Song of Susannah
Published: 8, June 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 6 of 7: The Dark Tower
Check the summary of this book here:
Song of Susannah Summary
The Review:
Stephen King's novel Song of Susannah is a fantasy novel. It's the sixth installment in his Dark Tower series. This novel follows up where Wolves of the Calla left off, with the ka-tet enlisting the aid of the Manni to unlock the magical portal inside Doorway Cave. It is set mostly in our world, in New York City and East Stoneham, Maine. The ka-tet is divided apart by the magical door, or possibly ka, and sent to various 'wheres' and 'whens' in order to complete numerous important tasks related to their search for the enigmatic Dark Tower.
In comparison to some of the previous books in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, this sixth installment is a bit short.
This is both a good and bad thing: although I love it and am eager to see how it all ends, this series is getting a little long, and while I hope it continues in even longer and larger novels, it could still be too much for a casual reader.
However, just because it's brief doesn't imply it's devoid of quality. Plot twists abound, and everything is beginning to fall into place at the same moment.
The author's genius must be acknowledged. At one point, and I hope I'm not giving too much away, the characters meet Stephen King and sit in his kitchen, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes.
In general, I'd think a situation like this would be ludicrous, yet he makes it work in this story. Yes, there will be a few chuckles, but for the most part, this is serious business.
I can't think of another writer who could have pulled it off. I know certain writers, such as Clive Cussler, can do it, but few can do it as well as these two, and it was done flawlessly by the maestro himself in this book.
The frosting on the cake, on the other hand, came after "The End." After the book, there's a long part with passages from the author's personal notebook from the time he was working on The Dark Tower series.
It's completely enthralling! What a rare opportunity to gain such a close look at Mr. King's mind and reasoning process. For me, he is a very remarkable individual.
The next chapter of The Gunslinger's journey for the Dark Tower has been beautifully described by the author.
There are hidden and not so hidden connections and linkages between our world and Stephen King's realm within the plot, as is expected and true to tradition.
The series is a must-read Science Fiction Western Fantasy Horror, and Song of Susannah's closing page will have you eagerly anticipating the very next book and final installment for the Gunslingers and Oy!
I've been a Stephen King fan for a long time, and this series is unlike anything else he's written, so it won't disappoint me! If you can get beyond the first book, this is a must-read for all Stephen King fans, and even non-fans will love it.
I was expecting to despise this part of the series from the start. Because of the narrative line I concocted in my head owing to the last book and one of the major characters' pregnancy, but I found it to be unexpectedly good.
This may have happened because I had such low expectations to begin with. Susannah had disillusioned me, as I mentioned a few lines ago.
I was so sick of hearing about the "chap" that I clenched my teeth whenever Mia or anybody else said it. Because it carries her name, I was dreading reading it.
By the end, I'd developed a strong feeling for her. She'd grown into a nuanced, real, delicate, and believable character. This book actually changed my thinking about her and I felt weak with her while she was weak.
I hoped she would win when she was at her best. After all, I didn't want her to leave. In fact, I was hoping she'd knock Mia out.
Even now that she is coming to terms with her developed and integrated elements of her past selves, and being forged in the furnace of harsh experience traveling through Roland's World, there is nothing that is "normal" about Susannah, but the chap is not normal.
The extent to which he deviates from the norm is a topic for discussion in the last installment of the series.
The Dark Tower Series is one of my top ten favorite book series of all time. The books are set in the future, although they may also be placed during the Oregon Trail migration.
The characters are so thoroughly realized that the reader feels as though he or she could run into them while doing daily tasks. I wholeheartedly suggest this series.
The idea of this series really goes across many of the author's other works, and you may be anywhere throughout Stephen King's literary universe.
Final Thoughts:
I truly hoped that the movie adaptation of this series would be as good as the books, but sadly, they destroyed it. I'm not sure why they do it or how the author accepts to the adjustments the film industry will make to the fantastic book.
I believe that occasionally authors give in because they are unsure of their own work, but if any of my works were to be adopted, I would never agree to change even one word because I would know that my work is my baby, and I must present it to the world as it is.
When a book's movie adaptation is ruined, it's essentially a smack in the face to the devoted fans who went to see their favorite characters and unforgettable scenes come to life, not to see a new tale or a new character who didn't appear in the book.
As always, Stephen King's writing is fantastic. This is the third time I've finished this series, and I'm not sure how I feel about the finale, but that's not the point.
It's about saying goodbye to all of these characters, as I and many other readers always feel when a wonderful series comes to an end.
I experienced the same experience with Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson, and a slew of other books that were and still are a part of my life, and in certain cases, the characters begin to seem like family and friends, even if we never speak to them.
Like older or younger cousins who are cool or awkward and live in other states and you can't meet them because they're too far away and it's too difficult to be together, but you can hear about them, see photographs, and even be friends on social media, but you never talk because you're not close enough to be on speaking terms.
Both Wolves of the Calla and this book show us the evolving facts of Susannah, Jake, Eddie, Roland, and even Oy, who, as loyal readers know, is considerably wiser than most would credit him with.
Our band of heroes is finally coming into its own, as the deeper significance of Ka, Ka-Tet, and the search for the tower, as well as the underlying fundamental character of a Gunslinger, is coming to fruition.
Synopsis:
“The penultimate volume in the Dark Tower series, The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah, a #1 New York Times bestseller, is a pivotal installment in the epic saga.
Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances, filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters, the Dark Tower series is unlike anything you have ever read. Here is the penultimate installment.”
Useful Search Related Words & Keywords:
Dark Tower, Father Callahan, New York, Roland And Eddie, Salems Lot, Susannah And Mia, Tower Series, Waste Lands, Wizard And Glass, Wolves of the Calla
Rating: 95/100
Recommended: 100/100 Yes.
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