"Great installment in this teriffic series"

The original gunslinger Roland Deschain and his companions (Eddie Dean, Susannah Holmes, Jake Chambers) along with their pet Bumblers Oy deter from the quest of averting the eradication of the Dark Tower. Though they have no time to leave the Beam's path if they are to prevent Chaos from ruling the worlds, Roland follows his Ka anyway.

The group are in the farming community Calla Bryn Sturgis where apparently every decade the Thunderclap Wolves abduct a child from each pair of Calla twins. They take the misfortunate members to the Tower before sending the twin home a mental and physical damaged husk of what they were.

In 1977 New York City thugs from the Drawing of the Three threaten bookstore owner Calvin Tower. They demand he sells to them a vacant lot in midtown Manhattan where the Rose that is this world's manifestation of the Dark Tower lies. The gunslinging quartet with the help of Old Fella must fight evil in two worlds.

The fifth novel in Stephen King's Dark Tower series is fantastic as the action continues, the team takes a detour yet paradoxically steps closer to their goal, and the connections to other books continue. That link to SALEM'S LOT and THE STAND, etc. is part of the fun (Scribner offers THE CONCORDANCE to assist the audience in following the who's who from where). This particular volume contains an exciting story line starring absorbing characters who get deeper with each tale. Readers will appreciate the latest adventures of the gunslingers as Mr. King's epic fantasy is moving forward towards the climax.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted October 15, 2003