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Posted By: Magus Oct 27, 2004 - 06:01 pm

This introduction goes the same as it did with the one origionally written for Wolves of the Calla.

***************WARNING: SPOILERS!!!!! AHEAD!*****************

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Posted By: Magus Oct 27, 2004 - 06:01 pm

This book, written by Stephen King, is the fourth installment of his seven volume “Dark Tower” series. It follows the epic quest of Roland Gilead, Eddie Dean, Susannah Dean and Jake Chambers as they search for The Dark Tower.
This story has with it the same qualities that I so enjoyed about it’s next installment, Wolves of the Calla. There is masterful plotting, much of it character driven. The characters are very developed and it has with it a gripping suspense that refuses to let you stop reading.
This story begins when Roland, Eddie, Susannah and Jake, not to mention their Bumbler companion Oy, are in the Thinney they entered after winning Blaine the Mono’s riddle contest. As a side note I is interesting to mention the Thinney has brought them to the world from Stephen King’s The Stand.
Not much is known about the life of Roland of Gilead, son of Stephen, the last of the Gunslingers and the Line of Eld. His mystery has so far in the series captivated a curiosity in the reader of what he was like, how he became the man he is now. This chapter tells all.
This book’s greatest strength is its immense character development. The entire book is the back-story of Roland. It tells of his love, Suzan. It tells of his coming of age. It tells of what his coming of age meant for not only him, but his two other friends, Cuthbert Allgood and Allain Johns, Gunslinger Apprentices.
The story moves flawlessly through the year of Roland’s life that, arguably, was the turning point ever after. It shows the power of raw human emotion and passion. It shows what can befall a man ruled by his.
When a character is hurt you feel their pain. When they suffer an cut to their very soul your own bleeds for them. This compassionate and tragic tale of Roland and his first ka-tet is masterfully woven and written. It leaves the reader sorrowful when Suzan, his love, is burnt alive at the hands of her family and friends. You feel the pain as the flesh is scorched from her body and as the flames caress her body in an unholy act of perversion and torture. You feel the pain of Roland, the Pain of a Gunslinger. Such pains are the hardest to bear and the weight of the story bears upon the reader.
And just as the story concludes itself we are left with even more to ponder and think over. We are left to think of who is Walter O’Dim, this Man in Black, this Maerlyn. How are they connected with Roland and the others? How has his role-played out in the past? How will he affect the events to transpire?

Posted By: Neurolanis Oct 28, 2004 - 05:59 am

That does sound well-written. I tried reading it (without reading the other parts), and I just couldn't. I guess I was expecting more otherwordly stuff from the get go. Ah well. Maybe I'll give it another try sometime.

Posted By: Magus Oct 28, 2004 - 12:52 pm

You really do need to start with book one. It will not make one bit of sense otherwise. Things gradually progress and make reference to past events, even stacking on them.

Posted By: Neurolanis Oct 28, 2004 - 05:58 pm

Yeah it's just so much reading though. I've got too much to do. Mayby some day.

Posted By: Magus Oct 28, 2004 - 06:22 pm

I know what it's like to be busy. But I have a whole bunch of free time now that I have no idea what to do with now that marching band is over with. It happens every year. There is a lot of reading I want to get done... a lot of writing, for that matter, too.

I just can't wait to finish the series. Only two more to go. I am taking a short break from it, however. Just long enough for reading Jurassic Park, and maybe one or two more. Because it IS a lot of reading to do, especially in a row like that.