Dark Tower: Wizard & Glass

Midway through the Dark Tower series, Stephen King breaks off from his fantastical-science-fiction story in order to to spin an Old Western yarn. King writes of Roland of Gilead (our grizzled protagonist) and his coming-of-age adventure in the dusty town of Mejis. The story features shootouts, witches, politics, and magic. But the focal point throughout is Roland's love for Susan. And this is where the story falters. King himself writes: "True love, like any other strong and addicting drug, is boring... As with any other strong drug, true love is really only interesting to those who become its prisoners."

Unfortunately, King didn't learn from his own wisdom. Roland and Susan's love is soppy and sentimental, and the sexual escapades make this book feel tawdry. But despite this, the Wizard and Glass captures much of the excitement that makes this series compelling. There are wizards and enchanted balls; palaces and gunslingers; and the ever-present sense that the "world has moved on." Also, King can describe action scenes with wonderful finesse. His description of how Roland and his two companions methodically take down a company of forty armed men is still vivid in my mind. I can't put my finger on why, but the Dark Tower series has a magic that keeps me reading.