I just finished “From a Buick 8”, but I had trouble making the connection to the DT series… Other than the driver of the Buick; he reminded me of someone, just not sure whom. Anyone else remember a character being discribed as “sounding like he talked with a mouth full of Jelly”?
Didn’t mind the ending, I was a little disappointed with Roland’s back story.
I’m not a fan of his characters dialog. It wasn’t bad in The Dark Tower series, but some of his other works are almost ruined by his attempts to be funny. But maybe it’s just dated humor and slang.
We all know Roland is based off of Eastwood. But he’s too old, and this series could never be a movie. But if some they ever made a mini series for cable, Scott Glenn could pull him off.
I haven’t read a King novel for years, but “The Talisman” was a big part of my childhood. I read that book at least five times between the ages of 11 and 14 and I suppose Jack Sawyer’s life become an alternative to my own. Sounds kind of weird I know, and I get a strange feeling every time I move and have to box the book up again. It is definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I might have to check out the Dark Tower series.
I really enjoyed reading the series. I stumbled upon the third book by accident one day and had to start over from the beginning.
I hated the first book when I first read through it. However, I gave the series a second chance and was hooked. I really enjoyed reading the related books and seeing the connections to the Dark Tower series. I loved how King referenced these connections as stories from “different levels of the tower”.
Loved the books. Read them all and wish there were more. Sad to see them end…
[quote]FFB4Life wrote:
Leafblighter wrote:
I got about 100-150 pages through the first book and dropped it out of boredom. I just really could not get into it. One of these days I’ll pick it up again, because I’ve heard a lot of good things.
sacrilege!!!
lol…j/k…but that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that.
But I realize it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea.
[/quote]
Sorry to say I agree.
I loooooooove Stephen King, but something about Dark Tower made me throw the book against the wall 50 or 60 pages in.
I think it’s the whole “fantasy quest” thing. Can’t stand any of the Lord of the Rings books either.
Give me the unedited version of The Stand any day!
First, I am a huge Dark Tower fan. I’ve read the entire series, and I am nearly finished listining to book seven of the audio version. In my opinion the audio version is the best. The guy who reads the the 1st 4 books is amazing. He does different voices for each character. But, not to go 19 or anything but, I just found out that Marvel and King are teaming up to put out a series of graphic novels that are going to be a prequeal to the dark tower series. The timeline is based on the events that happened after Roland’s return from Magis, including the battle of Jericho Hill, and the fall of Gilead.
And will lead up to the events in The Gunslinger. King is doing all the writing and Jae Lee is doing the artwork. It is tentively scheduled for release to begin in Oct. 2007
Long days and pleasants nights
Here’s the link to The official marvel site Marvel News, Blog, Articles & Press Releases | Marvel
and one on ign Comics Reviews, News, Heroes, Villains, Superheroes & Toys - IGN
“Stand and be true, For your Father’s sake.”
[quote]harris447 wrote:
Give me the unedited version of The Stand any day![/quote]
I find The Stand to be his best book. It’s a great story with so many well established characters.
The heroes are flawed and the not all the villains are evil. Some characters grow better, some worse. If I had to explain the various aspects of human nature to a Star Trek like alien race, this would be my textbook.
Interestingly or not, it was this exact thread that rekindled my interest in the gunslinger’s journey, say thankya.
So a few months back, I reread the first four and just finished the last three. Looking back now, I think King escaped with a reasonable ending for the ambitious epic he began when he was 19.
[quote]FFB4Life wrote:
IMHO the first four books were the best, the fifth and sixth was just ok and the last book was pretty well done.
[/quote]
I really enjoyed Books II, IV, V, VII and the 2nd half of III.
[quote]doogie wrote:
I liked the ending, even if it was depressing to know Roland will never be able to enjoy anything.[/quote]
I didn’t read it that way at all. I think King strongly implies this latest road to the Tower might be Roland’s final one; the specific distinction being the Horn of Eld in his possession this time. Perhaps that final sigul is required for Roland’s redemption at the Tower.
[quote]joshuabottoms wrote:
First, I am a huge Dark Tower fan. I’ve read the entire series, and I am nearly finished listining to book seven of the audio version. In my opinion the audio version is the best. The guy who reads the the 1st 4 books is amazing. He does different voices for each character. But, not to go 19 or anything but, I just found out that Marvel and King are teaming up to put out a series of graphic novels that are going to be a prequeal to the dark tower series. The timeline is based on the events that happened after Roland’s return from Magis, including the battle of Jericho Hill, and the fall of Gilead.
And will lead up to the events in The Gunslinger. King is doing all the writing and Jae Lee is doing the artwork. It is tentively scheduled for release to begin in Oct. 2007
Long days and pleasants nights[/quote]
Since I’m currently experiencing a mild case of Mid-World withdrawal, ye ken, this is good news indeed.
This has been a little motivational. For the Dark Tower Series, I finished 1st-3rd books and dropped off after waiting around for the 4th book for a while…(over 8 or so years ago)…looks like I will get back on track/check these out again…good thread.
Read 'em all, loved 'em. The ending and everything leading up to it shocked me. Great series.
The deus ex machina pissed me off in The Dark Tower, but I gritted my teeth and read past it. As it turns out, the ending was brilliant, and the series remains to be the best I’ve ever read.
Beware Dandelo!
I love the guys who diss the Tower and praise the Stand…
…the Stand is part of the Dark Tower. Of all of King’s work it’s the the piece that is most integral to the Tower…more so even than Salem’s Lot.
Yes there are parts of the Tower that are hard work…that he’d probably cut on a reread ten years hence - hell he’s already rewritten parts of the Gunslinger! But it is nonetheless an outstanding read - I look forward to the graphic novels…
These books are amazing. If you’re struggling to read them, just bear with it - your life will be better for having read them.
Any casual fan of King’s can find connections to other stories they’ve read - that’s the beauty of the Dark Tower, it seems like all of Kings other fantastic novels were just side stories to this one tale that he was always trying to tell.
My only gripes with the book are that with how long he waited between 4 and 5, couldn’t he have made 5 seem like more than just a side adeventure to the ka-tet’s greater quest?
And why the F did he have to shit on Randall Flagg the way he did? I felt that the Man in Black was way more Roland’s opposite than the Crimson King. Fuck Mordred.