September's Post-Apocalyptic Book Discussion: The Stand (uncut version)

We'll take a summer break from the monthly grind and continue the book club in September. But that doesn't mean there isn't homework. The extra time will be useful for finishing the uncut version of Stephen King's classic novel, The Stand.

Considered by some to be his best work, The Stand looks at civilization after a deadly superflu nearly wipes out humankind. The survivors split into two camps (one in Las Vegas, the other in Boulder, Colorado) which develop contrasting societies, leading to their final confrontation. Inspired by George Stewart's Earth Abides and in the school of humans-are-doomed-to-repeat-the-same-mistakes, The Stand should be an old fashioned yarn that will make the summer go by faster than a global swine flu epidemic.