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| Friday, July 21, 2006 11:59 AM |
| Roland to the Dark Tower Came |
 by Fëanor |
Finally finished the Dark Tower series yesterday. (Some mild spoilers follow.) My short review is, I liked the series quite a bit as a whole, this book in particular, and the second half of this book even more in particular. Sure, the series was often plagued with King's eternal problems - his tendency to use tons of words when only a few would have done the job much better; his tendency to write people like they're bad actors playing people (their default emotional setting is tense and ANGRY) - but what can you expect? It's King! And anyway, I ultimately think the saga as a whole stands together quite nicely, and acts as a kind of gigantic arch over his entire body of work. It is meant to be epic, and it feels very epic. When Roland finally crested that last hill and saw the Tower rising up above it, I felt the same elation and awe that he was feeling. Finally, finally there! The long quest finally over!
I really felt Roland's agony, too, when he found what he did at the top of the tower. So brutal! And yet, after I got over a little of the agony and the disappointment, it felt right to me, too. In fact, the more I think about it, the more strong and correct and appropriate the ending seems to me. Ka is a wheel, after all. And maybe some day Roland will get it entirely right, and really find some almighty power at the top of the Tower who will release him from his task. But maybe not.
The happy ending preceding the actual final ending felt right, too. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried a bit then, and at the various death scenes before. King can write a really emotionally affecting scene when he wants to. Really amazing images, too. I keep thinking back and seeing them in my mind, like I just watched a movie instead of read a book.
Ooh, a movie...they'd almost certainly completely mess it up, but...man, it'd be cool if they could turn this into a huge multi-part movie saga. Or maybe a TV mini-series.
More items:
-Although I found the death of Walter O' Dim disappointing and out of character, I actually really liked the way the Crimson King went out. Cool idea, well executed. And those eyes still hanging there, full of hate! Good stuff.
-I thought King writing himself into the story was a little arrogant and pretentious, but ultimately he actually handled that subplot really well and I ended up liking it very much. The Tet Corporation subplot, which I'd found unbelievable and ridiculous at its beginnings, ended up being pretty cool, too.
-I think it's pretty clear that Dandelo was a close cousin of It.
-Also, I found the Tower Wiki to be a pretty interesting site. I might have to look it over again now that I'm finished and I don't have to fear the spoilers anymore.
Anyway, I'm glad to be done, but I'm also kind of sad. It was quite an adventure. |
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