The Wind through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel

Long ago, near the very beginning of Shards of Delirium, I made note of Stephen King’s retirement. I cannot think what made me believe, at the time, that it really might be true. I know intellectually that he will die someday, but since I barely believe that, what could have possibly made me believe the books would stop beforehand? Of course, I’ve written some significant number of King-based reviews since that time, in theory without making any further reference to this oddity. But this time, my Constant Author has taken things a step farther and added another entry to his already completed Dark Tower cycle, putting big lie to the long-existing small lie.

The Wind through the Keyhole picks up very near the center of the series and, of necessity[1], adds nothing to the progression of the events already chronicled. That right there will be enough to give a certain class of reader fits of disinterest, and while I don’t agree, I do understand. An argument could be made that it provides some deeper insight into Roland’s character and his history, but you will not find that argument here. What came varied, in my opinion, between obvious and facile. (Unless I am wrong and it is the indication I sought in vain in footnote one. I could accept that and would then retract both indictments.)

Here’s what the book does: it provides a mythology for Mid-World, which lack I had never precisely felt before. After all, Mid-World is already its own kind of mythology, and it had already contained its own stories,  some barely hinted at, some told in extensive detail. But stories are not the same as myths, and King has not written much in the way of mythology. It seems to me that perhaps this should change.

[1] In fact, there are spoilery reasons why I was keeping a careful lookout for this not to be true. But alas, no evidence presented itself to me.

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