Starred review from March 26, 2012
King returns to the Mid-World of his Dark Tower series in this gory but hopeful set of nested tales. As gunslinger Roland Deschain and his companions quest toward the Dark Tower, Roland tells a story of his early days as a gunslinger, hunting down a murderous shape-shifter on a rampage. Within that tale is a fairy tale Roland tells to a young boy about Tim, a very brave boy tricked into a dangerous quest by an evil man. Tim’s adventure is pitch-perfect, capturing both the feel of Mid-World and the perilous nature of a fairy story. Its placement within the quest works beautifully, and it propels the story of the shape-shifter and the child who holds the key to its identity. Even those who aren’t familiar with the series will find the conclusion both satisfying and moving. This gripping novel is sure to put King back on the bestseller lists. Agent: Chuck Verrill, Darhansoff & Verrill.
May 28, 2012
With his dry, New England accent, Stephen King would never be mistaken for a professional narrator. But that hardly matters when he’s reading his own work, especially a novel as flat-out entertaining as his new addition to the Dark Tower series. Covering events that take place between the fourth and fifth books, this installment follows gunslinger Roland Deschain of Gilead and his pals as they sit out a storm on their journey to the Dark Tower. While they wait, Roland tells them a story about when his father sent him to hunt down a shape-shifter and a legendary tale about a boy named Tim Stoutheart and his adventures with a wizard and magic tiger. King’s narration is so effective, especially when evoking some of the colorful characters—like gruff cowboys or otherworldly critters—that listeners will assume he’s picked up some technique from the pros who’ve narrated his many books over the years. The audiobook includes a bonus: King reading the first chapter of Doctor Sleep, his forthcoming sequel to The Shining. A Scribner hardcover.