The Dark Tower
Published: 21, September 2004
Author: Stephen King
Genres: Arthurian, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Ghost, Horror, Literature, Media Tie-In, Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western, Witches, Wizards
Book 7 of 7: The Dark Tower
Check the summary of this book here:
The Dark Tower Summary
The Review:
Stephen King's The Dark Tower is a fantasy novel. It is the seventh and final novel in his Dark Tower series. It was released on September 21, 2004, which also happens to be Stephen King's birthday. Beginning where book six Song of Susannah left off, Jake Chambers and Father Callahan confront the demonic infestation within the Dixie Pig, a vampire bar in New York City that serves roast human flesh and has gateways to other realms.
Many readers, even fans, will have a newfound appreciation for Stephen King after reading this series, and I believe he is among the top few greatest literary brains of our time.
Seriously. I'm astounded at the universes he's built for people to lose themselves in. I am a quick reader who can read a lot of books at once, so I never get bored, but I do slow down on some novels because I don't want them to end.
I tried to do the same with this series, but I kept going until I fell asleep or it was already morning on several nights.
What I learned about these novels was that once you start reading, you won't be able to put them down until you've finished the entire series.
The reader is captivated by something in these works. It's the connection with the characters, or perhaps it's because it opens the reader's eyes to a deeper comprehension of Roland, and once you finish one book, you can't wait to start the next.
A word about the movie: there are elements in it that suggest it may have been a sequel to the novels, but the authors didn't reveal this link for whatever reason, leaving most fans and casual readers perplexed as to why it went the way it did.
To put it frankly, the horn that was dropped on Jericho Hill was in his hands in the movie, and I only know this because the studio auctioned off all objects from the set, including a "canteen and horn," and a photo showed Jake holding the canteen with the horn in his hand.
I'm not sure if this knowledge (previous two paragraphs) is relevant, but I know certain individuals that want to know everything about everything, therefore I believe this information is for them.
As the story developed, Stephen King explored and stretched his writing talents throughout the series.
Normally, I think of authors in specific categories, but reading them as Stephen King worked layers into his plot was a real treat.
I was irritated a few times by the choices he took to advance the plot, and I suppose it was because his choices were unique. He merged genres. His references were both obvious and subtle.
Through it all, he wrote in a late-nineteenth-century timeframe. He worked tirelessly on the tale, and it was fascinating to read his almost tired recounting in the afterwords of people hounding him about the storyline book after book.
I was concerned that no conclusion could do this series honor. I even slowed down my reading since I was afraid I would be dissatisfied.
The buildup of the previous six volumes and now this seventh could not be topped off with any conclusion I could think of. But Stephen King is a master and that is what I can say at this point.
This finale took the author more than two decades to write, but it was well worth the wait. If, like Roland, you got this far, simply know that you'll reach the finish understanding that Ka is a turning wheel, and the narrative will suffice.
Some readers may not like the finale, but I thought it was a perfect finish to an incredibly fantastic story. It all depends on what you learned from the series up until the very end and how you felt about it.
I've read the "Dark Tower" series several times but never get tired of it. It makes me desire that "new" versions could be made in order to expose all of the possibilities.
But, however, that would do a grave disservice to this series. Stephen King's narrative abilities continue to mystify me. So much so that I've read every other book he's ever written just to keep getting glimpses of this story threaded throughout.
What an experience! There were tears, laughter, adventure, compassion, love, valor, and wickedness, and, of course, as is customary in Stephen King tales, there were many surprises.
I met up with the ka-tet. It will be difficult to be a part of it no more. What would life be like without the quest for the Dark Tower? I guess I don't have a choice.
I envy you the experience that awaits you if you haven't read them yet. Make the commitment and get right in. You will not be sorry.
Final Thoughts:
Is it worthwhile to read The Dark Tower? Yes, if you enjoy grandiose fantasy. Yes, if you can put up with occasional blunders in writing style and convention. No, if you dislike horror, the paranormal, adventures, and action, and believe such books must be cheap pulp.
Author's efforts to create a multiverse replete with all of the adventures and characters he cast drew me in.
I was already so engrossed that I bought both hardcover and paperback at the same time because I couldn't stop reading, and I used to buy both copies before digital versions became the standard, and I did this with all of my favorite writers.
What he did was incredible, I'll definitely listen to this series again when I finish the eighth book The Wind Through the Keyhole, which is actually a novel that sits between parts four "Wizard and Glass" and five "Wolves of the Calla" and may be considered the series' book 4.5 of 7. If you're on the fence about spending a few dollars on these books, be assured that they are well worth it.
This series is strongly recommended for anybody who wants to get lost in a massive narrative that will stay with you long after you finish the last volume.
It is the narrative of all of us, full of honor, love, good, evil, light, and dark. It's the reason we adore Arthur, Harry, Frodo, Luke, and so on. It's the endless pursuit, the vast cycle of life, the huge wheel of ka.
Synopsis:
“Creating "true narrative magic" (The Washington Post) at every revelatory turn, Stephen King surpasses all expectation in the stunning final volume of his seven-part epic masterwork. Entwining stories and worlds from a vast and complex canvas, here is the conclusion readers have long awaited—breathtakingly imaginative, boldly visionary, and wholly entertaining.
Roland Deschain and his ka-tet have journeyed together and apart, scattered far and wide across multilayered worlds of wheres and whens. The destinies of Roland, Susannah, Jake, Father Callahan, Oy, and Eddie are bound in the Dark Tower itself, which now pulls them ever closer to their own endings and beginnings...and into a maelstrom of emotion, violence, and discovery.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:
Constant Readers, Crimson King, Deus Ex Machina, Entire Series, Last Book, Lord Of The Rings, Man In Black, New York, Song of Susannah, Tower Series, Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)
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