Customer Reviews

Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5)

5 star:		(185)
4 star:		(126)
3 star:		(61)
2 star:		(34)
1 star:		(26)

 

 

(I'll attempt to make this review spoiler-free, but I can't give any promises)

I'm aware that the crowd here is fairly rabid, so I'll get the obligatory positive points out of the way. I've read almost everything Mr. King has written up 'til the point, and I firmly believe that he will be lauded in retrospect (laudation always seems to occur in retrospect) as one of the preeminent writers of his generation. His prose is artful, his characters believable, and his stories spell-binding, and the Dark Tower is no exception. It is, as he has frequently said, the lynchpin around which his universe revolves.

In recent years, however, I've seen this as becoming more of a crutch than anything else. Mr. King has been inserting Dark Tower-isms into everything he's written as of late, and while I don't necessarily mind this particular conceit, it frequently comes off occasionally as something he simply cannot escape doing (like that legendary gag about how every William Shatner TV appearence includes the word "Klingons" somewhere). "Black House" disappointed me by turning the vibrant and original world of the "Territories" that he and Peter Straub created in "The Talisman" into just another adjunct of the Dark Tower universe. I was hoping, then, that the actual followup to the series would solve the problem a bit, at the very least making all of these tie-ins worthwhile.

"Wolves of the Calla," then, is something of a mixed experience. For the first time, a Dark Tower book feels like it's being written long after previous installments. References to the previous books in the series feel forced, almost of a "hey, remember when *that* happened?" sort; if one follows Mr. King's advice and picks up this book after refreshing on the previous four, many of these references feel unnecesary and oddly out-of-character for our forward-looking troupe. Additionally, I lost count of the times exchanges of obligatory "casual reference to another world meets with confusion which is dispelled with a knowing 'never mind'" occured. King mostly avoids his tendency to "overforeshadow" this time around ("He walked down the street for what would be his last time as a human being with two arms"), which is a nice surprise.

So let's see. Two paragraphs of criticism...wow. The flaws of "Wolves of the Calla" are a shame, because King's written another excellent story. While parallels to the *other* grand epic in the current mindset are usually discouraged with regard to King's tale, I can't help but note that this is the "Two Towers" of his series. "Woves of the Calla" finds the main journey arc on pause as character development and exposition come to the fore, but King's talents at characterization and humanization mean that this is a welcome variation from the previous installments. Some have written justifiably on issues of pacing (the book's final showdown is left to the last fifty pages), but this is besides the point; "Wolves of the Calla" is less about the conflict of the villagers than it is about demonstrating how our protagonists have changed over the course of these five books. And at showing this King succeeds brilliantly.

The verdict? "Wolves of the Calla" is an excellent addition to the ongoing series, and its somewhat bizarre cliffhanger (which is no secret by now, finding King magnifying his joy of author-insertion to some previously-unrecognized levels) is sure to keep people looking forward to the next volume. "Wolves" feels a bit rusty at times--King has become so proficient at oblique references to the Dark Tower series that the book's *direct* references to the mythology feel forced--but at worst it feels like it was perhaps underedited. If you're a fan of the Dark Tower, you won't be disappointed. If you're a casual browser...well, you might want to start at the beginning.

Stephen King has said that of all the books he has written, the Dark Tower is the most important and deeply meaningful work he has produced. Reading each successive volume, I can see that this is increasingly true. The series seems to be the summing up of his writing career by incorporating many of the characters, story lines, philosophies, mythologies, and literary inspirations of his previous works into this single far-reaching fantasy universe. This fifth installment more strongly than ever incorporates such references, including Salem's Lot, The Stand, Hearts in Atlantis, and many others. He also includes references to a myriad of books by other authors besides the obvious Tolkien. I found allusions to the works of L. Frank Baum, J.K. Rowling, Richard Adams, and even Marvel Comics.

I will not provide a detailed recap of the story here since so many other reviewers have already done so. What I will attempt to do is explain why I give Wolves of the Calla only 3 stars, as well as to list its strengths and weaknesses. The story of the residents of the Calla and their joining forces with Roland's ka-tet to vanquish the wolves deserves 5 stars. There is intrigue, town politics, an ominous threat hanging over the twin children of the residents, and an exciting battle between Wolf and man. The personalities of the townsfolk, who are divided in their opinions of whether to fight or submit to the wolves, are well developed, as is that of the enigmatic Andy the Messenger Robot. King has done an excellent job developing the mythology and culture of the "folken" of Calla Bryn Sturgis. The reader is treated to a realistic and colorful portrayal of their language, culture, festivals, music, and traditions. After finishing the story, I felt that I had actually taken a trip there and met its inhabitants.

Where the story line falls short, and earns the book only 3 stars, is the middle half of the novel, where there is a lot of travel to the New York of 1977 and many side narratives about the pasts of several of the protagonists. The travel, sometimes performed involuntarily through a mystical "todash" and sometimes voluntarily through another magical doorway, leads to efforts to protect the rose of previous episodes from harm. Not only is all this back-and-forth action distracting, but the ka-tet's dealings with the owner of the lot upon which the rose grows, and with the hoodlums who threaten him, is tedious. Also in this middle half is an excessive amount of tale telling about the pasts of several of the characters. Pere Callahan's tale is essentially a sequel to Salem's Lot, and has no place here.

The illustrations have added a lot to the cost of the book, but little to enhance the story. I give one star to these illustrations. Granted, Roland's Mid-World is a gloomy place, but these paintings are too gloomy and colorless. Every character is depicted as sinister. They all look physically mangy and stringy, even the good folken of the Calla.

Although I prefer King's horror fiction to his Dark Tower epic, being an ardent King fan I feel duty-bound to read the entire story - all seven volumes worth. Besides, I do want to know how Roland and his ka-tet manage to save Mid-World from the evil of the Dark Tower. Reading the entire magnum opus does require a large commitment, since the story, when completed, is projected to weigh in at more than 3,500 pages. Needless to say this volume of the series should not be tackled unless you have already read the previous volumes, and thus it is best left to the diehard Stephen King or Dark Tower fans. Of course this installment will leave the story, and you, hanging in midair. But have no fear... the last two volumes will be released before year's end.

Eileen Rieback

Maybe not the best in the series...I still think the fourth book holds that place, but well worth the wait.

It is in this book we see the characters finally work together as trained Gunslingers. Each of the characters has a pressing problem and hardship in their lives, and yet they must put them aside to help the children of the Calla . How these characters deal with their own monumental problems and act as true heroes at the same time is a reflection of the fact they have become true gunslingers, following Roland.

King also takes the opportunity to let this book show us more of Roland's world and culture. I found the dance Roland did at the start of the book fascinating, and the society of goddess worshiping disk throwing women seemed like they might have walked out of the pages of Roman Mythology. King does a great job rounding the culture, and giving us views of the world just as if we were reading a historical fiction, instead of high fantasy.

Wolves of the Calla, at 736 pages, is the longest yet of the series. But the length is justified as King takes time to create characters and places so real, you feel as if you might have been there before in some odd and half forgotten dream. He builds suspense to the final battle with the Wolves, and then makes that battle as fast, and horrible as any real war skirmish.

Many complained about the references to pop culture, Kings other works, and aspects of the "real" world, but I thought they only served to make the idea of the Tower as an axis of reality more believable. Making himself a real, yet invisible character in the book gave me a little shiver, after all...if King is real in that world so am I and all his readers. Heh heh heh. It only served to make the sense of so many realities tied in one moment of fate more grand.

King also makes the themes of choices and payment for those choices central. Lives are altered forever by the Calla's choice to go along with the Wolves so long. Susannah's brave choice of using her sexuality as a weapon against the portal demon in book 3 is now coming due for payment as the birth of her monstrous child approaches. The choice the Father makes in forcing Roland's hand to not offer Susannah an abortion is about to be paid. Yet, King doesn't moralize these choices. He shows each character as someone who simply made the best choice they could. There is a great tragedy in this, and also a great beauty.

I recommend this to anyone who has found their hearts tied to the fate of the brave little Ka-Tet. To anyone who has not read the others, go back to book one first and take the journey to this one. Only then will you truly understand the path that these brave gunslingers have walked so far, to save the tower and all realities. And you will understand how far the along the path they really have still to go.

Hold on to your horses, kids. Its going to be a hell of a ride.

I received a Donald M. Grant Artist Edition of this book a couple of weeks ago and threw aside my life for the next couple of days. I was a little weary because while I enjoyed "Wizard and Glass", I was afraid that maybe Stephen King may have lost his Dark Tower touch from the earlier novels (namely "Drawing of the Three" and "The Waste Lands"). My fears were assuaged and as it now stands, this may be the best book in the series to date. Past characters that readers of the series may have forgotten about resurface and King entwines them into the narrative magnificently. Favorite characters from the series also mature and the climax of this installment literally had me trembling with anticipation. Anyone who may have doubted King's ability in recent years to reel off an excellent "yarn" can rest still as this book reinstills the notion that SK is our master storyteller. Fans of the series will not be disappointed and I encourage anyone who has not yet picked up the DT books to start at the beginning as this is not a series to pick up right in the middle. The only minor gripe is one that I have with most of SK books (don't get me wrong, SK is without doubt my favorite author) in that the book can seem a bit bloated at times, but not nearly as bad as Wizard and Glass (or the dreadful Tommyknockers). I am so excited for this series and I hope that for a wonder, the next book, Song of Susannah gets pushed to next spring instead of next summer, as King pulls a bit of a Blaine the Mono on the reader and we are left with quite a cliffhanger.
"Wolves of the Calla" gets my highest recommendation!!!

First of all I'll start by saying that this book is the best in the series so far. I loved the character development. I do have to say that some parts of this book won't make much sense unless you are a well read King fan. However, I believe, this will only make folks all the more curious to learn of the all encompassing world that is the Dark Tower series. I just wish it was summer of 2004 so I can see what happens. Oh well, I waited over five years for this volume, I'm sure I can stand to wait 7 or 8 months
for the next one. I'll end by saying that while I am a very quick reader, I was surprised by the fact I finished all 719 pages in under 8 hours. I guess I was ready for this one!

I am a huge King fan, and a big fan of the DARK TOWER books. Although the books tend to allow the worst of King's writing habits to come into full bloom, all the best of his habits are also allowed to thrive, and pretty much choke out the faults.

WOLVES OF CALLA absolutely requires that you have read the other 4 books. You can't dive into this series without it. I suppose reading the four page summary at the beginning gives you the rudimentary plot, but what you miss is all feeling of attachment to the characters, all the EMOTION you have invested in the story.

The book is long, and it is as lanquidly paced as the others. King isn't zipping through one plot twist after another. He is slowly building suspense and mystery, as he also slowly grows our committment to seeing these characters through to the end. The travelers are diverted to the village of Calla Bryn Sturgis, to help them out of their troubles with the Wolves...I'll say no more about what that trouble is. We think we're just being diverted from the main track of getting to the tower, but we slowly see that the travelers MUST go through the village to meet key people and learn key things about the two worlds (or are there more?).

King devotees will love the references to past books, particularly the enormous importance of Salem's Lot. Also, the Low Men in Yellow Jackets (from Hearts in Atlantis) are featured heavily. In some ways, we are somewhat jarred from enjoying the book but counting the ways King keeps knitting it all together. That's a small problem. On the other hand, his ability to stich all his many worlds from his past many decades of writing into one quilt begins to bring a unity of vision to ALL his work that is admirable. It doesn't all add up (kinda like the conspiracy in X-Files never added up) but it's fun and adds a richness to the overall experience of reading King.

The book brilliantly shows King's gift for creating character and mood. Several times throughout the novel, new characters sorta sit down and tell us their life stories. It's a way of stretching the novel...an occasional problem King has with some of his lesser works...books like CUJO which are really novellas he stretches into novels (with CUJO it still works great...with THE DARK HALF...it doesn't). But the thing about the Dark Tower books is this...we WANT the epic scale. It's almost like THE LORD OF THE RINGS books. The backstory and "filler" is what makes it rich and emersive. We don't feel skimped on.

I can't wait for the rest of the series. If you haven't tried THE DARK TOWER before, now is the time. It's a towering achievement!

I delayed reading this novel for several months with the unshakeable notion that this could be the downfall, the weak link, of the majesty of the Dark Tower series. In many respects, this was the case indeed.
I consider myself to be a faithful reader of King's works, although after finished reading each one, I am left with the feeling of disillusionment and a sense of dissatisfaction. With the exception of a few pieces, most notably "Misery," "Dolores Claiborne," and The Dark Tower I-IV, I feel as though the anticipatory phase before reading the novel becomes the most fulfilling aspect of the whole experience. This is essentially the same final response I felt after reading "Wolves of the Calla."

Positive features:

+ One main reason I enjoyed this series in the first place was its immaculate ability to create an essence of "realistic fiction," or the concept of keeping certain ideas, manners, and situations grounded to reality while taking place in very unorthodox and fantastical setting. Reading these books doesn't seem much like delving into a mythical world of dragons and magic as it does seem as if we are glimpsing into the far future of our own world and our eventual destination. And although the majority of "Wolves" keeps true to this trend, I do see something of a deterioration in King's ability to maintain this same atmosphere.

+ I found the new character depths into which King propelled his readers to be very profound and essential to the continuation of this series. I particularly appreciated that each of the character's limits and emotional ranges were pushed to brand-new heights that allowed readers to witness completely new frontiers and features of their individuality. However, I felt that Jake's dilemma did not have an effective resolution by its end, and I surely hope it will be further developed in the next installment.

+ The use of several side stories throughout the main plot was very effective in keeping the piece interesting and rich. Diverting the reader's attention to other issues concerning alternate futures and pasts urges us to become more willing and eager to discover and unfold more of the primary mystery, an excellent tactic to maintain the story's flavour.

Negative features:

- A particular con I found in this novel was the dreadfully anticlimactic conclusion. I found there to be chapters upon chapters of planning and deception and espionage to finally lead up to such a pitiful and arbitrarily brief display of battle that half of the book's content was meaningless. It also left me with the burning question, "What was the worry all about?"

- Several unexplainable, and most importantly confusing parts of the novel also continually reappeared and made progress through the novel more difficult than necessary. First of all, the sudden and unexpected introduction of the mysterious "19" concept on page 37 made for an uneven transition from "Wizard and Glass" and the previous absence of this "Mysterious Number." I also felt that the constant uses of secrets and undeterminable details made for a frustrating read in the sense that it forced readers to continually backtrack in the novel and reread past events in order to gain a full comprehension of the current issues. Examples of this include Tian Jafford's whispered secret, Callahan's association with the name of the Calla itself, and the general plans and strategies made by the tet to defeat the Wolves. However, I could see how this style could fit in nicely with the theme of individuals keeping their own personal secrets from others (Susannah's Mia, Roland's arthritis, etc.).

- What I also found bewildering was the tet's own reaction to the existence and sudden presence of the gruesome terror, Black Thirteen. The Pere's reaction was quite accurate to the expected response, but I found there to be little more than a bat of an eye at this fact. Unless I was mistaken that this being was the epitome, the bare essence of all sinfully destructive, sadistically horrifying, and malevolently vile facets known to all creation since the beginning of time, condensed into one single orb whose only intention is to become the harbinger of only pure misery and malicious suffering to all life, they should have had a bit more of a shock to be in its possession. That they would willingly and practically recklessly manipulate this entity into performing their own tasks was enough alone to make me wonder if King knew exactly what he was dealing with.

- Another minor issue I had with this volume was the poor illustrations used. With the exception of one, titled "You stainless steel bastard," I found they completely lacked any emotion and felt almost void of any importance or relevance with the actual chain of events they attempted to recreate visually.

- As a final point, I was under the impression by the end that King's only intention to create the poor excuse for a cliff-hanger and leave the story half resolved was the need to ensure readers would anticipate the next installment and feel obligated to shell out the fifty dollars (in Canada, at least) to buy the Dark Tower VI, no matter how undeniable the sense is that he may be running out of his original panache and ingenuity.

These opinions only encompass my personal response to the outcome of the newest volume of the Dark Tower series, "Wolves of the Calla." They should not completely influence your own position on this particular novel, but I hope that it did open some unfound doors and point of views of your own that have remained shut and lost. I also wish that this review should not bias you to whether or not purchasing this book should benefit or hinder your outlook on King's ability to create a profound, fulfilling tale, for there are many other better examples of him at his finest. I sincerely hope that the proceeding installments in this series do not pursue the same route as "Wolves," but instead seek a more professional and intriguing path.

Just finished The Dark Tower V.
I enjoyed it while I was reading, but now that I'm done I'm starting to feel like a sucker. This book teaches me a lesson; never recommend a series to my friends until it is complete. After reading the epilogue, I dropped `Wolves of the Calla' in disgust, then had to scrub at the sink for ten minutes to get the ink stains off my hands.
What a horrible ending. HATED all the winks to pop culture. And the self referential stuff was even worse. Right now at stephenking.com there is a pop up animation of the author's head. First it plugs the new Dark Tower book, then it just floats there on the screen, following the movements of your mouse with it's eyes. Trust me, it is the scariest thing from Stephen King in ten years. And I feel like it's laughing at us.
I understand King will be making an appearance as a character in the series (wearing jeans and Chuck Taylors, I'm sure.) I hope Roland fills him full of lead for messing with his character.
What was up with the Gunslinger in this book? He had some great moments, but what happened to him being a `Tower Junkie?' His quest seems to be loosing steam, when it should be gaining intensity. I thought the device of the Doorway Cave was the only concrete step the Ka-Tet took towards the Dark Tower, and it felt both under-developed and contrived.
The scenes set in New York City were repetitive and boring. King once joked that he could publish his shopping list and it would sell. As I followed the characters while they ran errands through Manhattan, I felt the author was following through on his threat.
For me, the best part of the book was the defense of the Calla. I enjoyed the western style heroics, and thought the final battle worked pretty well. This time I was really grooving on Eddie as a character, and Jake and Oy were as good as ever. For my part, I enjoyed the inclusion of Pere Callahan, and his interesting post-Salem's Lot history. I am undecided on the Mia story line.
King has used the character of Susannah Dean in some really strange ways throughout the series, and I am `hongry' to see where he is going with all of it. I think Susannah is a fascinating character, but sometimes the subtext surrounding her baffles me. She is the second character in a Stephen King novel whose sole purpose during a battle scene is to provide sex . If you have read IT, you know the super weird scene with young Beverly Marsh I am referring to.
But now I'm just nit-picking. I figure I would forgive all if it weren't for that awful ending.
It's not that I am opposed to the idea of metafiction, or breaking down the `fourth wall.' But the Dark Tower was never presented as "Adaptation." From the start, we were asked to take this quest seriously, and as readers, we responded. It seems a bit late in the game for the author to start winking at us.
To end on a positive note, I thought it was very cool of Stephen King to dedicate the book to Frank Muller, who read all of the audio versions of The Dark Tower to such incredible effect. Actually, Wolves of the Calla was the first book in the series I have read. Up until now, I had the pleasure of listening to the audio versions performed by Muller, an amazingly talented storyteller. If you read the Afterwards, you know Frank Muller was in a terrible motorcycle accident recently, and is still recovering. Despite my opinions of the novel, I think Stephen King is a stand up guy for donating all income from the audio version of Calla to a foundation set up for Frank.

Reading a Stephen King novel is very similar to eating just one of a nationally known brand of potato chips: You can't stop at just one. King has a knack for encouraging the reader to spend significant amounts of time in his very real alternate universe. So much so, both the loyal fan and uninitiated hunger for more. It's a good thing then that his books are as enjoyable as a visit from an old friend time after time, read after read. For those who have not yet read any of the volumes in The Dark Tower series, it is more of a gift than a prerequisite to read the previous four novels prior to settling in with Wolves of the Calla. King's storytelling is so masterful that one does not absolutely, positively have to read the others before this one (as the author suggests in the brief synopsis preceding the first chapter) but like butter on hot bread, having that knowledge makes the story just that much richer.

Wolves of the Calla takes place in an alternate universe within an alternate universe that could be earth's future, past or even present. The point being that it is an alternate universe with very real similarities to our own. King fans will recognize themes from other favorites such as The Stand, Hearts in Atlantis and Insomnia. Although the heroes of Wolves of the Calla don't actually appear as instrumental characters in the pages of these novels, their presence is certainly felt and their quest for The Dark Tower influences a plot or two. Rather, it is the underlying presence of evil that lurks on the pages of most King novels that is the common character throughout.

The folk of Calla are good, hardworking townspeople who's spirits have been wounded by an evil force that preys on their children. Specifically, the many pair of twins who are born and reside in the town. In Calla, it seems having sets of twins is more the norm than the exception. The story builds as one by one the residents of Calla gather the courage to stand and fight the evil force preying on their spirits and the souls of their children. They must first, however, gather the resources to gain the assistance of Roland the gunslinger and his band of weary, yet fierce, warriors. In true King fashion, there is just enough truth to the horrific events that follow to allow a reader to question the thin fabric of the wool that covers the eyes of our reality. Gun battles, multiple personalities, computers gone haywire, corporations controlled by evil... Corporations controlled by evil? Sounds a lot like the 21st Century.

Wolves of the Calla is an excellent blend of horror, science fiction and fantasy. It is entertaining and thought provoking. King develops the characters in a way that makes them human and allows the events to flow like a river downstream... into the gaping mouth of a blood thirsty monster. In this alternate universe nothing is what it seems, yet everything has an air of familiarity. It is in this familiarity that King frightens us the most, because there is nothing more frightening that the alternate reality of King's mind.

The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla is not a colossal disappointment, but it is fundamentally unsatisfying. The first three Dark Tower books were lean and delicious. The fourth and, now, the fifth are bloated and bland.

I remember Mr King's afterword in Wizard and Glass, in which he said he finally had to force himself to sit down and 'just *write* the thing'. Now, as another reviewer has noted, he feels he has to finish the series out of obligation, so he has again forced himself to bang out the last three books rapid-fire in order to have done with it, rather than because the tales need to be told. He said before he wrote the Dark Tower books so slowly because he could not force himself to write them; they just 'came'; they just wrote themselves. Starting with Wizard and Glass, he abandoned that thinking, so he's on autopilot, and it shows. I have always said I must see the end of The Dark Tower, but if Mr King does not know how to end it, it would be better left unfinished with the last book in the series he wrote with real feeling and the need to tell a tale: The Waste Lands.

The story is the basic plot of Wizard and Glass again, only this time with no framing story and a shockingly boring trip to New York or three. That is, Roland and his friends arrive at a sleepy farming and ranching town about to be attacked by outside forces. The ka-tet dicker and dither about as a showdown slowly (oh, how slowly) approaches, just as Roland and his compatriots did in Mejis.

Father Callahan appears (this is no spoiler as King gave it away both in other Dark Tower books and on his web site), but why? Nothing that happens to him once he leaves 'Salem's Lot is interesting (another mystery Mr King should have left unsolved), and his simultaneously silly and boring backstory eats up a large part of the book. As far as his role in the story, well, I for one would not have noticed it were Callahan by his behaviour. This characters acts nothing like the broken priest who took the bus to Chicago after taking a vampire's communion. And the book doesn't even include that classic line from Barlow ('Now, false priest, take *my* communion!') Alain's fate is revealed in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it flashback. I shall not tell you exactly what it was, but suffice to say it was substantially less interesting than what I had come up with, and I expect better from Mr King.

The revelation about the nature of the Wolves is delayed purely for cheap suspense and hardly awe-inspiring when it is revealed. In fact, it's downright tame.

As another reviewer noted (and the same is true of Wizard and Glass), at the conclusion of this book the ka-tet have barely moved an inch on their long journey to the Tower. The journey now seems to take place between novels, and the novels are written about isolated incidents that occur along the way. Wolves of the Calla is a sideshow, an event Mr King or perhaps another author could have written about as a corollary to the main tale once The Dark Tower is complete.

This book is not mediocre King. It is simply mediocre.