuff.

As far as siphoning gas goes—I thought it was out of a pump at the dealership.

Regarding the saws running and electrical appliances go—remember how many people were completely insane and delusional when they got sick? Sure they turned on their saws—they were probably trying to kill the superflu virus (that they likely were hallucinating seeing!).

Let’s also remember that this book was written when the modern feminist movement was just getting steam. I was not offended by Frannie saying that at all.

I’m glad you liked the book, though! When I have a great read—especially one that is science fiction/fantasy, I have the ability to suspend disbelief so that these types of things don’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.

[melindaville]

This novel is my all-time favorite STORY..it's not a scientific friggin' treatise...nor a textbook or a technical manual-items that are supposed to be error free!!!!It's a tale to be enjoyed, not dissected...GOOD GOD, am I weary of all the anal retentive "picker aparters" out there...move on and flame somebody else's world!

I hear you my friend! This is my all time favorite story too! :cool:

[CarrieJo]

The book seemed full of little stuff like this that became frustrating.


I want to reiterate that I did like the book.

These are very contradictory statements to me. Usually things that I like don't frustrate me, and I don't like frustrating things.


But I could just be crazy...

[Checkman]

Well here is one thing that I have argued about Captain Trips when folks with degrees in biology and other biological/chemical/medical fields start picking apart the nature of the virus. The virus is God's way of wiping the slate clean. Things are not going to necessarily follow The Rules. Is Trips pretty impressive? Yes it is. But it's a story with biblical overtones. Stop over-thinking it.

Try to remember that SK wrote this novel back in the early/middling section of the seventies. The man was in his early twenties. I'm 43 years old. I can tell you that I have changed in many ways since I was 23. The same goes for Mr. King. Stop looking at it from the perspective of 2011.

Why do so many people have trouble with the idea that he didn't write The Stand in the 21st century. He wrote it over 35 years ago! If you take that into account the book will go down easier.