Sunday Seconds -- there are books that I would really love to re-read -- if I could make the time. Sometimes books have profound impacts on one's reading experience. Sometimes you just know these books could be even greater if you could go back and read them with again better understanding and life experiences under your belt. Sometimes books don't hold up the memory the second time around -- that's the risk. Sunday Seconds will be a cataloging of that kind of wish list.
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THE STAND by Stephen King

Forget the tv miniseries (please). Forget the size of the book. If you've not read this book, read it now.

Very simply, here is a description:

After a plague is accidentally released upon the world the few survivors are divided between the forces of good and evil to determine who will rebuild the world.

This is from Wikipedia (I know, I know):

Plot summary

"Captain Trips"
The novel is divided into three parts, or books. The first is titled "Captain Trips" and takes place over nineteen days, with the escape and spread of a human-made biological weapon, a superflu (influenza) virus known formally as "Project Blue" but most commonly as "Captain Trips" (among some other colloquialisms). The epidemic leads directly to the death of an estimated 99.4% of the world's human population.
King outlines the total breakdown and destruction of society through widespread violence, the failure of martial law to contain the outbreak, and eventually the death of virtually the entire population. The human toll is also dealt with, as the few survivors must care for their families and friends, dealing with confusion and grief as their loved ones succumb to the flu.

"On the Border"
Intertwining cross-country odysseys are undertaken by a small number of survivors, including:

Stu's party:
-Stuart Redman, a factory worker from the fictional tiny town of Arnette, Texas;
-Frances (Frannie) Goldsmith, a pregnant pre-college student, and Harold Lauder, an obnoxious and angry 16 year-old high school outcast, both from Ogunquit, Maine;
-Glen Bateman, a quick-witted, pessimistic sociology professor from New Hampshire, and his adopted dog, an Irish Setter named Kojak (or Big Steve, as he later reveals himself)— one of the very few dogs immune to the plague;
-Perion McCarthy and Mark Braddock, two lovers who are already a couple when they meet
Stu's group;
-Dayna Jurgens, a hard-headed and determined woman from Xenia, Ohio;
-Susan Stern, a former student from Kent State University;
-Patty Kroger, a beautiful young girl in her teen years.

Nick's party:
-Nick Andros, an insightful deaf-mute wanderer originally from fictional Caslin, Nebraska, who was in the fictional town of Shoyo, Arkansas when the plague also occurred;
-Tom Cullen, a kind-hearted mentally challenged man, with child-like enthusiasm from May, Oklahoma.
-Ralph Brentner, a jolly, easy-going farmer from Oklahoma;
-Dick Ellis, a former veterinarian in his early 50s;
-Gina McCone, a little girl;
-Olivia Walker, a sympathetic older woman;
-June Brinkmeyer, an auburn haired woman in her mid-20s.

Larry's party:
-Larry Underwood, a disillusioned pop musician from New York City;
-Rita Blakemoor, a rich middle-aged woman from New York City;
-Nadine Cross, a virginal kindergarten teacher with a very dark secret from New Hampshire;
-Leo "Joe" Rockway, a savage, amnesiac, and telepathic boy;
-Lucy Swann, a 24-year-old housewife from New Hampshire;
-Judge Farris, a man in his late seventies.

They are drawn together by both circumstances and their shared dreams of a 108-year-old black woman from Hemingford Home, Hemingford, Nebraska whom they see as a refuge and a representation of good in the struggle of good versus evil. This woman, Abagail Freemantle (known as "Mother Abagail"), becomes the spiritual leader of this group of survivors, directing them to Boulder, Colorado, referred to as "the Free Zone" (officially "The Boulder Free Zone"), where they begin to reestablish a republic society; much of this section of the book involves the struggles to create an orderly society reinstating the United States Consitution and Bill of Rights as a basis more or less. Boulder is found to be hosting considerably fewer dead bodies of plague victims than other cities, due to an exodus following a false rumor in the early stages of the plague that the outbreak originated in the Boulder Air Test Center.

Meanwhile, another group of survivors, led by Randall Flagg, the Dark Man, includes:
-Lloyd Henreid, an ill tempered, not-too-bright common thief and murderer;
-Donald Merwin Elbert, known as "the Trashcan Man", a schizophrenic pyromaniac;
-Whitney Horgan, an ex-Army cook and butcher;
-Julie Lawry, an unstable, manipulative, oversexed teenager;
-"the Rat Man", a pirate-like hood;
-Barry Dorgan, a former detective of the Santa Monica Police Department;
-Jenny Engstrom, a nightclub dancer and later construction worker; and
-Hector "Heck" Drogan, a civilian who is executed crucifiction style for drug abuse by Flagg's punishment system.

They are drawn to Las Vegas, Nevada by Randall Flagg (known as "the Dark Man", "the Hardcase", "the Tall Man", and "the Walkin’ Dude"), an evil being with supernatural powers; he represents evil, the opposite influence of Mother Abagail. Flagg’s rule is tyrannical and brutal, using crucifixion, torture and other torments as punishment for those who are disloyal and disobedient. His group is able to quickly reorganize their society, restore power to Las Vegas, and rebuild the city as many technical professionals have migrated to the city. The book notes that at Las Vegas, Flagg's group is constantly working and has organized a strong but harsh structure while at the Free Zone, some survivors lounge idly and do not work as hard. Flagg's group also has started a schooling system and weapons program with survivor Carl Hough as a helicopter pilot and the Trashcan Man searching the country for weapons.
The Free Zone's democratic society is not without its problems. Mother Abagail, feeling that she has become prideful and sinned due to her pleasure at being a public figure, disappears into the wilderness on a journey of spiritual reconciliation. Meanwhile, Harold's bitterness over his unrequited love for Fran and Nadine's secret commitment to Flagg lead the two of them to detonate a dynamite bomb at a meeting of the Free Zone committee. The explosion, which kills several people (including Nick Andros), takes place at the same time that Mother Abagail is discovered, severely weakened by her time in the wilderness.

"The Stand"
The stage is now set for the final confrontation as the two camps become aware of one another, and each recognizes the other as a threat to its survival, leading to the "stand" of good against evil. There is no pitched battle, however. Instead, at Mother Abagail's dying behest, Stu, Larry, Ralph and Glen set off on foot towards Las Vegas on an expedition to confront Randall Flagg. Stu breaks his leg en route and drops out. He encourages the others to leave without him, telling them that God will provide for him. Glen's dog stays behind with Stu. Glen, Ralph, and Larry soon encounter Flagg's men, who take them prisoner. When Glen rejects an opportunity to be spared if he kneels and begs Flagg, he is shot by Lloyd Henreid, on Flagg's direct order. Flagg gathers his entire collective to witness the execution of the other two, but before it can take place, Trashcan Man arrives with a nuclear warhead and a giant glowing hand—"The Hand of God"—detonates the bomb, destroying Flagg's followers and the two remaining prisoners.
Stu, with the aid of Kojak and later Tom Cullen, survives injury, illness, and a harsh Rocky Mountain winter. The three of them arrive back in Boulder soon after the birth of Fran’s baby. Although the baby falls ill with the superflu, he is able to fight it off. In the end, Stu and Fran decide to return to Maine, and the original edition of the novel ends with the two of them questioning whether the human race can learn from its mistakes. The answer, given in the last line, is ambiguous: "I don’t know."

First published in 1978. King released a later version, a sort of the "director's cut" version with 1153 pages. The original, I believe, was about 500 pages shorter.

This book is iconic. King is known for his horror stories, but this truly was not horror in its true definition (examples would be CARRIE or CHRISTINE or SALEM'S LOT or THE SHINING). It is a post-apocalyptic story -- and actually pretty tame for all that (other books of this type are a probably truer depiction of that kind world which depicts cannibalism) -- and is really a story of a showdown between good and evil. King's strength has always been to show normal, average people in strange circumstances.

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Sunday. Steve has to help run the pistol competition this morning for the Big Sky State Games. I'll be walking Tug and then being on the downstairs computer working on projects and otherwise doing laundry.



I'm continuing to read THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin, which I'm sure has prompted today's second look book. There is a such an impending-doom feel to the story that I can't not read it though I'm pulled toward a historical mystery. And you start to care for these characters and you know their futures are pretty terrible. I don't know if I'm halfway through or if not I'm close.



It's supposed to be in the 90s again so stay cool and hydrated.



Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster