I read The Gunslinger and The Drawing of Three from the Dark Tower Series. I was really looking forward to reading the 3rd book but the nearby bookstores were out of them (go figure). So instead I picked up The Stand. Any thoughts on the book? Im only 50 pages in so no spoilers! By the way, its the uncut version. Whats the difference between the cut and uncut versions? I heard there are a few chapters that aren't related to the main story line.

I have read "The Stand" twice; once in the original version, and a second time in the expanded version (I don't like to think of either as 'cut' or 'uncut.'), It has been several years since my last reading, but (and I have read many of King's books, including the entire "Dark Tower" series) I still consider "The Stand" his finest work. As I said, it has been several years since I read the book, but I remember when I read the expanded version, new first and last chapters. They almost seemed like a prologue and epilogue to me, but that is just my view. Sam, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The uncut version is about 150,000 words longer - approx. 400 pages. It really fills the story out nicely.

I loved this one. If you do to check out "it" too. His early books The Shining, Salem's Lot are really good too.

I remember the original published version being better in my opinion. To me Stephen King is better without all the fat on the page; when he chooses to go lean, his writing is crisp and good.

Oh, The Stand. It's my favorite book of that genre. I see it here now, a big fat paperback withered and torn, on the bookshelf. I can almost feel Harold giving me the creeps!