The latter part of the book is dedicated to Harley-Davidson. The sections on the history of the company and the development of various models was interesting. I didn't find the parts about the Harley lifestyle to be too exciting.

My tastes tend to prefer British bikes over others, and I currently ride a 1999 Triumph Tiger. For specific marques, there are many more detailed books (e.g. Roy Bacon on Triumph, Alan Cathcart on Ducati). But, as a general reference, I have not seen a book to match this one.

Keep the helmet side up!

Hmm. I've been reading all of the glowing reviews for this book and wonder if I've missed something. But then I realized that I haven't. "Wizard and Glass" is by far the worst book in this series. The beginning, on the train, is good. King must've written this part soon after he'd finished Dark Tower III.

But then, for some reason, he decides to do a 500 page flash-back. A predictable romance, no less. While some of the history is interesting and gives you an idea of who Roland is, more often that not it reads like pulp fiction.

How many times does King need to telegraph to us that Roland should've killed Rhea when he had the chance? How obvious is it that Roland's romance is going to end tragically? I've really enjoyed the Dark Tower up until this book, explicitly because the story hasn't been predictable. But with this latest addition I can only think King felt he needed to write something, anything, in order to turn out a new novel.

Even the end is anti-climatic. Oooh, look. There's the Tick-Tick Man. One minute he's there. The next minute he's dead. The whole Kansas 1986/The Stand crossover was a bit over-the-top as well.

I can only hope that in the next installment (assuming there is one) King returns to the roots of the story and doesn't settle for a Hollywood plot-line.

King returns to the romantic world of Roland, the Gunslinger. This volume consists mostly of Roland's backstory. We learn of his first adventure (and in doing so re-visit some old "friends" from earlier in the series) accompanied by his orignial ka-tet, Cuthbert and Alain. King reveals the genesis of Roland's quest for the Dark Tower as well as the tragic death of Rolands mother.

The book also tells the story of Rolands first encounter with love, in the form of Susan. Susan is a woman trapped in a desparate love triangle, and her love for Roland could bring ruin not only to herself, but to Roland and his ka-tet.

The framing story tells of the advancement of the quest for the Dark Tower by Roland, Eddie, Suzanna, Jake, and Oy. They have escaped the suicide of Blaine the mono only to find themselves in the post-apocolypse of The Stand. It seems that Randall Flagg has plans for Roland and company, and this is not to their benefit.

This is possibly King's finest work. It features some of his most richly developed characters. The backstory moves along with dream-like ease to it's final destructive showdown. Fans of Roland should enjoy the peek into his past and will, by the end of the tale, be much more informed as to his nature and his future.