The Stand

I LOVED this book until the very end. That's when my principle issues surfaced and remain problematic.

Why did they need to travel to Vegas? Because plot? If Trash Can Man was headed there, anyway, I can't figure out why the four were required to embark on their perilous, though noble, journey.

It wasn't to inspire the “wicked” to question their fear-based discipleship and “repent” or “reform” or whatever we are calling it. They all died. No reason to experience remorse for the evil they had facilitated, abetted, or perpetrated.

It wasn't to cleanse themselves. The only survivor never completed the full pilgrimage. Nor could he return with the full weight of knowledge of events. He simply assumed the truth based on preconceived notions of atomic fallout.

It wasn't to obtain some everlasting wisdom required to re-write the future and ensure a more prosperous society, devoid of man's previous follies. The intimation is that those are humanistically inevitable; hence Fran and Stu's departure.

Regardless, I simply must give it 4/5 stars. So much to love. Such rich characters. So poignant given the 2020 pandemic, social and institutional responses, etc., which are (arguably) secularly prophetic.

Damnit. I wanted more from the finale.