Here is the fifth installment, "one of the strongest entries yet in what will surely be a master storyteller's magnum opus" (Locus).

Roland Deschain and his ka-tet are bearing southeast through the forests of Mid-World on their quest for the Dark Tower. Their path takes them to the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis. But beyond the tranquil farm town, the ground rises to the hulking darkness of Thunderclap, the source of a terrible affliction that is stealing the town's soul. The wolves of Thunderclap and their unspeakable depredation are coming. To resist them is to risk all, but these are odds the gunslingers are used to. Their guns, however, will not be enough....

I will not provide a detailed recap of the story here since so many other reviewers have already done so. What I will attempt to do is explain why I give Wolves of the Calla only 3 stars, as well as to list its strengths and weaknesses. The story of the residents of the Calla and their joining forces with Roland's ka-tet to vanquish the wolves deserves 5 stars. There is intrigue, town politics, an ominous threat hanging over the twin children of the residents, and an exciting battle between Wolf and man. The personalities of the townsfolk, who are divided in their opinions of whether to fight or submit to the wolves, are well developed, as is that of the enigmatic Andy the Messenger Robot. King has done an excellent job developing the mythology and culture of the "folken" of Calla Bryn Sturgis. The reader is treated to a realistic and colorful portrayal of their language, culture, festivals, music, and traditions. After finishing the story, I felt that I had actually taken a trip there and met its inhabitants.

Where the story line falls short, and earns the book only 3 stars, is the middle half of the novel, where there is a lot of travel to the New York of 1977 and many side narratives about the pasts of several of the protagonists. The travel, sometimes performed involuntarily through a mystical "todash" and sometimes voluntarily through another magical doorway, leads to efforts to protect the rose of previous episodes from harm. Not only is all this back-and-forth action distracting, but the ka-tet's dealings with the owner of the lot upon which the rose grows, and with the hoodlums who threaten him, is tedious. Also in this middle half is an excessive amount of tale telling about the pasts of several of the characters. Pere Callahan's tale is essentially a sequel to Salem's Lot, and has no place here.

The illustrations have added a lot to the cost of the book, but little to enhance the story. I give one star to these illustrations. Granted, Roland's Mid-World is a gloomy place, but these paintings are too gloomy and colorless. Every character is depicted as sinister. They all look physically mangy and stringy, even the good folken of the Calla.

Although I prefer King's horror fiction to his Dark Tower epic, being an ardent King fan I feel duty-bound to read the entire story - all seven volumes worth. Besides, I do want to know how Roland and his ka-tet manage to save Mid-World from the evil of the Dark Tower. Reading the entire magnum opus does require a large commitment, since the story, when completed, is projected to weigh in at more than 3,500 pages. Needless to say this volume of the series should not be tackled unless you have already read the previous volumes, and thus it is best left to the diehard Stephen King or Dark Tower fans. Of course this installment will leave the story, and you, hanging in midair. But have no fear... the last two volumes will be released before year's end.

Eileen Rieback


Excellent!!!   November 4, 2003
 27 out of 34 found this review helpful

First of all I'll start by saying that this book is the best in the series so far. I loved the character development. I do have to say that some parts of this book won't make much sense unless you are a well read King fan. However, I believe, this will only make folks all the more curious to learn of the all encompassing world that is the Dark Tower series. I just wish it was summer of 2004 so I can see what happens. Oh well, I waited over five years for this volume, I'm sure I can stand to wait 7 or 8 months
for the next one. I'll end by saying that while I am a very quick reader, I was surprised by the fact I finished all 719 pages in under 8 hours. I guess I was ready for this one!


You're missing out if you aren't reading this series!   January 25, 2004
 25 out of 30 found this review helpful

Stephen King's fans who don't read the Dark Tower series are really missing out. The "Wolves of Calla" is an impressive, well-written, story that raises questions King has been giving us in other works and ties in one of his very first stories in a unique way.

The suspense and drama of the books are fantastic, but I think it's the characters that really set this series apart. In "Wolves of the Calla", each member of the ka-tet has agonizing personal choices to make and their decisions, sometimes flawed, sometimes heroic, make this series something beyond classification. This isn't a drawn-out epic fantasy or a gimmicky tie in of other novels. Like "Wizard and the Glass" this novel is memorable both in itself and in what is does for the series storyline.

Jake is growing up. The Gunslinger is growing a heart (has been for some time). He's also losing some of his physical abilities, but he's a much more interesting character than when he started out. Susannah's latest personality would defy belief if written by any other writer, but Stephen King handles her masterfully. And Eddie the former junkie is now the one that's desperate to hold the group together. The battle to project a town's children against seemingly unstoppable "wolves" is just one part of the story.

The stakes are raised at the conclusion of this installment by a new character with his own stunning background added to mix and Stephen King tantalizes us with the first real glimpse of how this serious might conclude. I hate the spoilers, so that's all I'll say.

Don't miss it.


Swept away to End World   October 25, 2004
 25 out of 27 found this review helpful

Gods, it took a long time to get to this place eh, fellow wanderers? When Mr. King announced his muse became uncontrolled to the point that he FINISHED his opus in efficent fashion, I shuddered. Why?...was my first thought. Does his susceptiblity to mortality, so violently revealed to him a few years past drive his rush, I wondered. He referred to Chaucers' "CANTERBURY TALES" more than once, so I figured I had it right. What worse fate for a work of a lifetime than to be mauled by someone else comissioned to "finish" it. Then I reminded myself of Kings integrity to his work. No way any of this happy crap is right I finally decided. It simply came down to THE TIME HAS COME. So, I read...These characters have never been a happy band despite Eddie and Susannah. Things have always beset them unexpectedly like as not to go horribly wrong at some point. This novel reminded me of nothing so much as The Clint Eastwood film "HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER". Everybody and the damn dog knows the bad guys are coming, and everyone of them is guilty of something no matter how trivial it seems. If you dont't see it, read the book until you do. Remember sins of omission are sometimes as despicable as sins of comission. The departure of similarity really does exonerate Roland's Ka-Tet of destructive premeditation. Unlike the Eastwood character, He(Roland) has no ill will towards Calla Bryn Sturgis. But as usual, this place is simply in the path of the Beam. This time there is time to prepare for an invasion of Child-stealing "Wolves" from Thunderclap. A recurring bane on the poor folken of the Calla.Mr King has fleshed out a bunch of interesting people in this book. He took a lot of care to make his readers get the lay of the land in this one. Some say he could have done as much with less, but to get the feel of the where and the when, I disagree. I was amazed how much Rolands character was expanded. What a guy, what an enigma (as if we didn't already know this). There is a lot in this work. Traitors; smug, easily hated machines, and re-introductions to long gone (but not forgotten) names from the past... not from the TOWER books! In the last pages get ready to have the stage set for unexpected weirdness. I mean it, readers. I really doubt that Stephen King wrote the first words of this story so many decades ago with any of this in mind. Things are not going to be the same with our travellers. EVER. One last thing... I see why it has taken so long. Some people look at a book as pages glued inside a binding,and some, most sadly are. But take a copy of any of these books in the DARK TOWER series and listen to it like a seashell. Up aginst your ear, now... and be still... hear that? If you don't, just put the paper and glue down and be well... But I know you hear it; IF! You! Understand!


Great read, but something nagging.   November 14, 2003
 24 out of 43 found this review helpful

I'm not only a King fan but a huge Tower Junkie. Wolves has been to long coming, but it was worth the wait. In this book he does what he says he was going to do, he wants the Tower books to be a kind of sequel to other of his books. Salem's lot is now finished, our questions about Callahan are now put to rest. The other books will be a kind of sequel to some of his others I believe.
Now the only probelem I had with this story was some of the words, comalla, say thankya big big. Now after awhile these were getting annoying but Steves proise at telling a story kept me going, and all in all Wolves was a great story. He leaves us with more questions than we had going into the story, and that is great story telling. Why? Because it makes you want to read the next book to find out. He is keeping his readers hanging on, and in the end I don't think he will dissapoint.
Now to say something about the ending that so many people have a problem with. Do you really think this will hurt the story? No, I don't think it will. Clive Cussler does it in all of his Dirk Pitt stories and I find it humorous. If he becomes a huge character in the next books I might be a bit dissapointed, but if there is just a small reference then it will be entertaining. Give the guy a chance before you hang him.