Rating: 
Summary: What is that?
Review: That is what I thought.I thought it was going to be boring but I bought the book any way since I had nothing to do.But I found out that it is not. I have not finished this book but so far it is great!I love the way King uses his great ability to pull you in. Litterly pull you in.I have spent many nights reading for hours asking what is going to happen next. I visualize everything that is happening. Any way,the book is about four people going to the dark tower of the mid-world. They look back at there lives as the y try to get through the thinnies and the open doors of time. It is confusing to understand what it is about. I have not reached the ending but I can't wait.I feel urged to keep on moving.The part at where Roland(a gunslinger from Gilead)looks back at the girl he lost.King's usage of old slang of the west really brings you to the setting and you talk as if you were there.That was my consiquence of reading that part of the book. I feel that anyone that enjoys horror and fantasy should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: A truly amazing series
Review: I've been a Stephen King reader for 20 years now; my first King novel was "The Dead Zone," which I read for the first time at the tender age of 12. I've read and re-read his novels over the years, and as I've grown older, I've come to understand the things his books said much better.I will also admit that, when I first read "The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger" when the paperback version was released in 1988, I was not terribly impressed--this was what he sweated over, leaving off and coming back, for 12 years? So I took a pass on the next two "Dark Tower" books, and was not even planning to read this one when it came out. However, it turned up under the Christmas tree in 1997 (the "hard-paperback" version, I suppose you could call it), and even so, I held off reading it until the following summer, since nothing else was forthcoming from the prodigious word processor of Mr. King. As soon as I got into it, I realized I had made a dreadful mistake in passing over this series. "Wizard and Glass" is a great book--the love story between Roland and Susan Delgado is an apocalyptic ("the world had moved on") Romeo and Juliet tale, and I liked King's odd twist on the Wheel of the Year, with Mid-World's seven high holidays, and the sacrifice of the "stuffy guys" on their equivalent of Hallowe'en/Samhain. I also was fascinated by the odd mix of Southwestern ranching society with European chivalry, and that the people of Mejis all apparently spoke with Scots/Irish accents. The book impressed me so much that I went back and bought "The Drawing of the Three" and "The Waste Lands" to see what I had missed, and also re-read "The Gunslinger." It was worth it, every bit. For those interested, there is also a short novel that continues with Roland's pre-Drawing adventures, "The Little Sisters of Eluria," contained in a compilation with the works of several other sci-fi, fantasy and horror novelists. I have the book, but forget what the title is at the moment. I advise everyone to check it out, and don't pass this series up.
Rating: 
Summary: Steve, Please finish this series for your fans!!
Review: I am a huge Stephen King fan, I have been reading him since I was 12 years old (my first book being Eyes of the Dragon). Although back then I had little understanding, I still found his writing to be more "real" and vital than most popular novels. I am 21 today and still find his twisting of reality and fantasy into a kind of life truth very amazing. The Dark Tower Series is a perfect example. I am sure many fans can relate to being enraptured in these tales while staying home on a rainy Sunday afternoon. "Wizard and Glass" kicks off right where The Dark Tower 3: The Wastelands, ends. It is agreat story that mostly takes the reader back to Rolands early teenage years. It is a must read for followers of this series, and even a good story in itself. However I have a problem with the extremely slow progress of the series and King's annoying tendencies of recent to keep putting off new novels in the series. He began the series in the very early 80's. 20 years and still no ending!! I believe I express the frustrations of a numerous amount of Stephen King fans, who fear the genius of this series will not be completed. Steve, your the best, but PLEASE stop writing all these side novels and continue work on your real masterpiece: The Dark Tower series.
Rating:
Summary: ADDICTING!!!!!!!
Review: THE ENTIRE DARK TOWER SERIES IS ABSOLUTLY ADDICTING. I'VE READ NO SERIES OF BOOKS BETTER. THE CLOSEST I'VE COME IS THE J.R.TOLKEN SERIES, THE HOBBIT. SO MR KING, WHERE IS THE REST OF THE "DARK TOWER SERIES" YOU PROMISED US? I'VE BEEN WAITING TEN YEARS AND CAN ONLY READ THE FIRST FOUR SO MANY TIMES.
Rating:
Summary: WOW
Review: This is a beautifully sad book. I love these characters and care for them alot, and when you find out about their past and know whats going to happen, damn. I got to a point and didn't want to finish this book because I already knew what was gonna happen----man and I was relieved and "mad" at turning the last page, now I have to wait for the next three books. ... But I mean Wow, this is a great addition to the series and being able to find out a little more about Roland made him more human and down to earth----I know this sounds corny (I'm writing this sucker late at night)----give it a try though you should like it
Rating:
Summary: Bird & Bear & Hare & Fish ... Give my love his fondest wish
Review: I bought this book mainly because I had read the Dark Tower series before. I tried to read "Wizard and Glass" and failed miserably. My friend (who introduced me to the series) bought the book and was finished with in a week. I decided I would give the book another try. Again I failed. On to the shelf it went, and on with life I went. But, after about a year, I decided to re-read the series. And, low and behold, I could not put the book down! I finished it within days (and a few sleepless nights) and I loved it. Some reviews stated that readers could have done without the backround story of Roland's first love. I, however, think that it was essential to know what Roland did then, so that we can understand a bit better why he is the way he is. I also saw a lot of Eddie Dean in Cuthbert. I just hope they don't end up the same way. I also liked the end of the book, the way it tied together a very original story (Dark Tower) and a classic movie (read the book to find out which one). I really hope the next book comes out soon, because I can hardly wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Honest review of the interlude
Review: Upon my completing the 672 page novel, Wizard and Glass, I came away rather disappointed. It's not that this chapter of the Dark Tower series is a poorly conceived story, it is, however, not the story that I wish to have been FORCED into reading. Although it was painful at times for me to read through this chapter in the ongoing saga of Roland's, I felt compelled to read it so as to not miss any key elements that may come into play as future chapters of the Dark Towers are written. I will commend Stephen King for his resolution to the cliffhanger that tells the tale of How Roland and his ka-tet survived the suicide mission of Blaine the Mono. Also, once again Stephen King has interwoven some of his classic novels into the saga that is Roland's Journey. Without giving too much away, Randal Flagg makes his presence known. However, to get to this point in the novel, which I would have loved to have had be the focus of this novel, I had to first trudge through a 500 page interlude that tell the tale of Roland's youth and the tragedy of his first love. In the end, after making my way through the Tale of Roland's youth, I was left with only a taste of the adventures served to me in the previous two novels that have captivated my attention so. As I wrote earlier, it is not an altogether unentertaining story, however it did not warrant 500 pages and it still did not resolve certain other elements of Roland's past, such as what became of Cuthbert and Alain. Unfortunately this will mean that in some future novel Stephen King will once again take his readers off the path of the beam to tell yet another tale concerning Roland's past instead of satisfying his readers appetite for the forwarding saga of Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Oy. To wrap up my review, I'll say only this: If you are a fan of the Dark Tower saga, trudge through the 500 page interlude. After all what choice do we have? Roland's quest to reach the Dark Tower has for better or worse become ours well and Stephen King has given us just enough new information at the start and end points of Wizard and Glass to keep us asking for more. Just next time, I hope he sticks to the path of the beam. I spent too many years waiting to get off of "Blaine the pain" only to feel that I will have to wait out yet who knows how many more years to find out what happens next to Roland's current ka-tet.
Rating:
Summary: A fabulous addition to a specatular epic
Review: As an addition to a previous review I again applaud Mr. King in a well written and addictive novel. This novel answers many questions readers could (and probably did) ask after reading The Gunslinger. I can't imagine the pressure put upon Mr. King to publish the continuing saga of Roland and party, but having ransoms against a poor teddy bear sent to him (from Mr. King's forewards) must show the popularity of this series. I have always been proud of saying that I am a contant reader of Mr. King and hope that my children will enjoy his imagination as I have. Without spoiling the book, I think the plot was well thought out and that character development was superb. Roland's character is the focus in this installment and in my opinion is the most well defined character in fiction to date. We also see his long lost friends Cuthbert and Alain better described. I think the Dark Tower series is most important because it was derived from a poem by Robert Downing. To any person interested in The Dark Tower series I humbly suggest that they read Browning's To The Dark Tower Childe Roland Came before starting The Gunslinger. This will give the reader an idea of where Mr. King got his inspiration.
Rating:
Summary: It Just Gets Better and Better
Review: Wizard and Glass is not only the best book in the Dark Tower series, it may well be the best Stephen King book I've ever read. It is grand, operatic, vivid, a story worthy of Tolkien, throbbing with atmosphere, and aching with the shattered soul and broken heart of the story's principal character, Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger. This tale of first love, and that love's tragic loss, forms the centerpiece of the novel, which begins where The Waste Lands left off, with Roland and co. trapped on Blaine (the Pain), engaged in a riddling contest (shades of Bilbo and Gollum!) for their very lives. They defeat Blaine (how I won't say, but it's a moment that beats hell out of every time Captain Kirk ever overloaded a mad computer), and soon discover they've somehow jumped dimensions (another side effect of the Tower's failing), and have wound up in the world . of The Stand -- a moment so chilling I got goosepimples. Really! Of course, given that rambunctious Randy Flagg has now become the villain of this piece, this bit of dimension switching should hardly come as a surprise -- but it's nevertheless fascinating. Roland and co. travel on in this deserted world, finding evidence of both Mother Abigail and the Dark Man (as well as the Crimson King from Insomnia), and soon encounter a "thinny" -- a warp between dimensions that is like a mosquito with a thousand-watt amplifier buzzing in one's ear. This triggers in Roland a flashback -- and most of the next 550 pages are spent in the days of Roland's youth, just after he defeated Cort. He is sent by his father -- along with companions Cuthbert and Alain -- to the sleepy sea community of Mejis. Here they discover the conspiracies of John Farson (aka the Good Man, aka Marten Broadcloak, aka Richard Fannin, aka Randall Flagg) are hard at work, involving the theft of oil from a still (though barley) working refinery, which Farson intends to refine for use as gasoline, and, possibly, napalm. While evidence of this is slowly being uncovered, Roland meets Susan, the horse-drover's daughter alluded to in the first Dark Tower book, who is betrothed to the greedy mayor, Thorin (also the name of the greedy Dwarf in The Hobbit!). There begins between Susan and Roland a forbidden love. Much more happens, involving Farson's lackies, Susan's half-crazed aunt, and Rhea, the witch of the Coos, who holds in her hand an all-seeing crystal ball which is consuming her from the inside out...but it is the love between Susan and Roland which is the soul of this book. Every moment of it is sweetly, adoringly, even frighteningly realistic -- such as the moment when Roland kisses her with such force, her mouth bleeds, or Susan's mingled fear and excitement, even arousal, at being in such a precarious situation, or the jealousy and impatience of Cuthbert and Alain, who have Farson more on their minds (they think) than Roland does. I could go on -- about the marvelous depiction of Mejis, and its quaint (though dangerous) denizens, the evil Coffin Killers (I always picture Jason Robards as their leader for some reason), or the lyrical language King uses during this narrative -- a lyricism that is present, it seems, only in this series and early novels such as Salem's Lot and The Stand, although Rose Madder has a lot of it, too. I could speak of the richly-depicted characters, or the numerous Tolkien parallels -- I've mentioned two, and here's another: the Wizard's Grapefruit, which is in appearance and its effect on Rhea eerily like the Palantirs in the Rings saga. I could go on and on (if the good people at Amazon.com would allow me) -- but in the end, I'll mention this one thing, and leave it at that: Wizard and Glass is a work of boundless heart and imagination, chilling and warm all at once, a wholly-successful melding of the Wild West, the journey of the Ringbearer, and Arthurian myth that King hinted at in the previous three novels. There is not a moment when there is not something of interest going on, when you are not amused or unsettled or in love or in fear; King is a writer of immeasurable talent, and this novel proves it. As to the Wizard of Oz riff that provides much of the framing story -- it is, to quote King's description of the Marsten house in Salem's Lot, "a literary curlicue, there to provide mood...and not much else". Of course it also sets the stage for what is to come in the next three books -- the true quest for the Dark Tower (where Sauron lived in Tolkien's story!) which promises to be every bit as enthralling and entertaining as what has come before. Dorothy was on a quest, too; she wanted nothing more than to go home, much as each of our characters does (except possibly young Jake), the difference being that not only do our heroes know they can never go home again (as Thomas Wolfe would no doubt tell them), there is not even a guarantee they will reach their destination alive. Using the Oz parallel is simply King's way of reminding us (and possibly himself) that all roads have endings, and that all quests much sooner or later reach their fruition. If Wizard and Glass is any indication, I can't wait for what is at the end of Roland's long, hard-traveled road.
Rating: 
Summary: Wizard and Glass is the worst of the series
Review: [Note: some of the plot is revealed below, like the ending. So don't read this if you haven't read the book yet and don't want to know what happens. Of course, I'd strongly suggest that you don't read this book anyway]. Hmm. I've been reading all of the glowing reviews for this book and wonder if I've missed something. But then I realized that I haven't. "Wizard and Glass" is by far the worst book in this series. The beginning, on the train, is good. King must've written this part soon after he'd finished Dark Tower III. But then, for some reason, he decides to do a 500 page flash-back. A predictable romance, no less. While some of the history is interesting and gives you an idea of who Roland is, more often that not it reads like pulp fiction. How many times does King need to telegraph to us that Roland should've killed Rhea when he had the chance? How obvious is it that Roland's romance is going to end tragically? I've really enjoyed the Dark Tower up until this book, explicitly because the story hasn't been predictable. But with this latest addition I can only think King felt he needed to write something, anything, in order to turn out a new novel. Even the end is anti-climatic. Oooh, look. There's the Tick-Tick Man. One minute he's there. The next minute he's dead. The whole Kansas 1986/The Stand crossover was a bit over-the-top as well. I can only hope that in the next installment (assuming there is one) King returns to the roots of the story and doesn't settle for a Hollywood plot-line.
|
