Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, Book 4)

Rating:
Summary: Even years later... Its still crap.
Review: When I had first picked up the Gunslinger series, it was unlike anything I had ever read before. The descriptions of a post- apocalyptic future rang horribly true and real for me, and Roland had the dark appeal of a man with a noble cause doing questionable acts in the hopes that one day it would all be justified by the ends.
The more I read the more I became trapped in the world that King had created, and as a reader Roland's quest became my quest. What was the Dark Tower? What would happen in the final climax? Who would walk away in the after math to start the day anew?
Needless, to say King had me wrapped around his pinky in a manner of speaking.
However, the spell was not to last.
The fourth book came out, and with it came perhaps the one of the greatest insults to story and innovation I have ever witnessed a creator inflict on his own creations.
The DT series went from being a powerful tale that lampooned many of the stereotypes associated with the genre, to one that shamelessly espoused it.
The love interest has always been the bane of almost every form of entertainment be it film or literature. S/he is the anti-thesis of the hero and often makes one either gag or roll their eyes in exasperation at his or her blandness and/or sheer stupidity. Susan here is no different from every other typical damsel in distress we've been forced to swallow since childhood in fairytales. As another reviewer once stated there is nothing particularly beautiful or admirable about her, and we only know that she is pleasing to look at because King tells us so, however other than that she is merely a foil for Roland's own character rather than a real character herself. She isn't smart, she isn't strong willed, she doesn't actively try to refute the machinations of her aunt, nor does she have any real defining qualities but her supposed beauty. The maddening thing about this is that when one reads King's Dolores Claiborne, Rose Madder, and Gerald's Game it is quite clear that he is more than capable of writing interesting and strong females characters and as such one can only assume that he does this on purpose so as not to detract from the main characters.
However, Susan herself isn't the only thing that brings down the whole novel. The very idea that King has written a book about a single flashback into Roland's past that for all intents and purposes has no bearing on the current events is the problem. The concept is inherently flawed, then to devote 400 pages to it plus cliche characters , plus a cheezy love story makes one want to vomit all over the book, and a super sexually charged Roland- that no woman can resist- seems more like an ideal rather than the rugged fanatic he was depicted to be in the previous books... Add all these things together and you have a book that seems more like a Harlequinn Romance rather than a King novel.
The characters of Alain, and Cuthbert are no better than Susan in their cheeziness they are again identified by gimmicks: Cuthbert as the sly risk taker, and Alain as the sweet, innocent boy who would stick up for any of his friends *TM.. and dear god the bit at the end with the ruby cowboy boots was just taking pop culture too far...
The only thing I can think of in an attempt to explain the popularity of such below standard piece of work is the name of Stephen King, like other authors his name has such commercial drive that even if he slapped it on to a turd it would sell..

As I said even after revisting it years later, I find it to be as much an insult to me as a fan, a woman, and reader, as it had been when I picked it up so long ago as it is now, and maybe even more so. I still have difficulty accepting how something so good just went to hell and never came back, and how a creator could be so calloused as to let it happen.
ON a final note:
Please Mr. King go back to Robert Browning's disenfranchised and stoic Childe Roland, literary brother and the heart and soul of Roland of Gilead.

Rating:
Summary: Strays
Review: 3.5 stars.

Let me start off by replying to those who criticize the romance in this novel. First, to those who are upset because this is romance from a horror writer, I got some news for you: STEPHEN KING HATES YOU, AND SO DO I. It was exactly that kind of blind generalization that made him want to write stories like this in the first place. Secondly, if you think that Stephen King is bad at writing romance, I'd say you're full of ____. Stephen King, if you think you write bad romance, YOU'RE FULL OF ____. I know that in all my life I will never forget the warm and heartbreaking story of Roland and Susan.

Now, on to the book itself. First, it starts out with three chapters that, while they are gripping, do not belong in this novel. For more on that, read my review of The Waste Lands. After Blaine is settled, the ka-tet find themselves in a weird version of Kansas. There is a strong connection with The Stand here, which was why I stopped to read that book before I went any further with this one. I've also heard that there is a connection with Insomnia, but since I haven't read that one yet, I wouldn't know. Then Roland tells his friends of the time when he first met Susan, how she died, how he killed his mother, and how he began in his quest for the Tower. This flashback is the bulk of the narrative. After that, they end up at this crystal palace, and there is a strange allusion to the Wizard of Oz. This part really didn't have that much to it, as there's a bit of a let-down. The real story is the flashback.

The flashback, in itself, was quite entertaining. There was more to it than the love story, including intrigue, shoot-em-ups, and fantasy. While it did seem to drag at parts, it was for the most part engaging. We also get to learn a lot more about Cuthbert and Alain. However, the worst part was that it was hard to enjoy the story knowing how it would end. I read through the whole thing with a sense of dread. When it finally did happen, I felt a great sense of relief, alomst like a catharsis. I suppose Stephen King was right when he said the story needed to be told, but I've never really liked flashbacks, because they stop the present story. This whole book is a flashback. So, when I read this, I felt a great sense of straying. This novel is a detour. But, looking at the whole Dark Tower story, I do see that it really couldn't be any other way. That fact doesn't make this novel any better, of course, so the rating stands. And this isn't the end of Roland's backstory, either. But, I don't think the rest will be told like this. More like the flashbacks on The Gunslinger, I'm thinking, and I can handle that.

Now, don't we have a quest to take care of?

Rating:
Summary: My Best Read Ever! Very Exciting Book!
Review: "The Dark Tower 4, Wizard and Glass" was a great read for me. At first I didn't think I would like reading the book until I started reading it. I belive that this is the best book that Stephen King has ever wrote. Stephen King's plot immediately pulled me into the great storyline.

This book continues where the third one left off with Roland and his ka-tet engaged in a riddling contest aboard Blaine the Mono, a crazy train that forces them into a riddling contest that they must win to live. Then they arrive into a diseased kanas, they find everyone is dead from an awful plauge. It is now that Roland decides it is time to tell the story of Susan.after you emerge from Roland story you are back in Kansas,as Roland's ka-tet continue along the path of the beam the come upon five pairs of bright red slippers and begin ageless stranger in order to return to the path of the beam.

This is a great book and it changed my whole opinon on how Stephen King writes. Once i started reading it i couldn't stop until the end. I know that if you read this book you will love it.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Flashback
Review: Even though this part of the Dark Tower series is basically a flashback to Roland's life prior to his search for the Tower, King has written a magnificent tale with touches of sci-fi and fantasy, creating a world both credible and familiar. The characters come across as fully-formed, and the writing is seamless. The plot inexorably leads to its stunning conclusion, and we return to find our ka-tet continuing on its journey. Another triumph for King; here's hoping he keeps up the quaility storytelling for the final three volumes.

Rating:
Summary: Okay, Now Let's Get Back to The Dark Tower.
Review: This story did not send the series spiraling in a new direction, good or bad, nor was it meant to. For me, the big questions I had while reading the first three volumes had much more to do with the nature of Roland's world and explanations for all of it's very imaginative details, especially the Dark Tower itself, which I'm sure is King's idea anyway. the question of "who is Roland and what is his story?" is also important, but never seemed primarily so. At least, I never thought the question deserved an entire doorstopping volume from the author. But who am I to say? I can only assume that this story, as King notes, "must" be told in order to move on.

Fine, then. I expected an adventure, and I got one. A romantic, western-style adventure that hinted at the rest of Roland's world that we already know about. But I wanted more of that world, as well as Eddie, Susanne, Jake and Oy. I got Cuthbert, Susan, Alain, and the Big Coffin Hunters. It was interesting, but I wanted to get back on the trail of the Dark Tower just the same. At least some of, and maybe all of the questions I had about Roland have been answered.

And it was interesting to note the similarites between Rhea's pink glass ball and the blue glass ball from THE TALISMAN. I have yet to read BLACK HOUSE, but there was a blatant cennection made with THE STAND and INSOMNIA as well, with the appearance of Randall Flagg at the end(ie. the "Crimson King"). This presents all new questions, which is good. I'm still hooked on the Dark Tower, and maybe even propelled forward even more, depite this story's flashback purposes. Now, let's get back to the real adventure.

Rating:
Summary: The best so far in the series of the 5 published
Review: Book 4 in King's series is the best so far in my opinion. I have read up to book 5, the Wolves of the Calla (also very good). I dont want to give too much away, which some of the reviews do, but the book is beautifully written, telling of Rolands first and only love (excluding the tower), and his boyhood adventures with Alain and Cuthbert. Some of the book is in the present with his new ka, but much of it is revealing history of Rolands youth. To use the old cliche, King brings the characters alive, and you forget that you are reading a book. Truly a classic

Rating:
Summary: A Real Page Turner!
Review: I just recently finished this book and I found it to be a real page turner, whether you liked the first 3 books of the series or not! This book goes back to Roland's childhood back when he was 14 years old. He and his posse were sent by their fathers in search of the pink wizard's glass.
This tale was full of action and astounding writing, I expected no less from Stephen King. The descriptions and details of the book were gut wrenching, and made you feel like you were really there alongside Roland the entire time.
If I could explain this book in a few short words, I would say, emotional, phenominal, and well written indeed! Thank you Stephen King for being my favorite author!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best in the Dark Tower Series
Review: I am not sure how Stephen King comes up with all of this, but it is excellent. The thought process and imagination that goes into this book is amazing. I loved the three books prior, but the story just keeps getting better. I am about to start the Wolves of the Calla, and only expect the best. You will not be disappointed if you read this book, infact the Dark Tower just seems to put its claws into you deeper and you too feel like Part of Rolands Ka-tet and need to reach the Dark Tower with them.

Erica
Savannah, Ga.

Rating:
Summary: For those who have read many a King book...
Review: This book was a dream for me to read. I hope I can convey why.

My favorite book of all time is "The Lord of the Rings" by Tolkien. Behind that are "It" and "The Stand" by our friendly Mr. King. This you have to know to even begin to understand my love for "Wizard and Glass."

If you've read all the reviews, you already know almost the entire book is a flashback told by Roland which explains the momentous events which happened immediately after he became a gunslinger, so I won't waste time going into the plot. I will waste time explaining how the Dark Tower series seems to become better with each book (although I can't comment on "Wolves of the Calla" yet). I have just been blown away by an amazing story by Stephen King, speaking through Roland. Reading this book was better than watching most any movie out there. It has restored my faith in the abilities of an author to transport me to another plain of existance altogether.

And it has filled me with the desire to read every book King has written again, starting at the beginning with "Carrie." Because I started to realize something at the beginning of this book, even before reading King's afterword at the end. The world of the Dark Tower includes every story King has written. Fans of "It" will appreciate the references to the turtle. And fans of "The Stand" will simply jump in their seats in excitement, realizing that the story of Randall Flagg didn't quite end in that book...or did it? This is why I want to read all those books again. But I won't...yet. Anyway...

The other amazing thing King did in this book was a brilliant sense of misdirection in the form of his homages to the book which he says helped inspire this series and maybe even his entire career, "The Lord of the Rings." I was so busy paying attention to all the similarities to Frodo's quest, I missed the mirror images from the story Roland's quest resembles even more, "The Wizard of Oz." Simply amazing storytelling, whether King intended it or not.

I now plan to read some stories of King's which contain elements from the Dark Tower story before plunging into "Wolves of the Calla." I'm in it now, hook, line, and sinker. Thank you, Mr. King.

Rating:
Summary: ...Ka....Ka like the wind...
Review: It's been about a month since I finished Wizard and Glass. Sometimes when I'm restless I go back to that page where Susan Delgado faces the final moments of her life. Still, to this day, there is not a time (I have gone back to that page about three times now) when I end up tearless. My God, how beautiful that book was. And it came like the wind. Do you really expect such a story from the King of Horror? Did I expect to be taken away by such a tragic romance? I had no idea what I'd be signing up for when I first picked up The Gunslinger, and it still holds true. I didn't expect to cry my heart out after reading of the death of young Rolad Deschain and his true love Susan Delgado. I'm fighting back the urge right now, just thinking about it. It was ka, ka like the wind. It has made me think of life just a little differently...

<bird and bear and hare and fish...>