I have The Stand...The edition that was published later, with all the editor's cuts put back in. That is on my list for the next read, since I'm almost done with the LOTR books. Again. I think this must be close to 40 times I've read it...I learn something new every time. Or read something I don't remember from the last time I read it. *sigh*
The last edition was the best, I agree.
Have you read Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand?
Thats an end of the world book, even if some people don't see it that way.