Since there's a thread devoted to Wheel of Time (a book that has killed more trees than all of the world's newspapers put together, or so it seems), let's have a Dark Tower thread.
My biggest complaint about Dark Tower is that he should have waited a few years before writing the last novel. Wolves of the Call and Song of Susannah were excellent, and the first half of The Dark Tower was also good. But then he seemed to run out of ideas.
One other item to start off the discussion: What's your favorite Dark Tower tie-in novel? For me, it was Black House. It was a good book in its own right (although I've never read The Talisman, so I don't know if it lives up to the predecessor), and it gave a lot of Dark Tower insight as well.
My least favorite Dark Tower tie-in novel was Hearts in Atlantis. It was so well-written that it got to me and made me depressed. I don't know, maybe it's because I was in a tough time when I read it.
"the only thing worse than a freeper is a blue state freeper that doesn't realize they're a freeper." -dhex
hoisted by their own waterboard!
-dhex
Re: Dark Tower
I think you just described every Stephen King novel ever.
Re: Dark Tower
I really enjoyed the first book, but it was downhill from there. The quality seemed to drop with each book, although it was a descent from great to merely good. There were parts in books 6 and 7 that I really hated, though. I think some more time on both of those books would have been a wise investment.
Three things I intensely disliked:
1. Stephen King including himself (including the note at Dandelo's)
2. The Mordred storyline (including the death of R.F.)
3. The artist guy who might as well have been named Deus Ex Machina
As far as tie-ins, the only other King books I've read are The Stand and From a Buick 8, so the tie-ins aren't particularly important (other than establishing R.F.). From a Buick 8 was almost a stunningly good book, but then King revealed what was going on. I think it relates to J.D.'s point that King often runs out of steam; a better ending would've been something more Lovecraftian that didn't really resolve much because the unknown is just that.
Re: Dark Tower
Stephen King including himself was admittedly a problem, but the worst instance of it (the note at Dandelo's) was in the second half of the last book, as were Mordred's killing of RF and Artist Ex Machina.
If King had relaxed a bit after book 6, I think book 7 would have kicked ass.
"the only thing worse than a freeper is a blue state freeper that doesn't realize they're a freeper." -dhex
hoisted by their own waterboard!
-dhex
Re: Dark Tower
The last book in the series I read was Wizard and Glass. The bit with the Wizard of Oz thing just seemed so goofy.
Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Re: Dark Tower
Does anyone have a solid endorsement for why I should continue to read the Dark Tower. I went through my Stephen King obsession when I was 16, loved some of his stuff, and Dark Tower was the last thing I stumbled upon. I'd probably have to re-read too, since last I remember is the Odetta/Detta thing.
I'm bored and need something to read. If Dark Tower is worth it, I'm in, but if its the sort of suck-i-tude ala Desperation/The Regulators and the most recent King I'd rather just read some crappy, predictable John Saul because at least I know it's going to be lame.
I don't think the world needs more proof that Objectivists make lousy boyfriends - Shem
I respect spite - tymac
Re: Dark Tower
Read everything up through and including the first half of the last book. Then read the last two chapters.
"the only thing worse than a freeper is a blue state freeper that doesn't realize they're a freeper." -dhex
hoisted by their own waterboard!
-dhex
Re: Dark Tower
Dark Tower was a decent series, but I agree with the above posters about the many problems with it. The ending of the last book looked like it was written in haste, having to resolve his complicated cast of characters in short order. The only good part was the resolution of Roland's quest. That made me smirk a little (though I thought it was a copout for building it up so much during the series, which King seemed to acknowledge in the Epilogue and try and explain off as it being the only suitable ending)
Book 1 worked so well because of its ambiguity and mystery. The reader knows nothing and is shaped by just the little hints given, which make the details alot more interesting at first. Once King has to define the true quest and we find out alot about Roland, the attention to detail fades and the reader is more interested in following the gist of the plot rather than delving into the subtlety of the text.
Proud Cosmotarian
Re: Dark Tower
I live 2 towns (and a state line) away from King, and went to school with Brian Smiths son. Smith died 1 year later from an overdose which may have been suicide. The man was a total pariah, his kid got picked on, it was bad. So then I read the sections of the story describing the accident, and the light i which Smith was put was wayyyyy over the top. Yeah, he was an ass, and irresponsible, but to bring that level of personal bullshit into an otherwise great book was too much for me, especially considering that the man is dead, and only his family is going to be hurt by King's words.
Also, I want to be a Breaker. After all, It Is a Joy To Break.
"Hey, any chance to show off my eru — erudi — my book learnin'." - David L. Watkins