Best Dark Tower book

[the_last_gunslinger]

It was a toss up between The Wastelands and Song of Susannah. I eventually decided on the latter because it contained more numerous examples of the supernatural and the bizarre, and it was a book in which a great deal of the Dark Tower Mythos was explained and explored.

Wizard and Glass, however, would rank as the worst.

[RichardThomas]

I remember the Wastelands being good. But then I think of the Wolves of Calla and that sounds great too. Of course, it's been YEARS since I've read these.

[Nik Houser]

I'm surprised Waste Lands isn't getting more votes. Gunslinger's my favorite, but for my money, Wastelands is thoroughly well-imagined, intense, and better-conceived as a full-bodied novel (with the exception of the cliff-hanger ending). Story-wise, the first one's a collection of episodes (originally published thus, obviously), the second is a fill-in so he can get the crew together, Wizard and Glass is back story that I never found particularly compelling, Wolves of the Calla is pretty well-constructed, and Song of Susanna is another fill-in so we can get to the rushed climax in book 7. Don't get me wrong, they're all HUGE FUN, well-written, and brilliant in their own ways and I love them, and books 3 and 5 certainly have their own weak points, but although Gunslinger is my overall favorite, I think Wastelands and Wolves of the Calla are the best-constructed, story-wise. Also, I love Little Sisters of Eluria. I'd love to see a book of short stories chronicling Roland's early journey. The Marvel graphic novels are fun, but can't make King's prose.

And yeah, can't wait for book 8.

[RichardThomas]

I'm really looking forward to book 8, be great to see these guys again. I mean, how long did that series span, like 15, 20 years?

[srboone]

I read The Drawing of the Three on a bus trip from Hays KS to Yakima, WA in '89; When it ended, the trip wasn't over and since I wanted more, I reread it. I was astounded by the book; I had never read anything like it and had not expected it from King. Today, it still blows me away.

The 5 Gunslinger stories were enjoyable and I had waited to see where it was going and I wasn't disappointed. Sadly, after a teriffic start, The Wastelands became boring, Wizard and Glass made me realize that the DT was becoming a conventional fantasy (the idea of worlds an author has created coinjoing is not original--Michael Moorcock has been doing that since the 60s). The Wolves of the Calla made me think that King was running out of ideas (the whole thing seemed pointless) and that Father Callahan wasn't happy about being ressurected; I liked Song of Susannah--it had a republic serial cliffhanger feel to it; The Dark Tower I enjoyed except for the ending.

Ranking them: 2,1,6,7,4,3,5. :

Looking forward to book 8!

[RichardThomas]

very tough call between The Gunslinger and Wizard & Glass, but I lean WAG just a bit.

[frik51]

Hey, it worked.
Posting a poll, I mean.

I voted for Wizard and Glass.
I've always loved this book, as it's a perfect combination of thrilling action and great romance.
King has seldom been better.

sk

[ozmosis7]

Gunslinger...hands down.

[frik51]

For now, King is done with The Dark Tower. Coming up, next year, the eighth book in this series, The Wind Through the Keyhole.
But, of the seven books so far, which is your favorite, and why?

sk