"Dark Tower"

Instructed by the Crimson King's Low Men thugs and applying the power of the Black Thirteen, the demon-mother Mia, using the body of the body of Susannah Dean as her host, travels to Midtown Manhattan in the summer of 99. Mia understands that she must give birth at the right time at the right place to begin the end of the Dark Tower. Trailing her in order to prevent the event at the Dixie Pig are adolescent Jake, his talking pet Oy and Father Callaghan.

Meanwhile, in 1977 Enrico Balazar and his goons have traveled to East Stoneham, Maine where they plan to kill bookstore owner Calvin Tower. Gunslingers Roland and Eddie arrive at the bookstore also seeking Enrico as bullets fly and a frightened young author of a bestseller called Salem's Lot wonders when his fantasy world turned to deadly reality.

The sixth tale of the Dark Tower series continues the path towards the finish with two prime exhilarating subplots that will enthrall the audience. The ironic technique of King placing King inside the novel comes off as chutzpah that works especially the ending. Still the key to this rendition and the previous sagas remain that the characters hold true to their respective essence throughout the adventures. With the finale in this saga to be published soon, fans of Stephen King will rejoice this epic series maintains its' high standard throughout, but newcomers should start with the first novel.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 3, 2004