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An original short story anthology based on master storyteller Stephen King’s #1 New York Times bestselling classic The Stand!

Since its initial publication in 1978, The Stand has been considered Stephen King’s seminal masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction, with millions of copies sold and adapted twice for television. Although there are other extraordinary works exploring the unraveling of human society, none have been as influential as this iconic novel—generations of writers have been impacted by its dark yet ultimately hopeful vision of the end and new beginning of civilization, and its stunning array of characters.

Now for the first time, Stephen King has fully authorized a return to the harrowing world of The Stand through this original short story anthology as presented by award-winning authors and editors Christopher Golden and Brian Keene. Bringing together some of today’s greatest and most visionary writers, The End of the World As We Know It features unforgettable, all-new stories set during and after (and some perhaps long after) the events of The Stand—brilliant, terrifying, and painfully human tales that will resonate with readers everywhere as an essential companion to the classic, bestselling novel.

I’d already read reviews of this book, a lot of them not very good, when I finally got around to reading it myself. Turns out I have to agree with those who found the book to be something of a disappointment. While there are good stories, they don’t balance out those that aren’t.

I think my biggest disappointment was how so many of them had little to do with the original story, other than the Captain Tripps pandemic. And even that felt like an afterthought. Even worse, so many of them are without hope. They end has come. Period.

There are a few stories that I liked. I think my favorite was The Mosque at the End of the World and Make Your Own Way. I felt I really got to the characters and came to care what happened to them. I can almost add Lenora to that list except that it took an unexpected turn.

I’m not a great fan of short stories, so that might have had something to do with the low rating. I much would have preferred a handful of novellas. Or maybe I’ll just reread The Stand. Sounds good.

Goodreads 70.1

Black, gray, orange, or red cover
1. The Fireman by Joe Hill
2. The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand by Christopher Golden

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