Issue #91, Summer 2003
Volume 28, Number 3
© Summer 2003 by Barry Hunter
ISSN: 1534-5254
englischsprachig.
Published by Barry R. Hunter, 114 Julia Drive SW, Rome, Georgia 30165-7999. Baryon is Copyright 2003 for the contributors.Hardcopy of Baryon is available for $3.00. Artwork by Peter Horwáth. This website is designed, developed, and maintained by Peter Horwáth.
http://www.baryon-online.com
The Gunslinger, Stephen King, Viking, Jun 2003, $25.00, 237 pages, ISBN: 0670032549, reviewed by Harriet Klausner.
Roland Deschain of Gilead knows he is obsessed over finding the Dark Tower, but does not care. He will follow the Man in Black wherever he goes and for how long it takes even into eternity until he catches this person, if he is a person, and force him to reveal the locale of the Dark Tower. If others
die at his hands after meeting the Gunslinger so be it.
Currently he tracks his prey across a desert stopping at a way station where he meets a child whom he thought at first was his target, albeit two feet shorter. The kid is John "Jake" Chambers from 1977 New York City wherever in hell that place is. Shockingly to the solitary Deschain, instead of his
usual killing or just another soul left behind, Roland allows Jake to accompany him on his trek towards the mountains, the Man in Black, and ultimately the Black Tower.
This is somewhat of a reprint, but Stephen King has added back in edited out sections and rewritten some passages. The story line retains the strange, deep allegorical fantasy reminiscent of the cult movie El Topo with less gore and Michael Whelan´s´ drawings add to that overall eerie feeling. The
desert looms so vast and is so critical to the plot that the audience will see it as a character unto itself. The other key players fit in this TS Eliot Wasteland meets the Stand environs. Fans of the horror master and those who appreciate a powerful parable fantasy will join the Gunslinger and Jake on their quest.
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Issue #92
© ? by Barry Hunter
englischsprachig.
Baryon Magazine #92
The Drawing of the Three, Stephen King, Viking, Jul 2003, $35.00, 406 pages, ISBN: 0670032557, reviewed by Harriet Klausner.
The "confrontation with the Man in Black finally occurred (see THE GUNSLINGER), but left Roland unfulfilled. Roland is on a beach assaulted by a sea monstrosity ripping off two fingers and a toe. After killing this creature, he begins the second part of his journey to the Dark Tower.
Roland enters a door on the beach labeled "The Prisoner" and realizes he sees an eerie world through the eyes of Eddie Dean, American heroin addict flying to the USA with cocaine in 1987. Eddie¹s employer Balazar brings him to The Leaning Tower where a gunfight breaks out before the duo returns to Roland¹s realm. They reach beach door two and meet schizophrenic wheel chair
bound Odetta Holmes and her darker half Detta Walker in 1964. Now Detta is a killing machine trying to get out who could easily end Roland¹s quest before he attains the third and final beach door of drug pusher of death Jack Mort if he is not careful. Roland has drawn the trio that is apparently his
companions for this trek.
Book Two of the Dark Tower is a great continuation of Stephen King´s epic fantasy. The story line continues Roland¹s quest bit does not feel like a middle book filler tale. With the reprint of the entire series, fans will have quite a treat as these 1980s novels hold up quite nicely as some of Mr. King´s best works, at least this one and the first tale that this reviewer recently re-read. This is Mr. King at his darkest and strongest yet seems to leave the audience with a flicker of hope.
Baryon Magazine #92
The Waste Lands, Stephen King, Viking, 2003, $35.00, 402 pages, ISBN: 0670032565, reviewed by Harriet Klausner.
After recuperating from the final door confrontation (see THE DRAWING OF THE THREE), Roland trains Eddie and Susannah on how to survive as gunslingers. All goes well until a seventy 70-foot-tall bear attacks Eddie. Susannah and Roland team up to kill the bear, which actually is one of the twelve
guardians of the beams.
The gunslingers follow the bear´s trail, which takes them to a portal that enables the trio follow the Beam, a line of energy that connects pairs of portals with the center being the Dark Tower. They now know the way, but it may be too late. Roland seems to be losing his mind as a paradox he caused
by saving Jake´s life on earth has begun to eat at his brain because dual memories of death and rescue seem impossible. They need Jake to complete the team, but to do so they must construct a door where a demon resides.
The third book in Stephen King´s great Dark Tower series continues the adventures of Roland, but this time he has associates to help him complete his quest. Though well written and quite exciting, THE WASTE LANDS somewhat feels like a middle book needed to move the tale forward. Still, Mr. King shows why he is more than just a horror guru as he displays his talent as a fantastic fantasist with this novel and the first two books in this strong allegorical series that stands up well with his best works.
Baryon Magazine #92
Wizard and Glass, Stephen King, Viking, 2003, $40.00, 668 pages, ISBN: 0670032573, reviewed by Harriet Klausner.
Blaine the killing machine drives the train at speeds that ultimately mean death to the passengers unless Roland and his companions (Jake, Eddie, Susannah, and Oy) can find a way to defeat the seemingly invincible computer that thrives on riddles and battles of wits. Roland and cohorts appear to have done the impossible in a verbal gunfight with Blaine.
Following that High Noon debate, Roland explains to his quartet of followers how he once loved Susan Delgado. When they reach ravaged 1986 Topeka, (yes we´re in Kansas this time), the city and much of the country lies in ruin from a biblical proportion disease that left few standing. As Roland
continues his story with that of his teacher Cort, they wonder if the nearby lighthouse in King's Castle Rock film logo is the Beam to and from the Dark Tower.
The fourth volume in Stephen King¹s Dark Tower series is exciting in several ways especially the tie in to the Stand. However, the story line seems looser than the taut previous three tales as if Mr. King used this novel as a pivotal point to send beams of plots into future books. Still, this plot displays Mr. King at his multitalented best by the ease he crosses and blends genres into a strong fantasy mix that will please fans, especially those interested in Roland.
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