The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole

I purchased the newest Dark Tower book Thursday night and started reading it Friday.  I finished it Sunday night.  It was fantastic.  I could not put it down.  I was afraid about reading a new story set in this world with those characters.  My biggest fear was that it would let me down or it would not fit well with the main story.

Fortunately, this book makes sense.  It is supposed to go between books four and five, and honestly, it is perfect.  The biggest problem I had in the original series was the way that after Wizard and Glass, there seemed to be a shift in the way Jake behaved.  He was a boy and then in Wolves of the Calla he seemed to have grown up a bit and became a gunslinger.  It just seemed like such a huge shift (also in the world they ended up in, they went back to that world, yet into a whole new place).

The book starts out with the ka-tet traveling to a river and taking a ferry across.  The ferryman tells them that there is a starkblast coming and they need to find shelter.  He even tells them about Andy the Robot. 

As they take shelter from the super-storm, Roland tells them a story about his follow-up adventure after killing his mother.  He and Jamie DeCurry must investigate a skin-man in a town called Debaria.  Once inside the story, Roland then tells another story to a young boy named Bill.  This story is the majority of the book, which is about a boy who goes on a quest to save his mother.  The structure reminded me of the first book in the series, The Gunslinger, with the different layers of stories.

For fans of the series, it is actually sad when you see Jack, Eddie, Susannah, and Oy again.  They were part of our lives for so many years and I had no idea how much I actually missed them.  Especially Jake and Oy.

I highly suggest picking it up.  You will not be disappointed.  Below are some of the images from the special edition book (which I did not buy).

Dark Tower Casting: Eddie Dean

I was watching A Gifted Man, okay not really watching it, but the TV was on and it came on.  I never saw the show before, but then this character came on and he reminded me of Eddie Dean from The Dark Tower series. 

This got me thinking, I should do a casting for the Dark Tower, especially since the movie/show is still in talks.  When I read the books, I always pictured Kevin Corrigan as Eddie.  His performance in the crappy show, Grounded for Life made me think of Eddie or vice versa.  Sarcastic and silly, always on the verge of driving a serious person insane.

I thought he would be perfect, especially since he was from the Bronx, had the accent and whatnot.  Unfortunately, as time went on, he started to look really old.  I highly doubt he could pull off a 21 year old.

Anyways, the guy I saw tonight could pull it off.  Plus, he is pretty much a no name.  Seriously, who the hell has heard of Rhys Coiro?  He is not so young either, 32, but I think he would have a better chance to pull it off than someone younger.  I do remember him from 24, well vaguely. 

For those of you who are fans of the series, let me know what you think.  Who should play Eddie?  Think about this, do you want Shia Lebouf trying to battle Blaine the Monorail?  Do you want Casey Affleck reciting the Gunslingers mantra?  Every actor suggested is either some pretty boy, or someone ridiculous.  I do like Aaron Paul (Jesse from Breaking Bad), but would he really want to play another addict?

I think this is a pretty good drawing of Eddie...

The Fires of Heaven

Last night I finished reading the fifth book in the Wheel of Time series, The Fires of Heaven.  It was pretty damn good.  There were plenty of really great moments, such as Mat giving away his secret knowledge of war, or Rand losing his virginity. 

The big splash came at the end of the book.  It starts with Moraine dying while I also taking Lanfear with her.  Then, Rand's friends are killed, but he uses balefire to kill Rahvin and thus erase what he did to Rand's friends.  What an awesome weapon, something that can erase someone from existence.  The more powerful the blast, the further back in time it can erase.  I wonder what the consequences were for Rand's actions?  Did someone that Rahvin kill maybe end up living?  Is that who Asmodean was confronted by at the end?  That would be interesting...

Predictions
-Moraine and Lanfear are not dead.  I have a feeling they will come back after meeting with Mat's snake/fox people.  I think it was Lanfear that showed up and killed Asmodean, hence the reason for his surprise.  I also think that when Moraine does come back, she will be more powerful than ever.

-Speaking of snake/fox people, Mat will eventually meet up with Perrin.  Mat's army and Perrin's army will be a major force that will defeat the Whitecloaks and help Rand win the world.

-Elayne and Nynaeve will end up being full Aes Sedai, especially after Nynaeve shows that she has captured one of the Foresaken.  Or they will leave Salidar and head out on their own.  Probably head back to Andor, since Elayne will be needed since people think Morgase is dead.

-I really want to know what is in the letter for Thom from Moraine.  Could it be something about Thom being Elayne's dad?  Yeah, I predicted that last time, and I will stick with it.  Or maybe I am completely wrong.

Aside from predictions, I want to make an observation about the similarities between The Wheel of Time and the Dark Tower.  Both series have technological societies that have been broken and are now much less advanced.  There is an overarching fate/destiny that drives the story:  the wheel and ka.  In fact, there is a saying in the Dark Tower:  "ka is like a wheel."  Hmm, just something I found interesting.

Easter Part Two

I could not resist to post some more Easter stuff.  I will be out at my grandparents all day playing cards and eating ham (I am sure this is the entire reason Jesus rose from the dead...it had nothing to do with wanting to eat brains).  Enjoy some of these funny pictures.

I love the last one.  He looks so serious and yet Jesus holding a rifle, it looks so damn right.  Hmm, maybe in the next Dark Tower book, Roland and Jake can meet the Man Jesus and teach him their saying...

"I do not aim with my hand; I aim with my eye.
He who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I do not shoot with my hand; I shoot with my mind.
He who shoots with his hand has forgotten the face of his father.

I do not kill with my gun; I kill with my heart.
He who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father."

~Roland of Gilead~

 Oh, and Oy would definitely kick the Easter Bunny's ass.