We are a house divided when it comes to classic apocalyptic fiction. I’m a huge fan of Swan Song by Robert McCammon while Mrs Cheesecake just can’t get enough of The Stand… First came the days of the plague. Then came the dreams.Dark dreams that warned of the coming of the dark man. The apostate of death, his worn-down boot heels tramping the night roads. The warlord of the charnel house and Prince of Evil. His time is at hand. His empire grows in the west and the Apocalypse looms. When Pablo Cheesecake said his annual October theme month was going to be apocalyptic fiction in honour of 2012, my mind immediately fell to The Stand, probably the first piece of apocalyptic fiction I ever read. For those that know me, they will probably not be surprised by this fact, as I am known to be a fan of Mr King. Originally published in 1978, and widely considered a masterpiece, The Stand was not the first Stephen King book I read – that honour goes to Christine. It probably does remain the largest book I have ever read. The 1000+ pages can be somewhat daunting, and even when I did eventually…