Lukáš Janáč
asked:
How much is it similar to King's The Stand? Is it comparable (better)? Which book inspired which? If I enjoyed The Stand, will I enjoy this one (won't it be repetitive) ?
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Kymberly Blake
Swan Song is probably my favorite book ever...I've read this book every 3 years or so since 1987...love it still. The Stand is nowhere near as good, and I can't believe Swan Song hasn't been made into a movie...but do not think they could ever do it justice...Its like Mad Maxx Thunderdome meets The Stand plus so so much more... 5 stars
Alex Agranovsky
The Stand is one of my favorite books, and King (as he usually does) makes his characters come alive. They feel, talk and develop like real people. I've read about 15% of Swan Song before abandoning it, and the characters are cartoonish, very stereotypical for 1980s books/movies. The writing style is nowhere close to Kings, and felt very forced and artificial, closer to Dan Brown than King. I felt like my time was being wasted.
All personal taste, of course, but this book (and potentially, author) is not for me.
All personal taste, of course, but this book (and potentially, author) is not for me.
Karen Downes
Its similar to The Stand only in that they are both set in a post-apocalyptic world, both have an element of the mystical, and both deal with the way humans might react to annihilation.
Personally, I loved The Stand but couldn't wait to finish Swansong. I love the way King writes, and to this day still feel like I have had actual conversations and interactions with some of the characters in The Stand. I didn't get that from Swansong.
Some of the characters were very powerful - Josh, Sister, Roland - but I just didn't get a sense of the devastation or community reactions to what was happening. I read this book only because of reviews comparing it favourably to The Stand, but was frankly disappointed.
Personally, I loved The Stand but couldn't wait to finish Swansong. I love the way King writes, and to this day still feel like I have had actual conversations and interactions with some of the characters in The Stand. I didn't get that from Swansong.
Some of the characters were very powerful - Josh, Sister, Roland - but I just didn't get a sense of the devastation or community reactions to what was happening. I read this book only because of reviews comparing it favourably to The Stand, but was frankly disappointed.
Holly
They are similar but I really enjoyed Swan Song a lot more. The characters are wonderful and it's not mired down with too much extraneous matter, like The Stand. Don't get me wrong, I love King, he is a giant, but my vote goes to Swan Song, and no I didn't think it was repetitive at all, though the story line is similar.
Donna Johnson
Both books are excellent reads. Try Lucifer's Hammer when you get a chance. I read all 3 of these books once a year. Enjoy!
Richard Dominguez
I have to agree that while "The Stand" is a great book, there was something about "Swan Song" that hit me hard from the start. I found the characters believable and so alive. I laughed, cried and in a way prayed for them as the story moved along. When ever the conversation comes around, I never ever fail to say "well then, have you read Robert McCammon's "Swan Song" ...
Kira
I read The Stand in the 90s. I finished Swan Song this morning. Both are worth reading. The Stand is more character-driven, Swan Song more plot-driven. I'm not much of a re-reader, but if I had to choose one to read again, it would be The Stand. I was glad to finish Swan Song, and wish a little more had been at stake for the characters when the final clash came.
Michael
It appears that many people like Swan Song more than The Stand. I didn't think The Stand was that great. I read the uncut version and there was a lot of nothing happening. It was mostly rather boring. I'm buying Swan Song tomorrow from Barnes and Noble and can't wait to start reading it.
Closet Rebel
I just read both books back to back. I would have to say that The Stand is slightly better.
Both books are about 300 pages too long.
The books are extremely similar except one is in the summer after virus kills everyone, and the other is in a nuclear winter.
Both have an Evil Guy and both have a Good Female.
Both have groups of good and bad people that must battle for good vs evil.
Both had a small set of people immune to what killed everyone. The virus and nuclear radiation. (I am pretty sure in a all out nuclear war anyone that survived would need to be underground for many years so it bugged me that people were living in the open and eating the snow).
It really does seem that Swan Song is a rip off of The Stand. So read the original The Stand.
Both books are about 300 pages too long.
The books are extremely similar except one is in the summer after virus kills everyone, and the other is in a nuclear winter.
Both have an Evil Guy and both have a Good Female.
Both have groups of good and bad people that must battle for good vs evil.
Both had a small set of people immune to what killed everyone. The virus and nuclear radiation. (I am pretty sure in a all out nuclear war anyone that survived would need to be underground for many years so it bugged me that people were living in the open and eating the snow).
It really does seem that Swan Song is a rip off of The Stand. So read the original The Stand.
Mindy Curtis
Swan Song beats the stand hands down!
I am on my 11th copy of it. I re-read it every few months.
I am on my 11th copy of it. I re-read it every few months.
Mark Richards
I'm only 60 pages in & am thinking about quitting. Don't get me wrong: I LOVE a long book. I read The Stand when if first came out, and again when they published the original version that King wrote. I don't think that what I have read in Swan Song thus far can hold a dim candle to King. Maybe I need to give it another chance, based on these rave reviews. But I am just not impressed with the writing style at all.
Philip Higgins
Both books are great. If you enjoyed The Stand I would guess Swan Song will be 'right up your (damnation) alley'.
Do we have to choose one over the other? I still can't decide my favourite Die Hard film (just not the last, obvs).
Do we have to choose one over the other? I still can't decide my favourite Die Hard film (just not the last, obvs).
Martha
I loved both books, and The Stand was my All Time Favorite until Swan Song came around. I think it's because I'm older and more jaded than I was 35 years ago when The Stand and its characters absolutely took over my soul. For days afterward I would wonder how Fran and Stu were doing before I realized they were just characters...Swan Song is like The Stand only as much as it's a post-apocalyptic book. It's much more into the weeds of how life would be in that situation. Swan Song comes off as a very somber and accurate description of how a civilization would spiral down to its animal basics.
Jim Camerlinck
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Elka Scott
I think you will. This book was recommended to me by my brother-in-law as being like The Stand but different enough not to be like reading the same book over again. I think it's comparable but at this juncture I can't say which is better. I think I've read so much King that McCammon's style was refreshing, even if it was a little dated. However, the villains seem almost too similar in their motivations and characterizations so if you hated Randall Flagg than maybe give this one a pass?
Aaron Eckert
I absolutely loved both of these books, you can't go wrong with either. I've read both of them twice and plan to read each again in the near future. Asking me which of the two that I like best is like asking which kid you love most...even though you secretly do have a special spot in your heart for one that you keep secret from the world. King has two of my three favourite books, McCammon the third. Swan Song is #2 and The Stand is #3.
Kclark
Although THE STAND was written first, I believe SWAN SONG seems more dated. There are a lot of similarities and both are great books.
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