The First Two Dark Tower Books: When the Sequel is Better
Stephen: King of Horror
Stephen King has dominated the
horror genre and so I have avoided reading anything by him, as I am easily
frightened. Horror is not my cup of tea, but recently through one situation or
another, I’ve been exposed to it more. Through student teaching, I’ve read
several scary short stories by Stephen King, as we are moving through a scary
short story unit. Similarly, the next couple of books on the science fiction
list I am going through are from the Dark Tower Series. It follows Roland and
his search for ‘the tower,’ which as of the first two books seems to be an
ominous paradise. Roland is a gunslinger, the last of a type of old-west knight
who roams the earth on a never-ending quest. While in the first book Roland
travels mainly with his past and within his own mind, the second book has him
deal with his past in the present with the help of other individuals, who he
must decide whether to use or help.
Magnum Opus
According to Stephen King’s website the
Dark Tower series is, “Stephen King’s magnum opus,” (1). What does it mean to
call a series of work your magnum opus? King considers this series his best
work and what he wants to be remembered by. So much so that he centers the
universe of his creative works on this series (1). Despite the fact that Carrie was his first book and It
and The Shining are the books
turned movies that most people know him for, Stephen King values the Dark Tower
series more.
Confusing vs. Effective Mystery
If you had told me that when I had only
read the first book, I would have been worried, deeply worried. Primarily,
during the first book, Roland wanders through the desert looking for the man in
black. However, as Roland has no food for fuel, the book has no fuel to keep it
moving either. Authors can and have made excellent introspective reflective
novels, but it isn’t easy to write a novel that focuses on the character’s
internal dialogue and try to keep the character’s past secretive and mysterious.
On the other hand, the second book keeps moving because the problems vary as
well as their solutions. One moment the problem is the “did-a-chick” lobster
creatures, the next it is customs, but they are all strung together logically
and progress quickly. As soon as a problem arrives, the solution arises. Though
it may not be the most pleasant solution, it does work. In this novel, Stephen
King still attempts to create an aura of mystery and secrecy, but there is
enough happening outside of the character’s heads that the mystery is
intriguing instead of only confusing.
Science Fiction?
When I first started reading the first
two Dark Tower books, I was confused why these books were on my science fiction
list. I thought Stephen King wrote horror. As I read it, though there were
definitely horror moments in the books, it didn’t seem like a science fiction
book. The Man in Black impregnates a woman with a demon in the first book and
the second has Jack, someone who takes pleasure from injuring/and or killing random
passers-by. Those are horror-esque moments and while there are also demons,
addictive devil grass, oracles, and magical portal doorways, I would consider
those elements more fantastical than scientifically fictional.
A Challenge
Don’t get me wrong; I’m
still going to continue reading the series, but it isn’t science fiction. More
accurately this series seems part of a horror-fantasy genre. Maybe eventually, the series will
turn more to science fiction, but currently this series seems more like creepy
Narnia than eerie Foundation Series. Although people often wish to go to
Narnia, they don’t wish to travel there, because of the scenery. It’s the
people, the characters that give the world its appeal. The same is true of the
first two Dark Tower books. No one would be drawn to a book about a bleak
desert or a barren seaside riddled with Lobstrosities.
Instead it is Roland’s attempts to deal with his past and reconcile his need to
arrive at the Tower and his newfound care for his companions. The first book
dips its pinky toenail into the intrapersonal relationship waters, but it’s the
second book that wades right in. I will give you the same advice that helped me
make it past the first book. Answering another person disappointed with the
first book, a Goodreads commenter wrote, “I dare you to continue and read
"The Drawing of the Three", if you don't like [it] you can stop,” (2).
I made it through The Drawing of the
Three and I’m not stopping.
Notes:
Sources:
Image Credit: My own image
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