Dear Chuck Wendig,

How did you do that? How did you take every gloomy, depressing, unnerving, alarming, confusing thing... all the things... that are in the news, that are reality and weave them into an 800 page narrative that I could not put down? How did you take the things we humans take great pains to avoid, if possible, and be indignantly outspoken about, when the mood suits us, and use them to tell a compelling, fascinating story of humanity forced to confront all the things we'd far rather ignore?

How?

Maybe it's better that I don't know. Maybe then WANDERERS wouldn't be quite as stunning as it is. And I am stunned.

In WANDERERS, humanity isn't the good guy. And you wouldn't think an epic novel with humanity as the unreliable main character would be appealing. Some of us probably far prefer to see ours as the great saviors of, well, of ourselves. Isn't most of life saving us from ourselves, after all?

That's what WANDERERS is. It's a story of a flock of humans who seem to be sleepwalking across the country, and that makes it a story of America... warts and all. The gun culture, the racial prejudices, the religious evangelicalism, the gaping chasm of our two political parties, denials of climate change... it's all there. But so are the non-warty parts of America. The way we band together in times of crisis, the way we stand up for each other in the face of the proverbial warts, the way we fight for the things that matter to us whether or not they matter to anyone else.

These things don't often work well together, one always seems to be fighting a losing battle. And WANDERERS shows that hauntingly.

WANDERERS is a story of humanity - white and black, gay and straight, teenager and adult, man and woman, powerful and powerless, educated and everyday. All of those things are represented near flawlessly in this book, as they are represented in humanity. And they all become equals.

I learned things reading WANDERERS, something as important in works of fiction as in works of nonfiction. Some of the things I learned shocked me and some made me happy. They all made me think.

I think that maybe that's the moral of WANDERERS - to make a reader think. Think about the stories we see in our feeds and timelines before scrolling to videos of adorable puppies barking at themselves in mirrors, the tl;dr things that are a part of life now - because they can be too long, too detailed, or too hard to face.

I follow the creator of this fantastic novel on Twitter so I know his politics, and his politics shows through in the book. That's fine with me, because they're my politics too. But it isn't a book about politics, not really. It's a book about current events, about life as we know it. It's a book about what might happen if we don't pay attention.

And, through all of that doom and gloom, WANDERERS is a book about hope, about courage, and about survival.

The moral of the story, if I had to pick just one, would be "get off your ass and fight for something, anything."

So, in summary, I don't know how you managed to pull all of this together so seamlessly, Chuck Wendig. But I don't need an explanation. I just need this book, to read it again and again and to get other people to read it.

I am in awe and I am awed.

Thank you, Chuck Wendig, for writing this book so I could read it. Thank you.

~Nicole

(I received a copy of WANDERERS through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)

Wow! Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book and fortunately for everyone else it will be out on July 2nd. This book was amazing. I love a good dystopia/ apocalypse story and this 800+ page epic did not let me down. The story line is the end of the world drama so not a real uplifting subject. Reading this book you get to know the characters and like most of them. This book offers drama, love, death, redemption, and hope. Don't let the size of this book scare you. This book hooks you and keeps you interested all the way through.

The book does have politics, religion, violence, sexual violence, some sexual encounters, straight and homosexual, but it does not get into the details. I mean really, if the world is ending maybe a bit of fun between lovers is in order.

In many of the reviews this book was compared to The Strain, which I have not read but may need to someday once I recover from this book. I recently read Swan Song and this book is along those lines. If you enjoy apocalypse stories, this book is one that should go on top of your read list.

3.5 Stars. This was a really intense, difficult and long read for me. I don't typically read dystopian novels as they tend to freak me out and to be honest this one definitely did, but the writing was absolutely beautiful. The story was very heavy, as any story where the world is seemingly coming to an end would be. It was very character driven and filled with many different types of people at different places in their lives, many of which felt very real. I enjoyed the writing a lot, but overall this book just felt very, very long to me and therefore it took me a long time to get through. If you are into dystopian settings - then this is definitely a must read. Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for the free ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know how I feel about this book. I enjoyed much of it, and other parts of it really ticked me off. It felt grand on an epic scale, but then certain parts made it feel small and not so epic.

Pros- good character development, interesting storyline, cool concept
Cons - twice as long as it needed to be, unnecessary rape scene, end with little to no closure whatsoever.

Overall, I enjoyed it enough to finish, but I didn't love it and I think it would have benefited from an editor who could help slim it down and get rid of a lot of unnecessary fluff. Also, seriously, if you're going to put in a rape scene, it had better have some significant point in the story... rather than just a little bit of shock value. *shakes head* I thought you were better than that, Chuck.

I absolutely loved this book. It took forever to read it and that was good. I'm kind of tired of all of those short books that I've been reading. The characters were easy to get to know and fall in love with. And they were very diverse, across all walks of life, some good, some bad, some very wicked. I would compare it with Dean Koontz' new series, but I won't divulge the reason...no spoilers here. The book moves along swiftly and it you set it down, it calls out to you to come back and read more. It is an apocalypse theme but there are no zombies. I could see it being true in the future...mostly.

Wanderers is the latest novel by Chuck Wendig, and it's been getting a lot of attention. Before the novel was even out people were fighting over the rights to adapt the novel into a series. Which is pretty huge (QC Entertainment won the rights, for those that are curious). And honestly, this novel will adapt well to a series, so I'm looking forward to seeing it.
Wanderers is a post apocalyptic novel, but not quite. More like it's a story following the dreadful spiral downward. The use of multiple perspectives helps to tell the tale, and it's a dark and disturbing one.
It's a survival novel, but also a study in human nature and reactions. That's what makes it so standout amongst other novels in the same genre. It wasn't quite like anything else I've read, and I mean that in the best way possible.
I'm not kidding when I call this novel dark, but it's also brilliantly written. Every detail held my attention, and had me eager for more. Though sometimes I was afraid to see what was going to be revealed next.

Warnings: As mentioned above, this novel can get pretty dark at times. There is a mass contagion that poses a major threat to humanity. So if you're suffering from nosophobia, or any other variant of being afraid of disease, this is a novel you should skip. And as with many post apocalyptic novels, this novel portrays the worst side of humanity, including racism, sexism, and so much more.
The Wanderers was a thrilling and fast paced novel of epic proportions. It's dark and disturbing, and will probably give you nightmares. But it is so absolutely worth it. If you've been looking for a new post apocalyptic novel to try, I'd strongly recommend this one.
There was a lot to love in this novel. The tone itself was amazing – to me it felt similar to Hot Zone, but maybe I just had that on my mind (I am rereading it next – I don't know why I'm doing that to myself). The switches in perspective help to tell the story, while keeping the plot moving forward at a steady pace. But it also gives different levels of insight as well, all due to how different each of the characters were.
Wanderers started off at an interesting point, but it did a great job of pulling me into the narrative. Looking back on it, I can see how the introduction was an allegory for what was going to happen to the characters in Chuck Wendig's novel.
I mentioned above that this novel is not for the faint of heart, and I do mean that. Chuck Wendig's description of diseases and outbreaks were so detailed they felt real...which may not be the best thing for the mental state of those reading! I know I for one will likely flinch at the sound of sniffles for the next few weeks. But all of that speaks to how immersive Wanderers really is.
Mentally, I'm still working my way through the conclusion. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it, but that's okay. In fact, maybe it's a good thing that it left me feeling conflicted. I love novels that make me think, so I have to appreciate this one as well.
I'm really curious to see how the adaptation of The Wanderers will go. The hardest part to get right – but also the most vital piece – will be the tone itself. Everything else will hopefully fall into place with it. No matter what, I'm sure that I'll give the series a try. I'm not sure I could resist.
On the whole, I have to say that this is another hit from Chuck Wendig. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my opinion of The Wanderers by Chuck Wendig.

This is EPIC! Why? Wanderers reminds me of The Stand by Stephen King. There is a touch of The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Wanderers has an African American hero. Wanderers kept me enthralled throughout its 800 pages. It doesn't frighten the bejesus out of me, even though it is apocalyptic literature, and it is a well-written, suspenseful novel with fully developed characters, and a magnificent plot! What a page turner that had me sleep deprived for a week! Wendig infuses politics, humor, technology, science, and romance with his end of days narrative. Mr. Wendig, I bow to you and your expertise. I will not give a summary, for the publishers have provided that info to the reader. One thing I will add, in my opinion, the politics in the novel, frightens the most as it is similar to the political division in the USA at present. BUY THIS BOOK or at least get on the miles long hold list at your local library for there will be a looooooong wait.

Chuck, you and I need to have words, son. Here I am, reading a good chunk of chapters a day, getting into your story as you introduce your characters and the conflicts begin to unfold, almost beginning to wonder when and if the shoe is going to drop… And then it does. I lost time, Chuck, insomuch as I read the last 500 pages in a single sitting. Well, there were breaks. I'm not a sleepwalker and require to food and water to survive. But to say you had me entranced would be an understatement.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wanderers is so firmly set in current (and recent) events that I have no doubt as to Chuck's stance on our country's sociopolitical issues. He tackles some important themes—faith, technology, culture, and the lengths humans will go to in order to survive—showing us all sides while weaving the plot together in a dread-filled ballet of science and religion. I found the writing engaging and easy to read, and laughed at the occasional injection of "Chuck" throughout. There is no doubt, despite the length and comparison to other popular long apocalyptic fiction, that Chuck Wendig penned this book.

A brief bit of praise for the collection of characters who form the spine of this story. All of them well developed and interesting to read despite their obvious flaws. Although I absolutely loved the character arcs, I didn't connect on an emotional level. Intellectually, however, I was thoroughly challenged and engaged, hooked by the mystery of the sleepwalkers and the disaster unfolding on the page. Actually, the emotion I spent a great deal of this book feeling was anger; at our politicians, at our media, at ourselves, so well done, Chuck.

I will be posting a mini review on my Instagram upon the book's release, and also on Goodreads.

What an epic tale! If you are looking for a meaty read this summer - this one is it. An apocalyptic fiction book set firmly in our 'now', it gives plenty of pop culture references to place it firmly in our time - they also help to make the connections which make it feel like any of this would be possible. While 'White Mask' is a global phenomenon, the story focuses firmly on American events, with only small mentions of what happens on a global scale. For good reason - the sleepwalkers who are overcome by some unknown phenomenon and simply walk out of their lives and keep walking, unresponsive and unstoppable, are only an American phenomenon.

The characters have rich backstory and development, making it a very weighty novel. Some have suggested that certain subplots could be cut out without affecting the story much - true, but the intricacies of the many characters and their own personal stories are what make the story so much more 'real'.

A fascinating read which brings together many of the issues we face today into an interconnected pattern. Well worth the read!

Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis

A decadent rock star. A deeply religious radio host. A disgraced scientist. And a teenage girl who may be the world’s last hope. In the tradition of The Stand and Station Eleven comes a gripping saga that weaves an epic tapestry of humanity into an astonishing tale of survival.

Shana wakes up one morning to discover her little sister in the grip of a strange malady. She appears to be sleepwalking. She cannot talk and cannot be woken up. And she is heading with inexorable determination to a destination that only she knows. But Shana and are sister are not alone. Soon they are joined by a flock of sleepwalkers from across America, on the same mysterious journey. And like Shana, there are other “shepherds” who follow the flock to protect their friends and family on the long dark road ahead.

For on their journey, they will discover an America convulsed with terror and violence, where this apocalyptic epidemic proves less dangerous than the fear of it. As the rest of society collapses all around them–and an ultraviolent militia threatens to exterminate them–the fate of the sleepwalkers depends on unraveling the mystery behind the epidemic. The terrifying secret will either tear the nation apart–or bring the survivors together to remake a shattered world.

Review

Thanks to the publisher and author for an advanced reading copy of Wanderers in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this eARC did not influence my thoughts or opinions on the novel.

When I saw the cover reveal for Wanderers last year, I just knew that I had to have it. I am a big fan of Wendig’s writing, especially his Star Wars: Aftermath trilogy and Miriam Black series. Knowing that this was going to be an epic tome, approximately 775 pages, I had to come up with a plan of action in order to get to it among the multitude of other novels begging for my attention.

Well, suffice it to say, Wanderers didn’t have to beg for my constant attention over the past week or so. I was more than happy to give it my full and undivided attention each and every time I opened up my Kindle. This cinder block of a novel never stopped gripping me with its meaty fists, even after I had turned the last page and thought back on the journey I had just traversed. I have to say this though: yes, it is a monster of a novel and the page count doesn’t even begin to stack up against the word count (I can only imagine the freaking word count…), but I never felt overwhelmed or that I was drowning in the pages. This is a story you really never want to end, even though it has to stop at some point and allow you to get out of bed and get on with your day.

There are many early reviews comparing it to Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’ (and even Chuck throws a little nod to King in the novel), but Wanderers wholly stands on its own merit. I also reflected on a couple of other big names and works like Robert Kirkman’s ‘The Walking Dead’ and Joe Hill’s ‘The Fireman’ while reading, but as far as comparisons or similarities go, they are few and far between.

Wanderers is a novel that I felt never really took its foot off the accelerator. There were never any parts that I felt I had to slog through, and even though a majority of our time is spent with “the horde”, there was enough packed into each successive chapter to keep me engaged.

While the most engaging part of the novel was the intrigue surrounding the epidemic, the vast array of characters proved to be the the highlight. There are plenty of POVs to see each and every scene from a variety of angles, each one topping the previous and adding more depth to the story. You are also provided an open door into the minds of each and every main character, exposing their innermost thoughts, desires, and motivations. Being able to see everything unfold from the variety of characters was simply stunning.

While this is a tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world, Wendig also weaves in denialistic views on climate change, the world’s addiction to technology and the requirement of it to survive, white supremacy being on the rise again (still don’t really get why it’s a thing), science being sorely overlooked, and presidential race that looks all too familiar. There is also a pretty heavy focus on religion (not really enlightening if you are a Believer like myself), but I chose to tune out those bits in order to look at the story as a whole instead of gawking at the way it was displayed and getting upset over it.

All in all, Wanderers is THE epic of the summer and you need to make sure you have it on your wishlist. This book is an electrifying marvel and deserves your attention, so make it a priority. Your bookshelf, or your reading device, will thank you.

Thank you to Mr. Wendig, Del Rey, and NetGalley for the opputunit to read an advance reader copy of the EPIC Summer Read that is "The Wanderers" When I say epic, I mean huge! This book may have even weighed my Kindle down! While it is a big tale, I found it very readable. This book is often mentioned along with The Stand, and while there are some similarities, it is a difficult comparison, especially with a legendary piece of work by Mr. King. I found it more similar to The Passage by Justin Cronin, without the vampires? By the way, I never like to be too specific with plot points or characters in a new book, its better that way! The Wanderers is in the Sci / FI Apocalyptic end times genre, which along with a large group of people (zombies) I am a fan of. Like most Apocalypse novels there are the underlying themes of Morality, violence, and religion. I thought Mr. Wendig did a good job of touching on those themes, without becoming too heavy handed. There are times that the political soapbox is not as transparent, but for the most part handled well. The scientific research was done well and provided a strong base for the story and for the characters to develop. Speaking of characters there are several, so that can be a challenge to some readers to keep up, or like all of them.The shifting points of view in such a large novel can be difficult, but not impossible. Like I mentioned earlier, the novel is readable. The book is set to be released on July 2, 2019. I think it would be a great book to enjoy over a long holiday and vacation this summer! Thanks again to everyone. Happy Reading and Happy Summer! #thewanderers #netgalley

Wendig is a talented writer and Wanderers does not disappoint. I enjoyed this pre-apocalyptic tale. I can see why people are saying that Wendig is this generation's, Stephen King. Great job! Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This BOOK is the ONLY book you need to read this year. FULL STOP! This book is EPIC! I loved it. Its a pre-apocalyptic story that is so detailed that I hated to put it down.
The characters were richly detailed, human, and had faults. I loved that each character had their faults:
Benjy crying wolf before
Shana doubting what she will/would be good at.
Pete and his secret.
Benjy's girlfriend keeping things from him.
I can't stop raving about this book. Its on the level of the Stand, but I believe this book blows that one away.
I loved the interweaving of technology, current politics, disease, and human nature.
It ended perfectly (no spoilers, BUT WOW!) leaving it open for another book.
I can't wait to see what this author will do next!

Some cool ideas but ultimately fell a little flat in that I had a hard time getting invested in any characters.

Finished reading an advance copy of Chuck Wendig’s novel WANDERERS, which launches July 2. It’s epic in every sense. Stunningly smart and gripping, filled with vivid characters you’ll love and hate, stuffed with horrors and triumphs and tension taut as a high-wire. It’ll keep you reading long into the night. Probably Chuck’s best and bravest book to date, which is a high bar to start. Grab it as soon as you can.

In terms of pacing, plot, and the combination of multiple ideas, I really enjoyed WANDERERS. I thought that the way that the perceived threat slowly changed as the story went on was very well done, and I found the pandemic's biological basis (a fungal infection that crossed from bat populations to human populations) to be so very original, and so very scary. I liked that there was a build up to all of it, and that we got to know characters within the narrative before things really went to hell so that we could see how they functioned before and after. My favorite sections and perspectives were that of Benji and his CDC colleagues, as well as his professional and personal relationship with Sadie and her AI work with Black Swan, the AI that has been predicting the issues we see in the story. I also liked that Wendig tied in other greater social issues such as extremism, the rise of the right wing and white supremacist movements in the age of social media and the Internet, and how violence tied to said movements has been on the rise and, in some ways, ignored or unchecked. While the pandemic is the main 'antagonist', the one that really scared me was Ozark Stover, a charismatic, violent, and bigoted man who knows how to manipulate people do do his bidding and to victimize those he deems as the Other. All that said, I did find a good number of the characters to be rather flat and two dimensional. I think that there were just so many perspectives that Wendig was trying to balance that he got a bit lost, or at least didn't push all of them enough to make them more multi-faceted (the exceptions are mostly Benji and his compatriots). I also had a very hard time with a graphic and what I deemed as gratuitous/unnecessary scene of sexual assault and violence, as I felt that it didn't add to the characters or the story. It just felt more like it was there to be shocking.

Overall, WANDERERS had high aspirations and big shoes to fill, and while it definitely kept me reading and sucked me in plot wise, I felt that it fell short when it came to characters and the ultimate payoff.

Wanderers takes the reader on an amazing journey of self-discovery. As an epic apocalyptic sci-fi novel that rings true in a disturbingly fantastical manner, the story follows two sisters – Shana and Nessie – as they discover love and loss and calls into question the readers’ beliefs on theology, politics, technology, and environmental issues.

What I liked:

It is easy to suspend disbelief. Within the story, there are many references to different aspects of pop culture, such as video games and books by other authors that were similar in topic. Such a seemingly small thing, but one that made it almost impossible for the reader to not feel the connection and to believe the stories possibility.

The novel encompasses many of the major theories of what will cause humankind’s demise. Even though the story takes on so many different theoretical beliefs on the demise of humankind, in the end, it all comes together to make perfect sense. This is precisely what makes the novel epic.

Each character is unique in voice and beliefs. Whether a major or minor character, each is complex, distinct, and fully developed. It would be easy in a novel such as this to make the characters more of a caricature rather than believable and much like people you have met in your life journey. But credible they are, and that makes the story that much more complex.

The mostly chronological timeline. Many novels in this genre tend to switch up the timeframe until the reader is unsure of what’s going on. At no point are you uncertain of where you are in the timeline as the novel is predominately chronological?

What I wish:

That I had more time to savor the nuances. Eight hundred pages may be off-putting to some readers, but you should not let it stop you from reading this book as it’s worth the time invested. I only wish I had more time to notice and appreciate the more subtle aspects of the story.

The minor characters are easier to remember when they popped in and out of the story. I had no problem remembering the names of the main characters, but the minor characters were a problem for me. It could have been because, when you added in the minor characters, there is a large cast of characters. Or it could be because after being gone for a bit, the minor characters weren’t subtly reintroduced.

To read or not to read:

You will be missing out on a story that will leave you awed if you don’t pick up this book. It includes so many different genres that it is appealing to many different readers. Chuck Wendig’s novel Wanderers is a compelling, thought-provoking story that will make you question your own opinions of many issues in the world today.

Thanks to Del Ray Publishers and NetGalley for my advanced copy given with the expectation of receiving an honest review.

This fucking book. I love long "end of the world books." How. it ends doesn't matter to me. This book has many comparisons to other books. Please, let that go. The Stand, and Swan Song are different animals. If you compare Stand to Swan, then you're a fucking idiot. This story. This fucking tale was bullshit! I absolutely despised this crap. I loved the rock star. A.rock star! I have been bored for 2 months now. I quit. Take this boring crap and... Actually, I really don't believe that this fucking book will be one of those who last. This story doesn't have the staying power,not the character development to stand the test of time. This shit was a bore. I need massive amounts of humor on my end of world books. Duh, of.course the gay rocker was funny. That was how it was meant to be. I hated this fucking book. I still keep looking back and trying to find something. There is nothing. I will.say.it again....I hate this book..

This book took me on a journey I never expected. How will mankind survive if there is an outbreak of a disease that has no known cure? Will we be left to make the best of a bad situation or is it possible that artificial intelligence could intervene? The irony of the story is man is responsible for inventing artificial intelligence.

One day 15 year old Nessie leaves her house and begins walking. She does not respond to any stimuli, she just keeps on walking. Her older sister Shana runs after her to ask Nessie to come back home. Nessie keeps on walking. It's as if she is unaware of anything happening around her. After awhile another person walks out of their house and joins Nessie. Shana sees the newcomer has the same blank stare that Nessie exhibits.

Wanderers by Chuck Wendig is a compelling story. I was quickly hooked by this well written, grand scale book.
Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader's Copy.
#Wanderers #NetGalley

For no apparent reason, people develop a dead stare and start walking. They respond to nothing; their thick skin can’t be penetrated. If something gets in their way, they climb over it effortlessly. If someone tries to restrain them, they shudder and their body temperature rises until they burst in a spray of blood and bone, killing not only themselves, but those around them.

All this brings forth the good and bad of American society: the good shepherds, family members who plod alongside their loved ones; and the bad: religious fanatics, right-wing politicians, and rabid white supremacists with armaments that rival those of the United States military.

It’s an election year, with the incumbent Nora Hunt a Hillary Clinton-like female referenced in vulgar terms by those who despise her, and a reckless far-right opponent named Ed Creel, who curses at reporters and spews lies, conspiracies, and calls to violence against the walkers, shepherds, and anyone who opposes him.

The CDC, under the guidance of Dr. Benji Ray, is assigned to track the walkers and fights off the violent intrusion of Homeland Security, but finds its charges and themselves repeatedly under attack: on the ground by armed militias ready to snatch their country away from a president and society they despise; over the airwaves by a preacher suddenly famous for his increasingly violent scriptural interpretations of sinners in the hands of an angry God; and through the Internet by countless commenters around the world advocating a variety of strategies. Their only protection is an artificial intelligence program named Black Swan, which seemingly holds the key to this panic if it’s asked the right questions.

Until a fungus nicknamed White Mask begins to spread around the world, with a one hundred percent death rate, and the only people not affected by the illness are the walkers, which enrages their paranoid adversaries even further.

Chuck Wendig made sure to cover every conceivable base in this book, but clocking in at 800 pages in hardcover, he’s sorely in need of a good editor to murder his darlings. Entire storylines could easily fall or shorten under an expert red pen — Pastor Matthew Bird and his intact but estranged family are unnecessary baggage, and militia leader Ozark Stover’s sadism veers way too far into Deliverance territory. Even vital characters like Shana, Marcy, and Dr. Ray are burdened with too much backstory, and aging punk rocker/rebellion leader Pete Corley receives far too much of the attention he craves. An entire simulation, much like a video game, featuring the walkers makes no sense and merely pads out the story, as if Wendig had a word or page count to meet. There aren’t many characters who feels unfinished or mysterious, which isn’t a compliment.

If Wendig isn’t actively emulating Stephen King’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand, he at least lays this manuscript at its altar. And while the two books have a lot in common, Wendig simply lacks the chops to pull off such a complex tale, a feat King has achieved repeatedly throughout his long and storied career. In Wendig’s defense, not many writers have been able to match King’s most popular book, but he and Random House provoked a deliberate comparison by issuing such a similar novel nearly 41 years after The Stand’s first issuance.