The latest in King's fantasy tour-de-force (Dark Tower 4: Wizard and Glass - Stephen King)

Member Name: Matt B

Product:	Dark Tower 4: Wizard and Glass - Stephen King
Date:	16/12/00 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Among the greatest of King's works. A heartbreaking romance story that should appeal to longtime fans of 'The Dark Tower' as well as new readers.

Disadvantages: There is no fifth volume at present, so the reader can't carry on the adventure after finishing this book.

Wizard and Glass was an amazing experience to read. I had waited years after the conclusion of Book three in King's Dark Tower series (entitled 'The Waste Lands') to see what would happen after the incredible cliffhanger. I had read on the internet that the fourth volume was mostly concerned with a romance story from the past of the main character - Roland, the gunslinger. I wasn't keen on the idea of this; I just wanted a conclusion.

Boy, did I get the wrong idea. I should have learned by now that King can write anything, and I would enjoy it. The romance in this book is heartbreaking. Very few King books can affect me for awhile after I finish them - among them are 'It', with it's themes of friendship, and Insomnia. I can now add Wizard and Glass to the list.

Some might complain that we are not really any further on the path towards the Dark Tower and this series' conclusion - The majority of the book is based on the past, not the present. I would say that this is missing the point - It's not where the journey takes you but what happens along the way; Otherwise, King's 'The Long Walk' would be disapointing reading.

I would say that any King fan should own this volume - it's among the greats in his works, such as The Stand and It. Hopefully, with it's more publicised release, it will bring more fans in to read the Dark Tower series - and since the previous volumes have been re-released in matching covers, there's no reason not to pick up the previous books.

The only bad thing in all of this will be the wait until the fifth volume is released; Oh well. At least it's not a cliffhanger this time...

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