World Famous Comics: Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, Vol. 1
Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, Vol. 1
By: Robin Furth Publisher: Scribner Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Scribner Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 192 Publication Date: July 29, 2003
"I found this overview of In-World, Mid-World, and End-World both entertaining and invaluable. So, I am convinced, will you." -- from the foreword by Stephen King
The Dark Tower is the backbone of Stephen King's legendary career. Inspired more than thirty years ago by works as diverse as J. R. R. Tolkien's epics, Robert Browning's poetry, and Sergio Leone's Westerns, this is the tale that Stephen King has never abandoned. When he typed the first sentence in 1970, King feared the telling might take several lifetimes, but two thousand pages and four books later, the end is in sight.
Published in anticipation of The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla, A Concordance, Volume I is the definitive guide to the first four books in Stephen King's bestselling epic fantasy series, The Dark Tower. With the hundreds of characters, Mid-World geography, and the High Speech lexicon, this comprehensive handbook is one no Dark Tower fan will want to be without. It is the perfect way in for readers new to the series, or the perfect way back in for longtime fans who read the first four books years ago.
Characters and Genealogies Mid-World and Our World Places High Speech, Low Speech, and Mid-World Argot Mid-World Maps Political and Cultural References Roland Deschain and His Ka-tet Portals and Magical Places Mid-World Miscellany Gilead Fair-Days and Mid-World Moons The Dark Tower and the Quest
Download Description: """I found this overview of In-World, Mid-World, and End-World both entertaining and invaluable. So, I am convinced, will you."" -- from the foreword by Stephen King The Dark Tower is the backbone of Stephen King's legendary career. Inspired more than thirty years ago by works as diverse as J. R. R. Tolkien's epics, Robert Browning's poetry, and Sergio Leone's Westerns, this is the tale that Stephen King has never abandoned. When he typed the first sentence in 1970, King feared the telling might take several lifetimes, but two thousand pages and four books later, the end is in sight. Published in anticipation of The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla, A Concordance, Volume I is the definitive guide to the first four books in Stephen King's bestselling epic fantasy series, The Dark Tower. With the hundreds of characters, Mid-World geography, and the High Speech lexicon, this comprehensive handbook is one no Dark Tower fan will want to be without. It is the perfect way in for readers new to the series, or the perfect way back in for longtime fans who read the first four books years ago. "
Definition Concordance: (noun) an index of the principal words of a book with a reference to the passage in which each occurs
Look people. This book is a reference tool. Do not expect to just be given any extra insight by reading this book. I don't know why anybody would actually "read" this book. I was given this book as a gift shortly before the last 3 books came out and I was glad of it. I did not have enough time to re-read all of the first 4 books (did re-read the 4th), and this book filled me in on all the facts that I had forgotten and pointed me in the right direction within the first four books if I wanted more information.
There is a new concordance to incorporate the last 3 books. So, purchase that book instead, unless you are in the same boat that I was in and don't want to run the risk of any spoilers.
Who is this book for? If it is true that this is a concordance, it is a strange one. The warning not to read it until after FINISHING THE BOOKS IT COVERS BECAUSE IT GIVES THE STORY AWAY puts it is a special class. As a true concordance it should follow the story as it proceeds, giving expanded information and detail. Thus, where the reader is confused or unsatisfied they can find help. To have this available only when finished with the books means it will only answer questions left hanging, or provide extra detail to fill in the story for the fan. Interesting that the Hero is a gunslinger (quotes) with Colt single action revolvers, but has the name Roland and starts from a castle on a quest (quotes). For background, I began reading SciFi and Fantasy in the Golden days of the 1940s. This, through the 50s, had Astounding, Galaxy and FASF (where much of this story was published). I just bought the first 5 volumes by the original publisher a few days ago and am now half way through vol. 3. The books are half fantasy (demons, magic towers, mystic creatures) and half SciFi (action, changing worlds, new discovery). I will buy this volume to see what lies behind and around the story, but can't help thinking that King protests too much. Authors that use that method can wind up like P.J. Farmer in the Riverworld series, with a first book that is compelling and then fades out in later books because it appears he can't think of any way out. An aside. Read WITH FOLDED HANDS, by Jack Williamson. As we progress in AI it becomes more frightening each year. It is a masterpiece that deserves the attention of thinking persons.
Good but the map is Wrong In pag 566 in DT-III the Waste Lands, Blaines talk and said that his route follows the Beam South West. And in the map of this Book It said that Roland Ka-tet follows the Beam South East. So the autor did not make a very good verification before doing this map. so this make me think it could be another mistakes.
Yeesh... this series wasn't good enough for this! But ... maybe this book is required after all. I mean, the last 3 books were written as if Stephen King threw in whatever ridiculous thought popped into his mind, so maybe we do need this to explain what the hell he was thinking! One reviewer wrote in his review that this book is NEEDED, not something that you just want, so I guess I may be on the right track after all. Now that I look closer, I see that this lofty Concordance was published in 2003, which means that it only focuses on the 1st 4 books. Ah, the good old days, when the Dark Tower series seemed so good and before King's creativity was knocked out of his head when he was hit by a van. It's true, you know - just compare the 1st four books to the last three and you'll se what I mean!
Excellent enclyclopedia-style reference book for DT I-IV The Dark Tower: A Concordance is an excellent reference manual cataloging the first four volumes of Stephen King's magnificent Dark Tower series. After a thorough introduction to main character Roland and his quest, author Robin Furth organizies each section of the book alphabetically for easy reference. Topics covered include characters, places, speech, and more, and actual pages from each book are cited. I found it fascinating to read about so many details from the series, many of which I had either forgotten or missed entirely. However, as Stephen King mentions in his introduction, this book was never meant to be published; rather, Ms. Furth was commissioned to create a guide which King himself could use as he finished the series. Given this, the book reads more like an encyclopedia than a literary analysis, and the many cross-references can be cumbersome at times. Still, it is obvious that Ms. Furth put an enormous amount of time and effort into this volume, and it is definitely worthwhile reading for the die-hard Dark Tower fan.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
