A quick question

[thebitterguy]

Last night, while visiting the MPL on my way home to drop off a couple books, I returned a couple books and picked up The Long Halloween (it just seemed so appropriate).

On my way out, I saw that the first four Dark Tower books were available in the "we had these donated but already had copies" pile for fifty cents each. So, since I had a toonie in my pocket, I figured I'd go for it.

So: Did I make a horrible mistake?

Comments

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

Had you never read them before? Oh man, the first one is so good. Unfortunately, they only seem to go downhill from there. I just recently bought the fifth one, so I'll eventually give it a read.

[thebitterguy]

So I DID make a horrible mistake? Or is downhill from good just good but not so good?

[circus13.livejournal.com]

I've read all 7 books, and I thought that 2 & 3 were a little lame, but Wizard and Glass is GREAT! Sets up a wonderful sci-fi/fantasy/western atmosphere that you can't help but be sucked into. It gets a little weird at times, but if you enjoy the first book, continue reading, even if it seems to be bad. The series wraps up in the only way it can, and I, for one, loved it.

I have the first 4 in trade PB and the last three in hardcover (I love clearance sales at Borders and Barnes & Noble).

[deven-science.livejournal.com]

Your guess is basically correct. The first one is so good, and written in an un-King style that makes it even better (I'm not a fan of his style), but the next two are weaker, though still very interesting. The fourth picked up again, but gave the main character a childhood, and a background, and a past, all things of which I sorta would've preferred not to know. I preferred him as he was in the first couple: An anomaly, driven by who-knows-what, but cool as Hell, like The Man With No Name in the Fist Full of Dollars movies. They remain King's best writings, either way.

[artbroken.livejournal.com]

Hell no. They're uneven, but the series as a whole is goddamn terrific.

[pope-j-rod.livejournal.com]

I have started the 5th book, and I must agree that the series is good, but has highs and lows in terms of individual books. Book 4 is by far my favorite.

[creativedv8tion.livejournal.com]

Wizard and Glass is the best one - the last three are not as good, but definitely worth reading.

[granolademonic.livejournal.com]

You're alright, but don't venture past Book 4.

Long Halloween, incidentally, gets my vote for most inexplicably overrated Batbook ever.

...after Dark Knight Returns.

[thebitterguy]

I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that bit about DKR.