Just a short moment in time occurs between the end of The Waste Lands and the beginning of Wizard and Glass, in story-time that is. When starting this reread, I realized that the span is barely even that - the time between leaving our Ka-tet on Blain the Mono and then rejoining them again. But the first time around it felt like an age had passed. Six years in actual time had passed between these two books (1991-1997). King addresses this gap in the afterward here in Wizard and Glass, with apologies. He knew he must return to writing The Dark Tower, but Roland's backstory, particularly that of his first love with the girl named Susan, had been hard for him to find. By 1997 you could have considered me a little indignant over this gap between books. Over that span, the details of what had occurred in the previous three novels had become foggy to say the least. More to the point, I had forgotten how it felt to be on the path of the beam. So it took me a while longer before I actually picked up Wizard and Glass, finally opening its pages to the voice of the Mono demanding for riddles from our Ka-tet. Riddles or death. That was his game. There is a beauty to reentering Mid-world after being away. I had been transported by King once again into this otherworldly land falling apart as we read. All the suspense and urgency had returned, but with this volume far more is realized by moving backwards in time (versus that continuous trek forward) to a Roland of fourteen. At fourteen, he is wise beyond his years, or so it seems when reading. But by the end, I once again understood that the few mistakes made are due impart to youth, and in part to Ka, as they say. And never forget the blindness that comes with love. This book blew me away the first time I read it. Maybe a bit of that was due to that six-year gap I’d experienced. My feelings during this reread were much the same, but books 2, 3 & 4 are hard to separate or place in any hierarchy for me now. Roland's words about “learning to love again” speak most to me this time, and also the foreshadowing of this Ka-tet's future. So, had I really been a little mad over that wait all those years before? Can't imagine why now, and if I was, it only speaks to how much I adore this series.

Yeah, it's happening, finally finished. It's funny I got halfway through this book in like a day then it took me over a week to read the second half, not due to a lack of interest, more the world around me suddenly got more exciting. See this is why friends suck, they get in the way of reading phenomenal books by making you have a life.

Anyway, what I thought of this book. Well, FINALLY I learned about Roland's history. I mean sure I knew about Martin and his mother, and how he originally became a gunslinger, but the story of Susan and the town of Hambry, and of course Merlin's rainbow. There was just so much to digest in this book. I'm so happy I still have three left. It's going to be a sad day when I'm done with this series.

This book was a real western romance, more so focusing on Roland and what made him the gunslinger he is when the reader is first introduced to him. Putting this in the fourth book really worked for me and really strengthened Roland's arc. I was more than familiar with the sorta man he had become, now I finally see the man he used to be and the human emotions he used to feel before his obsession pursuit of the dark tower.

Найбільш обʼємна частина присвячена розповіді Роланда про те, що відбулось після його випробовування на Стрільця. Якщо три попередні частини були шаленими трилерами, то тут — чистий вестерн, якщо не рахувати фінального уривка. Дорога до Темної Вежі триває

Giving a Stephen King book 2 stars pains me a lot, but I can't bump it up to 3 stars just because he's my favorite author. This book was awful, and 500 pages longer than it should've been.

I get everyone's opinion that we need that backstory of Roland, but in my opinion, King could've just considered this a novella. Something that could be read if the reader wanted to. He made this the fourth novel, so that means the readers are obliged to read this if they want to continue on with the series. Honestly this actually felt like a novella, a really bad one, at least for me.

The beginning of this novel was amazing. It was a continuation of the riddle contest they were having with the villain. After the contest though, the backstory started. The backstory was terribly boring. I didn't care about anyone, not even Susan. It was about 500 pages of rambling on about his past and love for Susan. Like I said, King could've just made that into a novella. This is the first time that I just browsed through 500 pages. It was so boring I almost took a break from reading the book. I'll be honest and say I'll most probably forget everything in that 500 pages as soon as I'm finish writing this review.

I heard that the next 3 novels are a huge improvement, so that's a terrific thing to hear. Despite the abomination known as book 4, I'm still very much interested to continue on with the series.

1.5/5 stars. Too much backstory and romance. I was not interested at all, but in a few years I might reread this. I'll see what I think about Roland and Susan's relationship then.

En el camino de Roland a la Torre Oscura, este cuarto libro supone un alto en el camino.
Una parada para conocer la historia del protagonista y entender por qué es como es.
Era un libro necesario pero entiendo la decepción de algunos lectores esperando más aventuras de Roland y compañía en la búsqueda de la Torre y se han encontrado con una historia de amor adolescente.

La jugada de Stephen King es arriesgada. Podría haber salpicado en cada libro el pasado de Roland pero decide contarlo todo en un libro, un libro muy largo, pausando la historia principal que habíamos visto en los primeros tres libros. Y si aceptas el reto es una historia muy bien escrita, una trama a lo Romeo y Julieta con todos los elementos de tragedia y amor que cabe esperar. King es un maestro construyendo personajes y aquí consigue otra vez que me crea todos y cada uno de ellos, personajes con algo característico y con motivaciones propias.

Por lo que he leído este es el libro más dificil y controvertido de la saga y no le pongo 5 estrellas porque 1000 páginas me parecen demasiadas para cualquier historia y aunque escriba como un maestro, he echado en falta el tono de anteriores libros.

This 4th volume in the Dark Tower series starts with Roland, Jake, Susannah, Eddie and Oi still being trapped in a certain AI train, racing towards their deaths. Spoiler alert, they manage to win the battle of puzzles against Blaine and survive. Well, duh.
Afterwards, they are stranded at a waystation that turns out to be in Kansas. But not exactly the Kansas of our world. Rather, it's the one from King's other book, The Stand, where a virus has wiped out all of humankind (or almost, I'll read that book this year as well and thus find out for myself). They have to wait out a storm and in order to pass the time, Roland once again kills us with one of his flashbacks. And I don't mean that his story isn't engaging, but let's face it: it was a very looong way of telling what had happened and knowing more or less how this tale would end didn't help (it was another story-within-the-story and even yet another story withing that!).
Anyway, the flashback tells of 14-year-old Roland and two of his Ka-tet (Cuthbert and Alain) being sent to a small barony by Roland's father following Roland's successful completion of the challenge and becoming the youngest Gunslinger in history. There, they find out that it's not just about counting horses (their original task) and that some trouble actually is afoot. We knew from remarks in previous books that a so-called Good Man was rallying forces against the Gunslingers and those standing for law and order in the world and here we see some people sneakily siding with said Good Man, wanting to deliver horses as well as oil for his war machines to fight Gilead (the last bastion of the forces for good if that claim can be believed). While being in town, Roland falls for local beauty Susan, who is promised to the mayor as a mistress. There is lots of personal drama, especially between Susan and her aunt, then there is a nasty witch with a very interesting gadget and, ultimately, a pretty interesting fight between the factions.
In the end, we're back with Roland's new Ka-tet where they have to make a fateful choice.

As mentioned before, one problem was that we already know how this encounter will end. Susan will die, being burnt alive, the delivery of horses and oil to the Good Man is stopped, but that doesn't end the conflict and, ultimately, doesn't save the world / Gilead. Moreover, despite being really very angry by the end of the book, I couldn't bring myself to liking Susan. Maybe some degree of pity started to grow inside of me, but mostly I just wanted it to be over before I had to strangle her with my own bare hands. *lol*

Most of my negative feelings, however, were due to Roland being a dick. Nope, the age doesn't matter, you get to see his true character here that he retains until the present day (the present day as of the end of book #4). At first, it seems as if the misogynistic men in the small barony are the main assholes here. Then it's the women, who are often even worse despite suffering themselves. But it soon becomes clear that the worst one of them all is our supposedly intrepid hero, who just abandons a person he has sworn himself to (after almost breaking up his then Ka-tet because of his obsessive love for her in the first place). Simply put, it means he and his oaths cannot be trusted (yes, yes, I know the crystal ball lied to him but I wouldn't be less mad had he left her safe and sound instead of as a sacrifice to the Charyou Tree as the betrayal remains the same in my book). And no, he couldn't have yet known that the fate of the universe was at stake (Cuthbert was right when he said that Ka is always a convenient scapegoat anyway). Roland had merely glimpsed the Dark Tower in the crystal ball and decided to up and leave the girl he supposedly loved oh so much in favour of doing ... what exactly? (No, he doesn't know himself either.) That made me starking mad. Especially since it confirmed my dislike of the guy and the reasons why. Tragic or no, he deserves what's coming to him. There is nothing heroic in what he did or HOW he did it (especially since he could have taken Susan with him).

Yes, I'm still so angry I want to scream. BUT - and this is an important butt - that is one of King's strengths: you think you don't really care, you think some person or other simply annoys you and before you know it, you are deeply engaged in the tale. You might not care in the way most authors make you care (the positive kind), but you ARE invested. And as soon as all players are positioned (though that really could have been told more quickly), the actual fighting is breathtaking action with very realistic fighting scenes that made even me forget for a moment that I already knew how this would play out so I found myself sitting at the edge of my seat regardless. Sneaky! And finding out yet more about what Roland's father knew and didn't know, what brought about the fall of Gilead and prompted the world to move on was once again very interesting and nice to see.
Besides, I've read through the first 4 books almost back-to-back, plus an additional book that is only marginally connected to this series, and am planning to keep going (reading the "short" story #4.5 as well as the next volume before month's end) so clearly I'm hooked. *lol*

Still, I think when we get down to it, I am more invested in the new Ka-tet than the old one and me not being a fan of Roland's is why the flashbacks aren't all that interesting to me (I hope that won't be marring my enjoyment of the next book because #4.5 is another story-within-the-story).

In the end, it depends on how much a reader is invested in this multiverse. Me? I friggin love it! Just seeing the connection between all these other books, ones that can be read in a vacuum but offer an additional layer/reward for readers of this series and further books, seeing the depth of the mythology and history here (the Old Ones, the technology strewn around etc) ... not many authors can pull this sort of thing off.

Por fin tengo que dar la razón a los que opinan que debería haber sido una trilogía. El primero y el segundo me encantaron, el tercero me gustó, sin más, y el cuarto me ha costado mucho.

Almost exactly half way through the Dark Tower Series is a story that may be the pinnacle of this epic work, and at the same time may also be the most elegant, beautifully written, romantic, and horrible thing Stephen King has ever created. I’m talking about the love story of Roland of Gilead and Susan Delgado, which occupies Part Three of Wizard and Glass, Book 4 of the Dark Tower Series.

I know not everyone likes this book; some find it off the point, just background, not in the same style as the rest of King’s work. Here King does write in a style that is old world, a little reminiscent of Tolkien. He knows he’s presenting the stuff of legends and wants his tone to fit the task. He’s done what he said he set out to do when he started writing the Dark Tower, creating a world that is all his own, where the language, the customs, the setting, the confluence of old and new details, even the religions are of his own making. In the end, (IMHO) this story is the best blend of western novel and post-apocalyptic science fiction ever written.

King also said he wanted to write a romance, and he’s sure done it here. The love story of Roland and Susan is passionate, riveting, and I can’t say any more or I’d give the ending away. But speaking of that ending, it is what it has to be in this kind of story. Susan, Roland, King, and all of the rest of us are drawn inexorably to it whether we like it or not. STORY has always been supreme for King, and in this case I feel at least that in telling of Roland and Susan, Stephen King has written his most powerful, in fact his supreme story.

Now part 3 is about 350 pages in the middle of a 700-page work. What about the rest of the book? Fits right in with the rest of the Dark Tower, I think. Parts 1 and 2 are a good continuation of the adventure from the previous book. Part 4 though, is a little overdone, almost too much homage to the Wizard of Oz. There’s more details about what happened back in Roland’s youth which comes close to wrapping up all the loose ends. Still, it doesn’t measure up to the love story. How could it? Almost nothing else King has written does either.

'Bird and Bear and Hare and Fish'

This installment of the Dark Tower series is a journey.  First thing you should know is that the majority of this book is a flashback to Roland as a teen and his first love so not much progress happens in this book in terms of the quest of the Dark Tower but it does give us some insight into how Roland first came to know of the Tower.

Secondly if you've read The Stand you are in for a treat as the SK multiverse is evident here.

I really enjoyed the first part of this book which picks up directly from Wastelands.
We are with Blaine in a riddle or die situation and its intense.

Then I really enjoyed the last part of the book and the Wizard of Oz crossovers, that was epic.

The actual flashback took me a while to settle into and in the end I did enjoy it but it took a while to get going for me. I must admit to really enjoying the supernatural parts of flashback and the magical elements of the characters.

All in all a decent read.  The world building in this series is truly amazing.

As I'm half way through the series now I think while the books have  epic scenes its not an epic series for me as yet but its all still to play for in the next books.

There seem to be two distinct schools of Dark Tower readers. One school consider this the weakest of the seven volumes. They can't see what the point is. A huge flashback - stuff that has already happened - how does that advance the plot? I call these people the Rolands. The other school considers this to be the finest book of the series, they loved every page of the thing. They think the huge flash-back was a wonderful story in itself which develops a greater understanding of what motivates the gunslinger and where he came from. I call these people the Oys.



I'm an Oy in this regard. Oys think the books are about the journey not the destination. Rolands think the destination (tower) is all-important and that any step to the side or backwards is an abomination.

I believe the message of this series (slight spoiler)  is that we should be Oys rather than Rolands



This is King at his best. Wonderfully rich characters and setting. Great imagination, brilliant description, scary evil, and the tension rising relentlessly with stakes that you're made to value.

It's been a while since I read this, so I won't comment in more detail.

For me, not only is it the best volume but each successive volume after this is a little less good. However, I can't attribute this to the author's age/decline as I also rated The Wind Through The Keyhole very highly, and that's a nominal volume 8 which sits around 4.5 in truth and is set (IIRC) in the period a little after that covered by the flashback that occupies most of Wizard and Glass.


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First book of the new year

I know a lot of fans of the dark tower dislike this book (or believe it slows the pace of the series by having a large flashback) but I absolutely adore it. It's really nice to read about Roland as a teenager and to see why he ended up as a tortured loner.

Also the book breaks my heart every time I read it (you bastard Mr King)

DNF at 55%

Yoo hoo! You know what this is? This is me abandoning the fourth book in the Dark Tower series:



Well, metaphorically.

It is so frustrating to feel myself forced to abandon this book, especially since things were getting better in the previous one. You see, I thought book 1 was okay, 2 was better, but book 3 was great. I really liked it, so I expected this one to be better, or at least as good as the other ones had been. But no, it was bad.

See, the thing is that after the horrible cliffhanger in book 3, I expected lots of intense scenes and continuing with their quest, but instead we got Roland's backstory.

If it were a character I like, I don't think I'd be bothered a lot. The problem here, though, is that Roland is my least favourite character, and that's because he's so stiff and boring. I didn't give a damn about his past.

Again, if the backstory was intriguing, I wouldn't have been so bothered, but again it was a fail. Why? Because romance.

Yeah, so we go from a crazy talking train and riddles to... kisses and blushes.



Not a good change, is it?

Aaaaand again, a romance wouldn't have bothered me that much if 1) it hadn't been so cheesy, 2) if that was what I wanted, and 3) if the whole book (or rather what I managed to read) didn't feel as if King had no clue as to what to write. Like... yeah, I want this to be an epic fantasy quest, but I don't know what to do with my characters now so I'll just write a flashback while something comes to my mind.

It's so annoying, and now thanks to that I'm doing something that may appear outrageous: I'm DNFing this, but I will continue the series. Maybe important things happen in this book, but a summary from Wikipedia is what will save me from total confusion if something from this book is mentioned later.

Now I'll just say it's a pity so many pages were wasted in an unnecessary and eye-roll worthy romance and hope book 5 finally picks up the story with the rest of the characters I actually like, because I really miss Eddie, Jake and Susannah (and Oy too).