The Wind Through the Keyhole

[L.]

Sorta hard to have a discussion about the 4.5th (8th) book in a series if we can't really talk openly about it. I understand the desire for new readers to avoid spoilers (though, I'd argue, starting with the 8th book in a series isn't the best way to begin), but it confounds the conversations we constant readers can have--spoiler link or no.

[Kathryn]

L Lambert wrote: "Sorta hard to have a discussion about the 4.5th (8th) book in a series if we can't really talk openly about it. I understand the desire for new readers to avoid spoilers (though, I'd argue, startin..."

As a newish King reader, and on my first read of The DT series, I just wish spoilers were hidden. You can still have open discussion and have spoilers.

[Dustin]

Chris wrote: "Jan, I've deleted your comment but reposted it here, edited to mark the possible spoilers. Please be careful giving away stuff in the books - we have a lot of new readers to King and the DT series...."

Thank you, Chris.

[Leah]

Jan wrote: "Hi, I've been a lurker on these boards for a while, haven't posted much before, just wanted to say hello to everyone... Hi Jan! Spoiler re Tim's adventure (the story-within-a-story-story) (view spoiler)[ Jan, I also had the impression that Flagg tricked Maerlyn and it makes sense in reterospect given how he "knew" Tim would have a gun to kill the tiger/M. Also it makes sense w/r/t levels of magically ability. Eyes of the Dragon spoiler (view spoiler)[ It also fits with the idea that Flagg himself was a wizard once upon a time...but it has been years and years since I read that book, so maybe I am over-reaching here. (hide spoiler)]. As I mentioned, I listened to the audiobook, so I can't check the Farson thing, but if he is there in Tim's time, is that just a mistake by King? (hide spoiler)]

[Jan]

Chris wrote: "Jan, I've deleted your comment but reposted it here, edited to mark the possible spoilers. Please be careful giving away stuff in the books - we have a lot of new readers to King and the DT series...."

Oops!!
I'm very sorry about that everyone...
My only excuse is that it was very late, and I'd just came home from a night shift at work...
(Also the case now, actually.. It's one in the morning here in Denmark as I'm posting this)...

I'll be more careful and use spoiler tags in the future.

Thanks Cris.

[Jan]

Leah wrote: "Jan wrote: "Hi, I've been a lurker on these boards for a while, haven't posted much before, just wanted to say hello to everyone... Hi Jan! Spoiler re Tim's adventure (the story-within-a-story-st..."

Hi Leah
Hmm.. Let me test this spoiler thingy... :-)
I wish there was a simple icon I could use for spoilers, but I'll write the prerequisite arcane computer Latin out myself.. :-)

(view spoiler)[ I'm pretty sure The Good Man Farson is mentioned in Tim's story, but I'll have to search for it to be absolutely certain. It may have been in the story about Roland's youth...
If I'm right, and Farson is mentioned n Tim's story, King surely made a mistake.

EDIT: Just did a search in my e-book edition and I was wrong.
Sorry. Farson is only mentioned in the Skin-Man story.
Somehow I got it mixed up in my head.
I better go to bed soon... :-)

I'll have to re-read Eye of the Dragon to comment on that. It's been so long since I've read it, and I remember being a bit disappointed with it, but it may win me over on a revisit. Can't remember anything from that story... (hide spoiler)]

[Kit★]

Just finished. Oh man, I loved it! The fairy-tale type feeling of the middle story especially. Reminded me of Eyes of the Dragon. Now I wanna go and re-read that one again. But I also loved seeing more of Roland in his youth, and getting to meet Jamie DeCurry, and seeing more of Roland's world and the people and towns in it. Sigh... My only complaint is that it was too short, I wanted more. More of the fairy-tales and more of young Ro' and more and more of Roland and the current ka-tet, I can't ever get enough. I hope with all hope SK writes more books like this. Maybe not the same layout and all, but more stories of Roland of any age, and more tales from Mid-World. I just found it beyond fascinating. I want more and more! :)
What were some of the connections to other books though? Like Becky mentioned The Talisman and Desperation? I think I sped through this story so fast that I didn't catch 'em.

[Ellie]

I read it and loved it. A great addition to the series. I hope he writes more.

[Leah]

Kit★ wrote: "What were some of the connections to other books though? Like Becky mentioned The Talisman and Desperation? I think I sped through this story so fast that I didn't catch 'em. There were a ton of connections -- I find that now that the DT series is so developed, King just can't resist trying to tie all his books together. The one that most stood out to me was the Desperation head-nod. (view spoiler)[ The whole crack in the mineshaft and that a god-like creature (a creature in todash space maybe) grants the Skin-Man powers is right out of Desperation. (hide spoiler)] However, the connection to The Tailsman doesn't immediately come back to me...

[Felina]

I can't comment on The Talisman connection as I haven't read it yet but I recently read Desperation and The Regulators and the connection is (view spoiler)[ that Tak came out of the cave as well as the Skin Man. Though the changing process doesn't appear to be the same type (Tak use a host until the body died and te Skin Man is changing into different animals) but the origin of the 'infection' is similar. (hide spoiler)]

[Eric]

I'm halfway through....I don't want to give alot away but it's just now starting to get cooking. I'm finding the frame stories are a bit useless. But then again, I'm only halfway through.

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Danielle wrote: "*I don't think there's anything spoiler-y here, just general comments. I'm still new to this...*

While I know many will disagree with me, I don't think of the Dark Tower series as King's best wor..."

humm.. interesting to me to wonder if Roland is a reliable narrator. But the only part where I would think he may be unreliable is (view spoiler)[ when he is telling the story of him chasing down the skin man.. but not the story of Tim. That story really is just a story he heard not a retelling of his adventures. (hide spoiler)]

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Becky wrote: "Here's the review text:

3.5 Stars
Believe it or not, there was a time when I hadn't read the Dark Tower series... but we don't talk about that. It's a painful time in my history, and polite comp..."

Interesting that you didn't like Wizard and Glass... that is my favorite in the series. I don't know why? I suppose Roland is young and innocent in his way and the journey is beginning. Nothing too bad has happened just yet when the story of his youth begins. This is why I also love the Graphic Novels that take place during this time frame.

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Leah wrote: "Courtney wrote: "Spoilers for lots of DT books..." in reply to my question (see above and thanks Dustin!)...but Courtney and everyone else with interest, here are some things I am still wondering a..."

(view spoiler)[ I don't think the Crimson King was out and about... I think he used his minions or magic somehow to trap him. (hide spoiler)]

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Just finished. I enjoyed it... I liked the whole story within a story idea. It was my first time reading a book like this. So it's been interesting. I would like to say though (note I NEVER read the cover inserts so a book is a complete surprise) I didn't expect a majority of the story to not be Roland's story but the story of Tim. Maybe a spinoff is coming? Especially since King mentioned (view spoiler)[ "that Tim meets Maerlyn once more when he is older.. but that is another story" (hide spoiler)]

After reading this book I want MORE! More Dark Tower books... how can they be over again?? I get sucked into that wonderful world and then just like that it is done. I just want stories forever!! But I suppose I should just be grateful King did one more book.

(view spoiler)[ I did enjoy the fact that there was another story with Randal Flagg... this guy is the coolest villain. He is here he is there.. he is everywhere! I love all the discussions about him above!! Didn't Maerlyn create the 13 talismans (the crystals?). I read this: The sorcerer Maerlyn created the objects from "The magic of the Prim". He created them to bring chaos into the world, and he also created demons for every sphere, as seen in the comic "The Sorcerer". Randall Flagg, the bastard son of Maerlyn, has an affair with the demon of the Pink Bend of the Rainbow.
So I thought Maerlyn was more evil then good?

The way I picture the Covenant Man is that he is in fact Randal Flagg and that Flagg can live in many places at once. Somehow time in one place can stand still while he is in another. The thought above about him being punished and sent to the land of The Stand was interesting...Roland and the ka-tet do pass through the land of the Stand once right? But I think Flagg goes to these places for a hobby... to do evil things because it pleases him. Which is why he messed with Tim.

I really enjoyed the dragon/swamp people part too. I love that they knew Tim was not a gunslinger.. but perhaps some type of 6th sense told them he was going to be someday. The spiders that came out of their wounds and then they just pulled out the eggs!! WHAT! And the fairies were neat too... but sad when that one died. What do you think about the green hole the miners found? What was that? A link into our world where Jake come from? The guy got a watch from it. But our world can't turn people into shape shifters. So the green hole interests me! Also we were on the Bean of the Cat and Eagle right? Wasn't that a new beam that we haven't been on before?

One character I loved was the Widow. She was just great and it was sad to me when she died at the end. :( I loved that we got to see more into Roland and his mother's relationship. The note at the end was really cool... to see the writing in the High language. Beautiful.

What do you guys think about Jamie DeCurry's hand being red? A birthmark?

(hide spoiler)] Great book!

[Angie, Constant Reader]

I couldn't afford the illustrated version... so I had to look all over the web to find the pics that are in the special edition (personally I think both versions should've had pictures). Here are the ones I found:

[Angie, Constant Reader]

L Lambert wrote: "Sorta hard to have a discussion about the 4.5th (8th) book in a series if we can't really talk openly about it. I understand the desire for new readers to avoid spoilers (though, I'd argue, startin..."

you can certainly write any spoilers you want... we just ask that you mark them. Would you want the last book of the Dark Tower series spoiled?? No way!! :)

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Kit★ wrote: "Just finished. Oh man, I loved it! The fairy-tale type feeling of the middle story especially. Reminded me of Eyes of the Dragon. Now I wanna go and re-read that one again. But I also loved seeing ..."

I didn't catch the Talisman one either!!

By the way everyone... there is a giveaway on King's website for the audio book!! It starts May 21st!! Good luck! http://stephenking.com/promo/wind_giv...

[Kit★]

Thanks for posting up some of the pictures! Personally I was a little miffed that the illustrations weren't included with the regular edition. Maybe should've had the artist's edition have extras or something maybe, but have at least some of 'em in the normal edition! Not fair for us poor people who can't pay all that extra money for a special edition.
I got the nod to Desperation with the spirit coming out of the crack down in the mine, but I thought maybe there was something else I didn't catch. Still wondering about the Talisman though :)

[Dustin]

Angie wrote: "I couldn't afford the illustrated version... so I had to look all over the web to find the pics that are in the special edition (personally I think both versions should've had pictures). Here are ..."

Thank you for posting these awesome illustrations, Angie.:)

[Angie, Constant Reader]

I guess there is a bunch of black and white pictures in the book too. But I really couldn't find those. I just want to find a website that has all the pics!

[L.]

I love the Grant edition.... It was a good investment for sure. I collect the DT comics as well, so having Lee's art in a tome as well as the comics is a treasure. Plus...getting to read the book early was pretty awesome. :D

[Dustin]

Yeah, it must have been an awesome treat to read TWTTK a couple months early!

[Ellie]

Wow! Those pictures are awesome. I loved the book. Can't wait for Dr Sleep.

[Jason]

I liked the book. The skin man story could have been longer and the tale told by Roland shorter, but overall it was a fun read. Hopefully SK has a few more of these "in-between" stories to tell.

[Eric]

All finished...
While I thought the frame stories were somewhat useless(though we learn something new about Roland in the first...and are treated to a bit of classic King gore towards the end of the second)...the third story is near-perfect in its simplicity...Boy goes on a quest, comes back a changed person, encounters both new experiences and a new understanding of life.

[Chris , The Hardcase]

See, people are saying that the framing stories are useless, but to me they made the book worth reading. Funny how we all have different views on that.

I'd rather have seen him expand both framing stories and ditch the middle slog.

[Kit★]

I want more of it all :)

[Dustin]

I want more of every aspect of the book, too!

[Dustin]

Martha wrote: "This is the first Stephen King I have read and am finding it interesting. My take on it that it is full of symbolism. I am guessing the Bible."

May I highly recommend reading the other books in the series, Martha?

[Rachel]

I was delayed reading this because I had so much reading to do for school. Finished it today and I was disappointed. My review probably contains spoilers but if anyone wants to read it, here it is http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

[Matt]

I'm not sure if anybody has brought this up yet... while I'm still reading the book, today I flipped through to the end and read the Afterword. I'm sure you've all seen it, it's written in the High Speech. Has anybody figured out what it says yet? I've looked all over and can't seem to find out. Needless to say I tried figuring it out myself, but I'm horrible at those sorts of things. I also tried to find the font used to do that, if there was one, and still haven't found that. Any ideas guys?

[Courtney]

It says "I forgive you everything. Can you forgive me?"

[Matt]

Courtney wrote: "It says "I forgive you everything. Can you forgive me?""

AH! Thank you so much! It was driving me nuts!!! Now to find that font somewhere, if it is an actual font... but I think I might just have to get that tattooed on me somewhere.

[Kit★]

Ms. Mod on the SK official message board said the font's called Hoeflor Text. I googled it, and it appears the one for the pretty symbols is Hoefler Text Ornaments.

[Dustin]

Kit★ wrote: "Ms. Mod on the SK official message board said the font's called Hoeflor Text. I googled it, and it appears the one for the pretty symbols is Hoefler Text Ornaments."

Thank you, Kit!:)

[Matt]

Yeah thanks. I found that font but not the one with the pretty pictures. Good stuff.

[Rob]

I just finished TWTTK and found an enjoyable read! I agree with Jason in that there should be more of these "in between" tales. Now, would Sai King allow the DT franchise to be "fartmed" out? Allow other writers to contribute to the franchise? I don't think there are any plans in the future to let this happen. I don't know if I would want anyone else to tamper with the Magnus Opus either, but what do you think? Check out my review.

[Kit★]

No way! Unless maybe Joe Hill or someone super close to SK did it but still I'm thinking no, because I don't think anyone else could ever do it right for me. Besides, I wouldn't want anyone else 'messing' with this world, these characters, it wouldn't be 'true' for me, it'd be like fan-fiction or something, and I wouldn't want to read it. :)

[Dustin]

Kit★ wrote: "No way! Unless maybe Joe Hill or someone super close to SK did it but still I'm thinking no, because I don't think anyone else could ever do it right for me. Besides, I wouldn't want anyone else 'm..."

EXACTLY, Kit! Very well said, thank you.

[C.]

Robin Furth has been doing a fair amount of "messing" with this world in the Dark Tower comic book series. All with King's blessing, and it's alright for the most part, but so far nothing really special or unique.

[Kit★]

Really? I haven't got to read the comics yet, they've been on my wishlist for like ever, I'll get the nice hardbacks of 'em one of these days...

[Glen]

I think Robin Furth and Peter David have been doing a great job of filling in corners of the DT universe and Rolands search. I have ALL the series and it's been like igniting my DT enthusiasm with it's take on the mythology. 10 out of 10 for me!

[Glen]

Angie wrote: "I couldn't afford the illustrated version... so I had to look all over the web to find the pics that are in the special edition (personally I think both versions should've had pictures). Here are ..."

Sweet! Thanks for the share!

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Kit★ wrote: "Ms. Mod on the SK official message board said the font's called Hoeflor Text. I googled it, and it appears the one for the pretty symbols is Hoefler Text Ornaments."

cool!

[Angie, Constant Reader]

Be sure to vote King fans! http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards...

[Dustin]

Angie wrote: "Be sure to vote King fans! http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards..."

Thank you, Angie!!