Actually, Tolkien was a pretty bad writer, and I say that as one who loves LOTR as much as any nerd. What we have is a fantastic epic story, but a mediocre storyteller.Originally Posted by flaggwalkstheline
DT trumps LOTR in virtually all respects. Here we have an epic story, told by a master storyteller.
As far as W&G, I'm not sure where I'd place it, but it's in the better half of the series for me. I will agree, though, that the beginning of the "flashback" is abominably slow.
Except internal consistency. Tolkien never changed Frodo's age within the same work as King does with Eddie in The Drawing of the Three. There are myriad other examples, but the point is that Tolkien used an outline.
Fair enough, I agree with that.Except internal consistency. Tolkien never changed Frodo's age within the same work as King does with Eddie in The Drawing of the Three. There are myriad other examples, but the point is that Tolkien used an outline.
I actually started King with the Dark Tower, but spaced out the first two before putting the series on major hold.
when I saw a used copy of Insomnia for cheap, I picked it up, along with a new copy of The Waste Lands, in case I found King's non-Dark Tower specific work to be lackluster.
I was pretty surprised when I noticed Dark Tower references left and right in Insomnia, and I think that helped me get pretty excited for The Waste Lands.
I've been reading straight through the Dark Tower series the past week or so, and am currently finishing the final installment.
I didn't really slow down during Wizard & Glass. It was a long piece and mostly flashback, but I found the Kansas parts were the ones that dragged for me.
It was pretty clear that the flashbacks would be in the form of a Western, although with large pieces of fantasy elements. For me, reading a Western can never be done slowly since I find myself always heading for the next shoot-out and waiting for the final confrontation in the shoebox canyon.
With Wizard & Glass, there was the inherent foreshadowing of the flashback segments which I think helped me read through it at a fast and consistent pace.
Me too, not least of all because I've known (in passing, and indirectly) someone who was fairly similar to Thorin in real life. *shudder*Yeah, I really enjoyed that part. I think it's going to start getting better. I've come to realize that it's not Roland's past that I hate in this book...it's Thorin, Coral, and Aunt Cord. I severely dislike the three of them. They need to go.
It's beyond me how anyone could find this backstory boring or distracting. I think it gives Roland's world and story so much more life.
I know that I'm really just repeating what everyone else is saying here, but I really find W&G a struggle to get through! I love the begining and the end of the book with Roland and his current Ka-Tet, but the whole flashback is a real chore for me.
I'm currently re-reading the series and since I picked up The Gunslinger I've been dreading coming to W&G cause I know it always takes me AGES to finish. I've only got about 150 or so pages left then I'm onto Wolves Of Calla which I'm really excited to read as I've only read it once (i've read 1-4 about 3 or 4 times as I had to wait for 5,6,7 to be released!)
I can't actually put my finger on what i dislike about this one but it's the only book in the series that I struggle with
Jamesey
xxx
No, not everyone, but some people, and definitely bears.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well it's nice to know bear's agree with meNo, not everyone, but some people, and definitely bears.sorry to be a total noobie about the whole thing - are you a bear as in Grrrr bear or bear as in sexy hairy bear?
Jamesey
xxx
The first time I read the books, W&G was my favorite. But now, one my second time through, it has fallen pretty far down the list. I couldn't get enough of it the first time, but couldn't wait for it to end this time. I just felt the love story was cliched and too lengthy. It could have very easily been done through a couple of short flashbacks. I do still really enjoy the portion of the story that deals with Cuthbert and Alain and the grapefruit and intrigue, though.
Currently Reading (Pleasure): The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan and The Dark Tower
Currently Reading (School): Done reading, done writing. Helloooo vacation.
Well it's nice to know bear's agree with mewell, right... a bear is a bear is a bear...I'm guessing the answer might end up being both.
Absolutely. We learned infinitely more about Roland's history from those concentrated, really insightful and right-to-the-point flashbacks in The Gunslinger (original).
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well it's nice to know bear's agree with mewell, right... a bear is a bear is a bear...I'm guessing the answer might end up being both.
Absolutely. We learned infinitely more about Roland's history from those concentrated, really insightful and right-to-the-point flashbacks in The Gunslinger (original).indeed
I'm going to go and start Wolves of Calla
the end was good, especially the battle - I mean the end of the Mejis part, because the end of the book itself was more than book, it was definitely great! Hope you will love Wolves, it's bears' favorite volume.
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've read Wolves before and really enjoyed it - i've just completely forgotten what happens so it will be like reading it for the first time!!
Jamesey
xxxx
do it! do it!!!
Ask not what bears can do for you, but what you can do for bears. (razz)
When one is in agreement with bears one is always correct. (mae)
bears are back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Boooooo W & G haters.
Sloth Love Chunk
Oh no - i don't hate it! I just don't enjoy it as much as the rest of the series
Jamesey
x
Sloth Love Chunk
It's really good to have you here but please be very careful with the spoilers.I've read Wolves before and really enjoyed it - i've just completely forgotten what happens so it will be like reading it for the first time!!
Jamesey
xxxx
The more they hate it the more we love it.
Roland would have understood.
I have to say that I love W&G more and more every time I read it (Didn't like it so much when I first read it...). Actually it's a gem!
“The devil's voice is sweet to hear.”
-SK.
I also find the W & G flashback a bore to read, if I do a re-read and I want that story, I read The Gunslinger Born comics, then just carry on from there. I like the tet's story in W & G, but it's drowned out by all the flashback stuff.
2:45 am- 11th February 2008- I Finished The Dark Tower
Reverse for me. Hate everything else King has ever written. love Dark Tower.
Although i did skip the flashback the first time I read the series. That was a mistake.
The WIzard of Oz stuff drove me nuts, definately love all the other books, but WAG will gather dust on my shelf for a while
WaG became my favorite in the series after the first time I listened to Frank Muller's reading. Prefect momentum and excitement, great voice work with Eddie, Blaine, Sheemie, Eldred Jonas and Rhea of Coos. It actually made me appreciate Rolands back story more and I might of dropped a tear or two for Susan. The Wizard of Oz stuff seemed a little tacked on but didnt take away anything from the story.
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