The Wind through the Keyhole
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Returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World in a story within a story about gunslinger Roland Deschain, who while investigating a murderous shape-shifter interviews a terrified teen who has witnessed the creature's most recent killing.
Baker
& Taylor
The Mystery … More »
Returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World in a story within a story about gunslinger Roland Deschain, who while investigating a murderous shape-shifter interviews a terrified teen who has witnessed the creature's most recent killing.
Baker
& Taylor
The Mystery Writers of America Grand Master returns readers to the rich landscape of Mid-World in a story within a story about gunslinger Roland Deschain, who while investigating a murderous shape-shifter interviews a terrified teen who has witnessed the creature's most recent killing. 750,000 first printing.
Simon and Schuster
In The Wind Through the Keyhole, Stephen King returns to the rich landscape of Mid-World, the spectacular territory of the Dark Tower fantasy saga that stands as his most beguiling achievement.
Roland Deschain and his ka-tet—Jake, Susannah, Eddie, and Oy, the billy-bumbler—encounter a ferocious storm just after crossing the River Whye on their way to the Outer Baronies. As they shelter from the howling gale, Roland tells his friends not just one strange story but two . . . and in so doing, casts new light on his own troubled past.
In his early days as a gunslinger, in the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death, Roland is sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a “skin-man” preying upon the population around Debaria. Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, the brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast’s most recent slaughter. Only a teenager himself, Roland calms the boy and prepares him for the following day’s trials by reciting a story from the Magic Tales of the Eld that his mother often read to him at bedtime. “A person’s never too old for stories,” Roland says to Bill. “Man and boy, girl and woman, never too old. We live for them.” And indeed, the tale that Roland unfolds, the legend of Tim Stoutheart, is a timeless treasure for all ages, a story that lives for us.
King began the Dark Tower series in 1974; it gained momentum in the 1980s; and he brought it to a thrilling conclusion when the last three novels were published in 2003 and 2004. The Wind Through the Keyhole is sure to fascinate avid fans of the Dark Tower epic. But this novel also stands on its own for all readers, an enchanting and haunting journey to Roland’s world and testimony to the power of Stephen King’s storytelling magic.
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Add a QuoteTime is a keyhole. Yes, I think so. We sometimes bend and peer through it. And the wind we feel on our cheeks when we do—the wind that blows through the keyhole—is the breath of all the living universe.
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Add a CommentIt is such a treat to return to Mid-world and the characters we have come to care so deeply for. This book is very much a stand alone story that is in no way essential to the thread of the Dark Tower saga “proper”. Nevertheless, King brought the world back in its entirety. The story itself tends to blur the line between myth and history (but then again, the world has moved on and time is in flux). If you’re afraid it won’t bring back the detail and sheer awesomeness of the main epic, you obviously don’t read a lot of Stephen King. Also, the fact that this is a downright short book (compared to the 800+page volumes we’re used to) makes it an enjoyable read to start and even finish in a single day.
This title adds nothing to the Dark Tower series and as a stand alone book is very weak for a Stephen King novel. I lost interest whilst reading, which I rarely do and couldn't wait to finish it, so I could start reading something else. I loved the Dark Tower novels and like other great series in all forms of media somethings should just be left alone. This novel is what Prometheus is to the Alien franchise only more unnecessary.
Stephen King's magnum opus, the Dark Tower series, officially concluded in 2004 with the eponymously titled 7th volume. And then beginning in 2007, the world of Roland Deschain found new life in a popular comic book prequel series. And now talks of both movie and TV adaptations have gone from rumor to (nearly) a reality. (As I write this, the project hasn't officially been green-lit but the producers hope to start shooting next year.) Since the stories of Mid-World are alive and continually evolving, I was delighted to learn that King had written another volume for the series, The Wind Through the Keyhole. The timeline for this one takes place between books #4 (Wizard and Glass) and #5 (Wolves of the Calla), and fans should be pleased how it adds to the tale of Roland and his Ka-Tet while maintaining the consistency of the later novels. The story meanders some in the middle, and King's Mid-World jargon can get a little distracting at times, but overall this is a fine addition to the saga.
I started this with an uneasy feeling. I wasn't sure what to expect. I loved the Dark tower series, even if it was a little "fantastical". it was a cross between science fiction and a spaghetti western, not a bad combo. I also think that King is truly one of the greatest American writers in history, not BS. This did not disappoint even a notch. I jumped right into the talk and cadence of the gunslingers - and absolutely ate up the story within the story. I hope that SK continues with this, the limits to these side stories are boundless. Please SK keep these coming. I would love to hear a more detailed account of the Battle of Jericho Hill. Ka is a wheel my friend.
Stephen King can write for me any day. A rolicking good read by one of the masters.
This was very nearly perfect. Like many, I was quite skeptical when I heard that there was another Dark Tower book coming out, but "The Wind Through the Keyhole" was beautifully done. There was magic, there was lore, there was young Roland and there were billy bumblers. There was "hile" and "ken" and "trig". It was very much as it should be for Tower readers, like seeing old friends. 'twas bittersweet, in that sense. So said, my only complaint is that there wasn't more of the Dark Tower ka-tet, especially Jake. Then again, perhaps it's best to leave us wanting more rather than write them into the ground. For now we have Tim Stoutheart.
I loved this entry into the Dark Tower saga and I loved the story within a story within a story format(which I didn't think I would when I first heard about it). I also enjoyed learning more about Rolands and his mothers past. The only thing wrong with this book is that it was too short. I hope King has more to add to the Dark Tower series!!!
Perfect. I loved this book. There are those who disagree - they don't feel that this "fits" with the rest of the Dark Tower saga (often, they dislike the last two books as well - But King's writing style had drastically changed at that point, what did you expect?). And for those of you who didn't like it, remember that this isn't a true entry into the epic Dark Tower saga. Instead, it is a story within a story within a story. And I for one loved the trip to Roland's youth, the tale of Tim Stoutheart, and the weaving of threads tighter still throughout the entire journey. Plus, I missed Oy. As always, Bravo Mr. King, Bravo.
The majority of this book is filled with Roland telling 2 stories, one within the other. Both are interesting and it's nice to return to the familiarly odd but charming world of the Dark Tower and it's language. This is not a heavy, serious read, but a nice way to spend a weekend.