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The Dark Tower Thread of Ka'

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Tokubetsu

Tokubetsu

Member
Scrow said:
awesome series. loved most of it, except for the "meta-fiction" stuff
where king wrote himself into the books as a character
.

my absolute favourite was the second book though. i was totally engrossed.
Click to expand...

I've been meaning to re-read them because of the 2nd book. I HATED Eddie during the second book so it took me awhile to get through. Drawing of The Three and Song of Susannah were the roughest for me. I stopped reading the series because of SoS for a good 8 or so months. :lol
 
N

Neuromancer

Member
Almyn said:
I have all seven on the shelf, But have only read through the first two so far. I'm in no hurry.

I adored the gunslinger, Couldnt put it down and read it pretty much in one sitting, But I cant say the same for Drawing of the three. Like all of Kings work, I found it very hard to put down, Despite not enjoying it very much.
I think it was mainly that a lot of the second book took place in our world. What interested me so much in the Gunslinger was the world it took place in, I wasn't really interested in reading about New York
Maybe the waste land will be better.
Click to expand...
It is, at least I thought it was.
 
L

Lavpa Jasai

Member
I started reading these books a few months ago due the recommendation of my brother and hearing about them all the time and due to hearing about their supposed influence on LOST.

I don't read for hours on end all that often so I'm a only a few dozen pages into "The Wastelands" but so far I'm loving everything about it (the series).

My free time to read is usually occupied with doing other things (homework, video games ect.) so sometimes I wish I would just get stuck in a doctors office or something so I could have some time to really get some good reading done. :lol
 
C

Chris R

Member
Just finished with book 4... Damn that was good. If any of the books deserve to be made into a tv series/movie, the "flashback" in book 4 would probably be the best material for a conversion (of what I've read so far).

Sucks that the books are different releases, but I guess the fact that books 5-7 have pictures kinda makes up for it :| Just started 5, hope it kicks as much ass as 4.
 
HurricaneJesus

HurricaneJesus

Member
I love every book in this series. I started reading The Dark Tower when there was only 2 books, and had to wait for the others to come out, which means I would re-read them all while waiting for the next one. The ending was great, which was nice because I don't care about endings. It is all about the journey for me. A good ending is a bonus.

I would love a DT move or video game series, but I know it could never be done justice. Maybe R* could do it if RDR is a solid western. The Dark Tower incorporates all kinds of awesome. Going through the Doors on the beach to draw the three would be epic if it was done like in Prey or Portal, where it is seamless when you go through the portal.

Everytime I think of how awesome a DT game could be, I always end up feeling sad that it will never happen in a way that does it justice.
 
P

ProudClod

Non-existent Member
The ending was perfect. Ka is a wheel :) And honestly, I struggled with justifying Roland's actions the entire series. Everything he has done was for the tower. There could not have been a better ending.

Also, SoS is the only "bad" book of the series. Everything else was utterly amazing. At first, the metafiction shit bothered me, but after a while, I really bought into it. Once again, any way that King would have justified the tie ins (that were present PRE accident) would have sucked. I actually really liked the way he pulled it off. Also, the Tet Corporation arc was amazing <3
 
F

Feep

Banned
I have to say, I just finished reading the graphic novel "The Long Road Home", and holy SHIT
Sheemie
is a badass.
 
D

Dead

well not really...yet
If anyone is interested in the Graphic Novels...

I saw volumes 1 and 2 discounted to $7 at Barnes and Noble, and with an additional 50% off discount. You can get both for $3.50 each.

Guess you could call it a steal. YMMV.
 
S

Stinkles

Clothed, sober, cooperative
ProudClod said:
The ending was perfect. Ka is a wheel :) And honestly, I struggled with justifying Roland's actions the entire series. Everything he has done was for the tower. There could not have been a better ending.

Also, SoS is the only "bad" book of the series. Everything else was utterly amazing. At first, the metafiction shit bothered me, but after a while, I really bought into it. Once again, any way that King would have justified the tie ins (that were present PRE accident) would have sucked. I actually really liked the way he pulled it off. Also, the Tet Corporation arc was amazing <3
Click to expand...


Spoiler fool!
 
A

Anticitizen One

Banned
what stephen king books are recommended reading before I start this series? I understand their are certain charecters and storylines from other books (IT, Randal Flagg) that come into play in this series?
 
B

BruceLeeRoy

Banned
Alright I just finished Wizard & Glass and I am not sure where to go from here

spoilers

It was easily so far my favorite book in the series and it was so good I don't know if I should even bother with the rest. The storyline of Jonas, Susan, Roland and his Ka-tet is so fantastic that once it was over I feel almost no desire to continue with Eddie, Susanah, and Jake. They just seem so boring and trite at this point. I wish this was the perspective king wrote the books I wish it was Roland, Alain and Cuthbert we got to go on this journey with. Alas it was not meant to be. Anyway with all that in mind I have a question. Now that Susan is dead(Which broke my damn heart) I feel like the books can only end on a depressing note. During the flashback I hoped that Susan wouldn't actually die but whatever would rip her from Rolands life would be of a nature that it would still be possible for Roland and her to reunite and there to be some happiness at the end of this road for the Gunslinger. Now I dont see that as possible. With that in mind should I continue reading the series or just call it good here?

Tokubetsu said:
Love the books but Wizard & Glass is my favorite as well. Wizard & Glass is still the only book to make me cry. I mean literally just breakdown and cry like a baby. It broke my heart.
Click to expand...

Me too man...me too.
 
Synless

Synless

Member
BruceLeeRoy said:
Alright I just finished Wizard & Glass and I am not sure where to go from here

spoilers

It was easily so far my favorite book in the series and it was so good I don't know if I should even bother with the rest. The storyline of Jonas, Susan, Roland and his Ka-tet is so fantastic that once it was over I feel almost no desire to continue with Eddie, Susanah, and Jake. They just seem so boring and trite at this point. I wish this was the perspective king wrote the books I wish it was Roland, Alain and Cuthbert we got to go on this journey with. Alas it was not meant to be. Anyway with all that in mind I have a question. Now that Susan is dead(Which broke my damn heart) I feel like the books can only end on a depressing note. During the flashback I hoped that Susan wouldn't actually die but whatever would rip her from Rolands life would be of a nature that it would still be possible for Roland and her to reunite and there to be some happiness at the end of this road for the Gunslinger. Now I dont see that as possible. With that in mind should I continue reading the series or just call it good here?



Me too man...me too.
Click to expand...
You gotta keep going. The rest of the books are not as good, but they arean't horrible either. I'm on the last book at the moment (I've had it for years, but just havent gotten around to reading it) and I'm getting back into it. I will say though, the books get a little crazy.
 
B

BruceLeeRoy

Banned
Synless said:
You gotta keep going. The rest of the books are not as good, but they arean't horrible either. I'm on the last book at the moment (I've had it for years, but just havent gotten around to reading it) and I'm getting back into it. I will say though, the books get a little crazy.
Click to expand...

Okay Ill keep plunging ahead. It seems like the last several books I have read have just been fricken depressing. Shogun, Pillars of the Earth and such. All fantastic and epic but just sad. After this series I want to find some epic love story where Roland actually does save Susan and she doesn't get A)Burned B)Blown Up C)Raped.
 
M

Moz La Punk

Member
BruceLeeRoy said:
Okay Ill keep plunging ahead. It seems like the last several books I have read have just been fricken depressing. Shogun, Pillars of the Earth and such. All fantastic and epic but just sad. After this series I want to find some epic love story where Roland actually does save Susan and she doesn't get A)Burned B)Blown Up C)Raped.
Click to expand...

it's a waste to stop reading now. and the remaining books offer plenty of great stuff. while the story you've just read ended, the writing style from Wizard & Glass continues in the upcoming books. it's worth it.
 
B

BruceLeeRoy

Banned
Moz La Punk said:
it's a waste to stop reading now. and the remaining books offer plenty of great stuff. while the story you've just read ended, the writing style from Wizard & Glass continues in the upcoming books. it's worth it.
Click to expand...

Yeah I don't know who I am kidding I am way to emotionally invested to not see this through to the end.
 
B

BruceLeeRoy

Banned
I have to say being that I think "characters" is something that few writers do as well as King that Eddie, Susannah and Jake might be his worst. 4 books in and I feel nothing for them. Eddie is such a caricature its hard to care about anything he does and Susannah just feels empty. I felt way more for Alain and Cuthbert over the course of Wizard and Glass than I ever have them.
 
T

The Chef

Member
Lavpa Jasai said:
I started reading these books a few months ago due the recommendation of my brother and hearing about them all the time and due to hearing about their supposed influence on LOST.

I don't read for hours on end all that often so I'm a only a few dozen pages into "The Wastelands" but so far I'm loving everything about it (the series).

My free time to read is usually occupied with doing other things (homework, video games ect.) so sometimes I wish I would just get stuck in a doctors office or something so I could have some time to really get some good reading done. :lol
Click to expand...

I know exactly what you mean. I almost wish I had a commute to work in the mornings so I could get in some reading time. Between games and work I have so little extra time. Thats what beach vacations are for though.
 
M

Moz La Punk

Member
BruceLeeRoy said:
I have to say being that I think "characters" is something that few writers do as well as King that Eddie, Susannah and Jake might be his worst. 4 books in and I feel nothing for them. Eddie is such a caricature its hard to care about anything he does and Susannah just feels empty. I felt way more for Alain and Cuthbert over the course of Wizard and Glass than I ever have them.
Click to expand...

I never really cared for Susannah although she'd grow on me in the last few books. However I can't believe you don't feel anything for Eddie. He's my number one character from the series. what gives? and I loved jake from the moment he (book 3 spoiler)
writes his poem in class showing he's becoming crazy in the x-timeline :lol
 
B

BruceLeeRoy

Banned
Fusebox said:
...of who? I don't know anybody like Eddie.
Click to expand...

I don't mean Eddies backstory but definitely his character. When I lived in Brooklyn I knew a lot of guys who had personality's that King is trying to capture but it just comes off fake to me. All of his wisecracks and general sense of humor just seem in-genuine like I can feel King at the typewriter trying his hardest but just not succeeding.

Moz La Punk said:
he reminds me of Charlie from Lost
Click to expand...

Really? Hmm maybes I should re-read 2 and 3 cause I really liked Charlie from Lost.
 
C

Chris R

Member
Just finished the series. Loved the ending (even though I spoiled myself back before I ever started to read the series, thinking I would never read them :/ ) just hated how King got there.
Oy and Ake! dying... tears man.

Don't really understand why people would hate the ending. Fit the story perfectly IMO. Now I guess I'm off to go find the books referenced in the series and read each and every one of them :lol

and finally I'll say it again. If only one thing of this whole series gets converted to film/tv, make it the Mejis story of book IV. Sure the entire series would be nice, but I doubt most people would be able to follow VI/VII without going out and reading them first :/
 
R

RevenantKioku

PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS oh god i am drowning in them
Wow. I just spoiled myself on the ending because I thought I'd never read the books. And damn. That sounds awesome. I wish I had read the books. :(
 
M

Moz La Punk

Member
RevenantKioku said:
Wow. I just spoiled myself on the ending because I thought I'd never read the books. And damn. That sounds awesome. I wish I had read the books. :(
Click to expand...

why would you spoil yourself on any ending on purpose? I'm not sad for you, you deserve it if you're THAT stupid
 
R

RevenantKioku

PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS oh god i am drowning in them
Moz La Punk said:
why would you spoil yourself on any ending on purpose? I'm not sad for you, you deserve it if you're THAT stupid
Click to expand...
because I thought I'd never read the books

Whenever people talk about a bad ending and I've no interest in the material, I'll read up on it just out of curiosity. I can't imagine my actions are uncommon. We don't have the time to experience everything.
 
S

Skilletor

Member
My favorite books. Love, love, love them.

Although I didn't care for how the Battle at Jericho Hill was handled in the graphic novel, having read the books so much, i still teared up after I finished reading it.

God, this series is awesome.
 
B

brianjones

Member
BruceLeeRoy said:
I don't mean Eddies backstory but definitely his character. When I lived in Brooklyn I knew a lot of guys who had personality's that King is trying to capture but it just comes off fake to me. All of his wisecracks and general sense of humor just seem in-genuine like I can feel King at the typewriter trying his hardest but just not succeeding.
Click to expand...

yeah i know what you mean.. eddie's humor is sooo terrible.

susannah feels very forced as well with her constantly saying "sugar" all the time. ugh

jake is the only decent sidekick but only because he's so boringly straight.

i'm 3/4 way through Wolves of the Calla now. i feel like for every interesting element of this series it's balanced by something that i find cringeworthy or silly. we'll see where it goes from here but i'm seeing lots of missed potential.
 
H

Holmes

Member
I've read the first two, and I'm currently on the third. I also have the fourth and fifth but I haven't gotten to reading them because I was supposed to have a desk job this summer and I was gonna read them there, but since that didn't fall through, they've been kinda collecting dust. :( I think I'll resume reading them though.
 
P

Prince of Space

Banned
Finally finished the last book. A good final chapter to the rest of the series, even if the second half -- from the snowfields onwards -- felt really disjointed.

Didn't much care for Patrick Danville and how he was the ultimate "Get out of jail free" card on more than one occasion, especially in regards to
the Crimson King himself.

As for the ending itself, I thought it was exceptionally well done.
Nothing else would've been an acceptable discovery in the last room of the tower than the resumption of the journey; this time with a faint promise of hope.

As to my own personal ranking, I'd have to go with:

1. Wizard and Glass
2. The Drawing of the Three
3. The Gunslinger
4. Wolves of the Calla
5. The Waste Lands
6. The Dark Tower
7. Song of Susannah

Excellent series overall, and I'm certainly looking forward to where the film/TV adaptation takes it.
 
C

CaptainRizla

Member
Have just finished reading all 7 books and started on the concordance.
The books had their high and lows (the end of Wizard and Glass being my least favourite) but I hold the series close to my heart.
I hope I live to see the movies and series but fear disappointment.
 
D

Dragon

Banned
Final book spoilers:
I loved how they setup the Crimson King as this super duper monster but in reality Randall Flagg fucking owned him up and down his ass. I hate all the deus ex machina in the final book, it's so fucking annoying. I hate Stephen King injecting himself into the novels as well.

I do like the first four books though!!
 
Freshmaker

Freshmaker

I am Korean.
Anticitizen One said:
what stephen king books are recommended reading before I start this series? I understand their are certain charecters and storylines from other books (IT, Randal Flagg) that come into play in this series?
Click to expand...
The Talisman, Hearts in Atlantis, Insomnia, Eyes of the Dragon, The Stand.
 
M

Manics

Banned
I just started reading The Gunslinger. Never read this series before. The writing style is a bit disjointed for me (about 30% in). Is the entire series like this? Having a hard time getting into it.
 
T

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
I enjoyed all the books the first time I read them, some might be weaker then others but overall its a fantastic series. The ending though...I really don't know how to feel about it. On the one hand, I really like the idea. On the other, it feels a little unsatisfying.
 
N

nitewulf

Member
Anticitizen One said:
what stephen king books are recommended reading before I start this series? I understand their are certain charecters and storylines from other books (IT, Randal Flagg) that come into play in this series?
Click to expand...
nothing. you can start with this series. i havent read much else by king aside from a few short stories.

i just got volumes 3 and 4 of the graphic novels. parts 1 and 2 were really good, awesome art work as well. definite high quality collectibles.
 
M

Manics

Banned
The_Technomancer said:
I enjoyed all the books the first time I read them, some might be weaker then others but overall its a fantastic series. The ending though...I really don't know how to feel about it. On the one hand, I really like the idea. On the other, it feels a little unsatisfying.
Click to expand...
I hear he's writing an 8th book. Have no idea if he's continuing the story or if it's a prequel type book (don't want to read too much about it for fear of spoiling the series for myself)
 
D

Dragon

Banned
brianjones said:
the gunslinger is weirdly written.. has a different feel from the rest of the series
Click to expand...
Yeah the style is totally different. It was written way before the others right?
 
M

Manics

Banned
TheBranca18 said:
Yeah the style is totally different. It was written way before the others right?
Click to expand...


Finished it! Fuck it really picked up after a certain point. I was enthralled during the Gunslingers's coming of age with Cort. If the series keeps getting better I'm really going to enjoy this.
 
J

John Harker

Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
M

Manics

Banned
Glad I stuck with this. Midway through "Drawing of the Three" and i'm totally engrossed. Can't wait to find out what happens.
 
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