Flight 815-ers Unite discussion

I haven't finish this book just yet, but would love to hear what do you guys think are the connections between the book and the series?

I'm about 1/3 done, and the obvious to me would be off course the fact that now this people are having to adjust to a life without the comforts of things like electricity and the like.

Lorena,it's been quite some time since I've read it but I believe you've reached the point where there is now a supernatural aspect to the novel and the survivors are having strange dreams. Yes?
Don't want to say more until I know for certain,but there is another aspect that I found very similiar as well.

Ooh, can't wait to hear it, Sherry.

Sherry you were right, (I am assuming everyone here has read the book, spoilers ahead) the dreams and the "connections" had LOST written all over it. Also when Nick was guiding Tom through the dessert I felt that it was probably one of the inspirations for the show, as we have seen so many dreams with the dead, offering guidance and counsel.

Just finished The Stand this morning. Such a LONG book! I felt like I had really accomplished something when I got to the last page.

one lost connection that hasn't been mentioned here yet is the two groups of people, one good and one bad, who are sending individual people or small groups back and forth for smaller skirmishes while preparing for an ultimate showdown.

Also, Ben always seems to know more than he should about everything that is going on at both camps - just like Randall Flagg.

And I would say The Stand shares an overall theme with Lost dealing with the conflict between science and faith.

I'm sure there are more connections there. Bound to be in a book that is over 1,000 pages. :)

Yes Luann, that's assuming Ben is the bad guy, but many think he's actually the "good guy" ... I pesonally don't like him, but love the character and the actor.

Well, that's true. I started by putting both "good" and "bad" in quotes in my post above, but took away the quotes because they don't really work for the book - especially for their leaders. It's pretty clear that Randall Flagg is evil clear through and the group that follows him can't really be termed the good group. As far as Ben goes, he says that he's the "good guy" FAR too often for me to easily believe him. :) It's also interesting that he was in on the planning and the execution of the plan to completely annihilate his original group of people. Even Randall Flagg didn't go that far - except by accident.

I just wanted to throw in my two cents: I don't think Ben took part in the planning part of the original execution. I don't think Richard Alpert trusted him that much. I think it was more like "Here's a mask for when we release the gas."

Personally, I am a big fan of Ben. He reminds me more of Larry Underwood than Randall Flagg. He's much more comfortable in the bad guy role, but he's actually trying to be responsible and do right. Like Larry's friend says, there's something about Ben that's like biting tinfoil.

Interesting, Jeremy! I never would have thought of Ben that way. I thought he was in on the planning of it since he knew all the details of when and where and what his part was. And he had no problems in gassing his own dad - and sitting there while it happened. But you're right, it doesn't actually show that he was one of the ones planning it.

Yeah, there was something primary wrong with Ben participating in his own dad's death. I understand that they portraid the dad as abusive but not to the point of murder.

I also had the feeling that he helped with the preparation of the mass murder on the island but I can't remember what it was, perhaps Jeremy is right and he was just chosen "not-to die" vs actually helping in the killings.

In the book I loved the character development, most of them felt real, they weren't without flaws, not all perfect nor all evil. Very human with some tough choices to make and stick to. I get that feeling in the LOST series too and I think that is part of the allure for me.

I guess the point of it was that Ben had to kill his dad in order to be their leader - just like Locke had to do later. Only he didn't seem to have a problem with it like Locke did.

Locke hated his dad, but still couldn't kill him. We know that Ben's dad resented Ben, but I don't remember much else about that. But if Ben is the kind of guy who can kill his father without any visible qualms, then I think that's a bit like biting tinfoil.

I was just at Lostpedia and thought I should see what connections they list to The Stand. They have a huge, very substantial list with many things I'd never thought of. I was especially interested to learn that Charlie's character is an homage to Larry Underwood.

http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/The_S...

Wow! That was pretty interesting! I never made the connection between Charlie and Larry and I never realized how many other connections there were!

Thanks for posting that, Luann, I especially like the explaining about Mother Abigail being 108 and the numbers adding to 108, very interesting indeed.

All right, I feel vindicated in thinking that Ben is a bad guy. Did any one else notice that in the recap episode last night, Damon and Carlton specifically described Ben as a bad guy? Although I do concede that we might be meant to believe that and it might all turn around in the end. That's one of the things I love about Lost - you can't assume anything! :)

I was thinking the same thing Luann! Someone also mentioned in one of the interviews that Ben does what's best for Ben and that he's not to be trusted.

I refuse to believe it. I don't care who says it, I refuse to believe that Ben is a bad guy. He's probably my favorite character now after everybody else has died!

Hopefully we will find out for sure one way or another before this is all over!

I'm just so happy Lost is finally back. I want to savor each and every new episode.

Hello to all of those who don't know me! But I just want to know right now who the lady is that Ben gave the body to, and why is John Locke in two places at once!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????? What is that?????? What do you think Hurley is going to do after he goes to jail after he ran away from Ben to go to the police? Is Sun looking for Ben because she thinks he killed her husband??? Do you think Kate will be held captive by Sun???