Fantasy

Wizard and Glass

Wizard and Glass

  • Downloads：1980
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-17 13:56:40
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Stephen King
  • ISBN：1444723472
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances， filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters， the Dark Tower series is Stephen King's most visionary piece of storytelling that may well be his crowning achievement。

The Dark Tower beckons Roland， the Last Gunslinger， and the four companions he has gathered along the road。 In a terrifying journey where hidden dangers lie at every junction – a malevolent runaway train， Roland's staunch enemy and the temptation of the wizard's diabolical glass ball – they narrowly escape one world and slip into the next。

It is here that Roland tells them a long-ago tale of love and adventure involving a beautiful woman named Susan Delgado。

With driving narrative force and exciting plot twists， Wizard and Glass will leave readers clamouring for the next chapter。

And the Tower is closer 。 。 。

（Source: back cover）

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Reviews

Brendon VanVlack ，

end good

Benjamin Marcher ，

The Dark Tower series still holds up in many ways that a lot of King's other works don't。 The typical cliches are still there， but the interconnectedness of this series is enjoyable， the characters are still fun， and the story gripping enough even after years of revisiting。This volume contains Roland's origin story， which is still my favorite part of the series， by far。 It's refreshing to spend some time away from the Tower-obsessed Roland， and focus on some of his other obsessions。 I remember b The Dark Tower series still holds up in many ways that a lot of King's other works don't。 The typical cliches are still there， but the interconnectedness of this series is enjoyable， the characters are still fun， and the story gripping enough even after years of revisiting。This volume contains Roland's origin story， which is still my favorite part of the series， by far。 It's refreshing to spend some time away from the Tower-obsessed Roland， and focus on some of his other obsessions。 I remember books 5 and 6 were less interesting， but I'm looking forward to the revisit。 Wind Through the Keyhole？ Eh。。。we'll see。 。。。more

Ariana ，

for god’s sake give roland a break

Colin Drew ，

Ohmygosh， it was beautiful！ Roland’s 800 page backstory is gorgeous， it’s themes feel weirdly gothic; it’s just such a departure from the past three books but I loved it。 The love story between Roland and Susan was touching， the climax was exciting， and the ramifications for the wider story were grand， what more do you need？ Fly me over the Wizard’s Rainbow。

Jacqueline ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Most of this book was a flashback which is kind of crazy。 Learning more about Roland’s past was enjoyable but also not quite enough to be satisfied at the same time。 I wanted more of the past stories but also I’m impatient to get back to the quest for the tower so really conflicted here。 We knew the love story would have a tragic ending and the inevitability of that made me a little less into it than I might have been。 Then the oz stuff at the end was off the wall genius I was living for it。 Goi Most of this book was a flashback which is kind of crazy。 Learning more about Roland’s past was enjoyable but also not quite enough to be satisfied at the same time。 I wanted more of the past stories but also I’m impatient to get back to the quest for the tower so really conflicted here。 We knew the love story would have a tragic ending and the inevitability of that made me a little less into it than I might have been。 Then the oz stuff at the end was off the wall genius I was living for it。 Going with 4。5 stars for this one 。。。more

Natira ，

reread April 2021 - 2，5 Sterne。。。 Ich kann diesem Band weiterhin nicht besonders viel abgewinnen。 Die für mich interessantere Story um Rolands aktuelles Ka-tet kam zu einem knirschenden Halt zugunsten Rolands Backstory， die ich als zu lang empfinde。 Vielleicht hätte sie mich mehr gefesselt， hätte Stephen King sie straffer und aus Rolands Ich-Perspektive erzählt。 Ich zögere etwas， direkt zu "Wind" zu greifen， da auch hier eine Backstory erzählt wird。。。 reread April 2021 - 2，5 Sterne。。。 Ich kann diesem Band weiterhin nicht besonders viel abgewinnen。 Die für mich interessantere Story um Rolands aktuelles Ka-tet kam zu einem knirschenden Halt zugunsten Rolands Backstory， die ich als zu lang empfinde。 Vielleicht hätte sie mich mehr gefesselt， hätte Stephen King sie straffer und aus Rolands Ich-Perspektive erzählt。 Ich zögere etwas， direkt zu "Wind" zu greifen， da auch hier eine Backstory erzählt wird。。。 。。。more

Rachel ，

I really liked the story within a story of Wizard and Glass （though I think it should probably be titled GLASS with a Touch of Wizard）。 :）Great characters， and I think the placement of this book in the chronology of the entire series is spot-on。

Jess ，

3。5 rounded up。 I’m probably going to get a lot of shit for this one but it wasn’t my favorite。 For me personally I’m not a big fan of flashback sequences or prequel type stories and if a prequel comes out after a series is complete I usually don’t even read those at all。 I’m also not really into slow burns and this whole book was basically one big slow burning flashback。 That whole “wizard of oz” part at the end was what redeemed it for me。 I did really enjoy that part。 I’m happy to be back wit 3。5 rounded up。 I’m probably going to get a lot of shit for this one but it wasn’t my favorite。 For me personally I’m not a big fan of flashback sequences or prequel type stories and if a prequel comes out after a series is complete I usually don’t even read those at all。 I’m also not really into slow burns and this whole book was basically one big slow burning flashback。 That whole “wizard of oz” part at the end was what redeemed it for me。 I did really enjoy that part。 I’m happy to be back with Jake and Eddie and Susannah now。 。。。more

Dave MacIntyre ，

My favourite dark tower novel yet。 Beautiful and heartbreaking backstory of Roland of Gilead。 Mesmerizing

Cory Winterberg ，

Surprisingly good as it is essentially a prequel to the series， delving into Roland's teenage tribulations。 Surprisingly good as it is essentially a prequel to the series， delving into Roland's teenage tribulations。 。。。more

Francie Ott ，

This is the best book of the entire series！ LOVE LOVE LOVE the romance and it just pulls you in the entire time！ LOVED IT！ Fell in love with Roland in this one！

Alison ，

I have to sit on this for a bit。。。I loved it！

Tony ，

My favourite in the Dark Tower series so far

David Rush ，

It is amazing how another 700 pages can fly by in a Stephen King novel。 AND I will move on to the next book in the series tomorrow。 The guy can really pull you along and this time he even gets in over 500 pages of dang good western story with a light seasoning of post apocalyptic fantasy sci fic in there with it。 I should be irritated the way he re-uses pop culture clichés， such as 50 or 60 pages of Wizard of Oz references。 So much of this series feels like King decided he was just going to thro It is amazing how another 700 pages can fly by in a Stephen King novel。 AND I will move on to the next book in the series tomorrow。 The guy can really pull you along and this time he even gets in over 500 pages of dang good western story with a light seasoning of post apocalyptic fantasy sci fic in there with it。 I should be irritated the way he re-uses pop culture clichés， such as 50 or 60 pages of Wizard of Oz references。 So much of this series feels like King decided he was just going to throw in every story， song， genre fiction he every read， AND bits and pieces of his own other novels， and maybe by the end he will get a kitchen sink in there。 So this whole arc is just a well managed lucid dream from the mind of Stephen King。 He has so much stuff rattling around his noodle he decided to get it all on the page。But it is fun， so who am I to complain？Of course this one， like the last， is a blend of predestination， fatalism， and the struggle to find the courage to do the thing that is gonna happen anyway， ie “ka”。 “Surgarpie， either the whole business is ka or none of it is。 And as scary as ka might be – the idea of fate with eagle eyes and a bloodhound’s nose – I find the idea of no ka even scarier” Pg。 690If I think about it， the story is odd because things are going to happen because of the UN-avoidable “ka” but King is writing the thing so in a way ANY book with a narrative is predestined since the author is calling the shots。 “It is written” has a double meaning here。 Whoa， kind of heavy！Now the western part of the book and Roland’s love story， was fun to read， but it is so superficial。 They meet at night on a dark road and there is a horse and mystery and a kiss and fall in love right there。 BUT I looked forward to seeing how it would play out。 In fact in the afterward King addresses this somewhat，I knew that Wizard and Glass meant doubling back to Roland’s young days， and to his first love affair， and I was scared to death of that story。 Suspense is relatively easy， at least for me; love is hard。 Pg。 698While difficult or not for him， he manages to crank out 500 pages of a love story with horses， chases， kisses （and much much more！）， an evil witch， evil stepmother （an aunt actually but mostly the same thing） ， corrupt sheriff and mayor， and of course more kisses and such。How can this guy be so cliched， superficial， yet sooooo engaging？ Still， I wonder about if his voluminous pop culture laden writing is an attempt to fill an internal void with literary distractions。 That idea popped into my head while reading this book where one of the characters considers the nature of “ka” （destiny），。。。since awakening to Roland’s world on the beach of the Western Sea， her concept of the invisible world had changed considerably。 Please help us find the beam again。 Please help us escape this world of silence and death。 Pg。 100Maybe Stephen King is actually running from the idea that there is no destiny， no meaning， no “ka”。 And the only way to overcome that overwhelming silence of “no meaning” is the fill the world with thousands and thousands of pages from his typewriter？The upside for us is that we have hundreds of his books to distract us from that same empty space hiding in our souls。So thank you Stephen King。 。。。more

Brian Randall ，

Where was your editor？ Holy crap， hundreds of pages of flashback that just kept going in circles。 The first three were excellent， this one is just rubbish。 Sorely disappointed。

Carlos ，

Dark Tower 4/7。The first 200 pages are very meh， i couldnt care less about Blaine/Charlie and the begining of Susan's story。 But oh man， if my perspective didn't change once we got to know young Roland， the cowboy Tay surely sings about in Evermore （lol）。This book is at least 300 pages too long， but a masterpiece nonetheless。 Can't wait to reach the end of this series。 Dark Tower 4/7。The first 200 pages are very meh， i couldnt care less about Blaine/Charlie and the begining of Susan's story。 But oh man， if my perspective didn't change once we got to know young Roland， the cowboy Tay surely sings about in Evermore （lol）。This book is at least 300 pages too long， but a masterpiece nonetheless。 Can't wait to reach the end of this series。 。。。more

Paul Mackey ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Excellent but frustrating ☺️I love this book and series， but the world hoping is a bit frustrating in my opinion。 I was delighted to read his extract explaining the length it took in between books to write this and the frustration he felt before starting it， I feel like it shines through in the story but not in a bad way。 I think this book is quite different then the three preceding it。 I'm excited to start on the next book in the dark tower series but equally scared/frustrated because I know th Excellent but frustrating ☺️I love this book and series， but the world hoping is a bit frustrating in my opinion。 I was delighted to read his extract explaining the length it took in between books to write this and the frustration he felt before starting it， I feel like it shines through in the story but not in a bad way。 I think this book is quite different then the three preceding it。 I'm excited to start on the next book in the dark tower series but equally scared/frustrated because I know they are not short breezy reads。😅 。。。more

Michelle ，

'Bird and Bear and Hare and Fish' This installment of the Dark Tower series is a journey。  First thing you should know is that the majority of this book is a flashback to Roland as a teen and his first love so not much progress happens in this book in terms of the quest of the Dark Tower but it does give us some insight into how Roland first came to know of the Tower。 Secondly if you've read The Stand you are in for a treat as the SK multiverse is evident here。 I really enjoyed the first part of 'Bird and Bear and Hare and Fish' This installment of the Dark Tower series is a journey。  First thing you should know is that the majority of this book is a flashback to Roland as a teen and his first love so not much progress happens in this book in terms of the quest of the Dark Tower but it does give us some insight into how Roland first came to know of the Tower。 Secondly if you've read The Stand you are in for a treat as the SK multiverse is evident here。 I really enjoyed the first part of this book which picks up directly from Wastelands。We are with Blaine in a riddle or die situation and its intense。 Then I really enjoyed the last part of the book and the Wizard of Oz crossovers， that was epic。 The actual flashback took me a while to settle into and in the end I did enjoy it but it took a while to get going for me。 I must admit to really enjoying the supernatural parts of flashback and the magical elements of the characters。 All in all a decent read。  The world building in this series is truly amazing。 As I'm half way through the series now I think while the books have  epic scenes its not an epic series for me as yet but its all still to play for in the next books。 。。。more

spaccapagine ，

Il quarto volume della saga horror-fantasy di Stephen King è un piccolo gioiello， un racconto nel racconto， una storia che ancora più che nelle tre precedenti ci immerge nelle atmosfere western alla Sergio Leone， ispirazione dichiarata fin dal primo romanzo per le ambientazioni in cui si muove Roland， e per la figura stessa dell’ultimo cavaliere。Infatti， il cammino di Roland， Eddie， Susannah e Jake verso la Torre Nera avanzi di pochissimo， e il romanzo con le sue 654 pagine si concentra quasi to Il quarto volume della saga horror-fantasy di Stephen King è un piccolo gioiello， un racconto nel racconto， una storia che ancora più che nelle tre precedenti ci immerge nelle atmosfere western alla Sergio Leone， ispirazione dichiarata fin dal primo romanzo per le ambientazioni in cui si muove Roland， e per la figura stessa dell’ultimo cavaliere。Infatti， il cammino di Roland， Eddie， Susannah e Jake verso la Torre Nera avanzi di pochissimo， e il romanzo con le sue 654 pagine si concentra quasi totalmente sul passato del pistolero。Giusto il tempo di chiudere l’azione che l’autore aveva troncato con un sapiente cliffhanger nello scorso volume， cioè la gara di indovinelli tra i Nostri e il treno Blaine il Mono， e i 4 protagonisti （più il bimbolo Oy） si ritrovano a Tolpeka， una città che pur essendo nel mondo di Roland appare situata in una sorta di Kansas alternativo al nostro， ma per certi versi molto simile。 Un altro segnale del fatto che la linea che divide i mondi è sempre più labile e confusa。Un luogo desolato， perché la popolazione appare sterminata da una misteriosa malattia。 E il ciglio di un’autostrada deserta è l’ambiente in cui i pistoleri si siedono e in una notte che sembra eterna Roland finalmente decide di raccontare ai suoi nuovi compagni e amici episodi del suo passato， della sua giovinezza， perché loro ormai sono ka-tet e non devono esserci segreti。Un romanzo di transizione， uno spartiacque nella saga。 Se ne approfitta per volgere lo sguardo al passato， un passato che il lettore ancora ignora ma di cui negli scorsi tre tomi sono stati lanciati alcuni assaggi， tali da ingolosire e incuriosire i più su quello che ha vissuto l’ultimo cavaliere prima di arrivare nel deserto da cui questa saga ha inizio。 Ma di certo ancora tanto c’è da sapere， alcuni buchi ci sono ancora ma non dubito che ne verremo presto a conoscenza。 。。。more

Aline Keesling ，

The first 3 installments of the saga are pure magic， King practically exhuded talent from his pores and let the drops sink into those pages。 I read them in a couple of months。 But the 4th book。。。 It was SO BORING。。。 Longer than it actually needed to be。 I am sorry。 I didn't want to say it， but I feel like I have to。 I am aware there are plenty of people who loved this book， and I respect that。 I wanted to love it， I really tried。 I took me 10 YEARS， you read correctly， A DECADE to finish this bo The first 3 installments of the saga are pure magic， King practically exhuded talent from his pores and let the drops sink into those pages。 I read them in a couple of months。 But the 4th book。。。 It was SO BORING。。。 Longer than it actually needed to be。 I am sorry。 I didn't want to say it， but I feel like I have to。 I am aware there are plenty of people who loved this book， and I respect that。 I wanted to love it， I really tried。 I took me 10 YEARS， you read correctly， A DECADE to finish this book。 I had to start over numerous times。The beginning is marvelous， the ending is just perfect。 But the maybe 600 pages in between？ Oh God。。。 I get he had to tell Roland's story。 But it was nothing but a long YA western。 If I wanted to read a lovestory I wouldn't have picked this book （I also happen to hate westerns）。 I am sure this book could have been half as long。I wanted to give it 2 stars， but starting and ending are 5 stars， so I had to compromise。I am scared to read the next 3 books because I don't want to spend another 10 years just trying to go through the pages。 But my heart says the author went back to the yellow brick road and is guiding us where we have to go。I love you Stephen King， but I have to say this wasn't your best work。。。 。。。more

Damon Nicholson ，

3。5

Michael Mason-D'Croz ，

IDK 。。。 I just was not blown away and I’ve lost interest in the series at this point。

Nicole ，

Wow！ What a book！ This is definitely my favourite dark tower book so far。 I loved hearing Roland's backstory and his first love affair。 Lots of new characters are introduced in this book。 Although， I didn't understand everything I read， I could generally follow the plot of book。 Yes， the book goes into a lot of detail， which could perhaps be too much at times but there are parts of this book which I just soaked up all the details because I was so invested in the characters。There is also some ver Wow！ What a book！ This is definitely my favourite dark tower book so far。 I loved hearing Roland's backstory and his first love affair。 Lots of new characters are introduced in this book。 Although， I didn't understand everything I read， I could generally follow the plot of book。 Yes， the book goes into a lot of detail， which could perhaps be too much at times but there are parts of this book which I just soaked up all the details because I was so invested in the characters。There is also some very obvious connections to the stand in this book， so make sure you read that book first！ Absolutely loved this book！ Looking forward to continuing my dark tower journey TW: death and violence 。。。more

EmmaPorzee ，

The books are totally deserving。 I loved them， and I think they are must read。 If you have some great stories like this one， you can publish it on Novel Star， just submit your story to hardy@novelstar。top or joye@novelstar。top

Nicolle ，

The saga continues。 Interesting backstory on Roland （who I still picture as Idris Elba despite a description that says otherwise）。 I wish I would have been able to borrow the audio book， it was such a great way to experience the first three books。One thing that really bothered me the whole entire time we were venturing through Roland's past is the random use of Spanish words for things。 It made no sense to me。 The saga continues。 Interesting backstory on Roland （who I still picture as Idris Elba despite a description that says otherwise）。 I wish I would have been able to borrow the audio book， it was such a great way to experience the first three books。One thing that really bothered me the whole entire time we were venturing through Roland's past is the random use of Spanish words for things。 It made no sense to me。 。。。more

Sherry Wessman ，

Each Novel is Better Than The Last！Each Novel gets better and better。 I didn't read them in order。 I'm now going back to get the ones I missed。I don't know why， at first， this series didn't interest me！ Each Novel is Better Than The Last！Each Novel gets better and better。 I didn't read them in order。 I'm now going back to get the ones I missed。I don't know why， at first， this series didn't interest me！ 。。。more

Anthony ，

This took me an awfully long time to read。 There are moments in the flashback sequence that are masterful and characters that enhance the narrative （Rhea of Coos and Eldred Jonas） but， the flashback sequence is sandwiched between a riddling contest with a train and a weird Wizard of Oz encounter with Randall Flagg - not for me。

Bailey ✰ ，

If it's ka， it'll come like a wind， and your plans will stand before it no more than a barn before a cyclone。Oh Stephen， how you know pipelines to my heart， curse ye。 I'm starting to understand why he calls this series his magnum opus and I wholeheartedly agree。 Wizard and Glass was both inspiring and heartbreaking and rattled me through a rollercoaster of emotions。 （view spoiler）[ Getting to see Roland at 14 and all the boyish things he felt/did humanized him in a way I never expected。 My heart If it's ka， it'll come like a wind， and your plans will stand before it no more than a barn before a cyclone。Oh Stephen， how you know pipelines to my heart， curse ye。 I'm starting to understand why he calls this series his magnum opus and I wholeheartedly agree。 Wizard and Glass was both inspiring and heartbreaking and rattled me through a rollercoaster of emotions。 （view spoiler）[ Getting to see Roland at 14 and all the boyish things he felt/did humanized him in a way I never expected。 My heart yearns for him and Susan to be together and even though I knew she would die， my heart still shattered when I read her final scene。 （hide spoiler）] Fantastic， sensational， thankee-sai for another phenomenal story。 。。。more

Tomer Rosenthal ，

it could be shorter， a lot of it seems redundant， but it is storytelling in its greatest。 In my opinion at least。

Mark Piechowiak ，

The take within the tale is heartbreaking。 The only criticism is how Roland can remember such a long and detailed story to tell to his present day company。 The wrap up brought forth its own misery; i'd like to know if this tome was written during a difficult time in Kings personal life。 Such miseries that Roland sufferred here are dour even for a kind book。On order from Betterworld Books: part 4。5， Wind thru the Keyhole The take within the tale is heartbreaking。 The only criticism is how Roland can remember such a long and detailed story to tell to his present day company。 The wrap up brought forth its own misery; i'd like to know if this tome was written during a difficult time in Kings personal life。 Such miseries that Roland sufferred here are dour even for a kind book。On order from Betterworld Books: part 4。5， Wind thru the Keyhole 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Wizard and Glass

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Wizard and Glass&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Wizard and Glass&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0