Hatrack River Forum: His Dark Material and The Dark Tower Series

This is topic His Dark Material and The Dark Tower Series in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :

Just curious to see if anyone who has read both series sees similarities. My son and I read the Dark Tower Series a few years ago and now we're on the second book of the Pullman series. Lord Asriel's "drawing" of people and things, the one side visible portals between worlds and the sacrifice of the boy, made this story feel as if it was a kin to the Dark Tower series. Does anyone else hear those echos?

Posted by DevilDreamt (Member # 10242) on :

I have read all of the Dark Tower series except for the last half of the final book. I guess I just got bored with it. Anyway, I see similarities between the Dark Tower and a lot of other works. It's pretty epic, and a lot of things happen in it.

It's cool that you read them with your son. How old is he?

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

I think I liked The Subtle Knife the best of the three, although at first I was not happy with it. I missed Lyra. [Smile]

Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :

How did King not realize that the last two books of the Dark Tower were a total blow-fest? Seriously, is he so rich/powerful that nobody tells him when his books stink? I sure would. Is that cruel? After a great work like "Wizard and Glass", it doesn't make sense to crank out 3 books in 18 months and call it done. Do it slow, do it right, and don't crap up what was potentially one of the best book series of the 20th century.

Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :

DevilDreamt,

My son is almost 12 now, but we read them when he was about nine. We listened to them on tape and, obviously, I would listen ahead so that I could fast forward through the sexual and too grusome sections.

Steven,
I totally agree that the last two books were terrible compared with the rest of the series. I believe that I read that King decided to wrap-up the series because of he was feeling his mortality. He was afraid he'd die without knowing/telling the end of the story.

Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :

"He was afraid he'd die without knowing/telling the end of the story."

I suspect that getting hit by a van and almost dying as a result could bring about that state of mind.

Still, there's always rewrites. I kind of wish he was a Hatracker. Steve, you readin' this? [ROFL]

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

Yes. But I don't see what me reading this has to do with anything.