ROLAND THE GUNSLINGER and his band have narrowly escaped the city of Lud and boarded Blaine, a train that will take them to, of all places, Kansas. There the ghost city of Topeka has been depopulated by a superflu. Alongside Interstate 70, an emerald palace rises enchantingly. Before Roland and the companions of his ka-tet continue along the Path of the Beam, Roland must tell them the tale that defines him both as a man and hero: a long-ago romance of witchery and evil, of the beautiful, unforgettable Susan Delgado, of the Big Coffin Hunters and Rhea of the Cöos. And when his tale is finished, Roland confronts a man who goes by many names, a man who “darkles and tincts,” and who may hold the key to the Dark Tower.
--back cover
I appreciated this foray into Roland’s backstory even though it was slower and less adventurous than previous books in the series. Not my favorite by far but certainly an important piece of the Dark Tower puzzle.
I appreciated this foray into Roland’s backstory even though it was slower and less adventurous than previous books in the series. Not my favorite by far but certainly an important piece of the Dark Tower puzzle.
Review of 'The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
This book seems to elicit mixed responses from Dark Tower fans. Some of my friends love it, others hate it. And I can understand both sides...
The wraparound story, that of Blaine and the return to the path, almost seems forced and orthogonal to the meat of the book.
The inner story, that of Mejis and Susan Delgado, is ultimately good, but at first I was very put off by it. It felt like it took a long time to get going. I even took a many month break (at roughly 20% complete, iirc) where I had mentally checked out of the book. I picked it up again on a lark over Christmas and plowed thru towards the end. As I did I found myself more and more engaged with the story.
I get why this story exists, and I think it's well done. But I also understand why it …
This book seems to elicit mixed responses from Dark Tower fans. Some of my friends love it, others hate it. And I can understand both sides...
The wraparound story, that of Blaine and the return to the path, almost seems forced and orthogonal to the meat of the book.
The inner story, that of Mejis and Susan Delgado, is ultimately good, but at first I was very put off by it. It felt like it took a long time to get going. I even took a many month break (at roughly 20% complete, iirc) where I had mentally checked out of the book. I picked it up again on a lark over Christmas and plowed thru towards the end. As I did I found myself more and more engaged with the story.
I get why this story exists, and I think it's well done. But I also understand why it frustrates some King/Dark Tower loyalists. I look forward to moving on to the next book, though I might take some time before I dive right in.
This book has always been my favourite of the series. I really enjoyed reading about Rolands past since it provides a better understanding of his character. Additionally, we meet his best friends, his first great love and the empire before its collaps. As it is typical for King the plot is very exciting and rich of cruel antagonists. If I ever revisit the series, I will read this book for sure.
This had to be read. It had to be known. There are three pillars in Rolands growth that occur before our time and this is the telling of one of those sections. To know him today we must know him before and although we know what we know, and know it must end in tragedy--like a trainwreck we watch and turn the page...waiting...waiting...for the moments we know must unfold.
This was a good book. Regardless of it taking a break from the trials and trivials of the journey I liked to get to know Alain, Cutherbertson and his gilly whose name for a moment escapes me..
Then to have these repeating symboloisms like Rhea of the Coos and the Wicked Witch, the Crimson King, Big Coffin Hunters--it all makes for some interesting moments to be shared.
Once done with our revivial of the past and or ka-tet stronger than ever …
This had to be read. It had to be known. There are three pillars in Rolands growth that occur before our time and this is the telling of one of those sections. To know him today we must know him before and although we know what we know, and know it must end in tragedy--like a trainwreck we watch and turn the page...waiting...waiting...for the moments we know must unfold.
This was a good book. Regardless of it taking a break from the trials and trivials of the journey I liked to get to know Alain, Cutherbertson and his gilly whose name for a moment escapes me..
Then to have these repeating symboloisms like Rhea of the Coos and the Wicked Witch, the Crimson King, Big Coffin Hunters--it all makes for some interesting moments to be shared.
Once done with our revivial of the past and or ka-tet stronger than ever the sojourn, but a moment in time, to the Emerald City--or was it more just a mirage? I don't know. The thinny was strong here but it's time to find the Beam again and onwards we go.
My appreciation for this book has grown since I first read it. After [b:The Gunslinger|43615|The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375776480s/43615.jpg|46575], I think this is my favorite book in the series.
Most of the story is told in flashback to the days immediately after Roland first became a gunslinger, when he and two companions – Cuthbert and Alain, of whom we've heard mention of in the books before now, but without any detail – are sent to a small town far from the city of Gilead where Roland's father and the other gunslingers are trying desperately to keep their land from falling to the Good Man, John Farson, and his increasingly powerful army. As such, it is basically a western-romance-mystery with a fairly tightly woven plot (despite its length) and plenty of insight into the development of Roland's character, complete with the impetus for his pursuit of the serially …
My appreciation for this book has grown since I first read it. After [b:The Gunslinger|43615|The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1375776480s/43615.jpg|46575], I think this is my favorite book in the series.
Most of the story is told in flashback to the days immediately after Roland first became a gunslinger, when he and two companions – Cuthbert and Alain, of whom we've heard mention of in the books before now, but without any detail – are sent to a small town far from the city of Gilead where Roland's father and the other gunslingers are trying desperately to keep their land from falling to the Good Man, John Farson, and his increasingly powerful army. As such, it is basically a western-romance-mystery with a fairly tightly woven plot (despite its length) and plenty of insight into the development of Roland's character, complete with the impetus for his pursuit of the serially eponymous Dark Tower and the tortured memories of those he has left in the wake of his pursuit.
I'm also happy because the first part of the book fairly quickly resolves one of the most annoying elements of the entire series for me (at least, to this point), Blaine "the Pain" Monorail. I mean, it's a serviceable device for getting Roland and his ka-tet much further along the Path of the Beam than they otherwise would, but man, I just hate that stupid contraption. And Little Blaine was the most annoying aspect of it all.
At any rate, I remembered liking this story from my first read through years ago, but this time around I was a little surprised at how much I liked it. If you can make it through [b:The Waste Lands|34084|The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3)|Stephen King|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1389762449s/34084.jpg|1810634], which is my least favorite of the Dark Tower books (up to this point), don't stop. I promise Wizard and Glass is definitely worth the effort.
Compared to the previous books, the pacing here seemed slower for me or I got a bit less hooked, but still it's an amazing story and it really ramps up near the end
I'm not much of a pop fiction fan, but I am drawn to King's opus for some reason. I really enjoyed the turn this book took to explain the driving force behind Roland's unyielding obsession with the Dark Tower. I can understand how some readers would not respond well to this turn because it really slows down the momentum of the current quest.
1) ''Lowering his voice to its former conversational#not to say playful#pitch, Cuthbert said: ''If you shoot me, the ball flies and your friend dies, too.'' ''I don't believe that,'' Reynolds said, but he didn't like what he heard in his own voice. It sounded like doubt. ''No man could make a shot like that.'' ''Why don't we let your friend decide?'' Cuthbert raised his voice in a good-humoured hail. ''Hi-ho, there, Mr. Spectacles! Would you like your pal to shoot me?'' ''No!'' Depape's cry was shrill, verging on panic. ''No, Clay! Don't shoot!'' ''So it's a standoff,'' Reynolds said, bemused. And then bemusement changed to horror as he felt the blade of a very large knife slip against his throat. It pressed the tender skin just over his adam's apple. ''No, it's not,'' Alain said softly. ''Put the gun down, my friend, or I'll cut your throat.'' 2) ''Bird and …
1) ''Lowering his voice to its former conversational#not to say playful#pitch, Cuthbert said: ''If you shoot me, the ball flies and your friend dies, too.'' ''I don't believe that,'' Reynolds said, but he didn't like what he heard in his own voice. It sounded like doubt. ''No man could make a shot like that.'' ''Why don't we let your friend decide?'' Cuthbert raised his voice in a good-humoured hail. ''Hi-ho, there, Mr. Spectacles! Would you like your pal to shoot me?'' ''No!'' Depape's cry was shrill, verging on panic. ''No, Clay! Don't shoot!'' ''So it's a standoff,'' Reynolds said, bemused. And then bemusement changed to horror as he felt the blade of a very large knife slip against his throat. It pressed the tender skin just over his adam's apple. ''No, it's not,'' Alain said softly. ''Put the gun down, my friend, or I'll cut your throat.'' 2) ''Bird and bear and hare and fish, give my love her fondest wish.''
