Right now might not be the best time to read The Stand, a post-apocalyptic novel about a strain of influenza that wipes out 99 percent of the planet's population. Still, it's considered by many fans to be King's magnum opus. The novel clocks in at over 1000 pages, blends a collection of genres, and explores lofty themes of morality and survival. The fact that King was able to conceive of such a complex, sprawling story seems miraculous; the end result is an eerie epic that might hit a little too close to home.