Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6)

by Stephen King

Hardcover, 413 pages

English language

Published June 8, 2004 by Donald M. Grant, Publisher.

ISBN:: 978-1-880418-59-8
OCLC Number:: 636914183

(21 reviews)

The next-to-last novel in Stephen King's seven-volume magnum opus, Song of Susannah is at once a book of revelation, a fascinating key to the unfolding mystery of the Dark Tower, and a fast-paced story of double-barreled suspense.

To give birth to her "chap," demon-mother Mia has usurped the body of Susannah Dean and used the power of Black Thirteen to transport to New York City in the summer of 1999. The city is strange to Susannah . . . and terrifying to the "daughter of none" who shares her body and mind.

Saving the Tower depends not only on rescuing Susannah but also on securing the vacant lot Calvin Tower owns before he loses it to the Sombra Corporation.

Enlisting the aid of Manni senders, the remaining ka-tet climbs to the Doorway Cave . . . and discovers that magic has its own mind. It falls to the boy, the …

Saving the Tower depends not only on rescuing Susannah but also on securing the vacant lot Calvin Tower owns before he loses it to the Sombra Corporation.

Enlisting the aid of Manni senders, the remaining ka-tet climbs to the Doorway Cave . . . and discovers that magic has its own mind. It falls to the boy, the billy bumbler, and the fallen priest to find Susannah-Mia, who in a struggle to cope -- with each other and with an alien environment -- "go todash" to Castle Discordia on the border of End-World. In that forsaken place, Mia reveals her origins, her purpose, and her fierce desire to mother whatever creature the two of them have carried to term.

Eddie and Roland, meanwhile, tumble into western Maine in the summer of 1977, a world that should be idyllic but isn't. For one thing, it is real, and the bullets are flying. For another, it is inhabited by the author of a novel called 'Salem's Lot, a writer who turns out to be as shocked by them as they are by him.

These are the simple vectors of a story rich in complexity and conflict. Its dual climaxes, one at the entrance to a deadly dining establishment and the other appended to the pages of a writer's journal, will leave readers gasping for the saga's final volume (which, Dear Reader, follows soon, say thankya). (from the flap)

25 editions

CyborgHobbit reviewed Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6) by Stephen King

Review of 'Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6)' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

It's hard to throw a stone at the reviews of Song of Susannah and not hit one that complains about King inserting himself as a small but important character in this book (I added the spoiler tag just in case somebody isn't aware it happens and wants to be surprised like I was). But while it first caused me to roll my eyes and cringe a bit, I have to admit it worked really well for me. Even the coda. And while I was not looking forward to heading back to New York (some of my least favorite parts of books 2 and 3) everything again worked well for me here.

I didn't stick with my English degree, and my literary tastes trend almost exclusively into the "sci-fi and occasionally fantasy" area. But all that said, I really liked Song of Susannah and am going to jump right into The …

Merkaba reviewed Cancion De Susannah / Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower) by Stephen King

Review of 'Cancion De Susannah / Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower)' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

While this is certainly not a terrible book when compared to other works, it is nonetheless one if the weakest of the Dark Tower novels for me personally. The narrative seems disjointed and the strongest aspect of the series, Mid World and its many strange coincidences, are missing for the vast majority if the story. Despite that it does at least rush us headlong into the conclusive book of the series and serves to give Roland and his companions some impetus on the final stretch to the field of roses and the Dark Tower.