The Stand (Paperback)

Summary of the Book
When a biological weapon misfires, it wipes out most of humanity, leaving only a few groups of survivors to try and find a way to pull themselves together. The pandemic has spread uncontrollably despite the efforts of the governments to enforce martial law, and there are but three groups of survivors now. These survivors begin to have visions of a 108 year old woman known as Mother Abigail and follow her instructions to journey to Boulder, Colorado, where they try to restore a democratic society called "Free Zone." In Las Vegas, another group of survivors rallies under Randall Flagg, who is trying to set up a brutal government. Flagg is a supernatural being and will stop at nothing until he controls the world. Flagg's group rebuilds quickly, and stockpiles the weapons from all across the country. Mother Abigail's group decides to spy on Flagg, but they're soon discovered and Flagg decides that those who are not with him are against him. If they do not work together, they may yet prove that the weapon has destroyed any chance the world had for survival.