Stephen King Fans discussion

What's your favorite/least favorite of the DT series? I haven't really read them all, but I have to say they are pretty great.
My favorite; The Drawing of Three
Least Favorite; The Wolves of the Calla
I'm new to this group, so I thought that I'd try to start a discussion... :)

Welcome to the group, Brandon!

Favourite would be a tie between the drawing of the three and wizard and glass, least favourite would be song of susannah

My least favorite is Wizard and Glass. My favorite is a tie between The Waste Lands and Wolves of the Calla.

thanks Dustin :)

It must have been a distressful time in my own life, but " It" freaked me out that I don't know if I finished it.

My favourite is definitely Wizard & Glass. My least favourite would probably be The Waste Lands.

Of my favorite SK books, it would be a toss up between The Stand and The Green Mile

I know I'm probably odd one out here, but my favorite is The Gunslinger. I've read that one 5 times, I just love it. For all the reasons others say they hate it; the western-type setting and situation, the dryness of the writing, the sparse feel of it, how it's not like any other SK story, hell, even Roland. Well, who am I kidding. Especially Roland. Sure, he's unevolved in this one, has yet to find his companions and come to care for them, but this first book is the one that made me fall for him, for the series. The original, unrevised one. The newer revised edition is good too, but it's that original one I always remember most. I guess second favorite would be The Waste Lands. I like how the ball really gets rolling here, how Susannah and Eddie start becoming gunslingers, and of course Jake's return and the arrival of Oy(!), how we really get to start seeing more of Roland's world, the little town with the old people, and Lud, and the edge of my seat feeling I had when bad things happened there, the view of the wastelands themselves from aboard Blaine... the whole feel of a world moved on. I could see it so well in my mind.
I don't really have a least favorite one. Maybe Wolves of the Calla, though I still liked it quite well, I found myself becoming impatient for the journey to continue. But it's still a 5 star for me like all the others. Or maybe number 7 because it was the end, and knowing there wasn't more to come. But I loved it still. All of them. Asking which one I like least is like asking me to decide which finger on my hand I like least. I'm rather fond of them all, lol :D

Nicely put Kit

I totally agree with you. When I first started the series, I told myself that the only way I would continue was if the Gunslinger showed a lot of promise, and it had. And I agree with you completely on them all being great! The only thing that annoyed me slightly was the Wolves of the Calla. I, too was inpatient to get back on the road again. That's why I'm excited to get into the Song of Susannah. :D

My favorite DT is The Waste Lands, which to me is how a novel should be written, filled with action. My least favorite DT is Wizard and Glass because I'm not a big fan of flashbacks.

Kevin wrote: "My favorite DT is The Waste Lands, which to me is how a novel should be written, filled with action. My least favorite DT is Wizard and Glass because I'm not a big fan of flashbacks."

The flashback was, for me, the worst part of the series. It just dragged on, and on, and on...too long for me. :)

I didn't mind the flashback, I really loved seeing Roland as a young man, and the small glimpse of the way his world was back in the day. I also liked the love story bit, that all-consuming first-love kind of obsession, seeing Roland as more human I think. I cried. Even on this last time through the series, which marked my 4th time reading #4, I cried. Silly, because I knew what was coming, but I still did. :D

I wanted to know if anyone else thought DT 5-7 was a complete flop. I loved the first 4.

@ Kit * You are not the only old timer here. But I have my own favorite SK works. I have my own reasons for liking each work. My own reasons for being put off by some of SK's more gross tactics for making a point.

I have only read The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three. I don't know if anything will top the awesomness in The Drawing with the Three.:)

Kathryn wrote: "The flashback was, for me, the worst part of the series. It just dragged on, and on, and on...too long for me. :) ."..."

While for me it was the best part of the series.

My least favorite was Song of Susannah, or it was until 2012. Wind Through the Keyhole easily bumped it out of worst place, hands down.

Chris wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "The flashback was, for me, the worst part of the series. It just dragged on, and on, and on...too long for me. :) ."..."

While for me it was the best part of the series.

My least..."

And that's why I haven't read WTTK yet. Yes, because of your review. :)

Rich wrote: "I wanted to know if anyone else thought DT 5-7 was a complete flop. I loved the first 4."

I'm not sure I'd call them a complete flop, but I felt the last few didn't live up to the other books. I distinctly remember feeling like King forced or rushed his way through those books because of his car accident rather than letting the story kind of evolve on its own.

Also, my favorite was Wizard and Glass and my least favorite was Song of Susannah. I really liked the flashback in W&G and wanted to read more about that time period and Roland's adventures.

Oh, don't let it be my fault, Kathryn. Heh...

I recommend reading it. It's a decent enough book, and you're prepared for the letdown. Note that even with all my bellyaching about it, I gave the thing 4 stars.

Rich wrote: "I wanted to know if anyone else thought DT 5-7 was a complete flop. I loved the first 4."

No, I actually like the last three better than the first four, excluding The Waste Lands. The Waste Lands is actually my favorite and my least favorite would be Wizard and Glass.

Chris wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "The flashback was, for me, the worst part of the series. It just dragged on, and on, and on...too long for me. :) ."..."

While for me it was the best part of the series.

My least..."

Really? Wow, I really enjoyed WTTK. I thought that it bridged Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla perfectly and I liked the way it was kind of like two novellas wrapped up in one story with Roland and the Ka tet enveloping them both. It was a neat concept and a fun look into a part of Mid-world we haven't seen yet.

Chris wrote: "Oh, don't let it be my fault, Kathryn. Heh...

I recommend reading it. It's a decent enough book, and you're prepared for the letdown. Note that even with all my bellyaching about it, I gave the th..."

Hahah...Well, I actually own it, but have been saving it for when I want a revisit to the DT. I figured if I wanted a quick DT read, I wouldn't have to re-read the series to visit the characters again. :) But I heard it's a flashback within a flashback.....oooooooh, there's that word I don't like, again.....haha

Kathryn wrote: "Chris wrote: "Oh, don't let it be my fault, Kathryn. Heh...

I recommend reading it. It's a decent enough book, and you're prepared for the letdown. Note that even with all my bellyaching about it,..."

Don't let the flashback concept keep you from reading it, you WILL be doing yourself a great disservice. I do think you should read it as a whole with the rest of the DT series, it can be read as a separate novel as I did, but it is plainly obvious that it belongs between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla.

Drew wrote: "Wow, I really enjoyed WTTK. I thought that it bridged Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla perfectly and I liked the way it was kind of like two novellas wrapped up in one story with Roland and the Ka tet enveloping them both. It was a neat concept and a fun look into a part of Mid-world we haven't seen yet."

Me too, I highly enjoyed every page of WTtK, I thought it had a fairy-tale kinda feel almost, reminded me in a way of Eyes of the Dragon, similar feel to it. (And EotD is like tied for my most favorite SK with a couple of others). I could go for 19 more books like WTtK, little stories of Ro's past and of Mid-World before it moved on.

The EotD comparison is spot on. That's the feeling I had while reading. And that's not a bad thing.

I just felt that WTTK was to Dark Tower the way that Chef Boyardee is to lasagna.

Drew wrote: "Kathryn wrote: "Chris wrote: "Oh, don't let it be my fault, Kathryn. Heh...

I recommend reading it. It's a decent enough book, and you're prepared for the letdown. Note that even with all my belly..."

I actually read the DT series earlier in 2012 so it's all pretty well still fresh to me. It will probably be a while until I re-read the whole series again (2014, at least), but I will include TWTTK next time. At least I have it to have as a quick DT re-visit if I want it. :)

Chris wrote: "I just felt that WTTK was to Dark Tower the way that Chef Boyardee is to lasagna."

Lol, I can see that. It certainly wasn't as Dark Tower as I was expecting when it was first announced. I was sort of expecting to see the ka-tet have a whole new set of adventures on the way to the Calla, not Roland telling another story. :)

I just don't see how it had any less of a Dark Tower feel than Wizard and Glass did. A majority of it deals with Roland and the setting is Mid-world, so how does it not have a Dark Tower feel?

It's Dark Tower-ish.

Chris wrote: "It's Dark Tower-ish."

Lol, okay it's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I guess.

I'm glad for that.

But like I said, not a bad book. It just felt more like deleted scenes on a DVD. Cool, but not entirely essential.

I just meant that I was thinking it was going to be the ka-tet continuing their journey, the quest, seeing more of where they were at, things that may have happened to them, scenery they may have passed through, etc. Not just seeing Mid-World back near Gilead and Roland's past, and a 'fairy-tale' that was told to him. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, especially that story he told about Maerlyn and the boy! I just thought the ka-tet of Sus' and Jake and Eddie, etc. was going to have a much bigger part in it, that they'd go through some more stuff than just sitting out a horrible storm and listening to Roland. :D

Chris wrote: "I'm glad for that.

But like I said, not a bad book. It just felt more like deleted scenes on a DVD. Cool, but not entirely essential."

That's where we will disagree, I think it was essential. There was such an odd gap between Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla, what happened to the katet between The Emerald City and Calla Bryn Sturgis. I think it was essential to provide a bridge between the two and I feel like TWWK did that very well.

Brandon wrote: "thanks Dustin :)"

You are very welcome, Brandon.:)


As for my personal favorite, it's a toss-up between the final DT book, and Wizard & Glass. If I absolutely had to pick a least favorite, I guess I'd reluctantly say TWTTK.

it's very hard for me to pick a favorite and least favorite book in the series for me because they all feel like parts of 1 huge epic. i guess that's kind of the point. if i had to pick a favorite, it would probably wizard and glass. the story of roland as a boy was pretty awesome. had everything: gun fights, puppy love, mystery, deceit, sheemie and the parallels between roland's old and new ka-tet. very good stuff.

least favorite (cop-out answer inbound) i guess would be the last one because it was over. loved the book just as much as the others but i hated that the story had to end.

Favorite: Drawing of the Three (DT2)
Least: Wizard and the Glass (DT4)

Guess I've made this point in other places but I'll say it again: Wizard and Glass is the best of the bunch, not just for the writing (which is amazing) but for the story itself. I think King was answering some other call when he told us the love story of Roland and Susan. As I was reading it, I couldn't believe what was happening... how carefully drawn it was. And the outcome was horrifyingly inextricable. And the blending of old and new - nearly dead oil rigs and cowboys - terrific. I've often said that Wizard and Glass was also the worst of the set... the stuff about the emerald city was just cheesy. Though we do learn more about Roland's youth there. In other words: King's best dark tower, Glass; King's worst, Wizard. If I had to come up with a more honest choice for worst, I'd have to say Book 7 - if you've read it you know why someone would say that.

I'm new too, to the group! Happy new year everywhere, here is Greece and so far i can't imagine my life without King's books. But i have to admit i haven't started yet the DT series, partly because they are very different from his others. Are they completely like say sci fi or are they full of King's talents? I mean are these books going to make me feel scared or not? I would appreciate an answer...
Elina

Elina Labrinakou wrote: "I'm new too, to the group! Happy new year everywhere, here is Greece and so far i can't imagine my life without King's books. But i have to admit i haven't started yet the DT series, partly because..."
Γεια σου πατριδα ;)
DT belongs to the Fantasy genre I'd say. However it does contain many of the elements we've all come to love in sai King's books. In fact many fans, and the man himself, would go as far as say it is the epitome of his writing career.
In my opinion, all King fans should read the DT novels eventually. It will give you an insight into his world and appreciate his writing even more. Plus it is an incredible Fantasy series.

On topic, I'd say my favourite book was probably "The Waste Lands". It is the book that I felt brought together the world King was building from the start, and the one that got you to really care for the characters. "Wizard and the Glass" comes second, because it didn't cover much of the Ka-Tet's story.
As for least favourite I'd choose "Song of Sussanah", mainly because it didn't leave me anything to look back to, like the rest of the books.

Costas wrote: "Elina Labrinakou wrote: "I'm new too, to the group! Happy new year everywhere, here is Greece and so far i can't imagine my life without King's books. But i have to admit i haven't started yet the ..."

Μην μου πεις ότι έφυγες στην ξενιτιά! :) Χαίρομαι που βρήκα έναν Έλληνα εδώ

i love fantasy and especially "The Lord of the Rings", but i guess the DT is completely different...

Ok so, i decided to follow your advice and start the DK series from the beginning. I suppose, the gunslinger is not the best but i have to start from there. Α whole new world for me ... Are you jealous? :)Have a good day

Ok so, i decided to follow your advice and start the DT series from the beginning. I suppose, the gunslinger is not the best but i have to start from there.

Hey! Theres a group read of the DT series just started. If you go to the 'Buddy Reads' section you will find it. We have just started The Gunslinger on Jan 1st. :)

Stevo wrote: "Ok so, i decided to follow your advice and start the DT series from the beginning. I suppose, the gunslinger is not the best but i have to start from there.

Hey! Theres a group read of the DT ser..."

Great thanks! I'm coming!

Elina Labrinakou wrote: "Costas wrote: "Elina Labrinakou wrote: "I'm new too, to the group! Happy new year everywhere, here is Greece and so far i can't imagine my life without King's books. But i have to admit i haven't s..."
Actually, The Dark Tower is a sort of homage to the LOTR, Stephen King's objective when he started to write it was to create his own epic.
The Gunslinger is a little slow and difficult to understand, but try not to drop it; I did it twice, and I'm glad I came back to the series.
Also try to read it in English. Later on it contains much unique lingo and expressions that get lost in the translation.

My favourite dark tower book is probably The Drawing of the three, I found it deeply compelling, especially the Eddie Dean bit. Talking about worst I have to go with the sixth book, far too convoluted, with all that meta subtext...Wizard and Glass and The Gunslinger are the runner ups for the best installment. The Gunslinger has plain simple one of the best incipit lines in history of literature,while Wizard and glass is just heartbreaking

Shell wrote: "My favourite is definitely Wizard & Glass. My least favourite would probably be The Waste Lands."

I'm with you Shell.

All good, but if I have to pick . . .

Favorite: The Drawing of the Three
Least Favorite: Wizard and Glass

I find odd that a lot of you would rule Wizard and Glass as the worst book of the series. I always thought it was a fan favorite. I found it so heartfelt..Yes, it looked like a filler, but still....

Andrea wrote: "I find odd that a lot of you would rule Wizard and Glass as the worst book of the series. I always thought it was a fan favorite. I found it so heartfelt..Yes, it looked like a filler, but still...."

Not filler... just the story of what made Roland the way he was, a guy who knew love so deeply that he would never love again. It happens.