Ahira's Hangar

I said pretty much all I have to say in the thread I started on the Watch when I began my Journey to the Tower.

The only thing I'll add is that everyone venturing into this series for the first time needs to have Avatar as a motivator to continue on. There were places I would have outright stopped, the first half of Insomnia being a real sticking point for me, if it wasn't for Av's gentle encouragement.

I voted in the poll, as I think I may be the only one who will vote for DT V as their favorite. I loved the (re)introduction of Callahan. I loved when Roland danced. I loved when Oy bowed.

I despised what the wolves turned out to be. But everything else about the book suited me.

I hated Blane in book III. I hated Lud, and the Tick-Tock Man.

As for book IV... It is a beautifully written story. But, I liked Wolves more.

I've never even tried to read Insomnia. I have access to unlimited numbers of free books, and have an entire book case stuffed with stuff I have picked up and not had time to read, and I think that is one of them. I've only read a little bit of the associated material, and that years ago before I ever walked the road to the tower. The Stand, Eyes of the Dragon, and Salem's Lot are the ones that come to mind.

On the other hand, I walked the road with only having read some of those, and then many years ago - and I made the journey just fine. My son hasn't read any of the associated stuff (though if I can find my old copies of Salem's Lot and The Stand I will let him read those simply because they are good books) - and he has made the journey just fine, too.

Yeah, the other books are just atmosphere. Nice if you got the time. If I had to call any essential, it would be EotD and the Stand. Simply for Flagg. But then on the other hand...

DT7 Spoiler:

It makes his ultimate end even more disappointing...

Anyway, yeah...last three books were, as Murrin said, intimations of mortality. That accident probably scared him more than it scared me. And maybe he lost something in it, I dunno.

Regardless, the DT series remains my favourite of his works, and Roland will always rock.

--A