The Dark Tower: v. 7 - Hardcover

The Dark Tower is the final volume in Stephen King’s 34 years in the writing septet with which it shares its title. Not only does the book complete the 3000-plus page quest, but also weaves together much of King’s fiction from his entire career. It is, as King notes in his afterword, as much the summation of his own journey as it is of the last gunslinger, Roland Deschain.

The story continues directly from the end of Song of Susannah, but this time is much more of an epic fantasy than a surreal metafiction (a word King tells us he hates, but is stuck with). Roland finally reaches The Dark Tower, but getting there is a wonder in itself, a bleak and often tragic tale with King pulling no punches as the small band of warriors find their destinies. There is more action and excitement, suspense and adventure than in the two proceeding volumes--from desperate chases to battles with a giant spider--while the tone is often melancholy with the remorseless of fate. King works within the patterns of the great fantasy epics, from the Arthurian legends to The Lord of the Rings and his writing is as beautiful as it is unsparingly graphic. The final 100 pages are simply breathtaking in their perfect dark beauty. Doubtless the meaning of it all will be debated for decades to come, with some loving the ending, others feeling let down. But the result is an immensely bold piece of work which avoids the clichés of stock heroic fantasy while completely fulfilling the series’ atavistic promise. One thing is certain, the final pages will make many readers head straight back to the first volume, The Gunslinger to make the journey all over again.--Gary Dalkin

"Publisher's Weekly"A pilgrimage that began with one lone man's quest to save multiple worlds from chaos and destruction unfolds into a tale of epic proportions. While King saw some criticism for the slow pace of 1982's "The Gunslinger," the book that launched this series, "The Drawing of the Three" (Book II, 1987), reeled in readers with its fantastical allure. And those who have faithfully journeyed alongside Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Oy ever since will find their loyalty toward the series' creator richly rewarded.The tangled web of the tower's multiple worlds has manifested itself in many of King's other works -- "The Stand" (1978), "Insomnia" (1994) and "Hearts in Atlantis" (1999), to name a few. As one character explains here, "From the spring of 1970, when he typed the line "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed..."very few of the things Stephen King wrote were 'just stories.' He may not believe that; we do." King, in fact, intertwines his own life story deeper and deeper into the tale of Roland and his surrogate family of gunslingers, and, in this final installment, playfully and seductively suggests that it might not be the author who drives the story, but rather the fictional characters that control the author.This philosophical exploration of free will and destiny may surprise those who have viewed King as a prolific pop-fiction dispenser. But a closer look at the brilliant complexity of his Dark Tower world should explain why this bestselling author has finally been recognized for his contribution to the contemporary literary canon. With the conclusion of this tale, ostensibly the last published work of his career, King has certainlyreached the top of his game. And as for who or what resides at the top of the tower...The many readers dying to know will have to start at the beginning and work their way up. "Publisher's Weekly"A pilgrimage that began with one lone man's quest to save multiple worlds from chaos and destruction unfolds into a tale of epic proportions. While King saw some criticism for the slow pace of 1982's "The Gunslinger," the book that launched this series, "The Drawing of the Three" (Book II, 1987), reeled in readers with its fantastical allure. And those who have faithfully journeyed alongside Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake and Oy ever since will find their loyalty toward the series' creator richly rewarded.The tangled web of the tower's multiple worlds has manifested itself in many of King's other works -- "The Stand" (1978), "Insomnia" (1994) and "Hearts in Atlantis" (1999), to name a few. As one character explains here, "From the spring of 1970, when he typed the line "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed..."very few of the things Stephen King wrote were 'just stories.' He may not believe that; we do." King, in fact, intertwines his own life story deeper and deeper into the tale of Roland and his surrogate family of gunslingers, and, in this final installment, playfully and seductively suggests that it might not be the author who drives the story, but rather the fictional characters that control the author.This philosophical exploration of free will and destiny may surprise those who have viewed King as a prolific pop-fiction dispenser. But a closer look at the brilliant complexity of his Dark Tower world should explain why this bestselling author has finally been recognized for his contribution to the contemporary literary canon. With the conclusion of this tale, ostensibly the last published work of his career, King hascertainly reached the top of his game. And as for who or what resides at the top of the tower...The many readers dying to know will have to start at the beginning and work their way up.