5 Epic Books Like “The Stand” by Stephen King
I remember turning the final page of Stephen King's sprawling armageddon novel The Stand. It was hard to say "goodbye" to the character development, the haunting possibilities of Captain Tripps, the band-of-survivors-roaming-the-wastes vibe...
So I didn't. Instead of mourning The Stand forever, I sought out other books that felt like kindred spirits, with similar themes, writing styles and plot points. This list contains my favourites five end-of-the-world stories that bear more than a passing resemblance to The Stand (whilst being wholly worth reading in their own right).
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Why it's similar to The Stand
Like The Stand, The Road delivers a heavy dose of "roadtrip through the end-of-the-world" vibes, as its main characters navigate a US that has been ravaged by disaster.
Description
Set in a world that has been ravaged by an unspecified disaster, the novel follows the story of a father and son as they travel across a dangerous landscape in search of safety. Along the way, they must contend with roving gangs of cannibals, as well as the challenges of living in a world where nearly all life has been extinguished. McCarthy's book combines harrowing depictions of survival in a hostile world with gorgeous, almost lyrical writing.
Cell by Stephen King
Why it's similar to The Stand
The Stand isn't King's only post-apocalyptic book; Cell is another example of King turning his hand to the end of the world.
Description
Cell's story takes place in New England after a pulse from a mobile phone network turns everyone who uses a cell phone into, you guessed it, zombies. The protagonist, Clay Riddell, is an artist who was in Boston on the day of the Pulse. He joins forces with a group of survivors, including a young mother and her child, to try to escape the city. Along the way, they must battle not only the zombies, but also looters and other survivors who are desperate to escape the city. Although it is a work of fiction, Cell is based on real-world fears about the increasing dependence on technology.
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Why it's similar to The Stand
The Passage is another epic virus outbreak novel that follows a group of survivors as they try to escape a government facility, and, like The Stand, there's a supernatural-inspired twist.
Description
The Passage is a vampire apocalypse story with a unique twist. The vampires in this story aren't the traditional, undead creatures of myth and legend. Instead, they're infected humans who have been transformed by a virus. This change gives them superhuman strength and agility, as well as a craving for human blood. The story follows the journey of a young girl named Amy, who is one of the first people to be infected with the virus. Along with a group of other survivors, she must find a way to survive in a world that has been taken over by these deadly creatures.
The Dark Tower by Stephen King
Why it's similar to The Stand
The Dark Tower is an eight-book series that tries to tie together every other book King has written--and that means that Captain Tripps and the world of The Stand makes a bonafide appearance in The Dark Tower.
Description
The Dark Tower is a series of eight books written by Stephen King that tells the story of Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger. The books follow Roland's journey as he traverses a post-apocalyptic world in search of the Dark Tower, which is said to be the nexus of all universes. Along the way, Roland is joined by several companions, including the boy Jake Chambers and the ka-tet known as the Breakers. The series is hugely popular, with many fans praising its mix of genres and its complex characters. The Dark Tower is often described as King's magnum opus, and it is certainly one of his most ambitious works. With its mix of fantasy, horror, science fiction, and western elements, The Dark Tower is a truly unique work that is sure to entertain any reader.
The Postman by David Brin
Why it's similar to The Stand
"Lone wanderer" vibes, post-apocalyptic USA, and an incredible sci-fi plot twist leave The Postman feeling very reminiscent of King's magnum opus.
Description
The Postman is set in a future world where the United States has been destroyed by a nuclear war. The story follows the journey of a man who stumbles upon a postman's uniform, and in choosing to don the outfit and take the mantle of "the Postman", begins the process of rebuilding society--one letter at a time. The Postman is a unique work of science fiction that explores how the most mundane of rituals can rekindle hope in a dark world.
While The Stand has no imitators, these five books all capture different aspects of King's unique formula: from plot and pacing, through to "wandering-in-the-apocalypse" vibes and viral disease outbreaks. If you loved Stephen King’s epic novel, you'll probably love the books on offer here.
