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Review Summaries
"Roland Deshayn, or Roland of Gillead is walking the desert chasing the "Man in Black". The "Man in Black" or Walter is an evil mage. They are in a place/time that has "Moved On", which seems to mean that a great war against Gillead has destroyed a very modern planet, leaving only desert wastelands and very few survivors.
Roland meets one survivor, an old man with a talking pet raven, and sits to eat with him before resuming the chase. During the meal Roland, who it turns out is a Gunslinger from Gillead, hears of what happened when Walter had stopped to rest there earlier.
After resumes the chase he comes upon a town of very strange people. He suspects a trap has been laid for him by the Man in Black.
When he leaves the town, he next comes upon a boy of 9 or so. Again the boy describes the previous visit with Walter and joins the Gunslinger when he leaves. Roland likes the kid, and is faced with the decision of keeping to the chase or helping the kid."
Michael J Lucas, Resident Stephen King Scholar
"This is the first book in the Dark Tower series. This book introduces us to Roland, the last of the gunslingers from the ancient barony of Gilead, as he chases his nemesis, the man in black, across the desert.
Roland's quest (known only in his deepest heart) is for The Dark Tower, the hub of the universe itself. Roland's pusuit of Marten (The man in black; Maerlyn to some) leaves behind a trail of bloodshed by Roland's own hand!
His trail (following the Beam!) unites him with Jake, a pre-teen boy who is mysteriously waiting (for who?) at a way-station in the middle of nowhere. They continue on Marten's trail into a mountain on a rickety mining railway where they encounter horrors of time and circumstance called Slow Mutants - unimaginable horrors deformed and suffering in the dark.
Coming to a place in the track where the rails hang brokenly out over a deep chasm, Roland has to choose between, Jake - his 'son' - or The Tower."
sue jeffrey, Resident Stephen King Scholar
"
Viking, Jun 2003, 25.00, 237 pp.
ISBN: 0670032549
Roland Deschain of Gilead knows he is obsessed over finding the Dark Tower, but does not care. He will follow the Man in Black wherever he goes and for how long it takes even into eternity until he catches this person, if he is a person, and force him to reveal the locale of the Dark Tower. If others die at his hands after meeting the Gunslinger so be it.
Currently he tracks his prey across a desert stopping at a way station where he meets a child whom he thought at first was his target, albeit two feet shorter. The kid is John “Jake” Chambers from 1977 New York City. Shockingly to the solitary Deschain, instead of his usual killing, Roland allows Jake to accompany him on his trek towards the mountains, the Man in Black, and ultimately the Black Tower.
This is somewhat of a reprint, but Stephen King has added back in edited out sections and rewritten some passages. The story line retains the strange, deep allegorical fantasy reminiscent of the cult movie El Topo with less gore and Michael Whelans' drawings add to that overall eerie feeling. The desert looms so vast and is so critical to the plot that the audience will see it as a character unto itself.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Stephen King Scholar
"The gunslinger pursues the man in black through a dismal desert land. When he meets people, his emotions combat his identity as an unfeeling archetype of justice."
Brittany Wallace, Resident Stephen King Scholar
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Overall Review
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Plot
Composition of Book Descript. of chases or violence - 20% planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 10% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- depressing/sad
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- surviving a post environmental/nuclear disaster
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- champion of justice
Age:
- long lived adults
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- magical being
- Male
Age:
- long-lived adults
Profession/status:
- mage/magician
Has magical powers?
Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Desert
Earth setting:
- near future (later in 21st century)
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
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