Which do you prefer, the "Stand" as originally published in 1978, or the "The Stand: The Complete and Uncut Edition" issued in 1990? The 1990 went into more character detail and included more scenes. However, some felt that it was NOT an improvement and was simply re-released as a money making effort. What do you think?

The Stand is an apocalyptic horror novel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalyptic_and_post-apocalyptic_science_fiction) by Stephen King (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King). It was published in 1978 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978).
The Stand re-works the scenario first seen in King's earlier short story, "Night Surf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Surf)" (included in the short story collection Night Shift (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Shift_%28book%29)). The novel contains the first published reference to King's über-villain Randall Flagg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randall_Flagg). Flagg also appears in King's fantasy novel The Eyes of the Dragon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eyes_of_the_Dragon) and his epic Dark Tower series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Tower_series).
The novel was re-released as The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition in 1990 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990). This edition restored some text originally edited for brevity, added some new sections and revised others, and changed the setting of the novel from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. However, the time change appeared to produce several anachronisms (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anachronisms), which may have been due to careless editing, such as references to: a vehicle containing a 'modified Studebaker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studebaker) engine'; one character spending a dollar for a morning babysitting; rental of a beachfront house in Malibu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malibu) for US$1000 per month, color TVs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television) depicted as abnormal, etc.

Many of these things are releases with few major updates...but that is okay because it usually gets another generation involved in that item.

Many of these things are releases with few major updates...but that is okay because it usually gets another generation involved in that item.

True, but in this case it did add quit a bit of good stuff that was cut from the original edit. I hope that the re-issue has had the effect that you said - introduce another generation to this classic of Horror. I think that it has. :)

Really don't like the movie(s)... just didn't get into them like a lot of people did. The book is one of my annual reading lists.

Love it.

Really don't like the movie(s)... just didn't get into them like a lot of people did. The book is one of my annual reading lists.

Love it.

I need to crack mine out again now that I've finished "Salem's Lot".

I guess all prefer the Uncut version of "The Stand". :)

Since we've gained some new members since this thread/poll was posted, I thought I'd kick it back up to the top for those who wish to to vote and post in it.

I think Steven King has a bad habit of running on . I know there are so many people that are about to jump down my throat. Yet here is were I speak my mind freely . Know before you pull you daggers remember the best short story he ever wrote called the Dragons eyes.