For all fans of Stephen King`s iconic post-apocalyptic novel “The Stand,” there`s now an excellent opportunity to purchase the recently released companion anthology with a significant discount on Amazon. Titled “The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King`s The Stand,” the collection, published on August 19, is available in hardcover for just $24.48, down from its original price of $35. This anthology of short stories is fully authorized by Stephen King himself and features his personal introduction.
This extensive 800-page collection was compiled and edited by Bram Stoker Award-winning horror writers Christopher Golden and Brian Keene.
“The Stand” is widely considered one of King`s greatest novels, with many devoted readers hailing it as his magnum opus. This sweeping masterpiece of post-apocalyptic literature boasts such a rich array of characters and plotlines that King could have easily developed it into an entire book series. This depth likely served as the inspiration for this new anthology.
“The End of the World As We Know It” is presented as “an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.” It features short stories by dozens of contemporary authors working in the horror, thriller, and dark fantasy genres. Some of the narratives unfold within the same timeline as the original, while others describe events set after the novel`s conclusion.
The anthology`s thirty-four stories are divided into four parts, each with an intriguing subtitle. These titles can be seen as “Easter Eggs” for dedicated Stephen King fans, and perhaps also for admirers of the heavy metal band Disturbed. Part 1, “Down with the Sickness,” is likely already playing in your head. The other three parts allude to King`s own works: Part 2 references his novel “The Long Walk,” Part 3 draws from one of the final lines of “The Stand,” and Part 4 is a dialogue fragment from “The Gunslinger,” the first book in “The Dark Tower” series. Given that “The Stand” and “The Dark Tower” share a key character, this is a very fitting connection.
- Part 1: Down with the Sickness
- Part 2: The Long Walk
- Part 3: Life was such a Wheel
- Part 4: Other Worlds than These
Below is the complete list of authors whose works are included in the anthology. Among the most notable names are S. A. Cosby, Richard Chizmar, Caroline Kepnes, Catriona Ward, Josh Malerman, Ronald Malfi, Paul Tremblay, and Gabino Iglesias.
- Stephen King – Introduction
- Christopher Golden – Foreword, Editor
- Brian Keene – Afterword, Editor
- Wayne Brady & Maurice Broaddus
- Poppy Z. Brite
- Somer Canon
- C. Robert Cargill
- Nat Cassidy
- V. Castro
- Richard Chizmar
- S. A. Cosby
- Tananarive Due & Steven Barnes
- Meg Gardiner
- Gabino Iglesias
- Jonathan Janz
- Alma Katsu
- Caroline Kepnes
- Michael Koryta
- Sarah Langan
- Joe R. Lansdale
- Tim Lebbon
- Josh Malerman
- Ronald Malfi
- Usman T. Malik
- Premee Mohamed
- Cynthia Pelayo
- Hailey Piper
- David J. Schow
- Alex Segura
- Bryan Smith
- Paul Tremblay
- Catherynne M. Valente
- Bev Vincent
- Catriona Ward
- Chuck Wendig
- Wrath James White
- Rio Youers
Many of the contributors featured in the collection likely grew up reading Stephen King`s novels, and perhaps he inspired them to pursue writing. The fact that dozens of professional fiction writers have created new stories within the world of “The Stand” vividly demonstrates how significant and influential this novel remains nearly 50 years after its initial publication.
Editions of Stephen King`s “The Stand” Novel
At 800 pages, “New Tales of Stephen King`s The Stand” is roughly the same length as the original 1978 hardcover edition of the novel. At that time, King was required to cut approximately 400 pages from his manuscript due to printing costs. In 1990, Scribner published “The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition” with the unabridged text. Today, this definitive version of “The Stand” spans 1,152 pages in hardcover.
We highly recommend reading “The Complete and Uncut Edition” before delving into the new anthology. There are multiple formats and editions available for you to choose from:
- Hardcover — $55 | Temporarily out of stock
- Trade Paperback — $13.86 ($22)
- Trade Paperback (International) — $24
- Mass Market Paperback — $9 ($12) | August 26
- Mass Market (TV series Tie-in) — $8 ($11)
- Kindle — $10
- Audible Audiobook
- Deluxe Special Edition — $357.82 ($400)
For enthusiasts of physical books, we generally suggest the hardcover edition for a novel of this magnitude. Unfortunately, Amazon is no longer offering a significant discount on the $55 book; for months, it was sold for around $25 in hardcover, but now it`s back to full price and temporarily out of stock due to the anthology`s popularity.
The trade paperback edition, which is 1,200 pages, would be our second choice. While its pages aren`t as spacious as the hardcover, it`s still easier to read than the mass market paperback editions. Furthermore, this paperback edition is currently available for only $13.86 (originally $22).
A new mass market paperback edition with superb cover art will be released on August 26 for $9 (originally $12). Just be aware that this is a 1,328-page book with a small typeface. The most affordable mass market paperback edition features promotional art from the 2020 miniseries. Like most film and TV tie-in editions, it`s quite visually unappealing and includes a CBS All Access (now Paramount+) advertisement at the top. Regrettably, even the Kindle and excellent audiobook versions share this cover.
For existing fans of “The Stand” looking to splurge, consider the stunning—and very expensive—new Deluxe Special Edition.
This magnificent edition of “The Stand” was released on Amazon alongside the new anthology on August 19. The novel is printed on thicker, higher-quality paper stock, likely making it the heaviest 1,300-page hardcover you`ll own. The pages measure 7 x 10 inches, making it about half an inch taller and wider than the regular hardcover edition. It boasts a fine binding and a foil-stamped cover with brand-new artwork on the dust jacket. The jacket is protected by plastic, much like a library book. Artist Glenn Chadbourne created original illustrations, new endpapers, and a black-and-white limitation page.
You can protect and display the Deluxe Special Edition with its custom-designed slipcase. The hardshell slipcase has a leather-like texture and features the author and title on the front.
“The Stand: Deluxe Special Edition” is part of Cemetery Dance’s series of highly limited, lavish printings of King’s classic novels. Cemetery Dance is a nearly 40-year-old publisher of horror founded by Richard Chizmar—the same Richard Chizmar who co-wrote (and published) the Gwendy Trilogy with Stephen King and is contributing to “The End of the World As We Know It.”
The Deluxe Special Edition of “The Stand” has been in development for a long time. Cemetery Dance announced three different versions of this edition back in 2019: Lettered (52 copies), Limited (1,250 copies), and Gift Edition (4,000 copies). Those who preordered the Gift Edition just recently began receiving their copies. It was initially limited to 3,000 copies, but that number increased to 4,000. Back in 2019, the price was $150, but as you can imagine, much can change in six years.
I recently purchased a copy on eBay for approximately $225. Keep this in mind before buying one for $357.82 (originally $400) on Amazon. It`s an official listing sold/shipped by Amazon, but it`s possible to find a copy for considerably less (at least for now). Collectible editions of King`s work often increase in value over time.
Like other King limited editions from Cemetery Dance, “The Stand: Deluxe Special Edition” will never be printed again.
Adaptations of Stephen King`s “The Stand”
In June, Paramount Pictures announced a feature film adaptation of “The Stand,” with Doug Liman slated to direct. Liman is an industry veteran with decades of experience helming action films, including “The Bourne Identity,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” and “American Made.” The adaptation is still a long way off, as a script has yet to be written. It will be intriguing to see how Paramount approaches “The Stand,” given the novel`s immense length.
“The Stand” has been adapted for television twice: first by ABC in 1994 and again in 2020 by Paramount. The 1994 version consisted of four extended episodes totaling just over six hours. Paramount`s 2020 miniseries was divided into nine episodes with a total runtime of 8.5 hours. Even with these durations, both miniseries felt like mere fragments of the vast story, making a successful feature film adaptation a considerable challenge. One can only hope that the film version of “The Stand” will surpass the “Dark Tower” movie.
TV Miniseries on Blu-ray
If you`re interested in watching the television miniseries, Amazon offers a Blu-ray combo pack containing both versions for $35 (originally $45). At Walmart, you can find an exclusive Steelbook Edition of the 1994 miniseries for $20.
- The Stand: The Definitive 2-Series Collection (Blu-ray) — $35 (was $45)
- The Stand: 1994 Miniseries – Steelbook Edition (Blu-ray) — $20 | Walmart Exclusive
- The Stand: 1994 Miniseries (Blu-ray) — $8.75 (was $12)
- The Stand: 2020 Miniseries (Blu-ray) — $24 (was $40)