After the events of the Drawing of the Three, Roland the Gunslinger has two people from our world along side him in his quest for the Dark Tower. However, he's also going mad because of a strange double set of memories in his head, memories of a boy he crossed the desert with...

The Waste Lands is probably my favorite Dark Tower book and epitomizes what I like about the series. It's got the lost technology, lots of action, more bits about Roland's world, and makes Roland's ka-tet complete. The story of Jake in New York was well done. I even liked Oy the Billy-Bumbler. All the stuff that goes down in Lud had me dying to read the next book in the series. The ending would have made me furious had I been reading the Dark Tower books as they were published.

Notes from the 2011 re-read:
The Waste Lands drives home the notion that Roland's world is coming apart at the seams. It also gives us hints about what Roland was like before the world moved on, hints that will be further explored in Wizard and Glass.

Even though I knew the whole deal with the key, this being my fifth or sixth read, it was still a tense moment when the key didn't turn and the creature was loose in the haunted mansion in New York. I felt a single man tear threaten to roll down my cheek when Roland and Jake were reunited.

I also liked the Robert Howard reference, this being the first re-read since I read all the Howard Conan stuff.

As I said after my re-read of The Gunslinger, it's a testament to Stephen King's skill that I was still a little worried about Jake in Lud, even though I've read the book a few times before.

Blaine is a pain and that's the truth.

Notes from the 2014 re-read:
I always forget about Roland having to deal with the time paradox he created. Roland and Jake both going mad because of it was really well done and pretty believable.

Are the robots at the portal symbolic of the ultimately circular nature of Roland's quest? Did King know how the story would end way back when he wrote The Wastelands?

Every damn time, King still hooks me with the Jake situations in the mansion and in Lud. That's why he's a bajillionaire, I guess.

If I couldn't have dogs, I'd take a billy-bumbler.

“The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands” by Stephen King is the third novel in this incredible book series that was another phenomenal read. So far, in my long journey to The Dark Tower, I’ve enjoyed all the characters, events, situations, and incredible dark horror action in each entry.

Before my review, I’d love to share how I’ve tackled this book series. It took some time to research everything, but below is the reading list I finalized for this reading adventure. This came from the advice of fellow Constant Readers, librarians, and many who confirmed this was the best route for the ultimate Dark Tower experience…

The Stand
The Eyes of the Dragon
Insomnia
Hearts in Atlantis
‘Salem’s Lot
The Talisman
Black House
Everything's Eventual (The Little Sisters of Eluria)
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
Charlie the Choo-Choo
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

Here are the trigger warnings I found while reading “The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands”...

- Homophobic slurs
- Racial Slurs

If any of these trigger you, please don’t read this book. Moving along, I loved continuing the gunslinger’s story and how he now has a great ka-tet. Just like King has written numerous times before, the power of friendship, groups, and their unique dynamics shine through in this novel. This ka-tet was awesome, from their terrific dialogue to numerous fights against dark fantasy-inspired creatures.

Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything for you, but I loved seeing the latest involving Jake, especially after the events of the first novel in this book series. It was also great to get more info about these infamous beams that connect The Dark Tower to other parts of King’s multiverse. It’s just one hell of a story that I couldn’t put down. As primarily a night reader, I was up late many nights devouring this novel because it was so damn good.

That ending was absolutely bonkers! I loved it, and I couldn’t believe what I was reading. The suspense and tension were killing me. Needless to say, I can’t wait to continue this story due to how it ended.

I give “The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands” by Stephen King a perfect 5/5 for being another fantastic novel in this magnificent book series. It was a genuine pageturner from start to finish, with some insane fights, surreal characters, and an ending that left me wanting more. I’m so glad I decided to finally read The Dark Tower series since it’s everything Constant Readers told me it would be and more.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m done visiting the Waste Lands and have my train ticket ready to board a choo-choo train named Charlie.

The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3), Stephen King

The Waste Lands (subtitled "Redemption") is a fantasy novel by American writer Stephen King, the third book of The Dark Tower series.

The story begins five weeks after the end of The Drawing of the Three. Roland, Susannah, and Eddie have moved east from the shore of the Western Sea, and into the woods of Out-World.

After an encounter with a gigantic cyborg bear named Shardik, they discover one of the six mystical Beams that hold the world together.

The three gunslingers follow the Path of the Beam inland to Mid-World. Roland now reveals to his ka-tet (group of people bound together by fate/destiny) that his mind has become divided and is slowly losing his sanity.

Roland remembers meeting Jake Chambers in the way station and letting him fall to his death in the mountains (as depicted in The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger). However, he also remembers passing through the desert alone and never meeting Jake.

It is soon discovered that when Roland saved Jake from being killed by Jack Mort in 1977 (in The Drawing of the Three), he inadvertently created a paradox; Jake did not die and thus did not appear in Mid-World and travel with Roland. ...

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز بیست و هفتم ماه دسامبر سال2014میلادی

کتاب سوم از هفتگانه برج تاریک

عنوان: سرزمین متروک؛ اثر استیون کینگ؛ برگردان: ندا شادنظر؛ نشر تهران، افراز، سال1392، در462ص، شابک9789642433537؛ کتاب سوم از هفتگانه برج تاریک؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده 20م

در جلد نخست این سری، با عنوان «هفت‌تیرکش»، دیدیم که «رولند»، آخرین هفت‌تیرکش دنیایی که دگرگون شده است، در تعقیب مرد سیاه‌پوش است و سرانجام او را می‌یابد؛ مرد سیاه‌پوش، جادوگری به نام «والتر» است که به دروغ ادعا می‌کند، در روزهایی که نیم‌دنیا، هنوز متحد و یکپارچه بود، دوست پدر «رولند» بوده است

در داستان جلد دوم با عنوان «برج تاریک»، از ساحل دریای غربی آغاز می‌شود؛ مدت زیادی از آخرین دیدار «رولند» و «والتر» نمی‌گذرد؛ هفت ‌تیرکش، نیمه‌ شب، خسته و درمانده از خواب برمی‌خیزد، و متوجه می‌شود که گروهی از حیوانات خزنده و گوشتخوار، از دل امواج دریا بیرون آمده ‌اند، و به طرف او می‌آیند؛ آنها خرچنگ‌های غول‌پیکری بودند؛ پیش از آن‌که از حلقه ‌ی محاصره ‌شان بگریزد، توسط آن موجودات عجیب به شدت زخمی می‌شود و دو انگشت دست راستش را، از دست می‌دهد؛ زهر چنگال‌های خرچنگ‌ها، او را مسموم می‌کند؛ با اینحال «رولند»، با بدنی بیمار و مسموم، و در حال احتضار سفرش را در امتداد ساحل دریای غرب، ادامه می‌دهد

رولند شهر «نیویورک» را در سه دوره‌ ی گوناگون از روزگار ما می‌بیند، و هر بار می‌کوشد علاوه بر حفظ زندگی خویاش، سه همسفر خود را در مسیر یافتن «برج تاریک»، به دنیای خود بیاورد

سرزمین متروک، داستان سه مسافر در نیم‌دنیا، چند ماه پس از یافتن آخرین در، در ساحل دریای غرب را روایت می‌کند؛ آن‌ها مسیرشان را به سوی برج تاریک ادامه می‌دهند؛ دوره ‌ای از این مسیر تمام شده، و دوره‌ ی دیگری آغاز می‌شود؛ «سوزانا» تیراندازی یاد می‌گیرد و «ادی»، حکاکی...؛ و هفت ‌تیرکش درمی‌یابد خلأ ذهنش در برهه ‌ای از زمان، چه حسی دارد

کتاب «سرزمین متروک»، سومین رمان، از سری داستانی «برج تاریک»، نوشته ی «استیون (استیفن) کینگ» است؛ در این داستان، «رولاند»، آخرین هفت تیرکش، بیشتر از هر زمان دیگری، به «برج تاریک» رویاها، و کابوسهایش، نزدیک شده است؛ او از صحرایی نفرین شده، در دنیای مهیب و ترسناکی میگذرد، که به گونه ای، تصویری از همین دنیای ما انسانهاست؛

دو شخصیت با نامهای «ادی دین»، و «سوسانا (سوزانا)» نیز، «رولاند» را، در آن دنیا، همراهی میکنند؛ خطرهای تازه ای، «رولاند» و همراهانش را، در شهر ویرانه ی «لود»، و سرزمینهای متروک اطراف شهر، تهدید میکنند؛ «رولاند»، با پیشروی داستان، به تدریج درمییابد، که چه کسی، یا چه چیزی، در پشت پرده، کنترل رخدادها را، به دست دارد؛ او مجبور است، برای بقا، با خیل عظیمی از دشمنان: «انسانی»، و «شیطانی»، رودررو شود

تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 16/11/1399هجری خورشیدی؛ 02/10/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

This was a reread for me and I think it was even more amazing this time around. The imagery in this book is transfixing! Another thing I really like in this book is how well King brings together the different paths of the story. This is done a couple of times in this book and it's just really cool and fun to read. Upon my reread of this, it's made a strong and compelling case for itself as my favorite of the entire series. (look out Wizard and Glass) The characters are brought to life in such an evocative manner. I care deeply for each member of the ka tet as is the case for so many other King characters. This is such an amazing series. I look forward to rereading the next book in the series and also The Wind Through the Keyhole which won't be a reread....

2015 -
I simply love each of the members of this ka-tet including, and possibly especially, Oy. They are all so... real, flawed, and knowable. I have mentioned this in a later installment review, but I find Roland Deschain so romantic. Not Harlequin romantic, but real-world, gallantry. Is he a hardass? Sure. Is he single-minded in his obsession? Absolutely. But, if Roland Deschain cares for you, he cares for you all the way. When he makes and keeps the promise to Jake my heart swelled with love and pride. Yeah, yeah, he's just scribbles on a page, but... he’s not. Neither are Eddie or Susanah Dean. Oy or Jake either, for that matter.

Speaking of Susanah and Eddie. I love the way King just gives Susanah the surname of Dean. They are married. Simple. They love one another, belong to one another, and are married. No muss. No fuss. They wish it and it’s so. That to me is the epitome of the romance in this series. They are a given. I guess it’s possible Roland performed some sort of ceremony outside the pages, but I don’t think so. It means more to me that he didn’t.

This is a re-read for me. Or a re-listen, if you will. I have only read the series on the page before this time, but I’ve vowed to listen to the entire series on CD before 2016. The listening experience is so different! When I read to myself I often go back over a line or paragraph many times. When you’re listening that isn’t as easy to do. Yes, you can rewind, but I listen as I drive so never want to do that. Just that one little change makes a world of difference! I don’t lose the lines I love, but I can’t savor them in the way I am used to.

I think I will need to re-READ this series next year.

2009-
This took me a loooong time to read. I am beginning to care very much for the ka-tet, and I knew bad things were going to continue to happen. As I got nearer and nearer the end, I would read a small section, put it down, continually think about it...pick it up, small section, on and on.

I'm not sure if I just didn't want it to end, or I was too afraid of what might happen to them.

Of course, it's a cliffhanger ending! Darn King.

Look, if you haven't read the "Dark Tower" series, get off your ass. Anyone who knows me knows that I can just barely read at all, but I'm tearing through these books like John Candy through a Shoney's breakfast buffet. It's tough to say what's even so GOOD about them. In fact, for their length, you could say that hardly anything even happens in the first two, This guy walks through a desert for 500 pages, then a group of folks walk up a beach for 500 pages. But...I don't know Stephen King has done it, but when I put one of these books down and try to go about my business, all I can think about are his characters. I'm driving to the post office, and it's like Roland is in my head (this sensation gets especially weird after you've read the second book. If you have, you know what I mean.)
I also just like the idea of this saga just pouring out of a person. The author's introduction to the third book talks about how at the time he was writing it he had know idea how it would end, what would happen when and if Roland finally made it to the dark tower, or even what the tower is. These characters, and the rich world they live in seems to just be using King as a vehicle to get their story told. To me this is art in all it's cliche'd glory. The painter doesn't paint the painting, it paints itself and so on and so forth.
Plus there's such a thoughtful peppering of ephemeral clues and surreal imagery that it's difficult to say what's real, what's imagined, what's dreamed, and what's just good ol' fashioned madness in this world that has "moved on."
Go get these books, and then read them and then lets talk about how good they are. I'm more or less at the halfway point of the saga and the thought of how much more there is to go boggles my mind. I can't even begin to imagine this quest ever being completed, but I can't wait to find out.

Ich werde einfach nicht warm mit Kings selbsternannten Jupiter-Epos. Nach der zähem Lesen von Band 1 wurde es meiner Meinung nach in Band 2 deutlich interessanter und auch die erste Hälfte von tot gefiel mir ganz gut. Handlungsstränge liefen zusammen, und das große Ziel des Buchs kristallisierte sich langsam heraus. Doch der Weg, den die Schicksalsgemeinschaft mit 2. Teil zurücklegen musste, war wieder sehr mysteriös und in einer Albtraumwelt namens Lud angesiedelt. Ich mag einfach Stephen King lieber, wenn er seine Geschichten in das alltägliche Leben integriert. Roboter-Bären, Fantasiewesen und unzählige Figuren aus anderen Romanen vom kleinen Lord bis zu Butler Jeeves sind weniger nach meinem Geschmack. Bei Lust zum Weiterlesen der Serie ist eher wieder gesunken.

English (The Waste Lands) / Italiano

Happiness while watching the drawing of the metal plate found on the just killed bear, happiness that I feel for the unpredictable and the inexplicable. My personal journey into the world of "The Dark Tower" goes on, together with the gunslinger, Roland, escorted by Eddie and Susannah, the two tale gunners recruited in the previous chapter, The Drawing of the Three. However, there is still somebody to recruit for the company to be complete...

In the author's note at the end of the book, King predicts that some readers will probably be disappointed by the unanswered questions that this novel leaves. But actually, the philosophy of unanswered questions was the winning strategy of a lot of narrative or television series, such as the famous TV show "LOST" (which I loved), and I'm going to go out on a limb here expecting that it will be the winning strategy of "The Dark Tower" too.

Alright, cut the chatter. As Blaine the mono says:

"... let the contest begin."

Vote: 7,5

Felicità mentre osservo il disegno della targa metallica rinvenuta sull'orso appena ucciso, felicità di LOSTiana memoria che provo per l'ignoto e l'inspiegabile. Continua il mio viaggio personale nel mondo de "La Torre Nera", e continua il cammino di Roland, accompagnato da Eddie e Susannah, i due compagni di ventura reclutati nel precedente capitolo La chiamata dei tre. Tuttavia manca ancora qualcuno da reclutare affinchè la compagnia possa dirsi completa...

Nella nota dell'autore a fine libro, King prevede che probabilmente alcuni lettori saranno delusi dal fatto che Terre Desolate lascia tanti quesiti irrisolti. Beh, quella dei quesiti irrisolti è stata la filosofia vincente di tante serie narrative o televisive, come la serie cult "LOST", della quale sono stato un fan sfegatato, e mi sbilancio con ottimismo prevedendo che sarà la filosofia vincente anche de "La Torre Nera".

Okay, bando alle ciance. E come direbbe Blaine il Mono:

"...che abbia inizio la gara."

Voto: 7,5

Some day if there’s time, I’ll tell you all the old stories ... the ones I know, at least. They form a large tapestry, one which is beautiful but very sad.

Some fine day ... but not today and not in this third installment of the Dark Tower series. For now, Roland and his friends are too busy doing nothing much for about six hundred pages. They travel, they fight the ocassional monster or deranged mob leader, the sit by the campfire and have some obscure nightmares and prophetic visions. All wrapped up in a hefty dose of mysticism, predestination and ambiguity.

For every thing I do know, there are a hundred things I don’t. You – both of you – will have to reconcile yourselves to that fact. The world has moved on, we say. When it did, it went like a great receding wave, leaving only wreckage behind ... wreckage that sometimes looks like a map.

It looks to me more like the author is winging it, improvising the story as he swears that it will make sense in the end, once he finds out how to deliver on his promises of epicness.

My criticism should be taken with a ‘reader advisory’ as a very subjective reaction, since most of my friends here rate this third novel, and the series in general as one of the best things that ever happened to speculative fiction. Personally I am bored, and only my obsesive compulsion to finish whatever I start is keeping me going. I was reading about the gunslinger’s journey across the waste lands in parallel with the revenge melodrama of Edmont Dantes, and almost every evening I would pick Dumas over King. I also finished the Dumas a good two weeks before the King, despite the former having almost double the page count.

Your mileage might vary, and other readers will prefer allusions and delayed gratification over explicit plot and worldbuilding. For me, as I remarked right from the opening volume, The Dark Tower remains a triumph of style over substance: an exceedingly well written story that aims to create a mood rather than to present an epic adventure. The adventure and the worldbuilding are present, undoubtedly, but they are drip-fed to the reader in between long passages of walking and wondering what the heck is going on.  in this book the set pieces are : a fight with a giant bear, a dramatic crossing of a portal between worlds by Jake, the crossing of a high suspension bridge, an undergound duel in a dying city. All good and spectacular, but do they justify the length of the novel?

Stephen King forte so far in this series is his ability to capture anxiety and fear in his characters. The interplay between the members of the ‘ka-tet’ is also helping to turn the pages, but I believe the author is at his best when he tries to scare the reader:

From solid ground, the bridge seemed to be swaying only a little, but once he was actually on it, he felt as if he were standing on the pendulum of the world’s biggest grandfather clock. The movement was very slow, but it was regular, and the length of the swings was much longer than he had anticipated.

Hit and miss are the pop culture references that are more prominent here than in the previous two episodes, and a half-hearted attempt to unite the two best settings of King : “The Dark Tower” and “The Stand”. Let me try to illustrate my points:

-tI am a big fan of Richard Adams, and “Shardik” was one of the first novels I read as an adult that brought me back to fantasy. One version of Shardik is roaming the waste lands, and if I were in the mood for speculation, I could probably draw some parallels with the death of myths in both fictional universes. I am also a big fan of Z Z Top, and I was thrilled to find one of their songs featured here. Both references though failed to be an integral part of King’s story and feel more like a nod and a wink to the fans right now instead of a true key to unlock the mysteries of the gunslinger world. Other similar nods and winks are directed at Asimov (positronics), Shirley Jackson (The Loterry), a children’s book about trains that I am not familiar with, Greek mythology (The Sphinx) and Harlan Ellison (The TickTockMan). They may all be part of the project to anchor the imaginary world to the real, historical Earth that Roland & Co. can visit through the warp-gates but, like the backstory of the gunslinger, the connection is left for a later episode.

-tThere is a significant moment in the middle of the book that shows Roland in a new light (and thus might be considered a spoiler!1!), a sequence that made me think immediately of The Stand :

When they reached Roland, they knelt before him and touched the sandalwood butt of the revolver which jutted from the holster he wore on his left hip. He put his hands on their shoulders and kissed their old brows.

Will the whole epic quest to discover the Dark Tower be reduced to a battle between the forces of Good and Evil, with two god-like creatures leading the opposing armies? Roland seems destined to be the avatar of Good, and later on there is even a gigantic statue of him in the manner of the Colossus of Rhodes. And (more spoilers !!!) of course he is chased by a creature of darkness :

“I’m a man of many handles, pardner,” the man said from inside the darkness of his hood, and although his voice was grave, Tick-Tock heard laughter lurking just below the surface. “There’s some that call me Jimmy, and some that call me Timmy; some that call me Handy and some that call me Dandy. They can call me Loser, or they can call me Winner, just as long as they don’t call me in too late for dinner.”

I will probably read the next book in the series while I still remember what went on in this one, but right now I don’t consider it a priority, and I can only echo one of Roland’s exasperated companions, baffled by the nature of the waste lands and the secretive atitude of the gunslinger :

“When are you going to tell us what you do know?” Eddie asked the next morning.

Hey, I have a booktube channel (youtube for book reviews, etc.), and I include The Waste Lands in my Dark Tower Ranking list here. Please subscribe if I've earned it!

Another stunning installment in the Dark Tower series, The Waste Lands brings our quest for the dark tower that much closer, and actually giving it plenty of momentum which is, I'm told, possibly to be dashed in further installments.

Where The Gunslinger was a correlating collection of stories and The Drawing of the Three brings the main characters together, The Waste Lands actually moves the quest forward, gives some background (not a ton mind you), and gives us some direction.

I'm really enjoying this series and I'm starting to realize why. Besides the fact that I am glued to the pages for hours at a time, I really like the idea of this mysterious world giving guidance to the Gunslinger and his band. Instead of opting for the prophecy motif, King's world is much more mysterious and less traditional.

***Beware spoilers for the The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three***

Our crew of gunslingers, or Ka-tet as we find out they are called because they are a group of people on the same mission whose fates are intertwined, begin this part of the journey in the middle of their training as gunslingers. They are the last of their kind and therefore, Eddie, Susannah Dean, and Roland are the only gunslingers in the entire world.

Because Roland saved Jake (the kid at the waystation in The Gunstlinger) from Jack Mort in The Drawing of the Three, his memory has now split in two because Jake's death was his entry into Roland's world. This is making Roland a bit crazy at the moment.

They are almost immediately attacked by a malicious and ravenous bear, Shardik, who we find out is actually a Guardian of one of the entrances to the 6 mystical beams that will lead to the dark tower. Oh, and did I mention Shardik is also a cyborg? Yeah, this just gets crazier and crazier.

The ka-tet follow the beam to Mid-world where more adventure is to be had, but not before picking up another member.

I had always thought they were in Mid-world when they weren't in "our" present day world, but I guess I'd read too much going into this. In The Waste Lands, there's actually a point where the ka-tet goes into Mid-world.

At this same time, but beginning in Book 2 of The Waste Lands, we also begin to follow Jake in "our" world. He's having the same problems as Roland and his mind is also warring with itself. While trying to make it in a high-pressured prep school, Jake is about to give up. Not only is Jake going insane, but it is almost as if he is reliving certain occurrences. This leads him on his own journey and I'll leave it at that before I get too spoilerific.

***End major spoilers***

I know Stephen King is known for his horror, but I haven't felt much of that influence really until this book. Toward the end, I was actually dreadfully frightened and I loved it.

Why Read The Waste Lands?

When I really think of it, I can't believe the entire plot can be summed up so simply; a gunslinger is after a dark tower. And I guess only Stephen King can make something so simple so amazingly addicting.

I can't wait to get on with the series. It's unique and well-crafted. You can't help but care for these characters even though it sometimes seems like Stephen King doesn't. You will be glued to the page, it's just a fact.

4.5 out of 5 Stars (Absolutely loved it!)

Stephen, really? Are you kidding me with that cliffhanger? I mean, SERIOUSLY--how could you? That's painful, right there. I weep not for myself--I'm sitting here in 2016, with the next book comfortably at hand. All I have to do is reach out and grab it, flip it open, and find out what happens to Roland and the rest of his ka-tet. I weep for those who have gone before me: those brave souls who purchased this book fresh from the presses, all crisp and new and inviting on the bookshelves; those Constant Readers who loyally devoured every word the Great Man penned. How could you do this to them, Stephen? I weep for their pain, the looks of anguished horror dawning on their faces as they read that last sentence and realized that, yes, that's the end. Hopefully their wounds have healed, they have licked their scars and moved on, and forgiven Uncle Stevie for his betrayal of their trust.

This book continues where The Drawing of the Three leaves off. Roland, Eddie, and Susannah move steadily forward in their quest to find the Tower, but Roland is now being mentally torn apart by the crack he has created in his reality by his alteration of events in the past. Jake is reintroduced, back with his parents. However, he is also tortured by the alternate reality that he lived for a short time, and his mind is unable to reconcile the two. He begins to actively seek this other reality, desperate to stop the voices in his head and the visions he sees around every corner. His reunion with the group is pretty epic, and they all play crucial roles (especially Eddie) in safely crossing him over to their universe. I was so happy to see Jake become part of the story again!

More is revealed about the world Roland inhabits as the group soldiers on. There are striking similarities to our world--in architecture, in technology, even in music. But it is also an alien world, full of strange creatures that are frightening to the American visitors. The appearance of a psychotic, riddle-obsessed, suicidal train was a twist I did not see coming. Others, however, are not scary at all, such as Oy, the billy bumbler that befriends them and becomes an integral part of the team. And toward the end--a shout-out to The Stand, as some very familiar characters make an appearance.

The characters finally become cohesive in this installment. They begin to trust each other and to work together without suspicion. Eddie and Susannah recognize the vital role they play in these events, and accept their ka. Roland begins to realize that he can rely on his companions and be open with them, which causes the relationships to deepen and strengthen.

I'm pretty sure they get out of their current predicament okay. I mean, I know there are several more books, so I don't have to deal with the agony of uncertainty that plagued my predecessors. Still, it was a hell of a place to leave off . . . !

n  "Behold ye, the return of the White! After evil ways and evil days, the White comes again! Be of good heart and hold up your heads, for ye have lived to see the wheel of ka begin to turn once more!"n

What a journey! From incomprehensibly horrible to absodamnlutely fantastic to okay.

This book was all over the place. Both literally and metaphorically.

The first half is more of what we’re given in The Drawing of the Three. That is... a painfully boring story about Roland leaving his wildly interesting world behind to pick up three annoying travelling companions from different times and places in the city of New York.

To clarify for those still in doubt, I fucking hated that shit was slightly disappointed by these developments.

About halfway through however, the story steps into a whole new world (literally), and that world is like heaven compared to what has happened so far (to be frank, it wasn’t that good, but hey, after one and a half book of utter boredom you take what you can get).

Roland of Gilead assembles his company of gunslingers, and as the quest for the Dark Tower begins in earnest, the ka-tet arrives at the little town of River Crossing.

A great civil war - perhaps in Garlan, perhaps in a more distant land called Porla - had erupted three, perhaps even four hundred years ago. Its ripples had spread slowly outward, pushing anarchy and dissension ahead of them. Few if any kingdoms had been able to stand against those slow waves, and anarchy had come to this part of the world as surely as night follows sunset. At one time, whole armies had been on the roads, sometimes in advance, sometimes in retreat, always confused and without long-term goals. As time passed, they crumbled into smaller groups, and these degenerated into roving bands of harriers. Trade faltered, then broke down entirely. Travel went from a matter of inconvenience to one of danger. In the end, it became almost impossible. Communication with the city thinned steadily and had all but ceased a hundred and twenty years ago.

Like a hundred other towns Roland had ridden through - first with Cuthbert and the other gunslingers cast out of Gilead, then alone, in pursuit of the man in black - River Crossing had been cut off and thrown on its own resources.

River Crossing is a paradise of fantasy worldbuilding. While Stephen King has kept his cards close about the gunslingers and their world so far, he now starts showing his hand. And if you think this guy cannot really write fantasy, you are sorely mistaken.

Here starts a rain of epic stories and descriptions of places and names beyond any normal imagination...

“What is Mid-World?” Eddie asked.

“One of the large kingdoms which dominated the earth in the times before these. A kingdom of hope and knowledge and light—the sort of things we were trying to hold on to in my land before the darkness overtook us, as well. Some day if there’s time, I’ll tell you all the old stories . . . the ones I know, at least. They form a large tapestry, one which is beautiful but very sad.

“According to the old tales, a great city once stood at the edge of Mid-World - perhaps as great as your city of New York. It will be in ruins now, if it still exists at all. But there may be people... or monsters... or both. We’ll have to be on our guard."

The rest of the book is not quite as good as the amazing part at River Crossing, but it’s still much better than anything in the series since the opening sentence of the first book. However, it ends with a horrible cliffhanger. Well, not even a cliffhanger, but in the middle of a scene. It’s like one of those old TV shows ending with “To be continued” just at the climax.

But despite my ratings and sometimes low opinions, and even though it feels like the story hasn’t even started yet (three books in!), I’m greatly looking forward to the continuation.



Dark Tower reviews:
#1 n  The Gunslingern
#2 n  The Drawing of the Threen
#3 n  The Waste Landsn
#4 n  Wizard and Glassn
#5 n  Wolves of the Callan
#6 n  Song of Susannahn
#7 n  The Dark Towern