One of the better dark towers

When I picked up this book, I was nearly dying of curiosity. When I finished it, I was not disappointed.
It picks up where the last left off. Roland's ka tet are traveling along the Path of the Beam to reach their ultimate goal.. The Dark Tower....
But, they get sidetracked when they come to the town of Calla Bryn Sturgis. There, they meet a man called Father Callahan (King fans will recognize him as the character from his older book, Salem's Lot), a man who was once from the real world and somehow got to the one that Roland is in.
And, they also vow to stop the Wolves of Thunderclap from raiding Calla. The Wolves are mysterious creatures who steal babies from the Calla every 25 years. But, the tales that Roland hears around the city makes the Wolves seem impossible to beat....
If you havent read any Dark Tower books yet, read them. They are the best books in a series i have ever read.

Hey Nineteen!

This story is unbelievably great. In my opinion, I think it may be Stephen King's best book, not just of this series. Never in my life has a 700+ page book seemed too short. I was sorry when it ended. The characters are so richly and vividly drawn, I could feel something for each and every character, from Roland and his ka-tet to the many townspeople of Calla Bryn Sturgis and especially Father Callahan. Also, the subtle references to other King books were a treat for me (the ones I recognized, like Salem's Lot and The Regulators).
The only grudge I could possibly hold against the book is the fact that the actual showdown between the gunslingers and the Wolves lasts only about 10-15 pages. After so much build-up, I guess I was expecting Battle of Helm's Deep. Although there is plenty of shooting (and dish throwing) in the final confrontation, most of the advantage comes from planning and watching, (palaver in the High Speech). It works exceptionally well. Roland's motives and actions don't seem to make sense at the time, but it becomes clear later. The suspense is of the page-turning variety, although most of the suspense comes from King deliberately not telling the reader things other characters are told. For instance, Eddie learns the secret of the wolves from another character about halfway in, but the reader does not know what he was told until the final chapter. Frustrating, but it kept my nose in the book to find out.
I recommend this book wholeheartedly, and can't wait for the next two installments to finish the series. You'll be counting letters in people's names and objects on your desk to see if they add up to 19!
(If anyone was bored with Wizard and Glass as I was please pick up this and keep going, it's worth it definitely)

I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could

For all of you, like me, who despised Wizard and Glass this book is for you. Finally we are getting somewhere. It has been YEARS since King has been this good. It is good to see him back. Don't listen to the reviews of people who don't like the fact that it seems King is going to include himself in the Dark Tower series. What is the difference between that and Eddie, Susannah, and Jake entering Roland's world. Obviously they don't understand the point King has been hinting at all along: the thinness of reality. He even goes into a beautiful aside about how the choices we make and how one side step can change the course of our history. This is King's oh so subtle way of letting us know that our perception of reality may not be the truth of the matter. I'm hooked again Mr. King. Bring me to the Dark Tower. It has been years and I am ready. As we all are. I'm sure you won't dissapoint.