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This is the second book in the series. For a review on the first book, The Gunslinger, click here.
Summary:
Roland is one step closer to the Dark Tower. He has confronted the man in black, he has sacrificed part of himself and possibly part of his sanity, and he has survived. But his battles have not left him ready for more; he’s left vulnerable, and soon after an attack from a lobster-like monster, he’s now injured, too. He soon becomes ill from his wounds and seeks help across a seemingly endless beach. He finds three doors that lead to another realm (the world we know) during different time periods. Through trial and error, adventure and disaster, Roland manages to find help and bring several companions back into his realm to accompany him on his quest for the Dark Tower.
Comments:
This surpassed The Gunslinger in creepiness. Let’s start with the lobster things. They are poisonous creatures that only come out of the water at night. They can snip body parts off of you as easily as if you were made of paper. And they want to eat you. Moving on to Roland’s first door where he encounters a heroin addict with obvious problems. But this is nothing compared to the creepiness of the second door where Roland must battle with a woman with multiple personalities. (Have you ever been inside the mind of someone like that? It’s not something Stephen King will let you forget easily!) The third door opens to an individual largely responsible for wrongdoings that have not only affected Roland in the past but also the others he’s come to know. This part of the story ties together a few loose ends from The Gunslinger. Ultimately, an unforgettable story of horror and mystery. But was it enough to keep me interested in the series? No. And I’m not going to say that it was bad— because it wasn’t bad at all— but I just don’t think horror is my genre. It’s rare that I’m able to say goodbye to characters that I know have more stories to tell, but if I’m not saying goodbye to Roland, I am definitely saying, “I’ll see you later.”
The Point:
If you’re a fan of Stephen King or horror novels, you should definitely check out The Dark Tower. The first two books are twisted and original; you’ll probably be hooked.
Tags: Horror, Mystery, Series, Stephen King, The Dark Tower, The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger, The Drawing of Three, The Gunslinger
