The Wastelands

Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

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The Setting
Roland of Gilead is a gunslinger on a quest to find the Dark Tower. Which has been the source of his world’s slow collapse. Yet he doesn’t undertake this journey alone for he has 4 companions.

Eddie is an ex-drug user with an interest in carving. Susannah is a disabled woman who has to use a wheelchair. She also had/has a split personality. Jake is a young boy who Roland once let fall to his death in order to continue his search for the tower. He now, however, rejoins the ka-tet (spiritually linked group of people) after being brought back into Roland’s world, Mid-World. All three were from New York. And now all, except Jake, are training to become gunslingers. Oy is the last member to join the ka-tet. He is an animal called a Billybumbler.

These are not Roland’s first companions on his long journey. So the question is, will they be the last?

Roland’s world, Mid-World, and ours have some sort of strange link. Travel between the two worlds is possible but very rare and not very well understood. It is known, however, that it happens through some sort of door.

The links between the worlds is even more of a mystery. They may appear to be mundane such as a rose or a key. They may appear to be scary like an old haunted house. Yet the significance should never be underestimated.

Stranger still is the links between Eddie, Susannah and Jake who form the main body of the ka-tet. It goes a lot deeper than meer geographic location…

And finally. The story was inspired by a poem called “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came” by Robert Browning. Thought you might like to know?

Language
As with all epic stories in strange worlds this one has it’s own language. So, I thought I better provide some sort of explanation!

ka: In a nutshell, destiny.

ka-tet: A group of people and/or animals that have strong bonds. In other words they are joined by fate. They also have the ability to almost read the other members minds.

The Beam: Invisible electro magnetic laylines (?) that run between the 12 portals, with the Dark Tower being at the centre where The Beams cross.

Gunslinger: Cowboy type character with knightly qualities.

The Story
The book (not the story, that started 2 books ago) starts with Roland teaching Susannah and Eddie to become gunslingers. Although he is the last of his kind from Mid-World, Earth also breeds naturals. Mind you, they sometimes need a little prompting and encouragement, just like any other pupil!

As the story unfolds so does Roland’s mind. He is slowly going mad. An event in his not so distant past has sent him on a paradox. Half his mind believes that Jake is dead and can’t come back while the other half believe he’s still alive. The truth is that Jake is alive but he’s back in New York and he’s also going through the same paradox.

The only thing that can silence both their “mad” halves is a key. A key that opens the door between worlds. The race is now on. Jake has to find an old haunted house. At the same time Eddie, Susannah and Roland have to get to the other side of the door (on Mid-World), keep the waiting Demon busy and finally help Jake cross worlds.

With the ka-tet finally together (except Oy) it’s time to continue the quest for the Dark Tower in earnest.

Stephen King with his usual flair and attention to detail then really gets going! He portrays a bitter, decaying world. One that is capable of dishing out kindness and tragedy in less than equal measure.

The one thing that is really annoying about the book is the ending. It was left right in the middle of the action. Almost forcing you to buy the sequel. Funny that…

Other Books in the Series
1. The Gunslinger
2. The Drawing of the Three
3. The Wastelands
4. Wizard and Glass

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