The Dark Tower: The Dark Tower VII

Once again I seem to be in the minority, as I, as of this moment, consider The Dark Tower to be the best of the series, and probably the only one I'd give 5 stars.(all the rest would likely get 4) Hell, I tend to think the oft-maligned final three books in the series are superior to the first 4, so ya know that I'm not on the same page as most readers.(Though this is doubtless related to the fact that I first started reading this series just under 3 weeks ago rather than 20 years and haven't been forced to wait and wait) Furthermore, I even like the ending, more or less. I'm not gonna say that it's utterly satisfying, but it makes a good, if not terribly profound point. It's quite a sad ending really, but appropriate and with an obvious glimmer of hope. And, frankly, I find it hard to imagine that there could've been a completely satisfying ending, anyway. I find the people complaining about the ending amusing: most of them have obviously missed the point entirely. To suggest that the ending is 'not an ending' is ludicrous, and those who say that King's aside urging us to not to read the final few pages is him admitting that the ending is bad are, flatly, idiots.(POTENTIAL MAJOR SPOILER: I can't imagine anything someone could say that would be more of an admission that they don't get the point than that) Not that this makes much of a difference; those who hate the ending w/o understanding it would almost certainly hate it as much, if not more, if they did. Sadly, my conscience refuses to allow me to go into specifics, as it is impossible to do so w/o explicitly giving away what happens at the very end. If anyone out there really cares what I think(unlikely) or is angry or thinks I'm covering my lack of understanding by being vague(more likely) feel free to email me.The ending aside, I just found this to be the most enjoyable novel of the series. Many people hate King's bringing himself into the series, and the referential nature of the latter novels, but I think's it's fun and, cleverly done too. It's hard for me to get too specific really, it's just fast-paced and highly readable, and the characters are as interesting and likable as ever. And though he doesn't do all that much, I find Mordred to be quite an interesting and disturbing character. (Certainly fairly pitiable as well) Many people have complained about the use seeming deus ex machina to help the ka-tet through there struggles, but I don't mind. The fact is, by this point it has been well established that ka(fate, more or less) controls the universe(s), and thus it would be almost inappropriate for fortune not to shine on them. Certainly, you are allowed not to like this notion, but it is a part of the series, so ought to expect it by now. And frankly, this just isn't as big as a part of this novel as people would have you believe. There's perhaps only one significant deus ex machina in the novel, but it's used to reinforce the theme of arts relationship to life and vice versa.( MAJOR SPOILER ALERT: Furthermore it's quite apparent that Patrick's arrival intended almost exclusively for thematic purposes: It's quite clear that the Crimson King, while powerful, is still essentially human, and King coulda just had Roland blow his head off. Of course, than people would complain that it was too easy-- ya can't please everyone. Nevertheless, this is a deus ex machine of theme, not plot) Beyond all this, I think this is the evocative and chilling of the series. I particularly like the arrival at the Crimson King's abandoned castle, Flagg/Walter's confrontation with Mordred and their nightmare flight from the enormous, tentacled and many-eyed beast. It's just a pleasure to read, as simple as that.On a final, not very important note, the illustrations in this novel tend to be a bit of a mixed bag, as is true of the series in general. However, I think the picture of the Crimson King atop his throne of skulls is absolutely great. Even if you aren't interested in the book you should open it up and take a look at it.(it's on page 622, I believe.)But really, reviewing this book is essentially pointless, from a practical standpoint. If you've read the first 6 you're almost certainly going to want to read this one, and if you don't you must be sufficiently disillusioned with the series that little anyway could say would change your mind. But I like it a lot.

I have just completed Stephen King's series The Dark Tower. This is not a review for volume seven, THE DARK TOWER, alone. It is for all seven volumes of The Dark Tower series, which should be read as one story.The Dark Tower, SK's magnum opus, is based on two fictional concepts: 1) Robert Browning's long poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came" (provided in full in the Appendix of the seventh volume, THE DARK TOWER) and 2) Sergio Leone's series of movies starring Clint Eastwood as a gunslinging drifter.Is The Dark Tower worth reading? If you appreciate epic fantasy, yes. If you can tolerate occasional gaffs in writing style and convention, yes. If you despise horror, the supernatural, adventure, and action, and if you think such literature must be trashy pulp, no.THE GUNSLINGER introduces you to Browning and Leone's dual concept and to Jake. THE DRAWING OF THE THREE sets the mode: that of contemporary fantasy with portals to parallel worlds. And it introduces Roland's partners. THE WASTE LANDS is a good adventure in a parallel world. WIZARD AND GLASS for the most part digresses into Roland's past, but it is a superb story of romantic adventure. WOLVES OF CALLA stops along the way to the Dark Tower as Roland and his partners rescue villagers and display their gunslinging. SONG OF SUSANNAH is a story of unusual pregnancy, blending action and horror in a setting of modern America. THE DARK TOWER brings the long quest to a conclusion, with tragedy but also with ample good cheer. (Do read THE DARK TOWER'S Coda.)Though SK is one of contemporary humanity's more prolific, famous, and wealthy writers, do not confuse ability to sell with ability to write. I quail from the idea of every aspiring author trying to emulate him. For example he has a certain habit with concrete imagery. Stylists encourage concrete imagery, but SK gets carried away, at times making his prose feel phony and cheap. Mostly apparent in his descriptions of sex and violence, this habit pops up in other regards, as when he describes disease and excretion. In Writing Tools, Roy Peter Clark says, "Know when to back off and when to show off." With universally familiar phenomena like sex and excretion, we do not need detailed concrete images. Those are times to back off.Also, SK likes to show off his skill with offbeat jargon in dialog and character viewpoints. But this makes too many of his characters appear alike, and unconvincing.And SK can be a bit verbose. Especially in the later volumes of this series, he seems to follow Strunk & White's admonition "Delete unnecessary words" less than he follows the apocrypha "The thicker the book, the more impressive it is."Though I consider SK an occasional, worthy digression, I prefer standard prose, polished by authors (and editors) who pay close attention to Strunk & White's The Elements of Style. I award The Dark Tower five stars because I do not consider flawless prose a requirement and because The Dark Tower is a good story.Be it ever so, and I thankya.

This is an incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt book. Reading at times feels like overhearing a session with a psychologist. King uses the story to explore humanity, his own failings, mortality (including his own), and redemption...not just from one's actions, but the redemption of the soul. Can someone truly learn to live, love and care again when they had hardened themselves against these things? Can you forgive, and accept the harm someone caused you? Can you live for something greater without making it about yourself...and not losing yourself in the chase or corrupting the purpose and making it about yourself?King explores these heady concepts in a fantastical multiverse full of symbolism, magic, and the mundane. The plot is brisk, with compelling characters, and witty observations. Nobody is spared King's withering glare, not his characters, not real people...and least of which himself.I found myself fascinated and lost in the novel like I haven't in years. The book often left me asking questions hours after I had put it down, and left me eager for more...I don't think I've lost this much sleep trying to get through a novel in years.I was aware that the ending was controversial, and maybe that's why I actually liked it. My expectations were low, and I came out thinking that it was fitting. In a way it fit perfectly, like the final piece of a puzzle completing the picture.If you're a fan of the series, don't miss this one.

El libro llegó a tiempo y en perfectas condiciones.La trama es buena desde el inicio al final.

Du Stephen King, quoi dire d'autre ?

Buen libro

Libro in lingua inglese preso come regalo per mia figlia per imparare meglio l'inglese e il regalo è stato gradito molto. Il libro è la versione integrale ed è molto bello, l'unica pecca è che le pagine sono leggermente sottili, ma va bene comunque. Le scritte sono grandi e quindi non si affatica la vista e il rapporto qualità/prezzo è davvero ottimo.