Song of Susannah

The Dark Tower VI

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 14 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

The next-to-last novel in Stephen King's seven-volume magnum opus, Song of Susannah is a fascinating key to the unfolding mystery of the Dark Tower.

To give birth to her "chap", demon-mother Mia has usurped the body of Susannah Dean and used the power of Black Thirteen to transport to New York City in the summer of 1999. The city is strange to Susannah...and terrifying to the "daughter of none" who shares her body and mind.

Saving the Tower depends not only on rescuing Susannah but also on securing the vacant lot Calvin Tower owns before he loses it to the Sombra Corporation. Enlisting the aid of Manni senders, the remaining ka-tet climbs to the Doorway Cave...and discovers that magic has its own mind. It falls to the boy, the billy bumbler, and the fallen priest to find Susannah-Mia, who in a struggle to cope, with each other and with an alien environment, "go todash" to Castle Discordia on the border of End-World. In that forsaken place, Mia reveals her origins, her purpose, and her fierce desire to mother whatever creature the two of them have carried to term.

Eddie and Roland, meanwhile, tumble into western Maine in the summer of 1977, a world that should be idyllic but isn't. For one thing, it is real, and the bullets are flying. For another, it is inhabited by the author of a novel called Salem's Lot, a writer who turns out to be as shocked by them as they are by him.

Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances, filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters, The Dark Tower series is unlike anything you've ever heard. Here is Stephen King's most visionary piece of storytelling, a magical mix of fantasy and horror that may well be his crowning achievement. Don't miss the other volumes of Stephen King's The Dark Tower.

©2004 Stephen King (P)2004 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"There's something about a crippled, black, schizophrenic, civil rights activist-turned-gunslinger whose body has been hijacked by a white, pregnant demon from a parallel world that keeps a seven-volume story bracingly strong as it veers toward its Armageddon-like conclusion....The biggest cliffhanger of King's career." (Publishers Weekly)

Not the strongest Dark Tower novel

As some note, this is probably the weakest in the series. I'm not a total fan of his latest attempt to work through time and it's various paradoxes (spoiler) involving himself as a story character. Feels forced. Solid story otherwise and worth the relatively quick listen.

Guidall definitely improves on some of the mistakes he made in the prior volume. Not a single complaint and many praises to be had.

Great Story except King's self indulgent CODA

First, let me say that I have read & listened to many Steven King novels and have very much enjoyed them. The Dark Tower series is great......However book VI, although great in most places, Steven Kings' Coda ( as well as his insertion into the series ) leaves me cold....Still a great series.....just wish he could have not written himself into it.....

Song of Susannah

I’m glad I didn’t start the DT series until they were all finished. I tried starting them In the beginning but just could not get into them so I put them down. I’m also glad that I did pick them back up and and have so enjoyed them tremendously. I particularly loved this one as the characters met their creator!!😂

A break from our own Great Cataclysm

I’m forever in awe how Kings writing single handedly revived my long dormant imagination that I was never able to explore or express as a child. I’m forever grateful for the experience I thought I’d never get. It’s given me an alternate reality to check in to and retain some of my sanity as we’re seemingly entering a Great Cataclysm of our very own in real life.

I’m absolutely in love with the Dark Tower books and Dark Tower universe in general. Reading through these books and seeing all the strands tying all the stories together sets King above the rest.

The final chapter, Coda, added a whole new level of appreciation for the DT series and King. Mr. King, thank you for sharing your personal journey as you continued to write the Dark Tower books. I love that King said this particular story doesn’t feel as if he’s creating it, rather than feeling like he’s just the messenger. It breathed life into the story so beautifully and added an element of realness I’ve yet to experience from any other story or writer. I feel like I’ve known Jake, Eddie, Susannah, Roland, and Oy, my whole life. I’m terrified of the conclusion of this story, more specifically each of the characters, but I know all things must follow the path of the beam. Ka may not always be kind, but ultimately is right in the end no matter what.

“Go then, there are other worlds than these”

the story is coming to a close

This was the easiest one to listen to so far. I'm not exactly sure why, maybe I'm just so used to following these amazing characters that it felt so smooth and familiar. A level of comfortability where everything feels like it belongs.
though I have to say I'm already sad the series is about to end and I haven't event started book 7 yet!
you know who I really love? Oy. He has been the best character to ever live since I read the series for the first time a few years ago and he just keeps getting better with time.

My Favorite Book Series

This is one of the greatest stories ever written. The characters become almost like your own family and each book is like a new story. I've read the series three times and wanted to try listening to it and I'm glad I did.
My only regret is that I am going to be finished after the next book. I do have the movie to look forward to.

Two more to go, ya say true

I don't know how Stephen King's brain works but this is such a trippy tale. Love it. And the "new" character and coda make it a wild ride into deeper realms of not just this story but the entire King-verse.
Fantastic narration too. George Guidall does not disappoint.

I don’t agree with other reviews at all.

I see some people saying this isn’t up to par with the rest, I think ITS THE BEST so far. Man he gets creative in this one. Such a fun mental trip in this one. It’s definitely slower and less exciting but this one gets the gears turning IM IN LOVE with this series.

First audible book and I am hooked!

The book was captivating. Great story and narrarated well. The only bad part...so good I finished in 3 days and now I can't wait to download the next to hear the final conclusion of this complex saga.

Just ok

I did not care for this book as much as the others in the series. Still worth the price to keep the series complete.