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Wizard and Glass Review

Stephen King, America, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western

Wizard and Glass

Published: 4, November 1997
Author: Stephen King
Genres: America, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western
Book 4 of 7: The Dark Tower

Check the summary of this book here:
Wizard and Glass Summary


The Review:

The fantasy novel Wizard and Glass by Stephen King is a work of fiction. It's the fourth book in The Dark Tower series. The novel continues where The Waste Lands ended. After several hours of futile riddling by Jake, Eddie, Susannah, and Roland, Eddie defeats Blaine the Mono by doing something I can't reveal here since it could be a spoiler for those who haven't read the novels yet.

This novel is a fantastic distraction and throwback to the main narrative. It is both amazing and terrifying in many ways, yet it brings us much closer to Roland's character. That is the most crucial thing to remember since he is the one we need to learn more about.

I spent a long time completing this one since I was reading a lot of other novels at the same time and wanted to appreciate it more.

It is, nonetheless, an important part of getting to know our Gunslinger. It's a long way from The Dark Tower's storyline, but it's an important part of the journey to get there.

There were times when I hoped I could go on to the next book and never stop reading it, but books do come to an end, which is regrettable in the case of great writing.

This is the only book in the series that can stand alone as a narrative inside a story, and it is excellent.

The characters in this vibrant, dramatic, and heartbreaking western spring off the page. This is the third time I've read (This time I listened to the audio) the entire series.

You'll understand how ironic it is to read this series again if you've already finished it. I was eager to return to this section. Now, of course, I'll cheerfully go on to the last novels.

I recommend reading the prior three books in the series before reading this one because they are all part of the same tale, but not as a stand-alone.

I was quite pleased to read the fourth chapter Wizard and Glass the first time I read it. Because The Waste Lands had ended on a particularly frustrating cliffhanger so long ago, I reread the first three books, as well as The Stand, in preparation for the fourth.

I was ready to move ahead with Roland, Eddie, Jake, Oy, and Susannah, and I couldn't be happier. Then I read it slowly to get the most out of it, but after nearly a hundred pages, I felt like I was missing something since it wasn't quite what I was looking for.

I didn't want to take an extra detour backwards to view the beginnings, so I can continued further towards The Dark Tower.

This is one of my favorite books in the series so far, but it wasn't always like this. I didn't care what sparked Roland's journey, and I definitely didn't care about his first, only, and lost love Susan all those years ago.

But I was simply a kid with one aim in mind: to reach The Dark Tower without appreciating or comprehending the characters or their true reasons for what they were doing.

It's great. I never stopped reading until I got to roughly a hundred and twenty pages and came to the showdown in the bar, which changed everything for me about this novel.

I strongly advise all readers to read this book up to this point before quitting or skipping it. Perhaps I was too young to recognize this story for what it is.

I'm not sure, but I'm glad I persevered because instead of loathing this book, I fell in love with it. This will undoubtedly become your favorite installment of the Dark Tower series. I was smitten with young Roland, Cuthbert, Alain, Sheemie, and Susan, as well as Rusher.

Rhea, The Coffin Hunters, Rimer, Mayor Thorin, Avery, and especially Cordelia started to enrage me. I was angry with Eddie for something he was doing so I might learn the destiny of Mejis and the history during the intermission with Eddie, Jake, and Susannah.

And when the story came to a close, I was heartbroken by who we had lost and who we would very certainly never see again.

And yet, for some reason, I have a nagging suspicion that several of the missing seems to be alive and well somewhere in this story.

I hope Ka is understanding in this aspect, but readers will have to wait and see if my desire is realized in the following installments.

As far as writing goes, this is a fantastic piece of work, but in comparison to The Waste Lands' story development and movement, this book must be regarded as a bit of a slog.

That's not necessarily a negative thing, and Stephen King does a decent job of crossing into yet another genre in his writing here, but fans of the series may find the seeming standstill in story development aggravating.

Regardless, the narrative given here is brilliantly done. Even though I'm a great lover of Westerns, I like the continuation of what I was reading, and I have to confess that this is a fantastic narrative.

It's one of the first occasions, in my opinion, that Stephen King honestly examines a pleasant emotion, even if he can't help but throw in some negative.

Though I wouldn't necessarily suggest the book to a casual reader, the work is very noteworthy.

This book is a great addition for fans of Stephen King's Dark Tower series, Western Romance, and his writing.

It should be an excellent read for everyone else, but it may leave the audience behind at times. Overall, excellent.


Final Thoughts:

The fourth installment of Stephen King's Dark Tower begins with a bang, closing up some loose ends. The tale then continues into some introspective sections. 

The majority of this book relates the story of Roland before he embarked on his quest for the Dark Tower.

This is both a good and a negative thing, as I previously stated about not feeling fantastic until I got through the first hundred pages to the point where the bar showdown happened.

The novel's strength is that it allows you to come to know Roland, the mysterious Roland.

His backstory is both thrilling and touching. Within the constraints of this enormous series, it also delivers a self-contained narrative.

The characters are well-developed, and the author maintains a high level of tension.

Now, there is one drawback to this book: it lacks the narrative heft of the other two because it is essentially just a story Roland tells. As a result, you will not be able to obtain as much Rolands' Ka-tet as you would like.

Overall, this is another excellent installment in the Dark Tower series. That can keep a constant reader amused


Synopsis:

“The fourth volume in the brilliant Dark Tower Series is “splendidly tense…rip-roaring” (Publishers Weekly)—a #1 national bestseller about an epic quest to save the universe.

In Wizard and Glass, Stephen King is “at his most ebullient…sweeping readers up in…swells of passion” (Publishers Weekly) as Roland the Gunslinger, Eddie, Susannah, and Jake survive Blaine the Mono’s final crash, only to find themselves stranded in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, that has been ravaged by the superflu virus. While following the deserted I-70 toward a distant glass palace, Roland recounts his tragic story about a seaside town called Hambry, where he fell in love with a girl named Susan Delgado, and where he and his old tet-mates Alain and Cuthbert battled the forces of John Farson, the harrier who—with a little help from a seeing sphere called Maerlyn’s Grapefruit—ignited Mid-World’s final war.

Filled with “blazing action” (Booklist), the fourth installment in the Dark Tower Series “whets the appetite for more” (Bangor Daily News). Wizard and Glass is a thrilling read from “the reigning King of American popular literature” (Los Angeles Daily News).”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Blaine The Mono, Coffin Hunters, Cuthbert And Alain, Eddie Susannah, Path Of The Beam, Rolands Past, Susan Delgado, Susannah And Jake, Tower Series, Waste Lands, Wolves Of The Calla


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

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The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

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The Waste Lands Review

Stephen King, America, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western

The Waste Lands

Published: August 1991
Author: Stephen King
Genres: America, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western
Book 3 of 7: The Dark Tower

Check the summary of this book here:
The Waste Lands Summary


The Review:

Stephen King's The Waste Lands is a gloomy fantasy book. It is the third installment in The Dark Tower series. Grant released the first limited edition book with full-color illustrations by Ned Dameron in 1991. This book was republished in 2003 to coincide with the release of The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla.

The Waste Land, a poem by T. S. Eliot written in 1922, is repeated in the first few pages as the book's title. Furthermore, the book's two main sections ("Jake: Fear in a Handful of Dust" and "Lud: A Heap of Broken Images") are titled after lines from the poem.

The Wastelands is one of the most highly fascinating volumes in The Dark Tower series, especially for novices to the series.

The characters from The Drawing of the Three return in this book, and it is here that the essential adjustments required for such a difficult task as defeating The Dark Tower's disease begin.

We, the readers, grow up with the characters and witness them take on the roles of heroes, as fated or, better yet, as their ka has always been.

This volume's thrill and mystery will keep you up at night, unable to leave Roland and his world alone.

By the conclusion of this book, you will certainly be among those who yearn to see the Field of Roses and proudly proclaim the names of your dead loved ones as you stand in the shadow of The Dark Tower.

I like the whole Dark Tower series, and Roland and his team continue to impress. You'll want to keep reading since the experiences keep you wanting more.

This is an amazing book, and it's one of my favorites in the Dark Tower series. The author lays the groundwork for the story in the first two novels.

In the second novel, he fleshed out the framework of the gunslinger he sketched out in the first, while also introducing a supporting cast.

It is in The Waste Lands that Stephen King begins to gain traction in his pursuit of the Dark Tower. It's understandable to think that the first two volumes were a little sluggish. They had to be like that.

The first book was a little slow, and the second was a little faster, but this third book moves even faster, and it's a pretty good book overall.

If you've read the first two volumes and are thinking, "Maybe I've had enough of this Dark Tower thing," I'd recommend giving this one a shot too.

In many respects, The Waste Lands is the point in Stephen King's Dark Tower Series that he starts to sound like Stephen King in his prime. It's a little wordy at times, but that's forgiven since the plot is so incredibly excellent.

In other words, in the ways that count, this book continues the epic narrative that began with The Gunslinger.

There's a feeling that this book is larger than it is. Roland and Eddie, Susannah and Jake, Oy and Lud, and the Tick Tock Man - all of it will stay with you long after the final word on the last page of the novel has been read.

The fundamental components of Roland's universe begin to come into perspective in this part of the series. It serves as a sort of core element, linking the dreamy gloom of the first novel to the frantic action of the second.

It's easier to forgive the cliffhanger today than it was when I first read the novel and had to wait 5 or 6 years to find out what happened.

However, ending the book in the middle of the action is difficult. If you don't have Wizard and Glass ready to go when you complete The Waste Lands, you'll go insane waiting to read it once you finish this one.

If The Drawing of the Three is when the Dark Tower's tale begins to take shape, this book is where it evolves.

The cliffhanger ending isn't that horrible now that the series is over, but I'll be honest, I was put off by it the first time I read it and then had to wait years for the following book. Now that the series is complete, you will be able to go on to the next book with ease.

A stunning continuation to the Dark Tower saga! While some readers struggled with The Gunslinger, Books 2 The Drawing of the Three and 3 The Waste Lands were well worth the effort.

These works elicit a wide range of emotions, resulting in a rich and fulfilling environment.

I don't have the new prints, and according to several acquaintances, the gorgeous color prints were deleted from the 2016 prints.

That was sad because they brought more dimension to the narrative, so see if you can get copies with illustrations.

However, it doesn't matter to me whether you have the illustrations or not since our imaginations can construct better representations of what's going on as we read.


Final Thoughts:

This novel has a lot of action and is practically continuous tension. This is also the first novel in which Roland's universe is revealed to have "moved on" and why. Hint, read The Stand.

I must advise you once again since this book is a cliffhanger to the extreme; if you're getting close to the conclusion, make sure you have the next book Wizard and Glass nearby.

This book is not suitable for youngsters under the age of 13 or for those who struggle to keep up with novels that skip about a lot.

I can't picture the fan reaction when this was first introduced while I was reading this series. With a cliffhanger ending and years till the next book.

When I start a series after it has already been completed, I feel so much better since I don't have to wait years for the next book to find out how the hero's party gets out of their current situation.

However, it is a fantastic episode that sets the tone for Wizard and Glass. Many George R. R. Martin fans, I'm sure, believe he's the only one capable of such a feat since they haven't yet read Stephen King, the master storyteller.

It's a fantastic narrative that serves as a vital and intriguing chapter in the larger drama.

However, due to the cliffhanger conclusion as well as the prior plot tie-in and information that is required to proceed forward in the series, it would not be sufficient as a stand-alone novel.

That is why, before attempting to read this book, I recommend reading the preceding novels in order.

Synopsis:

“In this third volume, several months have passed, and Roland's two new tet-mates have become trained gunslingers. Eddie Dean has given up heroin, and Odetta's two selves have joined, becoming the stronger and more balanced personality of Susannah Dean. But while battling The Pusher in 1977 New York, Roland altered ka by saving the life of Jake Chambers, a boy who - in Roland's world - has already died. Now Roland and Jake exist in different worlds, but they are joined by the same madness: the paradox of double memories.

Roland, Susannah, and Eddie must draw Jake into Mid-World and then follow the Path of the Beam all the way to the Dark Tower. Along the way, our tet stumbles into the ruined city of Lud, and are caught between the warring gangs of the Pubes and the Grays. The only way out of Lud is to wake Blaine the Mono, an insane train that has a passion for riddling, and for suicidal journeys.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:

Blaine Is A Pain, Blaine The Mono, City Of Lud, Eddie And Susannah, Eddie Dean, Kindle Edition, New York, Path Of The Beam, Rolands World, Tower Series, Wizard and Glass


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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The Drawing of the Three Review

Stephen King, America, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western

The Drawing of the Three

Published: May 1987
Author: Stephen King
Genres: America, Dark, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Media Tie-In, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Western
Book 2 of 7: The Dark Tower

Check the summary of this book here:
The Drawing of the Three Summary


The Review:

Stephen King's The Drawing of the Three is a dark fantasy book. It's the second novel in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. The series was inspired by Robert Browning's poem "Childe Roland Came to the Dark Tower." The plot continues Roland of Gilead and his search for the Dark Tower, which is a continuation of The Gunslinger.

Despite being a considerably longer book than the first, it was a pretty quick read. I was so engrossed in the novel that when I eventually chose to put it down, I was surprised at how much I had read.

Stephen King is a fantastic writer, and while this isn't a horror novel like his usual fare, it has depth and the riveting characters and tale you'd expect from him.

I suggest this series to everyone and would advise those who read The Gunslinger but are unsure about continuing to read The Drawing of the Three. It'll be well worth your time and effort.

After The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three really kicks up the momentum. While the book begins just a few hours after the previous one ended, you can know from the first few paragraphs that this one will be unique.

The tone is less strange and unsettling than in The Gunslinger, making it much simpler to understand what's going on and feel more connected with the tale.

The book begins with a huge change of direction, and then it moves on to the interconnectivity of realms, which is perhaps my favorite topic of the series.

The Drawing of the Three is both lengthier and far superior to The Gunslinger in many aspects.

This is when the worlds' boundaries are breached, and we witness Roland traveling across time to recover numerous unique individuals.

This time around, there is a lot more characterization, with numerous key characters other than Roland, and Jake is fortunately absent.

As Roland stumbles across doorways that allow him to enter into the brain of someone living in another time and place, and even control them, we get to witness more of the exceptional intergalactic level worldbuilding.

I liked the first portion, "The Prisoner," a lot, but the second section, "The Lady of Shadows," was just okay and a little sluggish for me. In "The Pusher," things really got up, with fantastic storytelling, a lot of action, and a lot of humor.

Roland's encounters with police officers and drug shop employees, in particular. Even though it is very much limited to simply Earth in different historical periods, the concept of traveling across planets was extremely intriguing.

I really loved the first book, despite the fact that some friends stated it was fairly dull, and I actually described why it seemed boring to certain readers, which you can read about in the review of the first book The Gunslinger.

Picking up the second book, well, it drew me in from the first phrase. When things began to happen, I believed the book would lose what the previous book held, but that was not the case.

The book begins with Roland at the beach, where he was at the end of the first one. The second novel, on the other hand, begins with the gunslinger battling for his life.

Then Roland resumes his Dark Tower journey, this time uncovering unusual doorways that will aid him in removing individuals from the many realms.

I was worried that the series would lose the magic that the first book had, but Stephen King is a master storyteller who knows what he's doing!

Roland can enter each door and "pull the host" for his aim. Each of these individuals is distinct, yet the author gave them enough depth to understand their issues and how they could aid Roland in the future.

The author not only creates interesting characters, but he also includes a lot of action, which I believe was more than in the previous novel, The Gunslinger.

Overall, it was a really interesting read, and I am confident that after readers finish this book, they will immediately begin reading The Wastelands.

Warning: there are spoilers ahead; go to Final Thoughts if you don't want to read. The Gunslinger, the first novel in the series, was a fantastical tale about the last gunslinger on the planet, set in the far future after humanity has "moved on." Read The Stand to learn more about this transition.

He is the last of his kind, and "The Gunslinger" follows him through the desert as he pursues or seeks a mysterious figure known as The Man in Black in the hopes of learning information that would lead Roland to The Dark Tower.

The gunslinger's name is Roland, and the story concludes with Roland finally catching up to The Man in Black, also known as Walter O-Dim or Randall Flagg, and the two conversing around a campfire.

Walter/Flagg gives The Gunslinger a tarot card reading and discloses a few life secrets to Roland. At the end of the story, Roland awakens beside The Man in Black's charred remains in the burned-out fire pit.

Roland is trapped on a lengthy stretch of sand in The Drawing of the Three, which begins just a few hours later in the novel.

Roland's trigger-fingers have been eaten off by some enormous lobster things that wash up on the coast before the end of the first chapter.

Roland is in agony, ill from an infection and on the verge of death when he meets the first of three individuals from other "time and space" who he must bring into his own world through three weird portals he comes across as he walks along the beach, thus the title of the novel, The Drawing of the Three.

Roland enlists the support of these three people in his search for The Dark Tower, which is located at the very heart of the circle of life.


Final Thoughts:

The Dark Tower series is a sprawling epic with superb characters, worldbuilding, and inventiveness, as well as fascinating insights about the multiverse in which it is situated. It successfully integrates several genres, including fantasy, western, science fiction, and horror aspects.

It's worth noting that, while the first novel in the series is excellent, it was written when the author was still very young. He had been writing for years and had refined his skill by the time the second novel was released.

When starting this series, you must read the first novel, but don't be put off if "The Gunslinger" doesn't have the famed Stephen King "rhythm" that many readers have grown to appreciate.

Don't be afraid to give it a go; the first book is a quick read, and by the time you get to the second book, you'll be pleased you stayed with it.

The Drawing of the Three, as well as the other novels in this fantastic eight-book series, is a brilliant work of fantasy literature that every fantasy reader will appreciate.

I've read and enjoyed numerous fantasy books and series over the years, including Tolkien's The Hobbit and LOTR trilogy, Frank Herbert's Dune series, and many more, but The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is, in my view, one of the finest fiction adventure series I've ever read.

Look elsewhere if you're seeking for Stephen King's conventional horror stories. But look no further if you wish to go on one of the most fascinating, original, and imaginative excursions you'll ever have! Join Roland, his companions, and millions of devoted readers on an adventure you'll never forget. The Dark Tower Series is a masterclass in story-telling.


Synopsis:

“In this second volume, Roland encounters three mysterious doorways on a deserted beach along the Western Sea. Each one enters into a different person's life in New York - here, he joins forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean and with the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes in a savage struggle against underworld evil and otherworldly enemies. They also become the companions, forming a ka-tet, who will assist him on his quest to save the Dark Tower.”


Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:
Across The Desert, Black Fled, Clint Eastwood, Detta Walker, Eddie Dean, Fled Across, Jack Mort, Idris Elba, Lady of Shadows, Looking Forward, Lord Of The Rings, Man In Black, Matthew McConaughey, New York, Nikolaj Arcel, Odetta and Detta, Odetta Holmes, Rest Of The Series, Science Fiction, Second Book, Tom Taylor, Tower Series, Years Ago


Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.

Buy the Kindle Version Here

Free With Free Audible Trial

The Dark Tower 8 Book Boxed Set (Paperback)

The Dark Tower (2017) (PG-13)

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