The Fancy Bastard Forum

That's by Garth Nix, correct?

Nope, Stephen King.

Huge fan. I re-read the first four books about 5 times each when I was younger, I'm thinking about re-reading the last ones this summer, if I get enough free time. Stephen King can have his hacky moments, but that hasn't stopped me from reading almost his entire work. Still kinda wish I hadn't read the second ending of the series, though.

Also, Jae Lee is doing the best work of his career in the Dark Tower comic. Marvel is going to be doing a comic of The Stand as well, I think.

Wait, Garth Nix's in The Seventh Tower.
I may have picked up the first book in Dark Tower before, but I don't think I've continued any farther yet.

Yes, I absolutely love this series. The comic is also awesome. I saw rumors a few years ago about an animated series which, if done correctly, would be totally badass.

@ anachrotool-I am also LOVING the comic, and Jae Lee is incredible. I'd love to see an adaptation of The Stand, if only to get that horrid TV miniseries they did in the 90's out of my brain.

@ melkor-You really should, the books only get progressively better.

@ histumness-An animated series would be the shizz. I heard rumors of HBO or Showtime doing it up live action too. We'll see.

I've read the Dark Tower series, along with the Stand and the Shining and some other stories. Stand and Shining were certainly good works all by themselves, and I like the philosophy of sort of connecting many of his stories. The Dark Tower series itself, though... I was a big fan of, but I really started to not be as enthralled by it after Wizard and Glass. I don't know if I changed or the writing and narrative changed, but the remaining books felt different to me. I still finished them, and still count them among my favorites, but ... I don't know, they just seemed to not be as cool as they could have been.

I've read the first 4 and need to get the last 3. These are some of the best books I've read in a while. I heard they were thinking about making a Dark Tower movie series, but each book would be two or three movie.

As for the second ending... I kinda like it. It's not your typical "And everyone lived happily ever after, The End" stuff you usually get. Poor Roland, what a mind fudge, though.

Posted By: The VomiteerAs for the second ending... I kinda like it. It's not your typical "And everyone lived happily ever after, The End" stuff you usually get. Poor Roland, what a mind fudge, though.

At first I was not on board with the ending, but after a re-read I felt it was the ONLY way to end it.

Stephen King has an interesting mind for endings, but i love a lot of his stuff. i'm not going to stand up for all of it (don't read Cell, btw) but the Dark Tower series is the magnum opus of one of the greatest writers currently working. i think that Stephen King (with his well developed characters and overly coincidental plots) is the Charles Dickens of our day and that people will be speaking his name in a hundred years (although i can't predict in what way they'll talk about him).

some of his novels (Dreamcatcher, 'Salem's Lot) really almost cross over into a really beautifully done suspense. i think that his reputation has been ruined by his movies, when in truth, the only movies that really hold a candle to the books are The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption (and possibly 1408). The Mist was well done and i enjoyed it, but the ending (unsatisfying and soul-consuming) ruined it for a lot of people, so i'm not going to stand up for it either.

i do especially enjoy it when his other novels connect to The Dark Tower series like spokes in a wheel. i fell like Insomnia's plot has the most DT stuff integrated into it, but it's one of his less titillating novels and about as long as The Stand (second most integrated tie in, i think).

discuss

I liked that he threw some Cthulhu mythos into 'Salem's Lot, so if he did that some more I'd be happy. From A Buick 8 was kind of interesting in that same way. Have him write some straight up Cthulhu mythos material and then tie it to the Dark Tower, and you've won me over.

Posted By: Andyin truth, the only movies that really hold a candle to the books are The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption (and possibly 1408).

The Green Mile was fantastic.

Posted By: Dram

Posted By: Andyin truth, the only movies that really hold a candle to the books are The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption (and possibly 1408).

The Green Mile wasfantastic.

Oh god, that movie is like kryptonite for me! I'm a blubbering mess by the time its over! The book was even worse, I threw it at the wall I was so mad at it for making me cry!

I'm a King supporter. He had some horrible lows but he's also written some of the best books I've read. Honestly when you pump out as much work as he does you can afford to be self indulgent.

I will always love The Dark Tower. On it's own it's an amazing series but as a King fan you get the added bonus of how it ties into what he has done.

1408 was a book, News to me. Count me in for the club..now which thread is it

Posted By: ensabahnur1408 was a book, News to me. Count me in for the club..now which thread is it

Book club information is here: Of Parfs, Booksplosions, and the Hellmouth at Darmok

We're using a GoodReads group for polls and discussions.

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