Well, I know its been a long time since I've been here. But I'm still here. Are you still here? Well good. It certainly has been an interesting time, challenging but interesting. I thought I'd let you know what I've been reading. It's The Stand by Stephen King. It took almost a year to get through, but at 1153 pages I think its understandable. No kidding on this; in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was two-thirds of the way through this book that speaks of a very serious flu illness hitting the world and wiping out 80% of the world population. Talk about life imitating art!
This book was originally published in 1978, but I read the updated version that came out in 2001. According to my husband, it is the preface for Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. The illness is actually a form of bio warfare developed by the US government and accidentally released by a security guard in California. He rushes home and hastily packs his family in the car and drives east. He gets as far as a gas station in Arnette, Texas where the car crashes with the entire family dead from the fast working super-flu called Captain Tripps. And that is how the flu starts to wipe out most of the world's population.
This only sets the stage for two opposing forces left in the world personified by Mother Abigail Freemantle, a 108 year old Christian black woman living in Nebraska and Randall Flagg, a dark man wanderer with supernatural powers that just seems to show up out of nowhere and sets up shop in Las Vegas, Nevada.
These opposing forces are aware of each other and start preparing for a final showdown by gathering disciples and followers. Mother Abigail's followers relocate to Boulder, Colorado , creating the Boulder Free Zone, a society based on America's democratic system.
There are many twists and turns with spies and Randall Flagg's autocratic style of governing. This book, or tome would be a better word, is long but as is commonplace with Mr. King's style, so compelling that you barely notice the length. So if you're beginning to get tired of Law & Order reruns on TV, try The Stand for a compelling change of pace.
