I've seen it at last! I have to say that for the most part, the movie is mostly sensational, it really is. I have stayed away from attempting to write a detailed review, the dozens I have glanced over today mostly do it far more justice then I ever could do. However, I did want to say a few things, if only as an excuse to post more pictures from the film.
The plus points…..
One of the strengths of The Lord of the Rings trilogy was the casting of the multitude of characters. Time and effort had obviously been put into choosing the not just the main individuals but also those who had less 'air-time' - Craig Parker as Haldir is a perfect case in point with his emotive and sensitive portrayal of the doomed Elf……yes, Tolkien purists, I know that the movie took liberties with the book's account of Haldir's Elves. It worked I tell you, it worked!
"What do you mean, I'm too tall to be a Dwarf?"
The same can immediately be said of The Hobbit, again the cast is superb. For me, the really interesting friendship arc of the story is that of the one between Thorin and Bilbo. Richard Armitage as Thorin is excellent, providing the audience glimpses of depth within his character that the novel rarely examines. In the book we witness him superficially as grim and ill-tempered for the majority of the journey. Whereas director, Peter Jackson provides us with a real texture to Thorin's personality by adding the back story which was taken largely from the appendices of The Return of the King. It was great to see the relationship of Balin and Thorin expanded too, Ken Scott was marvellous as the former. This went a long way in answering one of my questions as to just how a short novel could be expanded into three long movies..... Oh me of little faith.
'I do look like Ian Holme, honest!"
Martin Freeman is a wonderful Bilbo. He balances the combination of comedic and dramatic timing outstandingly. Some of the scenes are noticeably touching, particularly in some of the exchanges with the Dwarfs and especially when he decides to spare Gollum. Nothing is said, his facial expression is perfectly conveys his sympathy for the pathetic creature . His meeting with Gollum and the game of riddles, if anything, further improves on how it was conveyed in the book. Again the portrayal of Gollum was sublime, seeing the dual personalities arguing and competing against each other give a genuine depth to him that Tolkien was never ably to in the book.
A couple of minor quibbles…..
"No, I am not related to Jar-Jar Binks"
One significant disappointment was the inclusion of the Wizard, Radagast the Brown, played by Sylvester McCoy. When I first heard that the character who had been omitted from the 'Rings' trilogy was to be included I was pretty happy, this is the wizard who refused to take stand against Sauron and to inspire Men, Elves, Dwarves and all free people of Middle-Earth for good. Instead he "turned his back on the affairs of men and became more interested with the ways of nature", thereby protecting the world from Sauron in a much different way.
However, this movie sees him as nothing more than a hedgehog doctor who travels around on a sleigh pulled by rabbits. The scene where he and his rabbit sleigh evaded the Wargs while Thorin's band ran around like the Keystone Cops was frankly ridiculous. Radagast's free-floating intrusion into the main storyline again hints at a lazy plot-device. More importantly, he comes across as something of a clown, a figure to provide some comic interlude.
"I'll just pop round to the pub over in Mordor"
My second 'teeny weeny' little gripe is in regard to one of the many strengths of the original work, which was Tolkien's strict observance of a time line presented in his books by constant referrals to phases of the moon……(cue cries of Geek Alert!!)…... As in the Rings trilogy, people who aren't familiar the books could be excused for believing that much of the story takes place with a few square miles in just a few days. Yet the story takes place over many many hundreds of square miles over a period of months and years (the distance between the Shire and Rivendell is just over 300 miles itself), we never get the true feeling of that in the film….…just a minor gripe.
But lets accentuate the positives…..
I fully understand that for those who haven't not read the The Hobbit this film might feel a little long and perhaps boring in parts. That's something that seems to have been mentioned in one or two of the reviews from newspapers that frankly seem snobbish in their appraisal - John Walsh's piece in the Independent was especially patronising and dismissive in both of the genre and its fans.
Oh blimey does the film look good. The New Zealand scenery is as truly breath-taking as ever, the sets are exquisite, the special effects stunning.
I thought the pace of prologue was perfect and I enjoyed immensely being immersed in the introductory scenes in Bag End. The linkage between the beginning of the Hobbit and the beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring was particularly inspired. I loved the visual interpretation. I loved the Dwarfs and the Trolls. I loved revisiting the Shire and Rivendell ….and so did the packed cinema that I saw the film in.
A short pre-amble ….. Tomorrow I'm finally getting to see the The Hobbitmovie. Yes, yes, yes, I know I'm a bit late in seeing it. The world and it's dog has already seen what is arguably the most anticipated movie adaption ever. Well, maybe after The Lord of the Rings that is…… I mean, after all it's only perhaps the most important story that's played a part in my life. By rights there are some people that are happy to be called my friends ( some are even happy to be called my family) who were surprised that I wasn't queueing for a week to be first in the cinema…..However, in my defence, the last week has not only brought in the new year. No, it also brought with it a lovely cold ( I say major flu) bug that has made any attempt at concerted thought processing in my brain as easy as, well, as easy as bringing a J.R.R Tolkien novel to the big screen. Now I'm not one to wallow in self-pity (cue sounds of the odd guffaw from assorted family and friends) but I want to experience this movie with as clear a head as possible. Hence the delay. The fact that my local cinema has perhaps the best Nachos on the planet, and consequently there was no way I was going to let my cold bug spoil my enjoyment of them, has nothing to do with holding out for a few more days to see he movie. Anyway, I digress, back to the point. There are three novels that have had more importance in my life, for varying reasons, than any others; The Hobbit, The Catcher in the Rye and Dracula. Now apparently there has already been the odd movie version of the Transylvanian's various antics - and these in some form may well form the basis of a future blog entry. As everyone on the planet probably knows by now, this is the first cinematic adaptation of the adventures of Bilbo, Gandalf, Thorin et al. The Hobbit has formed part of the fabric of my consciousness since it was read to me by our English teacher at primary school. I really wish I could remember his name and thank him for having the effect on my Fantasy education that he did. The sessions we had on a Friday afternoon when he would read passages, then get some of us to read other parts were a magical introduction to a world the entranced me beyond description. He even humoured me in my attempt to read The Lord of the Rings - I was 9 years old, I didn't get very far. He did draw the line at my wish to read The Silmarillion… Anyhoo, It's not an over exaggeration to say that this story changed my life. That introduction of mine to the story of Bilbo Baggins at School was about 37 years ago and I've been waiting ever since for it to be made into it's cinematic form. Am I nervous that a book that has played a large part in the imaginative and visual soundtrack of my life could be spoiled by the movie adaptation? (Yes, the makers of 'Dune', I'm talking about you). Well if the truth be told, I am a little nervous. I'm not sure why, as the Peter Jackson treatment of the other Tolkien book, the title of which escapes me…, I thought quite frankly was inspired. Yes it had its flaws, the non-appearance of Tom Bombadil being an obvious but understandable case in point. I personally know some Tolkien purists to this day who have refused to see the whole series. For me though, the whole visual perfection of Jackson's earlier Tolkien film transformation and the near perfect casting gives me little reason to worry.
However, I'm not a Tolkien purist (and believe me I'm not belittling them), so if one or two 'liberties' are taken with the story then so be it. I will admit to having the odd concern about he fact that Peter Jackson has decided to release three movies to tell the story, though there are enough gaps in the plot of The Hobbit ( Gandalf disappearing off on his adventures etc) that should counter any 'padding out' issues. I've tried to stay away from news of reviews as much as I could, wanting to experience the film as freshly as possible. The only word I have had is from the odd friend or two whose opinion I trust. Yes Kimberly Weinburger, people such as yourself. We shall see, tomorrow will tell. I will let you know if my 'treasured book' works for me or not.
Yes I know. Some of you reading this blog (and big hugs and a thank you to you if you are) may consider some of these entries as 'not bloomin forgotten at all', or possibly that some of them should actually fall into the 'should have bloomin stayed forgotten' category - particularly one or two of the TV shows. The fact is that from a purely personal standpoint, some of them have been forgotten at some point and then for some reason 'thrust themselves' as it were, back to the forefront of my tiny little mind. For instance, I was driving along the other day through the storms that we've been experiencing in the North of Scotland recently, when for no reason I started thinking abut a sci-fi show that I used to watch back in the 1970's. It isn't a show that is regarded as one of the pantheons of science fiction television, nor is it one that I would personally rank above others. It was a simply a programme that had a particular resonance, providing one of the many entertainment backdrops of my life. That in turn made me mull over some of the other shows or movies that at one time have held a special place for me.
Whenever 'best of' sci-fi shows are listed, they invariably include examples such as Star Trek, X Files, The Twilight Zone, Outer limits etc etc etc. All notable shows of course. Whether it is because of budget restrictions, creaking plots/acting or simply that it was the wrong time and the wrong place, there are sic-fi shows that seem fall into the limbo of remembrance.
So, this is not a 'best of' list. It's purely a subjective collection ( in no particular order) of six or seven shows that for one reason or another hold a special place in my Science fiction and fantasy heart. Its also my little attempt in helping to keep alive the memory of series that should not be forgotten, whether people like it or not!
1) The Quiet Earth, 1985. (Movie)
This obscure and completely underrated New Zealand film is another example of a late night discovery of mine on terrestrial television back in the day when British TV consisted of a grand total of 4 channels. It's gentle paced movie that comes with a plot concept of outlandish cleverness asking the question; What would happen if you were the last person on Earth? And if you were the last person, just what would you do?
Our protagonist, Zac Hobson is a scientist who has been working on a secret and as yet untested global energy grid project. He wakes up one day after an attempted suicide to discover that not only has there been a malfunction with the secret project, but also all human life seems to have disappeared.
I think that at least one time in our lives, we've all fantasized about what we would do in a city where we were the sole inhabitants of a city. What would we do? How much fun could we have? Zac too faces this prospect for real as he alternates between feelings of horror and delight as he runs amok through the deserted city. He literally does whatever he wants, completely indulging himself with anything that catches his fancy from the empty shops stores and buildings, after a period of time taking ownership of mansion and believing himself to be almost divine in nature. Clearly, the isolation is further inducing the onset of insanity.
Eventually his isolation is ended, partly by his discovery of other survivors, and also due to his increasing guilt as he questions his particular role in the destruction of all life on the planet. Are the fellow survivors real or are they just a figment of his fevered ever increasing imagination? The movie rather cleverly never fully makes this clear, so I'll leave that up to you to decide if you get the chance to see the film. And indeed you must, do not deny yourself!
I won't give away the ending as Zac and his friends stage a daring plan to re-dress the earth's balance. All I will say is that 'jaw dropping' might be one apt description.
The trailer for 'The Quiet Earth' - beware, there be spoilers within!
2) Gemini Man, 1976. (TV Series)
This short lived series featured Ben Murphy as secret agent Sam Casey, a man who was injured in a diving accident which rendered him invisible (no, really, it did). The secret agency is named INTERSECT and luckily for our hero have found a way to regulate his invisibility by the use of a wrist watch, which is called a "DNA stabiliser". Phew, thank goodness for that!
When Sam presses a button on the watch it makes him invisible, which funnily enough is rather a nifty trick to have when you're a secret agent. However (there's always a however in a sic-fi series) he can only manage this for 15 minutes per day or else he will become permanently invisible. Cue in each episode Sam going down to the last few seconds available on his watch before saving the day, of course.
Yes, I know it's hokum, cliched and predictable. But it is pure unadulterated enjoyable hokum from an era in Television which wasn't particularly inventive or risk-taking in pursuing fresh ideas in science fiction.
It was also an era when shows didn't immediately garner a following then they were ditched, often midway through first season production. This too was one of many shows cancelled in the 1970's, well before it began to reach it's potential - another prime example of this cut-throat approach to TV making is shown in the last of this very list. A pilot of the series aired on May 10, 1976, and the series began airing on September 23 of that year. As a matter of fact, we in the UK were a little luckier than our American friends because only 11 episodes were ever produced, only five of them were broadcast in the USA before the show was cancelled, although the entire series was seen on this side of the Pond.
And yet, this 11 episode series still holds a special place in the hearts of some of us die-hard sci-fi fans.
3) Quatermass, 1979 (TV serial)
No, this is not the classic 1953 serial or the couple of it's excellent sequels and subsequent movie adaptations that regularly feature in fond recollections of classic British science fiction. My choice for this list is the fourth and final television outing for the brilliantly crafted British scientist Bernard Quatermass, reaching British TV screens more than 20 years after the character's last appearance in Quatermass and the Pit.
In this marvellous four-part series, Britain has crumbled and disintegrated into a mess of the hippie-esque ‘Planet People’ cult, older deprived bunker-dwellers, and an over-zealous and notorious privatised police force that in some ways parallels the time it was made. In short, it is a country which has descended into virtual anarchy.
In this latest version, Professor Quatermass (played by the ever excellent John Mills) has ceased to be the strong-willed man of action that was seen in the earlier incarnations. Instead, he is now burdened by weariness and confusion, a man of out time in a society that he can barely relate to let alone understand. Quatermass is searching for his missing granddaughter who has joined the Planet People cult who believe that society is on a path to extinction and the only hope for humanity's salvation is from alien life. However, we know that they in in fact the victims of an extraterrestrial force which causes them to gather in vast numbers across the planet, before being harvested. Quatermass comes to the inevitable conclusion that there is only one, shattering solution to the theta to the planet.
Again, this is a production that hasn't acquired the the level of appreciation in part to the success and love for its predecessors. However, it should be judged its more on it's merits as an immense piece of British science fiction. The adaptation is brutally uncompromising in it's depiction of anarchy and desperation that a society could find itself in. Believe me, speaking as a connoisseur of horror, there are some genuinely disturbing moments contained within each episode.
In addition, John Mills is his usual excellent self in the part of the genius professor trying to save what's left of humanity. His performance at the time was much criticised by Quatermass purists and some other critics who felt that the character had lost too much of the qualities that he originally had. Hence, in truth missing the point quite spectacularly of where the character was now in this stage of his life. For me, this production is perhaps the most spellbinding and disturbing of all the exploits of Professor Quatermass adventures.
4) Alphaville , 1965 (Movie)
Jean-Luc Goddard's futuristic masterpiece features a haggard FBI agent called Lemmy Caution (Eddie Constantine) who is sent to an ultramodern city run by a master computer, where his mission is to locate and rescue an agent who is trapped there and also toassassinate Professor von Braun, the architect of a state whose people are ruled by logic and science and have been purged of emotion with the aid of an almost-human computer called Alpha 60 that regulates all life in the city.. While on his mission, Lemmy meets and falls in love with Natacha (Anna Karina), the daughter of the scientist who designed Alpha 60. Their love becomes the most significant challenge to the computer's dominance.
Often referred to as a science fiction film without any special effects, Alphaville is quite rightly regarded in some quarters as a sublime piece of film making, in part satirising both film noir and Sci-fi without ever succumbing to blatant parody or insult. Not forgetting that it is also a wildly romantic allegory depicting a computer-controlled Orwellian society which has no room for with artists, philosophers, and lovers.
On watching this movie for the first time some years ago my first reaction was to be both astonished and delighted in the most delicious of measures. All the elements of the film fuse together beautifully. Raoul Coutard's cunning black-and-white photography turns everyday objects and settings – a hotel lobby, a swimming pool, a room full of computers, a jukebox, an old camera, the neon-lit Paris suburbs at night, into the contents of a genuinely authentic dystopian future. While the lovely soundtrack score from Paul Misraki brings moments of genuine tension and emotion.
The movie isn't easy to watch, indeed some call it baffling and incoherent in parts. Maybe that's the way great art should be.
5) 2046, (movie, 2004)
This stunning film is a loose sequel to Wong-Kar Wai's 2000 ' In The Mood For Love'. Though anyone who hasn't seen the first film can easily watch 2046 as it works perfectly on it's own as a stand alone piece of work. Wong brings by equal measures a peculiar and breathtaking story which at face value seems to be about a man and the women he has loved, and lost. The story begins in the mid-'60s, recovering emotionally from a relationship with a married woman, journalist Chow plunges himself into a procession of romances that have no hope of success. He slowly becomes obsessed with the number of the room where he and the woman had their assignations motivates him to write 2046, a science fiction story about a place where people go to forget. The present-day sections are interwoven with the main character’s visions of a future in which robots interact alongside people and an enormous train system connects the world.
2046 is a near-masterpiece; a beautiful movie about the extent of regret, lost opportunities, and heartfelt torment. The director Wong-Kar Wai succeeds in producing a heady mix of existential drama, romantic suffering and science fiction fantasy. Yes it has a slow pace which wouldn't necessarily fit well with some modern day audiences. However, the slow pace and emphasis on tone only helps you to lose yourself in the stories and let them simply wash over your conscious like a warm summer breeze.
The deeply textured atmospheric qualities accompanied by a beautiful and melancholic music score increase the emotional connection emotions to a level that stays with you long after you experience it first hand. 2046 should be regarded as one of the most original and thought-provoking movies ever made. - if only more people would see it.
6) Planet of the Apes, 1974 (TV Series)
My introduction to the Planet of the Apes universe wasn't via the classic Charlton Heston movie, or or indeed any of it's sequels in that progressively dire Movie franchise. No, it was through the short lived spin-off television series from 1974 that first became my introduction the post-apocalyptic world.
Set around a dozen years after the first movie takes place a second spaceship crashes on planet Earth, a planet where human civilisation has been virtually destroyed, and a dominant race of apes has supplanted them as the authority in the world. Unlike the early films, the humans in this version of the Ape planet can talk, read, and live side by side in communities with the apes, although always to assorting degrees under ape control.. The two survivors of the crash are quickly captured by authorities but catch the interest of a sympathetic young chimpanzee scientist, Galen, played by the excellent Roddy McDowell who was essentially re-creating his role from the movie franchise. With Galen's help the astronauts manage to escape and now roam the Planet trying to find a way back to their own time. All the while being hunted by the military commander General Urko, perhaps the most compelling character in the series, who seeks to suppress all technology and make sure the apes maintain their supremacy...
Planet of the Apes: The Television Series lasted only 14 episodes and was cancelled due to low ratings so abruptly it lacks any resolution, the final episode showing the characters adrift on a raft in the sea after once again evading the chasing Apes. Nevertheless it is a much loved series, perhaps even more so on this side of the Atlantic where there were brief attempts to have the show produced financially from this side of the pond whilst keeping the filming in America.
My first thought was, he lied in every word, That hoary cripple, with malicious eye to watch the working of his lie
On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.
II. What else should he be set for, with his staff?
What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare
All travellers who might find him posted there,
And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh
Would break, what crutch 'gin write my epitaph
For pastime in the dusty thoroughfare,
III.
If at his counsel I should turn aside
Into that ominous tract which, all agree,
Hides the Dark Tower. Yet acquiescingly
I did turn as he pointed: neither pride
Nor hope rekindling at the end descried,
So much as gladness that some end might be.
……….. So say the opening three verses of Robert Browning's poem 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came'. It features the medieval knight, Childe Roland who is in search of the mythical Dark Tower which many before him have looked for but perished in the process. The poem was the the main inspiration for the Dark Tower series of books by Stephen King which totals so far a grand amount of eight novels totalling well over 4,000 pages which assimilates themes from a plethora of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, western and horror. It tells the story a "gunslinger" and his obsession on reaching a tower, the nature of which is both tangible, allegorical and said to be the nexus of all universes.Throughout the story King uses parallels to our own mythology in his creation.
Roland Deschain is the last living member of a knightly order known as 'gunslingers' and the sole surviving member of the line of Arthur Eld ( the equivalent of our King Arthur and the round table myth). It is a world that parallels our own, some things are the same, some things are similar and somethings are very different. Even the most powerful of countries have been decimated by war, with entire cities and areas vanishing , never to be seen again. In this new world time does not flow in a straightforward manner. Occasionally, even the sun rises and sets in the 'wrong' part of the sky. This Mid-world society is arranged in a medieval feudalistic fashion, while at the same time sharing technological and community attributes with the American old West, but it is also magical in nature. However, many of the magical qualities have disappeared from Mid-World, but some sources of an old power remain as do ancient objects and machinery from a long gone technologically advanced culture. Mid-world is said to have "moved on", and it appears to be falling apart at the seams. As the series opens, Roland's motives, aims and even his age are unclear, though as the books continue, we slowly learn more about these mysteries.
A couple of interesting asides……(well to me anyway)
Language
Stephen King created a language called 'High speech' for his characters in the Dark Tower story. It is an ancient language spoken by gunslingers and those who remember the time before the world 'moved on'. It is instinctively comprehended by the members of Roland's acquired group, it is suggested that this knowledge is telepathic in nature. Examples of this language includes a phrase such as Thankee, Sai ("Thank you, Sir/Ma'am."). In addition King uses the term Ka which is the approximate equivalent of destiny, or fate, in the fictional language High Speech (and similarly, Ka-tet, a group of people bound together by fate/destiny). This term originated in Egyptian mythology and storytelling and has featured in several other King novels, short stories and screenplays over the years.
The opposite to High speech is the Low Speech, which has a degree of similarity to a polluted form of English. The majority of language and everyday interactions in In-World are in the Low Speech.
Cross over to other Stephen King works
I make absolutely no excuses for my love of Stephen King's work, especially this series of books. In my humble opinion he is often unfairly looked down upon by certain snooty members of the literary brigade, who seem to correlate being popular to being a low quality writer. The Dark Tower series -- which stretches through numerous lengthy novels is alluringly complex and peculiar, crossing between different worlds and times. Yes it can be frustrating in its tortured complexity and with Kings habit of catching you off guard when 'letting go' of characters that you have become increasingly attached to. Roland's character arc in particular is beautifully written and designed. We don't always feel comfortable with some of the things we grow to learn about him, but we always have a level of sympathy for his actions. Another interesting feature is Kings habit of interlinking various characters and sub-plots with some of his other works. For example, Father Callahan, who appeared in 'Salems Lot' crops in this series as tortured as ever….. “God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the tenacity to change what I may, and the good luck not to fuck up too often.” Warning! - There be spoilers ahead…….
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (1982)
The first book in the series introduces us to Roland Deschain of Gilead, the only surviving gunslinger of a long-dead dynasty in a dying land. The knight wanders through this wasted world, seemingly chasing a mysterious "man in black" who can help him locate the Dark Tower. Along his journey he finds Jake, a young boy who died in a car accident in our own world. As his quest continues Roland may be prepared to sacrifice what he holds dear so that his obsession can continue.
“Would’ee speak a word of prayer first, Roland? To whatever God thee holds?”
“I hold to no God,” Roland said. “I hold to the Tower and won’t pray to that.”
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
"The Drawing of the Three" begins on the same after the first book ends. Sickness has overcome Roland, and being pursued by man-eating monsters - 'lobstrosities'. In desperation he succeeds in transferring his consciousness into our world -- and into the minds of drug addict and smuggler Eddie Dean, and legless civil rights activist Odetta Holmes (and her evil other personality, Detta). Roland succeeds into bringing Eddie and Odetta into Mid- world. immediately putting at risk the quest for the Dark Tower by Eddie's abolition and Detta's hatred.
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
The book begins with Roland mentoring Odetta/Detta - who is now known as Susannah, and Eddie in the ways of gunslingers. Eddie and Susannah are now married, and the couple are quickly becoming more skillful and knowledgeable in their new roles in the group (or Ka-tet). However, Roland is now suffering as a result of the reality-paradox he created when he rescued the young boy Jake, his mind and sanity is beginning to collapse. Meanwhile Jake's mind is also deteriorating in New york. In order to save Roland and Jake from insanity, the group pulls Jake away from our world to Mid-world. But no sooner has he become part of the Ka-tet when they find themselves a disintegrating city, with an psychotic mono train and a ominous figure seemingly tracking them...
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997)
Once again the story begins just where the last book left off. Roland and the rest of the group escape from one world and slipping into a different plane. And it is there that Roland recounts to his friends a story, one that details his discovery of something even more elusive than the Dark Tower: love. It is majestic and expansive, a story worthy of any folk-tale which pulsates with an almost suppressing ambiance, and aching with the shattered reminiscence of a past romance with his only true love. The book charts Roland's journey to his own tortured past, to a time when some of lives harshest lessons awaited him, lessons of loyalty and betrayal and destiny.
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003)
Roland Deschain and his collective are are making their way slowly through the forests of Mid-World on their odyssey towards the fabled the Dark Tower. Eventually they find themselves on the outskirts of a town, Calla Bryn Sturgis. At first, all seems peaceful and tranquil in the secluded town. However, beyond in the hills lies the for boding darkness of Thunderclap, the origin of an appalling ailment that is destroying the soul of the town. The wolves of Thunderclap and their abhorrent ravaging are on their way again. Roland and his Ka-tet are determined to resist them, even if it means putting their quest in peril.
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004)
This is a story rich in complexity and quite possibly my favourite instalment of the series.
To give birth to her "chap," demon-mother Mia has taken over the body of Susannah Dean and used the energy of Black Thirteen to transport them to the city of New York in the summer of 1999. Now Susannah Dean is possessed, her body an organic repository for the demon. The thing that is growing inside Susannah is something dreadful. Meanwhile, Eddie and Roland find themselves in the US state of Maine in the summer of 1977 - and this world is very real and very violent. It is also inhabited by a certain well known horror writer who turns out to be as stunned by their arrival as they are by his existence.
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2012)
The stunning final volume sees Roland on an ever-changing combination of electrifying rejoicing and sorrowful despair in his unremitting attempt to reach the dark tower. Roland's band of friends are still united, though no longer together. Susannah-Mia has been taken away to New York to give birth while Jake, Father Callahan and Oy try to follow her. Roland and Eddie are still in Maine, looking for the place which will take them to Susannah. The tower is getting ever nearer, but every step of the way Roland is followed by a terrible and sinister aberration. The last few miles to the tower may have to be faced alone.
The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012)
Kings return to the series…...There is no synopsis here because the simple fact is that I haven't read it yet - though I know for a fact that Santa may well have bought it me for Christmas in a couple of weeks…….. can't wait!
