Stephen King's The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower VIII)

[Just Jeans]

Stephen King has revealed plans to work on an eighth Dark Tower novel. It will be set between Wizards and Glass and Wolves of the Calla.

In an interview in March 2009, King stated, describing an idea for a new short story he recently had: "And then I thought, 'Well, why don't I find three more like this and do a book that would be almost like modern fairy tales?' Then this thing started to add on bits and pieces so I guess it will be a novel." According to King, the idea is a new Dark Tower novel. King said, regarding the Dark Tower series, "It's not really done yet. Those seven books are really sections of one long über-novel."

Stephen King confirmed this during his TimesTalk event at The TimesCenter in New York City on November 10, 2009, and the next day King's official site posted the information that King will begin working on this novel in about eight months, with a tentative title being The Wind Through the Keyhole. King noted that this novel should be set between the fourth and the fifth books of the series.

On December 1, 2009, Stephen King posted a poll on his official website, asking visitors to vote for which book he should write next:

I mentioned two potential projects while I was on the road, one a new Mid-World book (not directly about Roland Deschain, but yes, he and his friend Cuthbert are in it, hunting a skin-man, which are what werewolves are called in that lost kingdom) and a sequel to The Shining called Doctor Sleep. Are you interested in reading either of these? If so, which one turns your dials more? [We] will be counting your votes (and of course it all means nothing if the muse doesn't speak).

On December 31, 2009, it was revealed that Doctor Sleep received 5861 votes, while The Wind Through the Keyhole received 5812.

Whether or not it happens before or after Doctor Sleep, I do not care. So long as it happens. I'm hungry for further Dark Tower novels.

[Rick]

I was one of those dissatisfied fans over the way the Dark Tower ended.
I'm a little shocked that King is going to revisit the seires after the way it seemed to have turned from one of his more grandiose ideas to a burden on him because of fan demand.
I can understand that he got a little pissy over the whole thing, but he talked the seires up so much over the years and then he just sort of rushed the last couple books and seemed to be saying "there, you got it, now shut up".
Having said that -'m sure I'll buy this at a discount or one of my family members will buy it as a present for me.

[Just Jeans]

I can understand that he got a little pissy over the whole thing, but he talked the seires up so much over the years and then he just sort of rushed the last couple books and seemed to be saying "there, you got it, now shut up".

That's not why he rushed the books. The van accident that almost took his life, coupled with letters he'd gotten over the years from fans (an old woman who was terminally ill wrote him and asked him how it would all end, promising him the secret was safe with her in light of her dying) lit a fire under his ass. That brush with death spooked him, and so he plowed through them in quick succession during his physical rehab.

He has since expressed a desire to re-write and revise the entire series, which is something I'm looking forward to, but I'd much rather get a new original novel set in the cycle.
ADDED:
Incidentally, literally the only thing that dissatisfied me about the end of the novels was that fight with the Crimson King. It was the ultimate anti-climax. I admit I wasn't thrilled with the time loop ending for Roland, but it's the sort of thing that could always be addressed in a later story.

[Monkey]

I read about this a few days ago & hoped it was going to be a continuation of the series, as each time Roland wins through to the Dark Tower he gains more of his humanity back... so each new loop/trip/journey is slight different. They could condense his final journey through Gunslinger-Dark Tower and highlight the changes. He'd finally save himself as well. The Last book is such a downer (Eddie, Jake, & Oy), and yeah, the final confrontation was weak. :(

I felt the last two books were rushed as well. I will buy this book if it ever gets made.

And I'd rather see "The Dark Tower" made into an HBO televsion series for quality and story-telling.
Now they're talking a film trilogy instead.

[SlasherFreak]

Doctor Sleep, ftw

[The Gunslinger]

I'm up for another Dark Tower novel as well, and the fact that Ron Howard is now involved with possibly turning them into films, literally scares the shit out of me.

[CrystalLake]

The story in Wizard and Glass did not interest me much at all, but that werewolf-hunt thing sounds like exciting stuff, unlike all that boring romance in the 4th book.

[Just Jeans]

Monkey - when King revives the series and re-releases it, we might see the ending changed. Or King may eventually write a new novel/novella that adds to the ending.

[CrystalLake]

Monkey - when King revives the series and re-releases it, we might see the ending changed. Or King may eventually write a new novel/novella that adds to the ending.

Wait, what? What is this talk of "reviving" and "re-releasing"?

[Rich]

Speaking of Stephen King, I just got done reading Desperation. That was an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves hard hitting hardcore in your face horror stories.

Other good King works I have read include: Misery, It, Firestarter, The Shining, and Gerald's Game.

[Natman]

Am I the only one against this book?

The Dark Tower is King's magnum-opus. I understand why the ending divided fans and pissed some people off, because it was aggravating. But that was the point. And I can't deny that it's how it needed to end.

I appreciate that this does not follow up VII and that it is set during the already established series of events, but if that is the case, please don't call it Dark Tower VIII. It's not, and I don't think anyone wants it to be. Let the series as a whole rest and just make this another story set in that world, which is what I hope it will be.

[Monkey]

... please don't call it Dark Tower VIII. It's not, and I don't think anyone wants it to be. Let the series as a whole rest and just make this another story set in that world, which is what I hope it will be.
It's more like Dark Tower 4.5. :)

[The Gunslinger]

A new Dark Tower book will be welcomed in my household. These books have inspired me to write my own epic novel. I've probably read the first three at least several times.

[SlasherFreak]

Speaking of Stephen King, I just got done reading Desperation. That was an amazing book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves hard hitting hardcore in your face horror stories.
.

You must read it's sister novel now, The Regulators.

I kinda like The Regulators better

[Just Jeans]

Desperation and The Regulators are my favorite King novels.

As for The Dark Tower series, I'll read whatever king writes, whether it's a direct continuation or a side story, and I'll probably like it. I make no bones about being a hungry fan boy, for this franchise in particular. Having recently started playing Red Dead Redemption, I'm dying for a Dark Tower video-game designed in the same mold.

[Rick]

I really thought the end of Black House was leading to a strong Dark Tower tie in. Was really looking forward to it.

[Cody]

StephenKing.com is proud to announce (http://www.stephenking.com/promo/wind_through_the_keyhole/announcement/)

Dear Constant Readers,

At some point, while worrying over the copyedited manuscript of the next book (11/22/63, out November 8th), I started thinking—and dreaming—about Mid-World again. The major story of Roland and his ka-tet was told, but I realized there was at least one hole in the narrative progression: what happened to Roland, Jake, Eddie, Susannah, and Oy between the time they leave the Emerald City (the end of Wizard and Glass) and the time we pick them up again, on the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis (the beginning of Wolves of the Calla)?

There was a storm, I decided. One of sudden and vicious intensity. The kind to which billy-bumblers like Oy are particularly susceptible. Little by little, a story began to take shape. I saw a line of riders, one of them Roland’s old mate, Jamie DeCurry, emerging from clouds of alkali dust thrown by a high wind. I saw a severed head on a fencepost. I saw a swamp full of dangers and terrors. I saw just enough to want to see the rest. Long story short, I went back to visit an-tet with my friends for awhile. The result is a novel called The Wind Through the Keyhole. It’s finished, and I expect it will be published next year.

It won’t tell you much that’s new about Roland and his friends, but there’s a lot none of us knew about Mid-World, both past and present. The novel is shorter than DT 2-7, but quite a bit longer than the first volume—call this one DT-4.5. It’s not going to change anybody’s life, but God, I had fun.

-- Steve King

[Rick]

Damn, this is great news.

[Natman]

Okay, Steve. You sold me.

[Just Jeans]

Greatly looking forward to this.

[BluTsbunny]

I pre-ordered a copy of it as soon as I heard about it. Also hope Doctor Sleep is available soon. I'm really looking forward to that one.

I've really loved all of King's stuff except for Under the Dome and The Dead Zone.

Of course the Dark Tower series is my all time favorite. Love Roland and Oy! :shy:

[SlasherFreak]

Doctor Sleep isn't coming til 2013.

Im very dissapointed about that

[BluTsbunny]

Doctor Sleep isn't coming til 2013.

Im very dissapointed about that



Spoot! I was hoping it would come out sooner than that. Grrrr!:mad:

[Cody]

I didn't know until just now that this is going to be in stores tomorrow.