Londons Falling

What makes Roland tick

Rating: 5/5
Comments:
The fourth book in King's Dark Tower series is a slight departure from his previous entries. It picks up where the third novel left off but soon uses a flashback to whisk the reader away to Roland's past where the majority of the book takes place. Part love story, part action-adventure, the flashback is so interesting and involving that you forget about the current story for awhile.

At the start of the book, our intrepid ka-tet composed of Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, and Oy must survive their trip on the insane train Blaine. Using a slight twist on the riddling begun in the previous book, they manage to make it to Topeka in one piece and find a variation on Kansas which is both familiar and foreign to them at the same time. Their trip has taken them away from the path of the Beam however, and they must find their way back via a highway. Nearby is a thinny, a disruption in reality that makes a noise which gets into your head.

Along the way, the group stops and Roland tells a long tale from his past which gives the others insight into how he began his quest for the Dark Tower. The reader also gets a lot of insight into Roland's character from this flashback. Roland, with his best friends Alaine and Cuthbert, his original ka-tet, are sent away from Gilead after Roland earns his guns in order to keep them away from danger. A war with the "Good Man" Farson is seemingly about to spread to the region, but the distant small town of Hambry is thought to be safe. Soon after arrival, Roland meets Susan, a young woman promised to the town's mayor as his consort. Roland and Susan quickly fall in love. Although they try to fight it, fate - ka in this world - brings them together and they do their best to keep their relationship secret. Susan becomes an important part of Roland's ka-tet and aids them in their plans.

Meanwhile, the three boys discover there's some sort of plot related to Farson going on in the town. Not long after arriving they make enemies of a trio who call themselves the Big Coffin Hunters and are friends of the mayor. They are lead by Eldred Jonas who failed his gunslinger test years ago in Gilead. The two opposing ka-tets try to outmaneuver each other, hoping the other will expose their real plans. Roland and his ka-tet find supplies which are part of Farson's plan; however, the most crucial piece is safely hidden away. The Coffin Hunters have temporarily given a local witch named Rhea a crystal ball to keep safe. This ball can show people terrible things, which often have terrible consequences both intended and unintended. In the end, there must be a showdown between Roland's ka-tet and Jonas's ka-tet.

Finally, the story returns to the present day where Roland, Eddie, and the others make their way to an emerald glass building. It becomes clear the group is off to see the Wizard and before long they aren't in Kansas anymore. This portion is much shorter compared to the flashback.

Overall, the book is very engaging, especially the flashback. You learn a lot about what made Roland the way he is today and you can sympathize with him more. Returning to the present day is a bit jarring and this portion pales in comparison to Roland's tale. Despite that, I'm looking forward to reading the next book and seeing where Roland and friends go from here.

Great! If only he had quit while he was ahead.

Rating: 4/5
Comments:
Great midpoint in the Dark Tower saga. Unfortunately it is all downhill after this one. King would have served himself and the series well to stop here. Recommeded if you already came this far in the series.

A slower-paced, love story in King's Dark Tower universe

Rating: 3/5
Comments:
Stephen King is back at it with Wizard and Glass, the fourth book in his epic Dark Tower series. The story continues the quest of Roland and his new ka-tet - Jake, Eddie, Susannah and Oy - but is framed mostly around the retelling of his old ka-tet - Cuthbert, Alain and Susan.

As his new ka-tet finds itself in Kansas and seemingly lost of the Beam, a great sorrow lies on Roland's shoulders, and without knowing why he must tell them his story. Roland takes them back to one of his most serious adventures in the West with 'Bert and Alain to the township of Mejis. Sent here by their fathers at the tender age of fourteen to stay out of danger from mounting wars back home, the ka-tet quickly discovers that the Mejis and several of its most notable inhabitants are working for The Good Man (John Farson) - the man at the helm of the wars ravishing the world. At the same time, Roland finds himself in love with a girl named Susan Delgado, who is betrothed to another man (the Mayor of Mejis, no less).

The story unfolds, and Roland recounts it almost in its entirety to his new ka-tet, but leaves out the ending for the time being. In a very Oz-like ending, the ka-tet encounters Marten again, and the rest of Roland's story is recounted.

Wizard and Glass is a terribly interesting book. The story and characters are remarkably interesting, as is the old-world of Gilead and the areas of the West (mostly limited to Mejis). There are plenty of plot twists that will leave the reader guessing, doubting, questioning and reeling in excitement.

Unfortunately (for some), the book is of immense length and differs from the others in that it is primarily a love story between Roland and Susan. Although interesting, many parts are unnecessary to the overarching story (save to add "completeness") and are long-winded. In his Afterword, King himself writes, "I don't know if it's good or bad - I lost all sense of perspective around page four hundred," which is just over half of the book length!

Regardless of length, Wizard and Glass is an entertaining work in the Dark Tower that adds to the wonderful story of the world of Roland of Gilead and his ka-tet.