July 19, 2015
The fourth book in The Dark Tower series. This hefty volume revolved mainly around Roland's past, as he tells his ka-tet the story of Susan. We already know, from a brief description in The Gunslinger, that she was burned to death. The story of their young, passionate love and the events leading to her murder help Roland's friends to understand how he became so sad and serious. It also shows how he first became fixated with the Dark Tower itself.
I wish the book had given us more of the ka-tet and their adventures, as they only really factor in at the beginning and the end. When Eddie defeats Blaine, they end up in...Topeka, Kansas??? But they realize that this world, so like the "real" one, is different. The population has been wiped out by a virus called "Captain Trips." This was in a story in King's Night Shift collection; a group of college-aged kids, who have managed to survive but know their time is running out, are at a beach just passing the rest of their lives away. Anyway, they start down the interstate, and on the way they stop and Roland tells the story that has been burning him up for so long.
We get to know Cuthbert and Alain, Roland's two best boyhood friends. It's clear why Eddie reminds Roland so much of Bert. They've all been sent to a small village called Hambry. Officially it's to get Riland away from Marten; Marten, the wizard, tried to trick Roland into getting killed by facing off with Cort. But Roland won his guns, of course, and the young gunslinger's life is in danger. But I think there's more going on here. Why did the boys have to use false names in Mejis? And if Hambry was supposed to be this sheltered place, why did Roland's father happen to warn them about the pink glass? I feel like Steven knew a lot more than he let on, just as he sort of "allowed" Roland to later kill his own mother.
Anyway, the boys get a lot more than they bargain for in Mejis. Through their uncovering of the conspiracy with the goods and the oil, we learn quite a bit more about why Roland's world fell apart. Roland and his pals stop the plot to aid Farson, but that doesn't stop him from taking over his world and destroying it.
I felt like some parts of the story dragged a bit, but I was mostly into the story of Roland and Susan. I was, however, glad to get back with the ka-tet as they continue to try to find the Path of the Beam again. The wizard sets up a wizard of Oz-inspired scenario to draw them to him, but they thwart him and finally kill that disgusting Tick-Tock man. They haven't seen the last of the wizard, but they've found the Path again and are continuing in their way.
Although I didn't like this one quite as much as the last two, I'm still really excited to continue with the series. Plus, it was good to have more things from the first book clarified. I almost want to read the original version to see what King added or changed to make it fit; I feel like the first book, the revised version that I read, fits really well with this one. But for now, I'll continue on.
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