What about The Stand 2017

[melindaville]

I would love it if the great and wonderful Mr. King would do and updated version of The Stand (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with the original or the uncut--I loved both of them; the first was the book that made me a King fan for life).

This is also a book I have to reread every so often because I miss it, like a good friend you need to see.

Lately, I've had some fantasies about an updated Stand, to reflect everything that is going on in our world today. A lot of the plot and characters would remain the same but what about the things that would be different? I wonder how any of today's technology could have helped the survivors today?

For example, solar power is far more common today. I bet that would have come in handy in Boulder!

Or maybe I just need to read it again! I sure do love that book.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...it would require an extensive re-write and not worth his effort as he creates new offerings....internet and cellular phones, weaponry, vehicles and on and on-all would have to be incorporated, and while it's a neat thought-it wouldn't change the bones of the story a whit.....

 

[melindaville]

...it would require an extensive re-write and not worth his effort as he creates new offerings....internet and cellular phones, weaponry, vehicles and on and on-all would have to be incorporated, and while it's a neat thought-it wouldn't change the bones of the story a whit.....

I know you're right. It's just my obsession with that particular book. I've often fantasized about what it would be like now. I guess these days I really see the fight between good and evil too.

Oh well--a thought. Probably not a very good one at that because why would I want to change one of my all-time favorite books. TGIF. Have a lovely weekend.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I know you're right. It's just my obsession with that particular book. I've often fantasized about what it would be like now. I guess these days I really see the fight between good and evil too.

Oh well--a thought. Probably not a very good one at that because why would I want to change one of my all-time favorite books. TGIF. Have a lovely weekend.

...nothing a'tall wrong with the thought....always fun to imagine...

 

[melindaville]

...nothing a'tall wrong with the thought....always fun to imagine...

Thanks--that's very kind. I have a fairly wild imagination. I'm still hoping to see The Stand as the three part movie with Ben Affleck directing but I'm no longer hearing anything about that. I did enjoy the miniseries, especially Gary Sinese and it was fun to see SK in his own cameo. Lots of great casting *except* Molly Ringwald, the guy who played Harold, and a couple of others. I love it though--I have it on DVD.

 

[Steffen]

Well, Josh Boone is adapting it for a series, so I'm sure you'll see some of those things crop up.

 

[melindaville]

Well, Josh Boone is adapting it for a series, so I'm sure you'll see some of those things crop up.

Is this the same as the 3-movie deal I saw a couple of years ago that was to be directed by Ben Affleck? I remember at the time, SK said that he thought there was about a 1% chance of it getting done. Or is this something new? I think they should do it as a series, like Mr. Mercedes. The Stand is so long--although I can see it being a great 3 - 4 movie spectacular.

 

[mal]

Certain stories can only roll out the way they do based on the current technology at the time. If the technology changes then new possibilities occur and the framework changes, but the old stories still stand, based on the time they were written. I don't think you could rewrite Moby Dick using todays technology. He'd have blown that whale out of the water at the beginning. Due to instant communication it has become 'call me ish' - mal.

 

[melindaville]

Certain stories can only roll out the way they do based on the current technology at the time. If the technology changes then new possibilities occur and the framework changes, but the old stories still stand, based on the time they were written. I don't think you could rewrite Moby Dick using todays technology. He'd have blown that whale out of the water at the beginning. Due to instant communication it has become 'call me ish' - mal.

Oh absolutely. I should clarify that I don't think it's a good idea to rewrite The Stand for today, I was more pondering/fantasizing about all the things that would have changed in a relatively short period (40 years in 2018). I don't agree with rewriting of books in general--I think it's just that The Stand is such a tower of a book for me.

Although people have modernized Shakespeare plenty of times. God help me, when I was an actor way back in my late teens and 20's, I did a hatchet job on Shakespeare's Queen Gertrude in Hamlet. What a stupid director to think a 19 year old could do a decent job with that part (and I butchered it--but had a great time on tour--and I was good in Three Penny Opera and Midnight Summer Night's Dream so I wasn't a complete loss.).

 

[melindaville]

Oh and good news! I lost a great deal of my book and record collection back in the 90's in a friend's warehouse who was unlucky enough to have a fire in it.

I was able to replace my 1978 hardback first edition of The Stand this last week with Betts books. It made my day! This has been a great month. Signed book from Stephen and Owen King, signed Revival (an anniversary present), signed Double Feature, and The Stand to cap it all off. Woo Hoo!!

 

[wdb1124]

When the different varieties of the superflu were floating around a couple years ago, the first thing I immediately thought of was The Stand.

 

[mal]

Oh absolutely. I should clarify that I don't think it's a good idea to rewrite The Stand for today, I was more pondering/fantasizing about all the things that would have changed in a relatively short period (40 years in 2018). I don't agree with rewriting of books in general--I think it's just that The Stand is such a tower of a book for me.

Although people have modernized Shakespeare plenty of times. God help me, when I was an actor way back in my late teens and 20's, I did a hatchet job on Shakespeare's Queen Gertrude in Hamlet. What a stupid director to think a 19 year old could do a decent job with that part (and I butchered it--but had a great time on tour--and I was good in Three Penny Opera and Midnight Summer Night's Dream so I wasn't a complete loss.).

I agree, most stories are just variations on themes from Shakespeare and the Bible. The Stand is in my top 5 as well...a great epic book.

 

[melindaville]

When the different varieties of the superflu were floating around a couple years ago, the first thing I immediately thought of was The Stand.

I thought the same thing! I really did. That Ebola breakout was another time too. And I still think King was brilliant for bringing up the possibility. Especially right now, with everyone in DC running around like chickens with their heads cut off, you could see how this kind of military "error" could really happen. That's what's so scary about King's books. I can see all of them happening--maybe not to the supernatural extent of some--but the basis and the people and relationships...

 

[melindaville]

I agree, most stories are just variations on themes from Shakespeare and the Bible. The Stand is in my top 5 as well...a great epic book.

I love many of SK's books--as much even (I think) as The Stand, but that book broke my SK virginity so it's always been special. Stu, Frannie, Larry, Lucy, Nadine, The Dark Man, Nick, Mother Abigay--oh and all the rest of them kept me rolling on tour with the Shakespeare Company. There is a whole lot of nothing between Nebraska and Ohio--The Stand whisked me away to a magical place. It was even one of my "make it or break it" features on my list when I was interested in a new relationship. I knew I could never love a man who didn't like Stephen King! It's true too! Hahahahaha. There are other deal breakers too. Hahahahaha. Mr. Melindaville flew right through with flying colors though!

 

[Steffen]

Is this the same as the 3-movie deal I saw a couple of years ago that was to be directed by Ben Affleck? I remember at the time, SK said that he thought there was about a 1% chance of it getting done. Or is this something new? I think they should do it as a series, like Mr. Mercedes. The Stand is so long--although I can see it being a great 3 - 4 movie spectacular.

It's a limited series now, with Josh Boone adapting.

 

[melindaville]

It's a limited series now, with Josh Boone adapting.

Oh that is even more awesome. I always thought it needed a good long series. I thought it was a great idea to do Mr. Mercedes as a series instead of a movie.

 

[rudiroo]

Oh my.
In the beginning was The Stand, in its unexpurgated version.

It was the beginning of my love affair with SK's work.
It gave birth to modern post-apocalyptic fiction (no disrespect intended to the 50's and 60's classics - La planète des singes , On The Beach and I Am Legend).
And it's still the benchmark for a generation of writers of post-apocalyptic fiction (particularly indie writers).

If you can read it as if it was happening "now in 1978" or "now in 1990", it still works.
But to tamper with the timeline would ruin it.
And if you're old enough to remember 1978 or/and 1990 in any detail, you'll understand why The Stand has to stay within that timeline.

Even if SK had only written The Stand, he would be remembered for it - for keeps.
Just like To Kill a Mockingbird or Catcher in the Rye.

Sometimes, all it takes is one book, at a singular moment in time, to immortalize a writer.

And suddenly, I thought of this song.
Take care, folks.