422 pages
English language
Published Sept. 10, 2003 by Viking.
Part III of an epic saga. Roland and his companions, Eddie and Susannah Dean, find the Path of the Beam that will lead them to the Dark Tower. Along the way, Roland adds two new members to his ka-tet (a group united for a specific purpose). In the decaying city of Lud, they encounter new dangers, including a sentient train that has gone insane.
Although a little slow moving, things overall get more interesting than in the previous book in the series. I still haven't quite got to grips with the story or setting(s), but I'm slowly getting there - meaning I'm getting more ready to accept it for what it is and less inclined to look for a "rational" explanation of where/when/how.
Smart move, btw, to end it with a cliffhanger. ;)
The second book was a such a disappointment after the first that I wasn't sure what to expect from book three. I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy it so much. More of the Gunslinger's world and less of New York; that's what I needed.
