The Dark Tower series*Spoilers Reviews inside*

[Rael]

Anyone else read the Dark Tower series by Stephen King? I absolutely loved it. I am a huge SK fan, but even if you aren't, you still might like this. It is totally different from all of his other stuff.

[KingVoyeur]

Yeah, I finally finished reading The Dark Tower a coupla months ago. I got into it right before the fourth book came out, so I had to wait between each one (which totally sucked, especially at the end of The Wastelands, that wasn't a cliffhanger, that was just mean!). I feel like I really need to go back and re-read every other one of King's books, just to catch all the side references. I think I got most of them, but I'm sure there's a few I missed (hell, I think he may have even put some in his new book Cell). There's just so much depth to these books, especially when you get to the last two, the katet's trip to meet a very recognizable person is just plain trippy. I'd like to see a movie series of these books, but they'd have to be very well done.

[DarkJedi]

I caught the references in Cell too. At least, I think they're references to the Dark Towerverse that is in most of his previous works.

When the zombies first go Pulse on the world, alot of their dialogue consist of:

"Abbadala Ka-soy!" ...

That kind of thing is very representive of previous works like Desperation, Regulators, Insomnia, the DT books.

Also, in the new zombie book Cell, you can definitely catch how Katet-like the heros are....

Also a King fanatic here, Rael and KV. Like KV, I had to go through very crazed long waits between the DT books.

[Rael]

Luckily, I started them after Wizard and Glass came out, so I didn't have to wait too long, but the years I did were excruciatingly long. I can't imagine reading the end of Wastelands in the late eighties and having to wait so long.

So, what did you guys think of the ending?

[DarkJedi]

Good question on that one. I better add Spoilers Warnings to the title after this post though...lol

I would have to say that for the most part, I enjoyed the ending on the pure fact that it really did come full circle with him ending at the starting point. It goes into the fact that some things "never" end and some struggles are endless between good and evil.

It can also have a double meaning.

1. That Roland must continue on his journey to an end that will never come.
2. That Roland now has a chance to start over from the beginning and make different choices that he regret making in his past...especially in regards to his friends fates.

Now, I knew people were going to die in the last novel....but I didn't know who and when they did, I was still shocked at the abruptness of what happened in such a short time...The Katet most definitely ended shell shocked by the halfway point though the last novel.

I also really liked Bruntigan(sp? since I haven't picked up Hearts in Atlantis or the 7th book in almost a year) showing up in the novel. It would have been awesome if Sawyer made a appearence from the Talisman series but I understand that Sawyer and his katet were fighting a different battle and were not meant to be joined together in the Towerverse.

I also couldn't believe that Susan just ....wa...rolled away before the final confrontation. Really didn't know what to make of that. Again though, the Katet was clearly over before she did...

One of my favorite novels from King has been Insomnia so I was really pleased to see the character that so many changed/gave their lives for in that book came to fruition in the final battle(open for interpretation) between Roland and the Crimson King.

What's more.....King seemed to hammer down that the "journey" was the real struggle of good.....not the final battle.. I have to assume that was the real message because of the ease in which the C. K was taken out.

I remember first hearing that the series was going to end and my immediate thoughts were "Noooooooooooo, I don't want it to ever end!" . With the ending that King gave us, though, I can say that I'm happy that it wasn't absolute in the way that I expected...

No doubt about it though....S. King rules! :D

[Rael]

Good question on that one. I better add Spoilers Warnings to the title after this post though...lol

I would have to say that for the most part, I enjoyed the ending on the pure fact that it really did come full circle with him ending at the starting point. It goes into the fact that some things "never" end and some struggles are endless between good and evil.

It can also have a double meaning.

1. That Roland must continue on his journey to an end that will never come.
2. That Roland now has a chance to start over from the beginning and make different choices that he regret making in his past...especially in regards to his friends fates.

Now, I knew people were going to die in the last novel....but I didn't know who and when they did, I was still shocked at the abruptness of what happened in such a short time...The Katet most definitely ended shell shocked by the halfway point though the last novel.

I also really liked Bruntigan(sp? since I haven't picked up Hearts in Atlantis or the 7th book in almost a year) showing up in the novel. It would have been awesome if Sawyer made a appearence from the Talisman series but I understand that Sawyer and his katet were fighting a different battle and were not meant to be joined together in the Towerverse.

I also couldn't believe that Susan just ....wa...rolled away before the final confrontation. Really didn't know what to make of that. Again though, the Katet was clearly over before she did...

One of my favorite novels from King has been Insomnia so I was really pleased to see the character that so many changed/gave their lives for in that book came to fruition in the final battle(open for interpretation) between Roland and the Crimson King.

What's more.....King seemed to hammer down that the "journey" was the real struggle of good.....not the final battle.. I have to assume that was the real message because of the ease in which the C. K was taken out.

I remember first hearing that the series was going to end and my immediate thoughts were "Noooooooooooo, I don't want it to ever end!" . With the ending that King gave us, though, I can say that I'm happy that it wasn't absolute in the way that I expected...

No doubt about it though....S. King rules! :D

Yeah, I agree with everything you said, and Insomnia was one of his better novels. I do think that the trip Roland is on and the end, when he gets thrown back into it, it will be his last, because if I remember correctly, he has Cuthnerts horn, which he never had before, and in the poem it is based off of, Childe Roland has the horn and blows it at the Dark Tower. I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the DT series though, no matter what SK says.

[KingVoyeur]

I think if we see anymore of the DT, it will be in short stories, like in the book "Everything's Eventual" with the story of the doctors in Mid-World. It'd be nice to see more of the universe pop up in King's next works.

How about starting a list of other King books that reference the DT?

Here's a couple I can think of:

Salem's Lot (obviously, it's a major plot point in DT, albeit one of the more twisted ones, second only to King himself being a major character).

Insomnia - The Crimson King is a major baddie here.

Eyes of the Dragon and The Stand - Flagg (aka Walter) is an ass in both (I'm surprised I didn't see him in Cell.

The Talisman and Black House - Characters go to Mid-World, and Roland's Ka-tet is mentioned.

Desperation and The Regulators

From a Buick 8 - I would say that the world they saw in the trunk was probably the wastelands in Mid-World

Hearts in Atlantis - the first story involves character from Mid-World.

It - the turtle is obviously one of the Beam guardians.

Those're just a few off the top of my head, what else?

[Rael]

I'm ptretty sure It has a few veiled references. Black House also had some connections, if you didn't mention that. In one of my SK books, at the front where it lists all of his books, it has the ones that deal with DT highlighted. I'll have to find it, and then I'll post what is says.

Did you guys know that SK id collaberating with Marvel to do a Dark Tower comic series. It is going to be about some stuff before the Gunslinger. It isn't just a rumor either, Marvel announced it on thier site.

[KingVoyeur]

Yeah, they talked about that on Cinescape.com a while ago. I'm not real big into graphic novels or comics (though, damnit, this site is pushing me towards it) but I'll probably pick this one up. Should be interesting. I wonder what the story will cover, the same stuff as DT or Roland's past?

[Rael]

I'm pretty sure it covers his past more than anything.
And please don't tell me you avoid comics because they are for kids. You are really missing out if you think that.

[KingVoyeur]

And please don't tell me you avoid comics because they are for kids. You are really missing out if you think that.

No, nothing like that, I just never got into them. Why would you even get that idea? Why you be judgin'? :dunno:

[Rael]

No, nothing like that, I just never got into them. Why would you even get that idea? Why you be judgin'? :dunno:

Sorry if "I be judgin". Didn't mean to. That is why a lot of people dont read them though.

[leatherman]

I don't know that we'll ever get much more from the Dark Tower universe.

Short stories and the graphic novels set before Roland began his journey may come with time, but I don't think King has it in him to write another novel in the series without writing several...and he doesn't want to commit to writing several.

What will be interesting with time is the inevitable movie/mini-series developments that are sure to arise. HBO would be an interesting network option...

[ellenora]

I'm currently reading Vol. V... The Wolves of Calla and am about halfway through it. As always, this is an interesting and thought provoking series.

[Kaeos]

Greatest book series - EVER.

I so want to see this whole story on screen. Eastwood's the perfect age now.

[neglet]

Nah, Eastwood's too old now--I'd rather see someone in his fifties play the role.

Actually, I'd rather the series not be adapted at all; I think it would lose too much in the translation, they wouldn't be able to keep in all the cool details.

[KingVoyeur]

I'm currently reading Vol. V... The Wolves of Calla and am about halfway through it. As always, this is an interesting and thought provoking series.

I'm all jumpy for you, I remember how I felt reading through it. You've got some serious mindf***s coming up. :jump2: :jump2: :jump2:

Actually, I'd rather the series not be adapted at all; I think it would lose too much in the translation, they wouldn't be able to keep in all the cool details.

I think if if you got a true fan of the book and a studio who's willing to get behind a 7 movie series (that's not as popular as Harry Potter, and each movie would almost need to be 2 1/2-3 hours), it could be done right. King would have to write the scripts. Ever since I was younger, I've hoped one day to become a producer myself, and doing The Dark Tower series was one of the main reasons and inspirations. I'm not saying I'd be the guy to do it, I just think I'd take a little bit more care of it as a major fan than someone who hasn't read them.

[inksmithy]

To be honest, I found that I couldn't be having with much of Stephen Kings stuff after The Tommyknockers.

That said though, The Dark Tower goes in a slightly different direction than most of his other stuff doesn't it?

[Trazalca]

All I will say is that if anyone decides to direct the Dark Tower series,
1) it must be EPIC in scale. Not anything like the cheesy TV boundaries typically delivered with King's work; and 2) for the love of God, DON'T LET MICK GARRIS DIRECT IT!!! HE'S DONE ENOUGH DAMAGE TO KING'S BOOKS! ENOUGH ALREADY! Anyone catch that Desperation on TV?
Typical network TV cheese. It's like everyone tries really hard to be
the characters they're meant to be from the book, and it's like watching
drama students trying out for an audition. It was that unconvincing.
Just not good. The only decent work Mick did was with the Stand,
and even then, under the direction of others, it would have been a lot better.

And Speilberg had better wise up and direct the Talisman himself,
or the movie will be guaranteed a failure whatever medium it winds
itself up in. :angry

Mini-rant over. :smirk:

[sickness]

So what does everyone think of the Lucasizing King pulled on the DT series?

[KingVoyeur]

So what does everyone think of the Lucasizing King pulled on the DT series?

I loved it. It really helps define the world of King's body of work. Finding out how a lot of it is interrelated is fascinating. I even like the stories that tie into that universe but don't mention the gunslinger at all (It, for example, uses the Turtle, one of the Beam guardians, but never delves any further), giving a lot of depth to and weight to an already detailed world. As for Lucasizing, I can see where the comparison comes in, but it works for King because he can actually write!

[hythlodaeus]

Good question on that one. I better add Spoilers Warnings to the title after this post though...lol

I would have to say that for the most part, I enjoyed the ending on the pure fact that it really did come full circle with him ending at the starting point. It goes into the fact that some things "never" end and some struggles are endless between good and evil.

It can also have a double meaning.

1. That Roland must continue on his journey to an end that will never come.
2. That Roland now has a chance to start over from the beginning and make different choices that he regret making in his past...especially in regards to his friends fates.

Now, I knew people were going to die in the last novel....but I didn't know who and when they did, I was still shocked at the abruptness of what happened in such a short time...The Katet most definitely ended shell shocked by the halfway point though the last novel.

I also really liked Bruntigan(sp? since I haven't picked up Hearts in Atlantis or the 7th book in almost a year) showing up in the novel. It would have been awesome if Sawyer made a appearence from the Talisman series but I understand that Sawyer and his katet were fighting a different battle and were not meant to be joined together in the Towerverse.

I also couldn't believe that Susan just ....wa...rolled away before the final confrontation. Really didn't know what to make of that. Again though, the Katet was clearly over before she did...

One of my favorite novels from King has been Insomnia so I was really pleased to see the character that so many changed/gave their lives for in that book came to fruition in the final battle(open for interpretation) between Roland and the Crimson King.

What's more.....King seemed to hammer down that the "journey" was the real struggle of good.....not the final battle.. I have to assume that was the real message because of the ease in which the C. K was taken out.

I remember first hearing that the series was going to end and my immediate thoughts were "Noooooooooooo, I don't want it to ever end!" . With the ending that King gave us, though, I can say that I'm happy that it wasn't absolute in the way that I expected...

No doubt about it though....S. King rules! :D


I think you're right about the intpretation. In the end the King kept pointing out that the Tower was undeniable but not evil - everything about it pulled him forward but it wasn't evil. I seem to remember that one of the last lines was that Roland would have to redo everything but that there was hope - I think hope was the word used by the Tower to Roland's mind. It was almost like the tower was putting him through this useless quest - maybe he'd done it a dozen, maybe a million times and each time he remembers some faint trace of what he'd done before - like his very soul is being refined until he finally learns that friendship is more important :hugs: - Eddie kept trying to teach him this - since he had learned many things from his brother and Susana - all the characters had a lot of kindness and overcame great obstacles but Roland, though he changed dramatically - even feeling bad for yelling at Oy - he didn't really change.

Susana's leaving right at the end is perfect - it makes complete sense - she left because Roland still hadn't learned - his quest for the "damned tower" as Eddie always referred to it had destroyed everyone he ever loved and she saw that even though she loved Roland she had a chance for happiness and she'd risk it rather than try for the tower - she wasn't consumed by it like Roland was - Roland knew that if he went much further he wouldn't be able to turn back but he chose to go forward. Susana made the right decision.

The journey was the real thing - that was the emphasis in the poem by Robert Browning - King actually did a good job brining it in - more than I'd expect from a Pop author.

[tina1742]

I love Stephen King! i tried reading the gunslinger and couldnt really get into but i have heard the series is good so i will eventually get to it

[Penfold]

OK, I've finished the series. I'm still trying to sift through all my opinions. I'm not too bothered by the ending, though I think it does open up some interesting possibilities.

This is all just thoughts about what could be next, some of them are probably pretty stupid, but I'll put 'em out there anyway.

With Roland back to the beginning, maybe another author could take over the reins and give the story a new spin. Since King was one of the beams and was successfully rescued, I don't think he can continue the story. Someone else could take Roland through his new journey, maybe even making a different choice in the beginning which lands him on a different beam. Or even a journey to put one of the beams back together. There were a lot of loose ends left open...Black Thirteen in the remains of the World Trade Center. The fate of Patrick Danville. The other pieces of the Wizard's Glass that may still exist. A new journey might be able to adress this. A new cycle with a different spin on the world.

Maybe the series should stand alone. Maybe short stories would be better. But there are a lot of ways it could go.

In all, it was a good series. I picked up a Dark Tower commentary at the library, and it's interesting reading, pointing out different things I missed. I also must go through other King books to see the references. Not having read Insomnia, I don't know if reading that book might have gotten him to the top of the Tower. I'll have to check it out to see.

[KingVoyeur]

I think it would be interesting if King did a book of short stories based on the Wizard's Glasses, one per story. See what happens with each one of them.

On a related note, does King's new novel have anything to do with the Dark Tower universe? I read the summary and it sounds like it might. Won't be able to get around to reading it just yet though.

[KingVoyeur]

So did anyone else read that J.J. Abrams take over to do the Dark Tower movies? Is it even possible? It would be a major undertaking, whether they attempt theatrical features or made for HBO or Showtime or something like that. Would they try 7 movies or combine some of the books? Personally, I think the series is way too complex for movies. Maybe an ongoing series, but would people stick around long enough to see it through. Maybe a series that's set in the Dark Tower universe but not focusing on Roland. We'll just hafta see what happens I guess.

On a side note, you should definitely check out the new Dark Tower comic. Only the 1st issue is out, but it's pretty damn good. Well-written and the art is really good.

[neglet]

We're talking about it here, (http://www.mania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3252) KV.

[tstone]

First four are on my "waiting to read" stack.


Anyone else read the Dark Tower series by Stephen King? I absolutely loved it. I am a huge SK fan, but even if you aren't, you still might like this. It is totally different from all of his other stuff.

[Strider]

Well then take them off the stack and read them. You will be glad that you did. :D