Stephen King is the bestselling author of more than forty books. Recent titles include ON WRITING, DREAMCATCHER, EVERYTHING'S EVENTUAL and and the final three volumes in the DARK TOWER series. He lives with his wife, the novelist Tabitha King, in Bangor, Maine.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The Dark Tower IV: The Wizard and Glass
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Amazon Review
Wizard and Glass, the fourth episode in King's white-hot Dark Tower series, is a sci-fi/fantasy novel that contains a post-apocalyptic Western love story twice as long. It begins with the series' star, world-weary Roland, and his world-hopping posse (an ex-junkie, a child, a plucky woman in a wheelchair, and a talking dog-like pet named Oy the Bumbler) trapped aboard a runaway train. The train is a psychotic multiple personality that intends to commit suicide with them at 800 m.p.h.--unless Roland and pals can outwit it in a riddling contest. It's a great race, for the mind and pulse. Films should be this good. Then comes a 567- page flashback about Roland at age 14. It's a well-marbled but meaty tale. Roland and two teenage friends must rescue his first love from the dirty old drooling mayor of a post-apocalyptic cowboy town, thwart a civil war by blowing up oil tanks, and seize an all-seeing crystal ball from Rhea, a vampire witch. The love scenes are startlingly prominent and earthier than most romance novels (they kiss until blood trickles from her lip).
After an epic battle ending in a box canyon to end all box canyons, we're back with grizzled, grown-up Roland and the train-wreck survivors in a parallel world: Kansas in 1986, after a plague. The finale is a weird fantasy takeoff on The Wizard of Oz Some readers will feel that the latest novel in King's most ambitious series has too many pages--almost 800--but few will deny it's a page-turner. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
'Join the quest before it's too late' (Independent on Sunday on SONG OF SUSANNAH )
'Classic King, fine characters, compellingly written in a gripping, well-honed plot' (Daily Express on WOLVES OF THE CALLA )
'Superbly energetic, it's King at his best' (Mail on Sunday on WIZARD AND GLASS )
'Pulse-poundingly engaging' (Sunday Express on SONG OF SUSANNAH ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
'Classic King, fine characters, compellingly written in a gripping, well-honed plot' (Daily Express on WOLVES OF THE CALLA )
'Superbly energetic, it's King at his best' (Mail on Sunday on WIZARD AND GLASS )
'Pulse-poundingly engaging' (Sunday Express on SONG OF SUSANNAH ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By David Wood
Format:Paperback
As a recent review said, this really is the pinnacle of the series. Unlike that person and many others, I wouldn't quite say it's downhill from here as personally I loved the way the series ended. But then that's another book, another day and another review.
Wizard and Glass is mostly set in the past, telling a story of Roland's days before his quest. After the cliff-hanger is resolved, Roland decides it's about time he told them more about the beginnings of his quest and as the day ends, time slows as he's able to tell his whole story in one "night". Once the tale is told they have an interesting confrontation with the Man in Black and then head off again along the beam. What's amazing about this book however is the tale in between. The rest are really book-ends. At the start, the conflict had to be resolved and at the end we had to be brought back onto their quest, back to the present.
Some people criticise spending a whole book in the past, but then, by now don't they care a lot about Roland? I certainly did and I wanted to know more about him. I admit I felt daunted by the prospect of such a long tale, but when it contains the best storytelling in the series that soon fades. This has drama, emotion, character development and an intriguing plot. It's a fully resolved and extremely well-told tale. The ending brought tears to my eyes, and any tale that can do that can't be anything but well-told.
We also get to find out a bit more about Alain and Cuthbert, which is really important in understanding who Roland is. And we get to see Roland, more or less at his best. The plan of three gunslingers being carried out with skill and precision, though not perfectly, for nothing ever goes perfectly.
My own words aren't really adequate to describe how good this book is, so I'll leave it there, just adding that if you're thinking of reading these books then you're in for a treat when you get to the start of Wizard and Glass.
Wizard and Glass is mostly set in the past, telling a story of Roland's days before his quest. After the cliff-hanger is resolved, Roland decides it's about time he told them more about the beginnings of his quest and as the day ends, time slows as he's able to tell his whole story in one "night". Once the tale is told they have an interesting confrontation with the Man in Black and then head off again along the beam. What's amazing about this book however is the tale in between. The rest are really book-ends. At the start, the conflict had to be resolved and at the end we had to be brought back onto their quest, back to the present.
Some people criticise spending a whole book in the past, but then, by now don't they care a lot about Roland? I certainly did and I wanted to know more about him. I admit I felt daunted by the prospect of such a long tale, but when it contains the best storytelling in the series that soon fades. This has drama, emotion, character development and an intriguing plot. It's a fully resolved and extremely well-told tale. The ending brought tears to my eyes, and any tale that can do that can't be anything but well-told.
We also get to find out a bit more about Alain and Cuthbert, which is really important in understanding who Roland is. And we get to see Roland, more or less at his best. The plan of three gunslingers being carried out with skill and precision, though not perfectly, for nothing ever goes perfectly.
My own words aren't really adequate to describe how good this book is, so I'll leave it there, just adding that if you're thinking of reading these books then you're in for a treat when you get to the start of Wizard and Glass.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
King's foray into magic culminates for now in unrefined, unadulterated beauty. Further along their way to Dark Tower, Roland and his companions encounter their hardest trials and tests so far. King gives us some history here and shows how their all destinies were inexorably linked and rushing towards this time. In a book that far surpasses five stars or anything I can say, King writes with pathos, sorrow, unparalleled style and a palpable love of the characters he has created. You can feel it, because you love them too. Wizard and Glass is the most magical story so far in the story and also the last for now. But its not an end - its only the very beginning. You will not be able to stand the fact that there is as yet no sequel to this, and that there might never be. One thing is for sure though: Roland, Eddie and Suzanne will always be in your memory and your mind just waiting to finish, with their creator, their story. Marvellous.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
If you are a fan of the previous three books then the anticipation for this installment must have been eagarly anticipated. I found this book exceptional, eventhough the journey to the tower does not advance that much (as critics of the book have clearly stated!), the story of Susan and Roland is beatifully told and in addition it expands on chracters mentioned previously, including my personal favorite Cuthbert. The ending is both tragic and quite surprising not to mention moving, i didn't think King could pull off a love story but he proved me wrong in a big way. The good news for Dark tower fans is that the next three installments will be out in fairly quick sucession which will make a change from the gaps between the previous books.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Necessary?
I was always curious whether it was laziness or lack of imagination which makes an author use "thinness of reality" to put people and places from one book into another. Read more
Published 20 hours ago by Rich T
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thrilling!
If you are a fan of Stephen King then you will love this series of books! You will love them without needing to be a fan of stephen king too!
Published 11 days ago by Mr. Paul M. Rushton
5.0 out of 5 stars
My hubby is obsessed!
I've been buying these books for a while and my hubby loves them. He's normally into warhammer books so these were a nice change.
Published 16 days ago by Lilcaz
4.0 out of 5 stars
Finally
After weeks of stopping and starting (not because I did not enjoy the book but because I wanted time to digest, enjoy and understand each section) I have finished. Read more
Published 22 days ago by rebekah
2.0 out of 5 stars
Review
On the whole I am really enjoying the series and going from one book to the next with no delay. For a large portion of this book it is just a soppy love story, not my style and not... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Oscar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
So enjoyed this book. The best so far, can't wait to read on and continue the journey . I feel like part of the ka'tet
Published 1 month ago by Elaine Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Couldn't put it down and can't wait to start the next book which I will buy straight away and recommend to other readers
Published 2 months ago by Nicci
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Wizard and Glass
I have rated this book 5 stars as it is simply an outstanding read. The characters are now firmly embedded and their quest clear for all to see. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Linda Arnold
5.0 out of 5 stars
stephen king fan
another fantastic step in reaching the dark tower I find it very hard to put it down this book like the others does not dissapoint
Published 10 months ago by dangermouse
3.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD READ
Good read but lacking in suspence. The story within the story, although interesting, overshadows a bit the main storyline. The foes' actions are generally predictable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Davide
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