Stephen King's Dark Tower

[R_of_G]

I know Robert is a fan of King's Dark Tower series of novels. Anybody else here a Tower junkie? If so, there's much to discuss [the ending of the novels, the comic books, the optioning of the film rights, etc]:cool:

[Robert]

RofG mentioned that the guy behind "LOST" and "Alias" may be doing some sort of production out of the Dark Tower. Not sure if that guy is the right person take Roland and his gang to the screen, but I guess time will tell.

[R_of_G]

RofG mentioned that the guy behind "LOST" and "Alias" may be doing some sort of production out of the Dark Tower. Not sure if that guy is the right person take Roland and his gang to the screen, but I guess time will tell.

I'm positive he's not the right person to take it to the screen, but I am sure I will see them anyway [and complain about it]. For those looking for a visual take on the Tower other than a JJ Abrams produced movie, I highly rec the ongoing Dark Tower series that King has authorized Marvel Comicsm to do. There is a lot of collaboration with King, and the artwork is breathtaking.

[Spudman]

What are they about?:confused:

[tot_Ou_tard]

I never was much interested in Stephen King.

YaaaaAaaaaWWwwn

Iz there something special I should know about in the Dark Tower series?

Now Phillip Pullman & His Dark Materials Trilogy...that is another story entirely.

[sunvalleylaw]

I used to like some King. Pre-accident stuff mostly and have not read any Dark Tower stuff. I liked his shorts that included the story turned into the movie "Stand By Me". I used to like when he quoted rock song lyrics in teh beginning of chapters.

[Robert]

If you like the Lord Of The Rings - you have to read the Dark Tower series! You can clearly tell where King got his inspiration from. Nothing wrong with that though - the King story is captivating.

[sunvalleylaw]

If you like the Lord Of The Rings - you have to read the Dark Tower series! You can clearly tell where King got his inspiration from. Nothing wrong with that though - the King story is captivating.
OK, good enough for me to try for summer reading. I became captivated with Tolkien way back in 5th grade in the mid 70s. I have run across other authors that have borrowed from that series, but it is a pretty universal theme anyhow. What book does the Dark Tower series start off with? I'll look at our local thrift shop. :)

[R_of_G]

If you like the Lord Of The Rings - you have to read the Dark Tower series! You can clearly tell where King got his inspiration from. Nothing wrong with that though - the King story is captivating.

Robert is absolutely right. Lord of the Rings was a major influence on King's decision to write a multi-book epic fantasy story. However, some more direct influences on the story-cycle itself are the epic poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, T.S. Eliot's The Waste Lands, Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and the Enrico Morricone so-called spaghetti westerns.

In short, the overall story is an epic tale about the last gunslinger and his quest to reach and enter the fabled Dark Tower, which sits at the center of all existence and connects the infinite layers of the multi-verse. In his quest, the gunslinger "recruits" the help of three people from our world at different points on the time continuum [one from 1965, one from 1977, and one from 1987]. The seven books are each excellent stories in their own right, but together form a canon of great depth and inrtrigue. For fans of King's writing style, but not necessarily the horror genre, this is right up your alley.

As I'm sure Robert can also attest, once you get into these stories, prepare to think about them for the rest of your life, because they become an obsesssion [the good kind, like guitar].

The books are as follows:

1. The Gunslinger
2. The Drawing of the Three
3. The Waste Lands
4. Wizard & Glass
5. Wolves of the Calla
6. Song of Susannah
7. The Dark Tower

[sunvalleylaw]

Excellent! I'll check it out. The mythic quest is the theme I am referring too. Crosses cultures and times. In addition to LOTR, you reminded me of Seven Samurai, which begat Star Wars as I understand. All (maybe not seven samurai, I am not sure of the western influence or how it was conceived) owe a lot to Arthurian legend, and Beowulf, in my mind. My great English authors teacher was a huge influence on me.

Ahh, might be a good night the grab a leg of meat and knock back some mead!

[R_of_G]

Excellent! I'll check it out. The mythic quest is the theme I am referring too. Crosses cultures and times. In addition to LOTR, you reminded me of Seven Samurai, which begat Star Wars as I understand. All (maybe not seven samurai, I am not sure of the western influence or how it was conceived) owe a lot to Arthurian legend, and Beowulf, in my mind. My great English authors teacher was a huge influence on me.

Ahh, might be a good night the grab a leg of meat and knock back some mead!

Seven Samurai begot A LOT of western cinema. The Arthurian legend also come into play in this series. The gunslinger is a descendant of a legendary king named Arthur Eld who may or may not be "King Arthur" of our world's legends.

[sunvalleylaw]

If you like the Lord Of The Rings - you have to read the Dark Tower series! You can clearly tell where King got his inspiration from. Nothing wrong with that though - the King story is captivating.

Well, I stopped at the local community library and picked up "The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger". A slightly battered copy with a broken binding. Will add to the mystique! I just finished a book, so I was in need of a new one. Looking forward to trying it out.

[Robert]

Just one comment - the first book is the "hardest" to get through. I found it a little confusing, but as you read the other books, it will make much more sense.

Some people have quit after the first book, but don't even think about doing that! The books that follow are fantastic.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Robert is absolutely right. Lord of the Rings was a major influence on King's decision to write a multi-book epic fantasy story. However, some more direct influences on the story-cycle itself are the epic poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, T.S. Eliot's The Waste Lands, Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and the Enrico Morricone so-called spaghetti westerns.

In short, the overall story is an epic tale about the last gunslinger and his quest to reach and enter the fabled Dark Tower, which sits at the center of all existence and connects the infinite layers of the multi-verse. In his quest, the gunslinger "recruits" the help of three people from our world at different points on the time continuum [one from 1965, one from 1977, and one from 1987]. The seven books are each excellent stories in their own right, but together form a canon of great depth and inrtrigue. For fans of King's writing style, but not necessarily the horror genre, this is right up your alley.

As I'm sure Robert can also attest, once you get into these stories, prepare to think about them for the rest of your life, because they become an obsesssion [the good kind, like guitar].

The books are as follows:

1. The Gunslinger
2. The Drawing of the Three
3. The Waste Lands
4. Wizard & Glass
5. Wolves of the Calla
6. Song of Susannah
7. The Dark Tower

I'm convinced.

I'll pick up the series as soon as I get a chance.

[R_of_G]

Just one comment - the first book is the "hardest" to get through. I found it a little confusing, but as you read the other books, it will make much more sense.

Some people have quit after the first book, but don't even think about doing that! The books that follow are fantastic.

Robert is again correct. However, a few years ago, King issued a "revised" edition of the first book, which fills in a few of the confusing details and ties this book [orig written in the 70's] in with the others which were written later. While it is still the most "confusing" of the seven, if you like it at all, keep going. The things which aren't clear will def be clarified later in the series.

[sunvalleylaw]

I got through 24 pages last night before falling asleep. I did not find it too confusing yet, was just rolling with it. The version I checked out was released in '82. Reminds me a little of parts of "The Stand" with some Ray Bradbury thrown in so far.

[R_of_G]

I got through 24 pages last night before falling asleep. I did not find it too confusing yet, was just rolling with it. The version I checked out was released in '82. Reminds me a little of parts of "The Stand" with some Ray Bradbury thrown in so far.

Cool. Def the original version, though if it doesn't throw you, you will be in for quite a ride. While I enjoy the revised edition having read the whole cycle many times, the original first book works perfectly without revisions. Glad you are enjoying it so far. If/when you get to the second book it will def start to have that flow that the longer King has [ie The Stand, It, et al]. I've said before that once someone invests themselves in the first one, they will find themselves hooked once they get to book 2. after that, enjoy the ride.

[R_of_G]

Ok Robert, here's one for you... I am always interested in people's experience in reading DT for the first time. Did you start it, and most importantly, did you finish book 3 The Waste Lands, before or after Stephen King took the LONG break before publishing #4? My wife and I both got to the end of #3 a long time before there was even news that 4 was being written.

For those of you who don't necessarily understand why it matters, it's because The Waste Lands ends with a grueling cliffhanger. With no news that book 4 was even in the works, let alone a publishing date, we went YEARS before we were able to find out what became of our beloved ka-tet of gunslingers. there was another break of considerable length between 4 and 5,6,7 [which came out in rapid enough succession] during which king suffered his accident and almost died. was just intrested in knowing if you got on the path of the beam before or after the ride on Blaine the Mono.:cool:

My point is, I kind of envy people who pick it up anytime after the final book was published because they can just start at #1 and keep going until the end. Also, they get to start with the revised #1 which really deepens the connection between the 7. still, dunno that i'd give up the excitement when new books were still coming. hope anyone that started it is still liking it... look forward to a lot more tower talk may it do ya fine.

[Robert]

I started late, I think he had written book 6 when I started so I didn't have any "B.A.S." for the next book not being available!

[sunvalleylaw]

Cool. Def the original version, though if it doesn't throw you, you will be in for quite a ride. While I enjoy the revised edition having read the whole cycle many times, the original first book works perfectly without revisions. Glad you are enjoying it so far. If/when you get to the second book it will def start to have that flow that the longer King has [ie The Stand, It, et al]. I've said before that once someone invests themselves in the first one, they will find themselves hooked once they get to book 2. after that, enjoy the ride.

I had not read for a few nights due to kids' stuff and went ahead and found the newer version at the other local library just because. I read his intro about being 19 and now I am in King mode. Had to re-connect with him as I haven't read much of his (other than the Green Mile series) since law school in the late 80s. I also now have an idea what he was shooting at and feel that will carry me through the confusing first parts people are mentioning. Heck, in the Tolkien series, one always had to get past the council of Elrond, right? :p

[R_of_G]

I had not read for a few nights due to kids' stuff and went ahead and found the newer version at the other local library just because. I read his intro about being 19 and now I am in King mode. Had to re-connect with him as I haven't read much of his (other than the Green Mile series) since law school in the late 80s. I also now have an idea what he was shooting at and feel that will carry me through the confusing first parts people are mentioning. Heck, in the Tolkien series, one always had to get past the council of Elrond, right? :p

glad to hear it. while the orig edition works, the revised works in a deeper way tying them all together.

for the record, regarding lord of the rings, i loved the council in rivendell because it sets up the whole history of who aragorn really is, and through boromir we learn of the political history since the last king generations before. then again, i'm a geek for tolkien's writing, not to mention christopher tolkien's academic-style writings on his father's unpublished notes. can't help myself, nor do i want to.

[sunvalleylaw]

Almost done with the first book and can tell I will enjoy the series. I passed the line Robert has quoted in his sig line. I can't help think that even though it is a good line by itself, it holds greater significance in the series as a whole. Without giving away too much, does Jake show back up somewhere along the way?

[R_of_G]

Almost done with the first book and can tell I will enjoy the series. I passed the line Robert has quoted in his sig line. I can't help think that even though it is a good line by itself, it holds greater significance in the series as a whole. Without giving away too much, does Jake show back up somewhere along the way?

Without spoiling anything, yes.

[tot_Ou_tard]

I just ordered the first 4 books in a boxed set from amazon. I'm looking forward to reading it, but I'm crazy busy right now & have a few other books in the que so I might not get to it for a bit.

[tot_Ou_tard]

The Fret search function sux, truly it does. I had to go to R_of_G's personal profile & click on all threads started by R_of_G to find this thread again. What happened to Google search?

Now back to the Dark Tower. I've just strated to read the revised version of The Gunslinger.

It is fantastic so far. Either he's made a lot of changes in the revised edition, or people get confused and bored easily. Excellent characters with a nice back yourself into the mythopoetic kind'a feel.

To think that I would'a missed this because of my disinterest in horror & my equal disinterest in blockbuster novelests.

Thanks, R_of_G! I owe you big time on two counts: Zony Mash & The Dark Tower.

[R_of_G]

I think we have all seen these so-called "inspirational" posters in offices and at malls and stuff. I found a site where you can make your own, and couldn't resist making this one for Roland and his ka-tet.

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/8534741a23bccd7b.jpg

Hope the reading is going well guys!

[tot_Ou_tard]

Great Poster R o' G!


I'm positive he's not the right person to take it to the screen, but I am sure I will see them anyway [and complain about it]. For those looking for a visual take on the Tower other than a JJ Abrams produced movie, I highly rec the ongoing Dark Tower series that King has authorized Marvel Comicsm to do. There is a lot of collaboration with King, and the artwork is breathtaking.
I saw the comics at the bookstore, but I didn't look at them as I haven't finished the novels yet & don't want the artist's pictures in my head.

I'll definitely check them out when I have finished.


Robert is again correct. However, a few years ago, King issued a "revised" edition of the first book, which fills in a few of the confusing details and ties this book [orig written in the 70's] in with the others which were written later. While it is still the most "confusing" of the seven, if you like it at all, keep going. The things which aren't clear will def be clarified later in the series.
I really liked the first book.

I had no trouble with confusion, I enjoy sideling into a rich mythic world that way.

(I read the revised edition).

[R_of_G]

I saw the comics at the bookstore, but I didn't look at them as I haven't finished the novels yet & don't want the artist's pictures in my head.

I'll definitely check them out when I have finished.


I agree, the first time through, the imagery should be all you. I like the fact that different artists were used for different books throughout the series for illustrations as it adds to that mythic quality of the story being told and retold. That said, I think when you complete the series, you will enjoy the comic series. It is nice to "see" some of the characters for the first time and see how other artists' concepts of them compare to my own.

As far as reading the revised edition for your first time through, I think it probably made "Wizard and Glass" that much more coherent for you, which is a good thing.

Glad you are enjoying. Stay on the path of the beam.

[Childbride]

i've Officially died and gone to heaven. a forum where i can talk about SK AND GUITARS??!?!!?!:drool:

i think i've read every King book ever written. my mom lives in the NE part of the country... she visited Bangor, and for my last bday i got pictures of Bangor and his house. tres cool...

the Dark Tower is the best of anything he's ever written other than the Stand, IMHO.

are they actually going to attempt to film it?!

i also adored tolkien and cs lewis...

sheesh, i have to be careful. this is cutting into my guitar playing!!!:spank:

[R_of_G]

Cool Childbride. Always good to have another "Constant Reader" in our Fret-tet. :AOK:

As for the possibility of the Tower saga coming to screens at some point, so far all that has been announced is that King sold the rights to JJ Abrams [for $19 by the way]. It has yet to be announced in what form Abrams intends to make the story. Personally, I can't imagine it as anything other than 7 films as I believe each book stands up perfectly well on it's own, but I doubt they'll be making 7 films.

I've watched it all play out in my head many many times, so I'll be interested in any film adaptations, but I like my own version may it do ya fine.

[tunghaichuan]

I used to be a huge SK fan, I read most of his stuff up until the early 90s. I even have a autographed copy of Firestarter. An English teacher got it for me when I was in the 9th grade. She escorted SK around an English convention somewhere in New England. SK signed it to my dad and me.

I also have a second edition of the Dark Tower. It is the only one I have read in the series.


i've Officially died and gone to heaven. a forum where i can talk about SK AND GUITARS??!?!!?!:drool:

i think i've read every King book ever written. my mom lives in the NE part of the country... she visited Bangor, and for my last bday i got pictures of Bangor and his house. tres cool...

the Dark Tower is the best of anything he's ever written other than the Stand, IMHO.

are they actually going to attempt to film it?!

i also adored tolkien and cs lewis...

sheesh, i have to be careful. this is cutting into my guitar playing!!!:spank:

[Childbride]

Ka is the Wheel.

19$ ?! why would he do that? the only way that he would agree to let the Stand be done was if he was involved?

that disturbs me. deeply.

and i cannot fathom how you would tell the story accurately without the requisite number of films.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Ka is the Wheel.

19$ ?! why would he do that? the only way that he would agree to let the Stand be done was if he was involved?

that disturbs me. deeply.

and i cannot fathom how you would tell the story accurately without the requisite number of films.
$19 is the appropriate amount, whether the choice was true you'll see a few wheels up the road.

I was at the airport last night waiting for my son to arrive & was reading Dark Tower 5: The Wolves of Calla.

I had just finished reading:

"He hadn't even seen Calla Bryn Sturgis yet, and it already reminded him of Mejis. In some ways that seemed perfectly reasonable--farming and ranching towns the world over bore similarities to each other--but in other ways it was disturbing. Disturbing as h3ll. The sombrero that Slightman had been wearing, for instance. Was it possible that here, thousands of miles from Mejis, the men should wear similar hats? He supposed it might be. But was it likely that Slightman's sombrero should remind Roland so strongly of the one worn by Miguel, the old mozo at Seafront in Mejis, all those years before? Or was that only his imagination?"

When I absent mindedly glanced up (as one is occaisoned to do so as to ponder a passage while reading) & I saw a white man in his forties going up the escalator wearing a sombrero. I kid thee not. I do not ever think that I have seen someone wearing a sombrero like that. I had one as a kid in my "dress-up box" where old halloween costumes & hats from my grandpa went to die, but--no--never saw one in public.

Must'a just got off the plane from Mejis, I mused, and went back to reading.

[R_of_G]

Started another re-read of the series this weekend. Getting the hardcover edition of the first arc of the comic series put Roland and his two ka-tets back at the top of my consciousness. I have lost count as to how many times this will be for me in reading the series, but I re-read The Stand every year as well and it never gets old. Besides, once the baby is born in June, I won't have too much time for reading for awhile so I thought once more with Roland along the path of the Beam would be a nice treat right now. If ka wills it, so be it.:D

[Childbride]

i, too, re-read my King books Constantly.

they are my favorite travel books... i never get tired of them, and every time i read them, i catch a little nuance that i missed before... i like that, especially. :)

[R_of_G]

i, too, re-read my King books Constantly.

they are my favorite travel books... i never get tired of them, and every time i read them, i catch a little nuance that i missed before... i like that, especially. :)

I agree CB. I am a long-time and loyal "Constant Reader" and the more of us I meet, the more of us I find read our favorites of Sai King's stories over and over again. Each time I re-read the DT novels particularly, I have a moment where I think "ok, well I never really thought about it like that before." I also think a lot of the DT stuff is subject to interpretation, and therefore can change subtly with different readings.

All I know is, the comics have been spectacular so far, and put me right back in my Tower-junkie mode [which is never a bad thing for me]. Keep reading people!

[Childbride]

the other thing, is after years and years of reading them over and over, you catch references to other books... and things made sense where he was making a hidden reference that you didn't catch before. :D

[sunvalleylaw]

I have been more like that with the Tolkien Trilogy. I have put a boxed set of the Tower books on my Christmas list as I can't find any more of the books in the library and esp. after reading your comments, want to pick it back up after the first that I read some months ago.

[R_of_G]

I have been more like that with the Tolkien Trilogy. I have put a boxed set of the Tower books on my Christmas list as I can't find any more of the books in the library and esp. after reading your comments, want to pick it back up after the first that I read some months ago.

The Tolkien books were my first literary obsession. I began reading LotR when I was 12 and have re-read at least once every couple of years in the 25 years since. Started the Dark Tower series around 16 or 17. Add in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series and you have a good representation of my most read list.

[R_of_G]

the other thing, is after years and years of reading them over and over, you catch references to other books... and things made sense where he was making a hidden reference that you didn't catch before. :D

Absolutely CB. After this many times through the series, I have come to the conclusion that ALL of Sai King's books are related to the series in that they all happen on some level or another of the Tower. ALL things serve the Beam.:AOK:

[Childbride]

R_of_G!!! Sai King is coming out w/another book! Duma Key! :D

[R_of_G]

R_of_G!!! Sai King is coming out w/another book! Duma Key! :D

Oh, I know he is fellow Constant Reader ;). I check SK sites maybe a little too often to see what new material is coming. Duma Key sounds very interesting from the summary I have seen posted [see below].

---------------------------
www.Stephenkingnews.com

Duma Key: A Novel
by Stephen King

Coming in January (2008 )!

Edgar Freemantle is a regular guy, a construction worker who suffers a terrible accident—he loses an arm, sustains head injuries, and is not expected to live... but he does live, emerging from his coma as a very changed man.

Here is how King described the novel in his own words during his long interview with Lilja of Lilja's Library:

"It's about a construction worker who is involved in a terrible accident... he's hurt very badly and loses an arm, sustains head injuries and is not expected to live but he does and he comes out of a coma and because of the head injuries he has uncontrollable rages and memory lapses.

It's very difficult and his wife divorces him so he decides he's going to move to Florida but he's also thinking about suicide just because of his pain and because he doesn’t like being angry all the time and this psychiatrist kind of talks him out of it and one of the things he says is, "Is there anything that you do that you can use as a kind of buffer against this depression? Is there any kind of new life for you besides working on buildings?" and this guy says, "I used to draw, I used to paint a little bit" and the (psychiatrist) says, "Well, try that" and he discovers that, after this injury, that he is really a very talented painter...

...and he moves to Florida and he starts to paint these pictures and then strange things start to happen with the pictures.

They have this power so that sometimes if he paints things into the world they kind of appear and if he paints things out they disappear, including people.

And there is something going on, on this island, this Duma Key that is actually amping that talent up and making it stronger because there is something wrong there.

That's the real basis of the story."

[Childbride]

already pre-ordered it. :D :beer:

[R_of_G]

In the summary alone I find at least two VERY intriguing elements for Tower junkies like ourselves...

1. "...if he paints things into the world they kind of appear and if he paints things out they disappear, including people."

Without spoiling anything for those who are still reading, does this remind you of anybody?:rotflmao:

2. The other is that the character's last name is Freemantle. As in Abigail Freemantle. As in Mother Abigail? Coincidence, or has coincidene been cancelled again?

[Robert]

Sounds great, I'm gonna have to get that one.

I'm just finishing up the Wizard and the Glass, man it is riveting! I'm in the part where Reaping day is just coming up... very good stuff.

[Childbride]

R_of_G... amazon emailed me and my Duma Key is on the way. now the ultimate conundrum. get up an extra two hours early to read, or sacrifice guitar time.

[...]

Shiner... honey... ;)

[tot_Ou_tard]

Sounds great, I'm gonna have to get that one.

I'm just finishing up the Wizard and the Glass, man it is riveting! I'm in the part where Reaping day is just coming up... very good stuff.
Wizard & Glass is great.

I've stopped reading Wolves of the Calla due to being very busy--guitar first, novels second. But, I look forward to going back through the door.

[Robert]

I am just starting Wolves of the Calla now. Wizard and Glass was fabulous.

"To me, Gunslingers, to me!"

[R_of_G]

R_of_G... amazon emailed me and my Duma Key is on the way. now the ultimate conundrum. get up an extra two hours early to read, or sacrifice guitar time.

[...]

Shiner... honey... ;)

Picked up my copy last night, as well as "20th Century Ghosts" which is a collection of short stories by Joe Hill [aka Joseph Hillstrom King, who is Steve & Tabitha's son. Looking fwd to this wknd when I have time to get into them.

[R_of_G]

Tot & Robert, yes W&G is among my favorites in the series [prob only Drawing of the Three moreso than that one]. I think the events told in W&G show Roland in a perspective his ka-tet had not previously seen much, that of a real human being. Robert, if you liked the action of W&G, you will enjoy Wolves quite a bit. I'm interested in hearing from you guys what you think of the last three novels as you read them. The style changed a bit, to some degree of controversy in some circles, but a lot of my favorite moments are in those books. Stay on the path of the beam.

[luvmyshiner]

Well, here's my Dark Tower story. I used to be a Stephen King fanatic. Read the first three books in the Dark Tower series, and to be honest I didn't like the way the last one ended. Blain the "friggin" dumb a** train????:thwap:

At any rate, I swore I wouldn't read another one in the series until he was finished. But by then, I couldn't remember what happened in the first three books, so I didn't want to start the fourth one until I had reread the first three.

When we went to the Bahamas, I took all seven books with us. I wasn't sure how far I would get, but I was determined to read as many as I could. I reread the first three, and I've got about 50 pages left on W&G, and I'm completely hooked. I'm afraid the next few months of my life will be filled with late nights until I'm finally finished with this damn series. But I'm enjoying the hell out of it.:beer:

[Childbride]

R_of_G... i've converted another. my master plan continues.

Bwahaahaa... :D :beer: :pancake:

[tot_Ou_tard]

I finally finished Wolves of the Calla, it's my least favorite so far. I wasn't too interested in Callahan's backstory. It's probably great for King fans, but I could care less about his writing in general. It's the Beam, the Rose, & the Tower that I find intriguing.

The Song of Suzannah is starting out nicely...

[R_of_G]

I finally finished Wolves of the Calla, it's my least favorite so far. I wasn't too interested in Callahan's backstory. It's probably great for King fans, but I could care less about his writing in general. It's the Beam, the Rose, & the Tower that I find intriguing.

The Song of Suzanna is starting out nicely...

You are not alone Tot - a lot of people I know have found Callahan's story to be too long and consider it an interruption to the overall story. Personally I liked it, but you are definitely not the first person I've encountered to make that point. I think you will definitely find S.O.S. has much more of what you are looking for, and definitely DT-7. Glad you are still on the path of the Beam.

[tot_Ou_tard]

You are not alone Tot - a lot of people I know have found Callahan's story to be too long and consider it an interruption to the overall story. Personally I liked it, but you are definitely not the first person I've encountered to make that point. I think you will definitely find S.O.S. has much more of what you are looking for, and definitely DT-7. Glad you are still on the path of the Beam.

There is so much foreshadowing of the wolves that all that yada-yada about vampires & the home n' such just seems to bog the story down.

Some of the characters in the Calla are well-done,

[player]

R_of_G... i've converted another. my master plan continues.

Bwahaahaa... :D :beer: :pancake:

glad I could make you smile/laugh in the other thread CB to keep on topic I disowned/stopped reading Stephen King after The Stand.now into reading Dean Koontz stuff.while some are out there the stories are interesting.his dog,lost love,crazy ailment his main character(Chris Snow) has to live with(XP),etc

[tot_Ou_tard]

I understand why Stephen King spent so much time with Callahan--for him it added to the myterious interconnections: the author's own literary world becomes a character in this grander drama & it plays with the boundaries between reality & fiction.

For me, however, the Callahan stuff was tedious. I much preferred the Calvin Tower portions.

[Childbride]

Callahan's story was a writer's indulgence, which i got, but i liked it ok. once i got past ole Blain, the series as a whole just took off for me. :)

[player]

aside from reading books I would like to take in some of Roberts dvds apparently now on sale but alas nothing from the IRS yet - dang it:thwap:
Dean Koontz's Fear Nothing kicks off the story that is picked up again in Seize the night.really Robert Warrens pancakes would have helped you out?:D

[Kodiak3D]

I was a fan for a long time, but stopped reading during the Song of Susannah. The story just wasn't as good anymore to me.

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, at long last, I finally purchased the Dark Tower box set of the first four books. It has been a while since I read Gunslinger last year, so I am going to search on line for a summary to refresh before starting up again. Summer reading materials have arrived!

[R_of_G]

Glad to hear Steve. You know, The Gunslinger is such a fast and easy read that you could always just do a quick re-read of it before getting into Drawing of the Three. I always find when I re-read the series that I can get through The Gunslinger in a day or two at most. Either way, glad to hear you will be reading more of it soon. :)

[luvmyshiner]

I'm about halfway through Song of Susannah. Unfortunately this whole series is rather addictive.

[R_of_G]

It sure is Shiner, it sure is. Luckily for you after S.o.S. you only have one book left to go - of course it's the longest one of the series.

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, finally started back up again on this series, and am getting into the second book. Much easier go than the first, and I am getting into the characters. I am also recognizing the things I like in King's writing more easily in this book. I don't always get to read every night, and so my progress is sporadic. Often, it is a choice between ending the evening playing/practicing or reading. That said, I am now in the Odetta/Detta section and seeing where that goes. I enjoyed the drug dealer story line quite a bit, and will look forward to checking back in with that character.

[Robert]

What a coincidence - I just started Wolves of the Calla! I have it on audiobook and I listen to it when I go running. I thought the 2nd and 3rd books were amazing.

[R_of_G]

Well, finally started back up again on this series, and am getting into the second book. Much easier go than the first, and I am getting into the characters. I am also recognizing the things I like in King's writing more easily in this book. I don't always get to read every night, and so my progress is sporadic. Often, it is a choice between ending the evening playing/practicing or reading. That said, I am now in the Odetta/Detta section and seeing where that goes. I enjoyed the drug dealer story line quite a bit, and will look forward to checking back in with that character.

Welcome further into the series Steve. From various polls and conversations at the Dark Tower forum I go to, it would seem The Drawing of the Three is the consensus pick for best book of the series. If The Gunlinger only mildly captures the attention, DT-2 pulls you right in. By the end of that book, you'll be set on continuing to the end. You won't be able to help yourself.



What a coincidence - I just started Wolves of the Calla! I have it on audiobook and I listen to it when I go running. I thought the 2nd and 3rd books were amazing.

Glad to hear Robert. I have the audiobooks and they've made for some pleasurable re-reads of the series for me. Now that you have gotten to the final three books, you may notice a major change in the pacing of the writing. After the long break from DT-4 to DT-5, which included King's near fatal accident, it was if he could see the finish line and started sprinting towards it. Things happen a lot faster than they did in the previous four books. Good stuff awaits you!

Glad to see people getting back into the series. Can't wait to hear what you think as things progress. :D

[Cottonwood King]

I have all of the books sitting on my shelf here in the apartment, and The Dark Tower series is my absolute favorite book series of all time. I know that I'm super late on this, but I pretty much flipped out that you guys were talking about this. Stephen King is one of my favorite authors, and just all around brilliant. I've got several of his other books, like cell, lisey's story, bag of bones, desperation, mostly later stuff. Reading his other, earlier works is on my to do list, but, being a graphic design student who is in the studio working until 1 or 2 am, I have the choice to get a few hours of sleep or read. For now I'm choosing sleep...

And yes, the first book is definitely the hardest to get through, but after #1, the build up just keeps coming and coming with each book. It's fantastic, welcome to the series. You will be so glad you read them.

[R_of_G]

Welcome to the discussion Cottonwood King. We are well met along the path of the Beam. :)

[sunvalleylaw]

I am closing in on the end of the third book "The Wastelands", and Roland has just rescued Jake, and Susannah and Eddie are playing "Riddles" with Big Blaine. I am now fully hooked on the series. I even quoted something from the book, like a sci fi book nerd, when talking to a lawyer friend I had not seen in a while. We were discussing, and I commented, on how the world had "moved on" since we first met. LOL!

[Robert]

That book and the next one are fantastic. What a great story. My favourite from the series so far. I have 2.5 left to read. I think.

[R_of_G]

Glad you guys are still reading and enjoying it. :D

[Spudman]

Coming to the big screen soon and TV too.
http://screenrant.com/dark-tower-movie-trilogy-tv-series-ross-77542/

[Robert]

Yeah, I never thought they would actually do this on film! What a gargantuan task...

I finished the books a few months ago, and it was a fantastic journey. It will be very interesting to see how the movies and TV series turn out.

[Robert]

So, what's your thoughts on this? -> http://www.darktowermovies.com/

Bardem seems like a good fit in my book.

[R_of_G]

So, what's your thoughts on this? -> http://www.darktowermovies.com/

Bardem seems like a good fit in my book.


Bardem is agood choice. That said, the movie(s) will be a joke. The production team is so far wrong for this project. They only want to make it two movies whicj will eliminate about 80% of the material. Do it right or why bother.

[sunvalleylaw]

Bardem is agood choice. That said, the movie(s) will be a joke. The production team is so far wrong for this project. They only want to make it two movies whicj will eliminate about 80% of the material. Do it right or why bother.

I don't know about this team so I can't say specifically. But yes, do it right or not at all. An analogy I suppose is the LOTR movies. Another big epic (and King said he drew inspiration and themes from those books). They did a decent job. I did not agree with some of the character portrayals, and with certain things left out in favor of extended portrayal of other things, but overall, they did a decent job.

With these books, if you over shorten it and leave too much out, it won't even be the same story. It will be just a lame shadow. Kind of like the movie version of the "Eragon" book I would predict. Not that the Eragon books are fine literature, but the movie was a lame shadow of those books such as they are.

[R_of_G]

I don't know about this team so I can't say specifically. But yes, do it right or not at all. An analogy I suppose is the LOTR movies. Another big epic (and King said he drew inspiration and themes from those books). They did a decent job. I did not agree with some of the character portrayals, and with certain things left out in favor of extended portrayal of other things, but overall, they did a decent job.

Thank you Steve. Do you know what a relief it is to finally hear someone else use LotR as a comparison and not say that Jackson got it perfect? In fact, I think he made some critical errors, particularly inserting his own material at the expense of source material and the absolute abomination of what they did to Faramir's character, but yes, they did a decent job.

As for this production team, I believe the director is responsible for several films later in franchise movie lines that were known as the worst in the bunch, like the Batman with George Clooney in the batsuit with nipples. The producer is Ron Howard whom I love when it comes to comedy, but with anything dramatic he's far too heavy handed.

Again, what most concerns me is how they intend to condense seven novels (most of which are over 400 pages) into two films without gutting essential story elements.

[sunvalleylaw]

Thank you Steve. Do you know what a relief it is to finally hear someone else use LotR as a comparison and not say that Jackson got it perfect? In fact, I think he made some critical errors, particularly inserting his own material at the expense of source material and the absolute abomination of what they did to Faramir's character, . . .

Again, what most concerns me is how they intend to condense seven novels (most of which are over 400 pages) into two films without gutting essential story elements.

Agreed and double agreed. The Aragorn love story thing was overblown, and could have been ditched in favor of source material for example. And as you say, there are some changes that were made that did not make sense at all. Didn't seem to serve the story better, and ultimately changed the characters in ways that I thought were incorrect. I am blanking on a specific example I just read with my son, as I am reading them with my middle son now. Characterwise, Farimir, as you say, is a good example. But certain changes in flavor to the Frodo, Sam and Gollum trio in the last movie bothered me too.

I do NOT see how they can digest "Tower" into two books and do it any justice at all. If they do that, I might not even see them.

[R_of_G]

Agreed and double agreed. The Aragorn love story thing was overblown, and could have been ditched in favor of source material for example. And as you say, there are some changes that were made that did not make sense at all. Didn't seem to serve the story better, and ultimately changed the characters in ways that I thought were incorrect. I am blanking on a specific example I just read with my son, as I am reading them with my middle son now. Characterwise, Farimir, as you say, is a good example. But certain changes in flavor to the Frodo, Sam and Gollum trio in the last movie bothered me too.

I do NOT see how they can digest "Tower" into two books and do it any justice at all. If they do that, I might not even see them.

Agree entirely with your take on LotR. Aside from the way they changed Faramir (my fav character in the book) into little more than Boromir Jr., the Frodo/Sam/Gollum thing in RotK was painfully off, most specifically Frodo's trying to rescue Gollum after he fell off the ledge over the Cracks of Doom. That struck me as Peter Jackson's attempt to make Frodo seem less useless in the climactic sequence but I thought that was the heart of the book that Frodo was so overwhelmed by his struggle with the Ring that he was mentally/physically/emotionally exhausted by the end. Even in the battle back in the Shire (not deemed important enough for the movies) Frodo did little but tell everyone when to stop.

I'm also hesitant about seeing a DT movie when it comes out. It can never "ruin" it for me as I've been obsessed with this story since I first read the Gunslinger so so many years ago, but I'd rather not see it abused.