My signed artist's edition of Dark Tower V: The Wolves of the Calla just showed up. I'm a huge Stephen King fan, and these books are the backbone of all his work, drawing in characters and places from all over his oeuvre (man, that sounds dirty). I've been reading the series for 20 years and have waited patienly for five years between books each time. The next (and last) two are coming out in rapid succession over the next year or so.

Have any of you read these? Any of you as obsessed with them as I am?

I listened to audio book of The Gunslinger back when I first went to my aunt's beachhouse in North Carolina. They had a hammock underneath it where I proceeded to do nothing else except listen to it until I finished it. OK, I think they actually dragged me to the beach one day before I finished, but I brought my walkman along.

I went out immediately and bought The Drawing of the Three. I read that in a few days, and was saddened that I couldn't continue the story. Fortunately, The Wastelands came out a few months later and I read that as well.

I found it to be a bit of a let down, so I never bothered to pick up Wizard and Glass when that came out for the fear that it would let me down further. Recently, I've heard from a friend that Wizard and Glass is actually much better than The Wastelands. Perhaps I will borrow it from her, now that the next ones are coming out.

I'm not exactly certain what made me decide never to pick it up. I mean, I fell into the the Wheel of Time trap, so its not like I am unused to disappointment in book series. My current series craving is A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I can only hope A Feast for Crows will keep that series on the up and up. (Argh! pushed back to 2004!)

Hmmm, I guess after having put this much thought into it, I'll bounce over and ask my friend if I can borrow them all and get reaquainted with The Dark Tower

In Response to Grimicus (#9971):

Wizard is definitely better than Wastelands, although I enjoyed them both. King is really at the top of the game in Wizard. I was a bit disappointed that the story didn't move forward very much (which is an impressive feat for a tome that large) but it more than made up for it in sheer storytelling.

One of the interesting bits about the DT series is that many of the non-DT books tie into the story. Insomnia, The Talisman and Black House, Hearts in Atlantis, Eyes of the Dragon -- they're practically Dark Tower books in and of themselves. There are also characters from The Stand and Salem's Lot that show up.

In Response to jon (#9980):

I nearly stopped talking to a friend after they convinced me that DT V was coming out LAST November. At least there was a new Harry Potter book to distract me.

I agree that Wizard was better than Watelands, Even though it didn't move the plot as a whole forward it was a story that needed to be told. At first I thought it might have been better as a first book, but then realized what really made it fun for me was that I already knew Roland and what he had to go through because of the events in Wizard. Just my two cents, and I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on Wolves.

In Response to Lonely Goatherd (#9991):

argh argh ARGH! i want to read that book so damn bad! i read the entire series in the last year or so, and have been impatiently waiting for the new book. i may just have to allow myself to drop the $52 for the hardcover. i keep trying to convince myself i should wait for the paperback, but...

anyway, yes, i am totally and completely addicted to this series. i've been a big big big king fan since i was about 12 or 13, and DT is most definately his masterpiece. although i don't know why you wouldn't like wastelands. i loved it. especially Blaine.

also, i don't know how many of you were aware, but there is another story out. from Roland's younger days. its called The Little Sisters of Eluria (or is it Uluria?). its in Everything's Eventual. overall i didn't like the book that much, but that story made it all worthwhile.

on a related note, besides the DT books, whats everyone's favourite King novel?

In Response to goat_girl (#10000):

i may just have to allow myself to drop the $52 for the hardcover. i keep trying to convince myself i should wait for the paperback, but...

You might be able to reserve a copy at your local library [nlc-bnc.ca] for free. 'Course since you're a big King fan, you might want the first edition hardcover anyway.

In Response to Oedipa_Maas (#10001):

no, 1st edition hardcover holds no special interest for me. all my other copies of the series are used, torn up old paperbacks anyhow. i just like owning the book so i can go back and read it a thousand times over.
i don't even like hardcovers. i find them cumbersome and inconvenient. and it may sound strange, but i haven't ever taken a book out of the library. well, in high school. but not since i made my way out into the "real world". but there is a first time for everything.

Like yesterday I remember checking out Book 1, The Gunslinger, from the local library. I got to the part when there was some guy walking though some sort of desert and he was camping by the side of the road. I recall that part really well. Then I had to return the book to the library. Did a lot happen after that?

I first listened to the Gunslinger audiobook when I was working at the library, so I must have been about 14. I listened to the whoel series, and then went out and bout the versions of all four books with the pretty illustrations. I'm excited to read Wolves of the Calla.

A copy of Dark Tower IV mysteriously arrived in the mail one day several years back. No one in my family had ordered it, it just showed up. I had read King's Eyes of the Dragon in high school english class (other kids read the Odyssey, we read Stephen King), and had thoroughly enjoyed his non-macabre yet still dark take on fantasy. So, I picked up Dark Tower and took a shot at it. Sadly, I felt far too removed from the storyline to really get into it. It was engaging reading, yes, but I think I'll enjoy it more once I've read the first three.

Dark Tower's images linger long after many of King's fade away...what I find particularly intersting is that he's doing an AMERICAN fantasy, with gunslingers and frontier towns and old abandoned railroads. Certainly makes it different from the average Tolkien rip-off.
      Hmmm. If someone was insane enough to make this into a series of movies, who would make a good Roland?---Al

In Response to deerboy (#10036):

Damn, vicious crowd around here. Funny thing, though, is that is a true story, and I remember by 20 pages of the Gunslinger well. So it probably is a good book. I will try to get around to it.

If only your colours were like my dreams.

They are golden dreams.

How did I not know this about you???? I can't wait for that book. I love the Gunslinger series - by far, King's best work. I'm not as obsessed as you are, since a signed edition has not as of yet appeared at my house. But I'm definitely a huge fan of Stephen King in general and that series in particular.

I knew you rocked. I just keep finding more reasons why.

i obtained, i read, i loved. LOVED!!!!!!! once again proving that Stephen King is the master of my entire universe. my life will be incomplete as long as that story is. want VI now! NOW NOW NOW!

In Response to goat_girl (#11937):

want VI now!

yeah.

Emacs sucks.

In Response to zamphir (#11940):

Bah. Pico rules!