Which one is more epic - IT or THE STAND?

[jfra3101]

Hi everyone, I just created this account to join in with the discussion on Stephen King's works.

I recently finished reading The Stand and I read IT not so long ago, and because I cant come to the conclusion myself, I was wondering if any of you guys have - which book was most epic out of IT and The Stand?

I guess they both have disturbing moments, fantastic characters, brilliant dialogue and a plot which only King could come up with. I can't come to a final solid conclusion, but I'd day The Stand was more epic just because of how long the story lasts (in the book) and the unique individual characters that pop up every often, as well as the returning characters later in the book from the earlier stages.

Your thoughts?

 

[Moderator]

Welcome!

 

[GNTLGNT]

...so glad you've joined the King Appreciation Society and Knitting Circle...I would lean toward The Stand as more epic...simply because of the overriding "Power of the White" against the endlessness of Evil struggles...the philosophic aspect made it seem the larger of the two to me...

 

[king family fan]

Welcome

 

[mustangclaire]

Welcome. You'll never change my mind regarding IT. My favourite book of all time. Whether it's more "epic" than The Stand is not for me to say.

 

[carrie's younger brother]

Welcome jfra3101 !
If you are referring to an epic as in the classic sense of the word:
"a long film, book, or other work portraying heroic deeds and adventures or covering an extended period of time."
then I would have to vote for The Stand, just because of the scope and breadth of the story. While It could be considered an "epic" in its own way, I don't think it quite fits the classic definition as defined above when compared to The Stand.

 

[doowopgirl]

Welcome. For me it will always be The Stand. I understand dictionary definitions, but as much as I came to love IT, The Stand just has such far reaching ramifications not to mention a stellar cast of characters. Always gets my vote.

 

[Haunted]

I vote for The Stand.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

If you were to ask The Losers, I'm sure they'd all agree...what they did was epic. They were kids becoming adults...that's epic. But The Stand affected everyone. I liked the characters in both stories, connected with them...but I felt more in tune with the kids from It. So I'll vote for It.

 

[Chazel1972]

IT is my all time favorite book. That being said, I think The Stand is more epic in the sense of the near destruction of humanity as we know it. They are both FANTASTIC and I think you bring up a great topic for discussion, I look forward to your additions to the board!

 

[jfra3101]

IT is my all time favorite book. That being said, I think The Stand is more epic in the sense of the near destruction of humanity as we know it. They are both FANTASTIC and I think you bring up a great topic for discussion, I look forward to your additions to the board!

Well thank you very much! I agree with what you say about The Stand, the near destruction of humanity is always great to see in books as you can toll around with it yourself. I noticed this in The Stand, where you gradually realize when reading the book that more and more people are catching the flu and dying from it, and you notice the spread of it too. That in my opinion is better than the book suddenly dropping death on all the people, if you know what I mean? Regardless, I find them both epic in there own way, but The Stand fits the definition more than IT.

 

[jfra3101]

If you were to ask The Losers, I'm sure they'd all agree...what they did was epic. They were kids becoming adults...that's epic. But The Stand affected everyone. I liked the characters in both stories, connected with them...but I felt more in tune with the kids from It. So I'll vote for It.

It's interesting to the see peoples different opinions. I think that when people say The Stand is more suited to the definition of epic, that is true. However, in IT, you read about stuff that happened years in the past and the stuff Pennywise had previously done, and besides that, the story is set in two different times, one set when the characters are kids, the other set when they're adults. So in a way, they both fit the definition of epic.

 

[jfra3101]

...so glad you've joined the King Appreciation Society and Knitting Circle...I would lean toward The Stand as more epic...simply because of the overriding "Power of the White" against the endlessness of Evil struggles...the philosophic aspect made it seem the larger of the two to me...

Thanks for the welcome. I completely agree with what your saying. I think that with The Stand, King may have either intentionally or unintentionally made the split between The Free Zone and Randall Flagg's group related to real life history with the USA and USSR. You can see The Free Zone would represent the USA, capitalist, democracy, freedom etc. And Randall Flagg's side in the west representing Dictatorship (Flagg himself being the dictator), communism (no freedom (although I guess there is a hint e.g. when Flagg says he is aware people have been leaving the west)) and genuinely being powerful. You may also have noticed how the Free Zone fears what is going on in the west, this again relating to real life relations. I could be completely wrong in thinking this, and it may just be because I study a lot of history that I think this, but I'd say there definitely is some links in the book to world relations.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

It's interesting to the see peoples different opinions. I think that when people say The Stand is more suited to the definition of epic, that is true. However, in IT, you read about stuff that happened years in the past and the stuff Pennywise had previously done, and besides that, the story is set in two different times, one set when the characters are kids, the other set when they're adults. So in a way, they both fit the definition of epic.

And too, It came back. They thought they were over with done with Pennywise. That made a difference for me. If one story could be said to mirror life more closely than the other...It gets my vote again. With The Stand, there's that sense that everything is new...that though the past is very much present, it should not be so much of an obstacle that they cannot get past it. But yeah...they both fit.

 

[skimom2]

I like both of them very much, but I think IT is more of a personal story, while The STAND dealt with the potential fall of humanity and a grand fight of the White vs. Evil. More epic, I think.

Welcome!

 

[Bryan James]

Depends on the denotation or connotation (kidnotation) of "epic."

Pop Youth culture has changed that word a lot.

Simple answer: The Stand.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Thanks for the welcome. I completely agree with what your saying. I think that with The Stand, King may have either intentionally or unintentionally made the split between The Free Zone and Randall Flagg's group related to real life history with the USA and USSR. You can see The Free Zone would represent the USA, capitalist, democracy, freedom etc. And Randall Flagg's side in the west representing Dictatorship (Flagg himself being the dictator), communism (no freedom (although I guess there is a hint e.g. when Flagg says he is aware people have been leaving the west)) and genuinely being powerful. You may also have noticed how the Free Zone fears what is going on in the west, this again relating to real life relations. I could be completely wrong in thinking this, and it may just be because I study a lot of history that I think this, but I'd say there definitely is some links in the book to world relations.

...never took that path of reasoning, but I can clearly see your points, Unca Steve has the wonderful ability to lay his stories out there, and then they take on an almost sentient quality of their own in each individual imagination...damn near wizardry..

 

[Chazel1972]

One thing with The Stand that I often think about upon re-reading it (and maybe this should go in that thread), is how/why people who weren't necessarily EVIL went to the West. Were they deficient in some way? More deficient than Larry (who was not no nice guy for some of his life)? These are the things I think. I'm going to put this thread over there too.

 

[Neesy]

Hi everyone, I just created this account to join in with the discussion on Stephen King's works.

I recently finished reading The Stand and I read IT not so long ago, and because I cant come to the conclusion myself, I was wondering if any of you guys have - which book was most epic out of IT and The Stand?

I guess they both have disturbing moments, fantastic characters, brilliant dialogue and a plot which only King could come up with. I can't come to a final solid conclusion, but I'd day The Stand was more epic just because of how long the story lasts (in the book) and the unique individual characters that pop up every often, as well as the returning characters later in the book from the earlier stages.

Your thoughts?

First gut reaction for me was "The Stand" even though I read it so many years ago. I only read "It" in the last two years and while it was good, it did not affect me all that personally. Maybe it I had read it when younger I might have a different answer.

Like Bryan James says above "Pop youth culture" seems to use that word a lot as in "Oh wow - that movie was epic!" and so the meaning is becoming distorted.
However I have to agree with the others that "The Stand" is more of an epic story
Oh yeah - Welcome by the way! (I almost forgot!)
I hope you enjoy the discussions here and even just the odd laugh or two

 

[CriticAndProud]

Welcome !!! I prefer IT, but "The Stand" is probably a more traditional "epic". As a young lad myself, IT is a very personal book for me.