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amryden's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jcoryv's review against another edition
5.0
Not sure how any Dark Tower fan wouldn't enjoy this... a peek into Roland's youth and a great story within a story. Always good to spend some time with the old ka-tet.
tommymcm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
thetbrstack's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a big fan of Stephen King. Always have been, from the day I picked up his first book, "Carrie," in paperback, for a buck 95.
I've read just about everything he's written, although I haven't liked them all. And one thing I'm on the fence about is his whole Dark Tower series. Not that I think it's bad. The series is interesting and entertaining. But the fact is, it's just too much. Seven books, a total of 3,500-plus pages, years and decades in the writing. And I always thought the ending was poorly done -- I just didn't like it. King may consider the series his masterpiece, but I'm not convinced.
That being said, I must say this: I love the latest book. Yes, I know the series is complete, and the end of book 7 was written in such a way that nothing further could be added. So instead, King added to the middle. This book, he says, is 4.5.
And it's a great book. It fits into the Dark Tower series, but is not of the series. It's merely a story within a story within a story, with the outlying tale an intermission -- a transition, if you will -- within the Dark Tower trek.
One tale deals with a starkblaster that the quartet seeking the Dark Tower find themselves in. (A starkblaster is a King-invented storm that comes after a hot windy period, in which temperatures drop suddenly and the wind kicks up. It's deadly if you're caught out in it -- like a blizzard and tornado without the snow.) As they sit out the starkblaster, Roland tells them a tale of when he had to confront a shapeshifter from an earlier time who was tormenting and killing a community. In that tale, a younger Roland tell a young witness the story of a boy who had to endure a trek into the forest wilderness.
Both stories are wonderful, and wonderfully told, involving fantasy, horror, love and science. Throughout the book, King reminds us what makes him a great writer: he's a fantastic storyteller who invents great characters. This book is proof of that
I've read just about everything he's written, although I haven't liked them all. And one thing I'm on the fence about is his whole Dark Tower series. Not that I think it's bad. The series is interesting and entertaining. But the fact is, it's just too much. Seven books, a total of 3,500-plus pages, years and decades in the writing. And I always thought the ending was poorly done -- I just didn't like it. King may consider the series his masterpiece, but I'm not convinced.
That being said, I must say this: I love the latest book. Yes, I know the series is complete, and the end of book 7 was written in such a way that nothing further could be added. So instead, King added to the middle. This book, he says, is 4.5.
And it's a great book. It fits into the Dark Tower series, but is not of the series. It's merely a story within a story within a story, with the outlying tale an intermission -- a transition, if you will -- within the Dark Tower trek.
One tale deals with a starkblaster that the quartet seeking the Dark Tower find themselves in. (A starkblaster is a King-invented storm that comes after a hot windy period, in which temperatures drop suddenly and the wind kicks up. It's deadly if you're caught out in it -- like a blizzard and tornado without the snow.) As they sit out the starkblaster, Roland tells them a tale of when he had to confront a shapeshifter from an earlier time who was tormenting and killing a community. In that tale, a younger Roland tell a young witness the story of a boy who had to endure a trek into the forest wilderness.
Both stories are wonderful, and wonderfully told, involving fantasy, horror, love and science. Throughout the book, King reminds us what makes him a great writer: he's a fantastic storyteller who invents great characters. This book is proof of that
brett_vs_the_backlog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
arielle0's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
bentobean's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
alreadyemily's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting little addition to the series. I am not yet able to judge how well of a "bridge" it forms between the first and later books in the series, but it was a pleasant break in tone. The story-within-a-story-within-a-story-within-a-story structure was an interesting choice that made snapping back to reality the end of the book a little jarring. Overall enjoyable!