That’s Book Happenings Under Development. I chose that over Literary Happenings because it reminds me of C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud. Anyway…
Stephen King was the first adult author I got into when I made the bold transition from reading kids books to big boy books. Despite devouring the vast majority of his pre-90’s material, I’ve never read any of King’s sprawling Dark Tower series. I’m always wary to jump into a long book series, and for every person who has told me the series is great, another has told me that the final few books are turds, hurriedly rushed to completion so King could finish the series. I just don’t know who to believe!
Well, my wariness just got warier. Because King has announced on his website that he has readied the newest installment to the series, The Dark Tower: The Wind Through The Keyhole. The man is a machine.
Quoth the King:
Dear Constant Readers,
At some point, while worrying over the copyedited manuscript of the next book (11/22/63, out November 8th), I started thinking—and dreaming—about Mid-World again. The major story of Roland and his ka-tet was told, but I realized there was at least one hole in the narrative progression: what happened to Roland, Jake, Eddie, Susannah, and Oy between the time they leave the Emerald City (the end of Wizard and Glass) and the time we pick them up again, on the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis (the beginning of Wolves of the Calla)?
There was a storm, I decided. One of sudden and vicious intensity. The kind to which billy-bumblers like Oy are particularly susceptible. Little by little, a story began to take shape. I saw a line of riders, one of them Roland’s old mate, Jamie DeCurry, emerging from clouds of alkali dust thrown by a high wind. I saw a severed head on a fencepost. I saw a swamp full of dangers and terrors. I saw just enough to want to see the rest. Long story short, I went back to visit an-tet with my friends for awhile. The result is a novel called The Wind Through the Keyhole. It’s finished, and I expect it will be published next year.
It won’t tell you much that’s new about Roland and his friends, but there’s a lot none of us knew about Mid-World, both past and present. The novel is shorter than DT 2-7, but quite a bit longer than the first volume—call this one DT-4.5. It’s not going to change anybody’s life, but God, I had fun.
— Steve King
9 comments
Huzzah!
Josh, don’t trust anybody’s opinion, good or bad. Just read ’em. Take breaks between books.
Personally, I dig them all, but the series does drag a little at times, most notably (for me) during parts of the second & third book, and the sixth. Still, it’s worth your time, especially since you seem to have read a lot of his stuff, and he weaves the story in and out of 2/3 of his novels in some way, shape, or form.
Yes, just read the books, at least half of them are great and the rest are pretty good if you just accept the fact that the ending won’t rock your world.
And now let the disagreeing of Tower fans continue! It’s part four and seven that drag the most :p
I’m quite looking forward to this though. Glimpses into Rolands past are always appreciated and this one’s got Jamie de Curry! Easily the best Indian food related character name King ever came up with.
If you’re into Meta, you’ll like them. But yeah, take breaks between. Or grab the audio books and get on with some housework or something.
I enjoyed the series and didn’t really have a problem with the ending. My only major complaint was the resolution of one character in particular, who I felt got short shrift.
You won. I just bought THE GUNSLINGER on Amazon for 30 cents. God bless used books.
I enjoyed the whole thing well enough. I liked the first book best. Had no problem with the ending of the series even though the last three books kind of run together in my mind and I had a harder time connecting with them. It will be interesting to re-read them one day. The new book is good news. I hope he finds more stories to fill in.
The world of The Dark Tower is a pleasure to enter. Like anything this sprawling, there will be opinions left and right on the validity of certain installments, the ending, etc…
Not looking forward the Howard film/t.v. project; it is one of those things I wish would be left alone. Much of what creates the entire enigma of the saga is the ambiguity of certain aspects of the mythos…more back story and explanation could be fun for a moment, but if it ultimately over-explains a lot of stuff…I could personally do without it.
Let Ka remain Ka, and have it not become midi-chlorian.
His name has not been mentioned once…on any site…but seriously, wouldn’t Michael Keaton make an amazing Roland?
Stop. Think about it.
Nobody thought he could be Batman either…and hey, revisit that movie and tell me you don’t miss both him and the Artist-Formerly-Known-As-Burton.
Kurt Russell as Roland?
Stallone would be epic…don’t laugh; think about it. Tell me that either Rocky or Rambo was stupid.
Give Stallone his third “R”…Roland… or give us Russell. Or Sawyer from LOST.
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