Customer Reviews

Dark Tower

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"Wizard and Glass," Volume IV of Stephen King's fantasy/western "Dark Tower" series is even better than the three books which preceded it. I didn't think it would be possible to top "The Wastelands," Book III, but King has accomplished the task with great elan. The author's tremendous talents and consistency as a writer are evident here. I can only advise the reader not to begin this novel during a busy period in your life, as it will cause you to miss all sorts of deadlines. I really found it difficult to put this page-turner down.

The novel opens with a wrap-up of the cliffhanger which began in Book Three, where bizarre Blaine, the psychotic, riddle-loving monorail tries to take the stoic Gunslinger and his companions on a suicide trip to a terminal destination. Given the dark humor, it's a really fun ride. The band of four...and a half, the Gunslinger, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and their talking dog-like pet, Oy the Bumbler, disengage from the wreckage of Blaine, and continue along the path of the Beam toward the Dark Tower. They finally take a rest, around a campfire, while Roland narrates the details of his quest, the whys and wherefores behind his decision to take this particular course. He tells the tragic tale of his lost love, Susan, and his beloved friends and companions Cuthbert and Alain, who all formed a magnificent Ka-tet, (King's word for a group of people drawn together by fate). These characters have been brought up in prior novels and all played a formidable role in Roland's past life...one which will haunt him to the ends of the changing world. "Wizard and Glass" is more a traditional fantasy novel than the other, more darkly fantastic books in the series. The forces of magic aren't often on the side of Roland and his friends, so they must rely on their wits or their weapons instead.

Roland's father, the best Gunslinger who ever lived, sent him away from the Inner Baronies and looming danger, with his closest friends Cuthbert and Alain. All were disguised and took aliases. They arrived at their destination, the small seaside town of Hambry, in Mejis, on the outskirts of Mid-World, ostensibly to count the taxable goods for the Affiliation. The trio discovered that there was trouble brewing here also, worse than that in Gilead. They were in much more danger in the Barony of Mejis than they would have been staying at home. The town's officials had secretly defected to the side of John Farson, "The Good Man," whose armed revolution was gradually destroying the world. Farson's group planned to use oil wells and refineries, built during the long-ago Age of the Old Ones, to create gasoline to power weapons of war. These relics of the past, and other resources, lay right outside Hambry. Cut off from communications and support, Roland, Cuthbert and Alain were up against powerful adversaries, men of evil and ill will, as they attempted to foil the plot.

On their first night in Hambry, Roland met beautiful Susan Delgado, just sixteen, a year or so older than he. The two fall deeply in love. Unfortunately she had been coerced into giving her promise to the lecherous, aging Mayor to be his future lover, (and future mother of his child - he hoped). His wife had been unable to bear him children after 40 years of marriage. Susan was unable to break the contract without staining her family's honor. The young lovers entered into an illicit affair - one which endangered the lives of them all.

It is difficult to summarize the richly detailed and intricate plot of "Wizard and Glass" and do it justice. The characters, major and minor, are outstanding - they just come to life on the page. There's the ancient witch who becomes addicted to Farson's pink crystal ball, and whose hatred for Susan will prove to be disastrous for the Ka-tet; Jonas the failed gunslinger, banished to the West long ago, and his two cronies - all in Mejis to do Farson's work; Cordelia, Susan's deranged aunt who is eaten up by jealousy, guilt and her own pettiness; Sheemie, who is devoted to Cuthbert for saving his life, and proves to be loyal and courageous - an honorary member of the Ka-tet. And, of course there's young Roland, the newly made Gunslinger, who longs to lead his friends with honor and be worthy of his father's name; Alain, serious, noble and gifted with the Sight; Cuthbert the cutup, who is so like Eddie; Susan, a strong young woman, with her dream of first love finally realized, and so much to lose. King demonstrates a huge talent for creating a wide variety of characters and weaving them into a credible community. His narrative is rich in vivid detail and the pace is fast-going enough that I had a problem deciding where to pause. Ultimately, the reader is given an understanding of why Roland is the man he is. And this is a good place to acquire it. Roland, while never unsympathetic, has always seemed a bit too stoic - a hard, ruthless, unsentimental man who will kill for his cause.

I think this is Stephen King's best book ever, and certainly one of the best novels I have read in a long time. One of the high points, for me, is the way the author brings in characters and themes from his other books, pointing out to the reader that the figures of evil in all his work are the same throughout - no matter what their names. Whatever the storyline, the purpose of total destruction remains consistent. It may have taken the author a long time to get this book out, but it is sure worth it. "The Dark Tower" is really Stephen King at his best and most ambitious. He examines here, in this extraordinary epic, the importance of mythology, and of the quest, in man's life! Very highly recommended!

JANA

Wizard and Glass is mainline heroin for Dark Tower junkies. Be warned: do not undertake this novel during finals week or if you have housecleaning to do. By the time I was finished, my apartment resembled that of Tommy from "Trainspotting".

If you happen to be a serious reader, the length of this novel is a boon. King writes with such fluidity, his characters' dialogue is so real, that the length is a necessity. If you're hungry, you eat a big plate of lasagne; you don't pick a French restaurant where they serve you a thin slice of pate garnished with a little radish rosette. King may not agree with the critics, but he's damn satisfying, and the Dark Tower series is his piece de resistance.

Roland lives how we'd all like to live-- doing the right thing, no matter how difficult. He's a hero, but he's accessible. He's so good, he doesn't have to swagger. What's so real about him is that he doesn't have a grand plan; he lives each day as it comes and doesn't worry about ka.

Wizard and Glass is not just a great book-- it stands as a fortress against the cynicism and apathy that pervades so much of modern literature. King has the gall to say that some things really matter, and for that his critics will crucify him.

Wizard and Glass is not only the best book in the Dark Tower series, it may well be the best Stephen King book I've ever read. It is grand, operatic, vivid, a story worthy of Tolkien, throbbing with atmosphere, and aching with the shattered soul and broken heart of the story's principal character, Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger. This tale of first love, and that love's tragic loss, forms the centerpiece of the novel, which begins where The Waste Lands left off, with Roland and co. trapped on Blaine (the Pain), engaged in a riddling contest (shades of Bilbo and Gollum!) for their very lives. They defeat Blaine (how I won't say, but it's a moment that beats hell out of every time Captain Kirk ever overloaded a mad computer), and soon discover they've somehow jumped dimensions (another side effect of the Tower's failing), and have wound up in the world . of The Stand -- a moment so chilling I got goosepimples. Really! Of course, given that rambunctious Randy Flagg has now become the villain of this piece, this bit of dimension switching should hardly come as a surprise -- but it's nevertheless fascinating. Roland and co. travel on in this deserted world, finding evidence of both Mother Abigail and the Dark Man (as well as the Crimson King from Insomnia), and soon encounter a "thinny" -- a warp between dimensions that is like a mosquito with a thousand-watt amplifier buzzing in one's ear. This triggers in Roland a flashback -- and most of the next 550 pages are spent in the days of Roland's youth, just after he defeated Cort. He is sent by his father -- along with companions Cuthbert and Alain -- to the sleepy sea community of Mejis. Here they discover the conspiracies of John Farson (aka the Good Man, aka Marten Broadcloak, aka Richard Fannin, aka Randall Flagg) are hard at work, involving the theft of oil from a still (though barley) working refinery, which Farson intends to refine for use as gasoline, and, possibly, napalm. While evidence of this is slowly being uncovered, Roland meets Susan, the horse-drover's daughter alluded to in the first Dark Tower book, who is betrothed to the greedy mayor, Thorin (also the name of the greedy Dwarf in The Hobbit!). There begins between Susan and Roland a forbidden love. Much more happens, involving Farson's lackies, Susan's half-crazed aunt, and Rhea, the witch of the Coos, who holds in her hand an all-seeing crystal ball which is consuming her from the inside out...but it is the love between Susan and Roland which is the soul of this book. Every moment of it is sweetly, adoringly, even frighteningly realistic -- such as the moment when Roland kisses her with such force, her mouth bleeds, or Susan's mingled fear and excitement, even arousal, at being in such a precarious situation, or the jealousy and impatience of Cuthbert and Alain, who have Farson more on their minds (they think) than Roland does. I could go on -- about the marvelous depiction of Mejis, and its quaint (though dangerous) denizens, the evil Coffin Killers (I always picture Jason Robards as their leader for some reason), or the lyrical language King uses during this narrative -- a lyricism that is present, it seems, only in this series and early novels such as Salem's Lot and The Stand, although Rose Madder has a lot of it, too. I could speak of the richly-depicted characters, or the numerous Tolkien parallels -- I've mentioned two, and here's another: the Wizard's Grapefruit, which is in appearance and its effect on Rhea eerily like the Palantirs in the Rings saga. I could go on and on (if the good people at Amazon.com would allow me) -- but in the end, I'll mention this one thing, and leave it at that: Wizard and Glass is a work of boundless heart and imagination, chilling and warm all at once, a wholly-successful melding of the Wild West, the journey of the Ringbearer, and Arthurian myth that King hinted at in the previous three novels. There is not a moment when there is not something of interest going on, when you are not amused or unsettled or in love or in fear; King is a writer of immeasurable talent, and this novel proves it. As to the Wizard of Oz riff that provides much of the framing story -- it is, to quote King's description of the Marsten house in Salem's Lot, "a literary curlicue, there to provide mood...and not much else". Of course it also sets the stage for what is to come in the next three books -- the true quest for the Dark Tower (where Sauron lived in Tolkien's story!) which promises to be every bit as enthralling and entertaining as what has come before. Dorothy was on a quest, too; she wanted nothing more than to go home, much as each of our characters does (except possibly young Jake), the difference being that not only do our heroes know they can never go home again (as Thomas Wolfe would no doubt tell them), there is not even a guarantee they will reach their destination alive. Using the Oz parallel is simply King's way of reminding us (and possibly himself) that all roads have endings, and that all quests much sooner or later reach their fruition. If Wizard and Glass is any indication, I can't wait for what is at the end of Roland's long, hard-traveled road.

As well written and compelling tale as it is, Stephen King's fourth novel in the proposed seven book Dark Tower series will probably disappoint as many readers as it satisfies. After resolving the cliffhanger ending of The Wastelands and treating us to an alternate dimension of The Stand, King shifts gears. Most of Wizard and Glass is Roland telling a campfire tale of how he met his One True Love, Susan Delgado, and how she became one of the many ghosts that haunt and drive him him in his quest to right the slowly toppling Tower. While the yarn is a fine and beautifully textured one that creates a magical land that marries the gritty Spaghetti Western Mythos, made famous by Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood, with the noble myth of King Arthur, Merlin, and his Knights of the Round Table with an awe inspiring narrative surety, the story feels needless. Long time readers of the series may squirm even as King delights with this tragic tale set in a Barony a long time ago and far, far away. Some readers, like this one, may wonder why King is wasting so much time telling a story he has already spoon fed to us through hings and flashbacks in previous novels. Mayhap the tale needs to be told so Roland's new prentices will have a needed wedge between them, or have knowledge of their leader that strengthens their some times fragile ka-tet, for a future battle. I do not know, I am not Stephen King and have no clue what direction the final books will take. All I can say is that, right now, as fine a piece of fantasy writing that it is, Wizard and Glass seems a poor choice for a mid-series coffee break. The story feels far better suited for a Dark Tower prequel series than for the main series itself, so I'm docking it a star, while still recommending it to both fans of epic fantasy as well as to King's beloved Constant Readers.

This book finally fulfills the implicit promise in the title of the first book of this set ,The Gunslinger, that this story would be a marriage of the fantasy and Western genres. The first 100 pages of this are really the conclusion to book III, The Waste Lands, as Roland and company spar with Blaine via riddles both complex and simple, with an ending very reminiscent of a certain Star Trek episode. But the real meat of this book is in the remainder, some 570 pages that detail Roland's first experience as a graduate gunslinger (at the age of 14). Roland and his friends Cuthbert and Alain are sent by their fathers to a remote village, mainly as a method to keep them safely away from the war with the 'Good Man' Farson. But once in the village, the boys discover evidence of a scheme to provide Farson with oil so that Farson can power some of the old military weapons of days gone by and to which the current civilization would have no defense. Not content with mixing fantasy and westerns, King adds a solid romance to the mix, as Roland falls head over heels in love with a local girl , Susan, who is unfortunately already promised to become the 'gilly' (concubine) of the town's mayor.

Along the way to the resolution of this situation, King manages to throw in just about every Old West cliché, from the clueless mayor surrounded by crafty evil villains to the barroom contretemps complete with a four-way stand-off to virtuous girl trapped in durance vile to a final guns-blazing battle between our hopelessly outnumbered heroes and the gang. About the only one he left out was the traditional showdown at high noon. Although King is obviously providing a near-parody of these cliches, they come off as very logical, eminently readable elements to a larger story. And the larger story mixes these Old West elements with those of the fairy tale, from the wicked witch (references to both Oz and The Lord of the Rings), to the gallant knights of old (of Arthurian fame), to a truly horrifying Halloween bonfire. And just for good measure, King throws in complete situations from his own works, most notably The Stand, and a new, updated version of the Emerald City of Oz.

By detailing Roland's early experiences through this story, we end this book with a much deeper appreciation of Roland the man, no longer just an embodiment of an obsessive drive to reach the mysterious Dark Tower, but a person who has (had) normal human emotions and conflicts. We also learn a good bit about Roland's world and some of its relationship to our own, things that were crying out for some explanation from the previous three books.

The book is an impressive mixture of the common elements of multiple literary genres, skillfully handled to provide an invigorating sense of newness to some very trite story elements. It is not a deep book in terms of theme or philosophical insights, but reads quickly, with lots of action and some very recognizable characters. Still, we must now wait (how long?) for King to finish this very long Dark Tower quest.

This unbelievably complex and broad tale that Stephen King has been spinning for over the past decade is the most unique world I have ever visited. I refer to the "Dark Tower" saga not as a story but as a world because of King's ability to bring such depth and realism to storytelling that I literally forget that I'm reading and feel that I'm observing. King started his tale not at the beginning, but in the middle, leaving limitless possibilities in what direction the story will take. I have one thing to say to Mr. King. "I hope that it takes you a very long time to get this tale under control." So far in this tale's life, King hasn't taken a single shortcut. It's for that reason that it has taken on such monstrous proportions. For what it's worth, if the story continues for forty more years and fills eighty volumes, I'll continue to look forward to thelatest release of each installment. I would recommend before starting to read any book in the "Dark Tower" series, approach your decision to do so with the utmost of caution. You will be unable to resist reading the rest of the series, the conclusion of which is as unpredictable as it's yet untold beginning. Thank you

This story did not send the series spiraling in a new direction, good or bad, nor was it meant to. For me, the big questions I had while reading the first three volumes had much more to do with the nature of Roland's world and explanations for all of it's very imaginative details, especially the Dark Tower itself, which I'm sure is King's idea anyway. the question of "who is Roland and what is his story?" is also important, but never seemed primarily so. At least, I never thought the question deserved an entire doorstopping volume from the author. But who am I to say? I can only assume that this story, as King notes, "must" be told in order to move on.

Fine, then. I expected an adventure, and I got one. A romantic, western-style adventure that hinted at the rest of Roland's world that we already know about. But I wanted more of that world, as well as Eddie, Susanne, Jake and Oy. I got Cuthbert, Susan, Alain, and the Big Coffin Hunters. It was interesting, but I wanted to get back on the trail of the Dark Tower just the same. At least some of, and maybe all of the questions I had about Roland have been answered.

And it was interesting to note the similarites between Rhea's pink glass ball and the blue glass ball from THE TALISMAN. I have yet to read BLACK HOUSE, but there was a blatant cennection made with THE STAND and INSOMNIA as well, with the appearance of Randall Flagg at the end(ie. the "Crimson King"). This presents all new questions, which is good. I'm still hooked on the Dark Tower, and maybe even propelled forward even more, depite this story's flashback purposes. Now, let's get back to the real adventure.

This book is the largest departure from the Dark Tower series, as most of it is the story of Roland's trip to the land of Mejis when he was but a newly-raised Gunslinger, and how he met the first love of his life, Susan Delgado. The beginning of the book is the most interesting, in my opinion, when we find out how Roland and his ka-tet best Blain the Mono and find themselves in an alternate reality of the U.S. (the one "The Stand" is set in). Before continuing down the path of the beam (and a highway which, oddly enough, leads to an emerald...building), Roland sits his party down and tells them a story in which we learn about the pink Wizard's globe (one of 13) and watch Roland, his old friends Cuthbert and Alain, and new friends Susan and Sheemie uncover one of John Farson and Walter's dasterdly plots to destroy Gilead. In itself, the story of Roland's past is well-written but moves us no closer to the Dark Tower (which by now readers are itching to see as much as Roland and company). The book, in my opinion, falls apart when we return to the present and journey forth to the emerald building. From here on in, King goes a little too far in copying the plot of Wizard of Oz verbatim, and the climax feels uninspired and tacked-on. Walter shows up, la-de-da, and tries to destroy them but then oddly enough helps to send them on their way. Does King ever really know what Walter's point is? Most of the book holds up fine, but it is the weakest when it comes to the end. But what can ya do? Ka drives us forward to the fifth book, which puts the reader back on more familiar ground, and back on the path of the beam.

Let me start by saying that the only Stephen King books I have read are the first four Dark Tower books, so am not biased for or against his work. I just took this book for what it was, a great story. It brings the first three books together. This book was so good, in fact, that I now want to read more about Cuthbert, Alain, and Roland's young Gunslingers' adventures than the actual "everyone's dead" tower quest.

Anyone who says this book was too long or that it was an unnecessary addition to the series doesn't appreciate exceptional character development and a slow suspenseful buildup to an epic confrontation between good and evil.

A year ago, even two years ago when it came out, I would agree with a lot of the people here giving one or two stars. I could not grasp Wizard and Glass. I loved the Dark Tower series, I adored Roland and consider him the height of what a real man is suppose to be (My kind of hero, Clint Eastwood kind of western hero). But this book made me stop and I tossed it aside. I figured this was to be the last of the Dark Tower books because Stephen King didn't seem to want to go any further (though he loved to tie in his other novels).

A few months back I heard the rumors then saw the truth, SK was indeed finishing the series over the next year and a half. I knew that I had to read Wizard and Glass because I knew that the clues and the tales though of his youth were important to understand the next three finishing novels (Wolves to the Dark Tower book).

Something happened along the way in my life over the past two years. I grew up in some respect (I'm 31 now). I gained a better impression toward my beliefs in God, my views toward the universe, etc. I'm not living a dreamer's life, not in any way...but still...I know I changed...

And it is within that change that I was able to and able to read Wizard and Glass. Its a hard book to read, a lot of things are disturbing a lot of things are mysterious...but. Its like a key. A key that will fit a particular lock in you (in me and anyone who tries to read it) but only at the right time in your life. Like the Dark Tower itself, it spins a web around you, drawing you closer...the more you have grown up and the more that you've changed in life (at least in my perspective) the more you are able to understand what King was talking about and trying to describe to you the reader.

I hate to say this, because I could not have said it a year or two ago (even though I got the limited edition hard back I just could not read it past the start of the story which introduces the witch and Susan). I love the book. I can't put it down. In two nights I have read up to page 300.

I will tell you truly. It is a great door that leads you from the past quest of Roland (up to the end of the riding of the train) to the end quest (starting with the Wolves of Calla and going unto the book entitled The Dark Tower).

I am amazed by the series. This series is one of the best series in western literature. And yes, I have a history degree and enough classes in literature theories and creative writing to say that with a straight face. Because it is true. The Dark Tower series and The Lord of the Ring series are the two greatest series from the 20th/21st century. In my mind and in my heart there is no question about that. What both series do to my soul to my imagination, to my wonderlust and fantasies that whisper into the mind in those murky mornings when I dream...I just can't describe...

I know that you will probably hate the ending of this novel (I once tried to read just the ending but I couldn't help but get flustered by it). It will NOT answer any questions toward the present situation of Roland and his friends. But, but trust me, if you look at the story of Roland, you see how he had changed....a young man who had everything stripped away from him....Father...Mother...First True love...all because of the cancer that eats away at the Dark Tower...and one day, if I know how Stephen King works, all and everything will be held accountable for what happened to Roland and his world. And I believe that in SK's words, Roland and his friends (those that survive the next two books) will make a stand. And what a stand that will be...

I am willing to place all my bets on it...the End will be the finest ending for a writer's life in writing. I know that just like the Stand and It, the final pages of the Dark Tower novel (we all know its really one big novel anyway) will make me cry out of shere passion that the work awakens in my heart.