This is the heir to Stephen King’s apocryphal story “The Stand.”  The editors politely asked Mr. King if he thought he’d allow them to compile a collection of short stories furthering the story.  And dear Mr. King agreed.  And here we are…

Thirty-six contemporary horror/science fiction writers contributed; and their stories take us from the beginning, all around the world, even into orbit, and into the future – settling my need to know what happened in many of those places. The collection is divided into four sections: Part One: Down With the Sickness; Part Two: The Long Walk; Part Three: Life was Such a Wheel; and Part Four: Other Worlds Than These.  The book also includes a Foreword by Christopher Golden, an Introduction by Stephen King, and an Afterword by Brian Keene.  Altogether, a substantial book for the price.

I was already a slavering fan when I heard this book was coming; so I was already invested before I cracked open the first page.  I was not disappointed. That is not to say that I loved every story, nor did I really hate any of them.  As with any collection, I loved some, was lukewarm for others, and dismissed some.  But I loved the effort and the ones that I loved could not have happened if this collection hadn’t happened.  The few that did disappoint were those that didn’t have a strong connection to “The Stand”; stories that could have left off any references and stood on their own.

One concerned a small black family living in a ‘projects’ in some city; and Flagg himself marked them.  This was a sad one but not implausible for Flagg. I enjoyed one that gave us a view of those inhabitants of Las Vegas preparing for the coming of their god/savior?  Joe Lansdale really nailed his contribution; it really felt like being there.

There were a few about animals; one about a dog which was sweet, one about an escaped animal from a private zoo that was mildly interesting; and a really great one told from the animals’ POV as they engineered their own escape from a zoo. That last one came from Catriona Ward.  There was one concerning an animal that I, frankly, didn’t like even a little.  I thought it was silly and gratuitous – it was also one of the ones that didn’t really have a good connection to “The Stand” and could’ve been any horror story.

C. Robert Cargill gave us a great one that took the reaction of three ‘good ole boys’ to the dwindling population and the threat of Flagg and dialed it down to humor when the three just decided beer and movies were all they needed. Tim Lebbon was the one who gave me closure about the people left in orbit when things went to hell.  And he totally nailed it. S.A. Cosby gave us an entertaining tale of a man left on his own up against travelers on their way to Las Vegas.  With the apparent help of a certain old woman, he managed quite handily.  And this story had the very best last line in the book.

I really, really liked a weird little story set in Pakistan. After all, in a world with a demon who wears old cowboy boots and an old black women who tries to save the world, I can accept otherworldly entities; and these were a doozy.  The author is Usman T. Malik – read his stuff.

One of the ones I thought were inconsequential was a flashback to Abagail Freemantle’s youth and the first time she went up again the Dark Man.  It didn’t really add anything to the whole experience.  And I’m sorry to say that because I really like one of its authors.

And then there were the ones that came after the showdown in Las Vegas.  I hadn’t considered it, but the type of people who were called to Las Vegas didn’t all show up in time for the grand finale.  What, one might ask, became of those lost souls?  It’s not like they’re going to change their character, right?  These were ugly stories.  But one was special:  Sarah Langan wrote about a tribe (not named but one assumes Native Americans) in California who survived in the mountains; not because they were immune but because they were isolated.  But they would need, of course, to trade with colonies of immunes – who all still carried the virus. I really liked the end of that one. See the list below and check for any favorite writers of yours.  I will say, in closing, that if you are one of those who think “The Stand” is your all-time favorite King story, then you need this book.  ~~  Catherine Book

Contributing authors, in order of appearance:

Caroline Kepnes
Wrath James White
Meg Gardiner
Bryan Smith
Bev Vincent
Joe R. Lansdale
Jonathan Janz
Gabino Iglesias
C. Robert Cargill
Hailey Piper
Tim Lebbon
Richard Chizmar
Alex Segura
Catriona Ward
Poppy Z. Brite
Michael Koryta
Alma Katsu
Josh Malerman
Cynthia Pelayo
S.A. Cosby
Rio Youers
V. Castro
Tananarive Due
Steven Barnes
Paul Tremblay
Usman T. Malik
Wayne Brady
Maurice Broaddus
Ronald Malfi
Somer Canon
Chuck Wendig
Premee Mohamed
Catherynne M. Valente
Sarah Langan
Nat Cassidy
David J. Schow

For more titles by Christopher Golden click here