The Stand

Another good Stephen King novel, The Stand takes the reader into a completely altered world. A secret US military project code-named "Project Blue", a super flu, is accidentally released, and kills most of the population of the earth. The few survivors face huge hardships, due to the complete devastation of society and the loss of any form of authority. Wandering around, the survivors eventually form bands. The first part of the book follows the endeavors of three bands; Stu's, Larry's, and Nick's. Through shared dreams and visions, they work to converge in Boulder, Colorado. This area would seem to be the least affected by the disease. They also seek the guidance of a very old woman they call "Mother Abigail". With her help, they set up a democratic society, called the "free zone". Yet there are problems between members of the newly-formed society. Stephen King's apocalyptic novels do not fail to impress, and despite their fictitious nature, are a enjoyable read.