I’m not typically someone that gets reeled into a series, whether it be in book or tv form. But Roland and his ka-tet drew me in right away and never let go. Ranked from least favorite to favorite, here are my thoughts on the original seven Dark Tower books. I have not read Wind Through the Keyhole yet, but will add it to the mix when I do.
- Wolves of the Calla—I hate to make this my least favorite of the Dark Tower books because it has the coolest name! But this was the only one that I struggled to finish. Many of the Calla folk have undefined or meaningless roles. And with Calvin Tower, the New York bookstore owner, it seems that King couldn’t decide if he wants us to love or hate his character. It’s almost like he is worried that the reader might begin to consider Tower part of Roland’s ka-tet if he doesn’t make it clear that Eddie Dean finds him to be a jerk. Although Eddie’s reasons for not liking Tower seem a bit silly. I mean, if you’re going to hate on a guy for holding onto his books, then I guess I’m a real Grade A asshole. But the biggest reason I’m not too fond of the The Dark Tower V, is because of the “big” gunfight. The entire book leads up to this confrontation with the wolves. There is planning and conniving by Roland and his ka-tet (again, a bit silly in the way it is done) and the revelation that the wolves aren’t really wolves (a bit of a letdown), and it all culminates in a skirmish with very little firepower. On the bright side, I love the introduction of Father Callahan and his stories following Salem’s Lot.
- The Drawing of the Three—This is considered by many to be the best of the series. There is plenty reason to see why: the drawing of Eddie Dean, with his situation with drugs and the mafia, make for some damn entertaining storytelling. The gunfight with Balazar’s men is brilliantly executed. And the lobstrosities, along with Roland’s declining health, provid the tale with a constant feel of unease. But the drawing of Odetta/Detta is a bit disappointing. One half of her personality, Detta, is a raving, racist lunatic, whose profanity laced tirades do little more than make the reader cringe. And her other half, Odetta, feels almost too kind to be believable. Also, it seems like Eddie has pushed Odetta’s wheelchair a mere ten feet before he decides he is in love with her. It just isn’t realistic.
- The Wastelands—Like Drawing, this book is often called the best of the series. I really can’t argue with those who say that. From the confrontation with Shardik to the madness that ensued at the city of Lud, The Wastelands is action-packed and entertaining from cover to cover. Although I’m unsure what did it, my feelings of don’t-give-a-shit about Susannah and disbelief in her union with Eddie evaporate in this novel. They fit together better now, and Susannah, having shed Odetta and Detta, is a much more realistic and likable character. My only issue is the ending. In Song of Susannah, there is a hanging ending, but it feels RIGHT. It does not feel right in The Wastelands. At least at the end of Song you know that there is some crazy shit about to go down. But in The Wastelands, it ends with the suspense and action already in the rearview mirror. It is almost like Stephen King was like, “Okay, I’ve reached my word limit with this one. Better call it call it quits.”
- The Gunslinger—It’s hard to believe I have this one coming in fourth. The first Dark Tower book is one that I instantly fell in love with. The introduction to our hero, Roland, and the boy, Jake, and the mysterious man in black sucked me in. And who could forget that simple, yet beautiful first line: “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” That’s perhaps the greatest opening sentence ever written. The novel tells just enough to draw us in, making us beg for more. And that, perhaps, is why I’ve stuck it at fourth. I wanted to know more about Roland! I wanted to know why he was pursuing the man in black and the Dark Tower! Roland’s memories of Gilead seem to drag on the overall tale a bit, with the exception of his confrontation with Cort, his mentor. The shootout at Tull and the confrontation with the slow mutants are probably my favorite scenes of the book.
- The Dark Tower—Of the seven original Dark Tower books, The Dark Tower is the only one I would really consider horror. From the scenes of vampires and things at the Dixie Pig, to the terrifying birth and eating habits of Mordred, and the creature beneath Castle Discordia, this is the one book that seems to have a heavy helping of classic King horror in it. And the way King tells of himself being saved from the van (which really did nearly kill him) by Roland and Jake is simply awesome. Of course, we know from almost the very beginning of the series that only Roland will enter the Tower. So, it’s no surprise when the rest of the ka-tet begins to die off. It is truly heartbreaking when characters you’ve grown to love over the course of seven massive novels start dying. At least they go down swinging! My only real issue with The Dark Tower is the death of Walter, the man in black. It definitely should not go down like that. From book one, we’re waiting for this epic battle between Roland and Walter…and we’ll be forever waiting. The ending—love it! I’m sure many people hate it and feel cheated, but I think it is perfect.
- Song of Susannah—In my studies of what others think of the Dark Tower books, The Dark Tower 6: Song of Susannah is often the least well-received of the series. Even as I started it, having read the synopsis, and knowing that the majority of the plot takes place in our world, I worried I wouldn’t enjoy it. Well, I loved it! Susannah takes center stage for much of this one, and man does she shine. She is once again battling inner demons, while also having god knows what growing in her belly. You can really feel her fear! The gunfight that ensues when Eddie and Roland arrive in Maine is perhaps the best action scene of the series. But what really won me over was the introduction of King himself as one of the characters. I thought it was brilliantly executed; not cheesy at all. In the overall context of the series, it is probably unnecessary for Roland and Eddie to visit Stephen King, and that may leave some readers wondering why the hell he would write himself in, other than pure ego. But, in my opinion, it illustrates how Roland and his ka-tet are far from confident on what their actions should be. It makes them feel human. Song of Susannah is another one with a splendid ending, with Jake and Callahan ready to throw down.
- Wizard and Glass—Just as Song of Susannah quickly eased my concerns about the direction of the plot, so too did Wizard and Glass. I knew going in that there would be a departure from the overall plot of Roland’s quest for the Dark Tower, as he tells a story from his youth. I didn’t want to leave Roland, Eddie, Susannah, and Jake. And don’t forget Oy! I especially didn’t want to leave them since they had somehow crossed over to the version of Earth depicted in The Stand. But—damn!—am I ever glad that Roland decided to tell his tale! In Wizard and Glass, Roland emerges as a more relatable and well-rounded character. And Cuthbert and Alain—especially Cuthbert—become enjoyable characters in their own right. But I think it’s the love story (something that Stephen King is certainly not known for) that makes Wizard and Glass my favorite. From the beginning of the series, we’ve seen Roland as this hardened, no nonsense Clint Eastwood type. But, now, we flash back to Roland in his younger years and see him fall in love with Susan Delgado, and ultimately lose her in a most horrific manner. We see why Roland is the way he is. The battle at Eyebolt Canyon is excellent and rivals the shoot-out in Song of Susannah and the one in Tull (The Gunslinger) as the best in the series. My only complaint (and this goes for the entire series) is that we never get to see the battles against John Farson, “The Good Man,” and the fall of Gilead and the gunslingers. I feel like so much is left to be told. But—who knows—maybe we’ll find out about it another time.