from the CNN [link|http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/books/09/16/stephen.king.ap/|article]
"I'm pleased that they're giving it to him," says Ray Bradbury, author of such science fiction classics as "The Martian Chronicles" and recipient in 2000 of the honorary medal from the book foundation. "I don't think they should exclude any special genre, or they'd have to eliminate Edgar Allan Poe, wouldn't they?"
Personally, I'd think The Stand well worth it.