Divine

I think I may have been the first to notice and buy this book today, so I think it is fitting that I write the first review.

DTVII is the long awaited conclusion to the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. If you have not read or listened to the first six, DO NOT GET THIS BOOK FIRST.

If you have, tread carefully for beyond here there be serpents. (or something like that) No one whom I know that has heard or read the book debates that the story is the finest that King has ever written (all rate this book as the best in the series by far.)

They are, however, in no such agreement over the conclusion. It is impossible to please everyone. My feelings are that the story concludes in the only way that I would have accepted.

One piece of advice is worth giving though: When you reach the Coda, if you are happy with the story up to that point and can come up with the willpower to do so, stop there.

About the audio: George Guidall's reading of this novel is divinely inspired. His pacing and characterizations add a dimension to this book which made it even more enjoyable than the text alone. (This was also divine.)

One other thing: If you are going to post a review, please do not reveal anything of the content of the story. No matter how you feel, it is impolite and inconsiderate to reveal things to others before they even have the chance to learn for themselves.

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Worried about the ending? (NO SPOILERS)

Before finishing the final book in the DT series, I had read several reviews, both professional and by readers, that complained, bitterly, about the book's end. While I would NEVER give away the ending for all those of you lucky enought to be working your way through this and the other DT books, I had to chime in with these words of advice:

1. The book itself is WONDERFUL. Even if the thing ended with Roland waking up in a farmhouse with Auntie Em and Toto it would still be worth reading (and NO, it does not actually end that way...)

2. The ending, to careful readers or nitpickers like me, should come as no great surprise. It's been masterfully and subtly telegraphed throughout the entire 7 book run.

3. King himself gives you an "out" before he starts controversial this ending. And not to be a dimestore psychologist here, this choice echos the choices the Gunslinger has made, and continues to make. Are you open minded and content to enjoy the story up to that point, or are you driven to the end, no matter what the consequences, like our favorite "long, tall and ugly" cowboy?

The only caveat I can give those who like neat, clean, "Hollywood endings", STOP READING when King tells you to. If you want to see what REALLY happens... Well, you can open that door when you come to it...

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The Dark Tower Review - Concluded

<B><U>The Dark Tower: </B>The Dark Tower VII</U> concludes a journey that I have thoroughly enjoyed for over 15 years. The writing of this tale, which began June 19, 1970, has weaved its way through Stephen King's life and all of his stories. I have never read more than a few words of this long tale. I have, whether on tape or on CD or on download from audible, listened to these wonderful stories over countless hours of my life. In that time, as did the author, I got married, have started a family; have lived my life. I count none of that time as wasted and listening to <B><U>The Dark Tower</U></B> was always a pleasure; even the time between volumes was a pleasure as I waited once again to rejoin my old friends. With the journey at an end, I will not miss them but will continue to revisit them, as I have all these years past.

I invite you to begin at the beginning if you are new to the tower, as other reviews have and as the author himself has implored. In a previous review, I suggested the third volume as an alternative starting point, and I still think that a good place to start as well, as I consider <U>The Waste Lands</U> to be the most exciting volume. It is, after all, the place where Roland's final Ka-Tet comes together.

With regard to this final volume and more specifically, its narration, George Guidall comes into form. His reading of the last days of Roland's quest is impeccable in its voice and his knowledge of the characters is complete. If you begin reading this tale from the start, you will hear him in <U>The Gunslinger</U> and, I suspect, be happy to hear his return with <U>Wolves of the Calla</U>.

If there is anything that I could say is missing from this final tale, it is a true "Afterword" from the author but in truth, what more could he have had to say, that hasn't been said already, both in previous forwards and afterwords, as well as within the narrative itself, especially the words of this final and revealing volume. Thankee Sai King.

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Unbelieveable

This is by far the best book I have read in a very long time. Matter of fact, it may even be the best. All of your questions are answered, there are no loose strings, and most of all, I was so engrossed in the book that I forgot to take my lunch break. So, if you're contemplating downloading this book, than you've already read the first six, (If not, you're lost- Go download 'The Gunslinger') and you don't need this review, because you're going to download it anyway- Resistance is futile. Let's just say that all of my co-workers are fighing over who gets to borrow the cd when I am done with it.
Long days and pleasant nights to you all, and happy listening.

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Amazing!!

The Dark Tower is w/out a doubt, the best series I've ever read or listened to. I hate that this is the last book of the bunch. When the series is over, no matter how many times I listen to the series, I feel depressed, like my dog died or something. The book itself is really good. i was afraid that with the books leading up to this being SO GOOD, that it would be utterly impossible to have the ending not be dissappointing. Somehow, Mr. King did the impossible though. However, the journey to the tower really was the whole point, not the way it ends, and King left a message saying something to this affect. he leaves us the option to stop at one ending, or to read on a bit further. no matter where you choose to stop the story, i'll bet my watch and warrant that you'll be thoroughly satisfied.

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Amazing - a must have..

Guidall's narration is mesmerizing. Have read the first six books and thought I'd try listening to the last one to savor it and make it last longer. I'm through the third disk and I'm so glad I did this. King is a master and the narration brings all my fav characters to life. Highly recommended.

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If you've come this far, you may as well finish

What was most disappointing about Stephen King’s story?

It's hard to put a finger on just where this book went wrong, it's pacing is off, many story elements are downright silly and the ending will likely frustrate rather than satisfy.

Did The Dark Tower inspire you to do anything?

Yeah, lay off the King books for a while.

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OK...but

OK, but marred by a weak ending. King gets big penalty points from me for the ending of this book considering the length of the series and commitment it demands from it's readers. The annoying vampire BS continues in this book as well and I've been critical of this component. As if we didn't have enough characters and issues to think about, well... throw in vampires and their agents, the low people! And don't forget the Tahines, please...
The Crimson King is a bit of a let down also, though SK is clever with how he is dispatched

With Song of Susannah (not too good) and now The Dark Tower, both written in 2004, I get the feeling that King was writing fast and furious to finish these. Overall I like the series, but it peaks with books 2-5.

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And let it out.

King's magnum opus comes to a breath-holding close like a violent car accident shot in slow motion. King is able to take the crazy, disorganized, non-sensical flying cacophony of characters, events, circumstances and confluences and plucks them from the air, setting them all right in the end. I regret not a single second of the many, many hours I spent listening to this series. Thank you Mr. King. I'm glad you survived the minivan. We all are.

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A Dissapointing Ending to a Brilliant Series

Let me first start off by remarking that the Dark Tower series is one of the most remarkable Sci-Fi/Fantasy series that I have ever come across. Perhaps because the author has not typically written fantasy, this series is truly a breath of fresh air to the genre. The Dark Tower series contains many new and original concepts and a host of interesting characters. After a semi-slow beginning in "The Gunslinger" the book builds momentum and creativity throughout the second book and, IMHO, peaks at the tail end of book 3 and the beginning of book 4, at the height of its creativity and suspense. Books 2-5 are all very solid and are amongst the best fantasy stories I have read. However, in book 6, I believe that King's series begins to slump a bit under its own weight. By this final book, the unusual characters and novel bits of twisted creativity that were the halmark of this series have lost most of their luster. Roland's band of unlikely fellows increasingly display more and more characteristics of "stock fantasy characters", present within innumerable (and forgettable) fantasy novels. Increasingly, the gunslingers also draw upon classic means of resolving the obstacles they encounter, and the overall tone of the book becomes that of a relentless grind to the finish. Also, the rather odd (and somewhat arrogant) device of the author appearing in his own fantasy novel is overplayed far too much in the 6 & 7th books and really is only very detrimental to the overall storyline. These qualms aside, the Dark Tower series itself is truly remarkable - and if you have made it this far in the tale, you will of course continue through to the end. I will also echo the sentiment of other reviewers and say that if you are satisfied with the sugar-coated ending before the 'coda', by all means stop. But chances are, if you have followed the dusty trails of Roland in his journey thus far, you will be much more satisfied (as I was) with the "real" ending.

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