by Christopher Mcilquham

Created on: February 01, 2007   Last Updated: August 14, 2011

When posed with the all-time question "what is your favourite book?" I'm always at a loss for choice. I love anything by Terry Pratchett being, in my opinion, the best author around. His charismatic Discworld series are teeming with life as every character has his or her own personality and morals. So much so in fact, that they seem real or based on real people.

But as for favourite book I'd have to say The Dark Tower series by Steven King. Uniquely different to his usual genre and style of books, The Dark Tower is a genre within itself. I can't specify one book as you have to read all seven to really get the best effect and anyway, if you read one or two (in order, naturally) you'll feel the overwhelming urge to finish the series as not doing so would be akin to sacrilege of the highest degree. His enigmatic gun-slinging hero on a quest in a world that has moved on who, at the start appears cold and heartless but we learn via his various encounters and memories that he is much more.

The full series stretches approximately 3,800 pages and I have to say they are the only books I have been able to read in 2 weeks (for the full series). The books have left such an impression on my mind that I can even remember the opening line of the book that started the series: "The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed". From the first line I was transfixed with the plot, the characters and even Mr. King's subtle way of weaving fact and fiction (much like Pat Barker's 'Regeneration') which he does so effectively I have questioned many aspects of the books as whether being real. For example, The gunslinger eventually comes to our own world albeit in different time periods and many of the places described are, incidentally, real.

All in all I have never felt such a connection with a book, such a connection with characters so seemingly real I actually cried when one died. These books have changed the way I understand and the way I read literature. I strongly advise those that haven't already done so to read Mr. King's "berstory", you won't be disappointed.

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