The Wind Through the Keyhole

The Dark Tower

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Stephen King

Length: 10 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

For those discovering the epic best-selling Dark Tower series for the first time—and for its legions of dedicated fans—here is an immensely satisfying stand-alone novel and perfect introduction to the series.

Beginning in 1974, gaining momentum in the 1980s and coming to a thrilling conclusion when the last three novels were published in 2003 and 2004, the Dark Tower epic fantasy saga stands as Stephen King’s most beguiling achievement. It has been the basis for a long-running Marvel comic series.

Now, with The Wind Through the Keyhole, King has returned to the rich landscape of Mid-World. This story within a story within a story finds Roland Deschain, Mid-World’s last gunslinger, in his early days during the guilt-ridden year following his mother’s death. Sent by his father to investigate evidence of a murderous shape-shifter, a "skin-man", Roland takes charge of Bill Streeter, a brave but terrified boy who is the sole surviving witness to the beast's most recent slaughter. Roland, himself only a teenager, calms the boy by reciting a story from the Book of Eld that his mother used to read to him at bedtime. "A person's never too old for stories," he says to Bill. "Man and boy, girl and woman, we live for them."

Sure to captivate the avid fans of the Dark Tower epic, this is an enchanting introduction to Roland’s world and the power of Stephen King’s storytelling magic.

Please Note: This audio edition of The Wind Through the Keyhole ends with a short preview of Stephen King's The Dark Tower VII, read by George Guidall, followed by a brief introduction and the first chapter of King's Doctor Sleep, both read by the author.

©2012 Stephen King (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

a good side but King should stick to writing

I thought it was an intriguing side story and enjoyed it however did not care for Steven King as narrator his performance pales in comparison to the narrators of the other DT books

It's like seeing family after a long time away!

I really missed Roland and the gang. It was wonderful to have them around again, even if it was only for a short while.

Nice Return to the Tower

This is a great listen for fans of the Dark Tower series (although it does stand on its own). Very well done in terms of telling stories within stories and as always with King (and in particular this series) story-telling is a rich theme that never goes dry.

I have to disagree with those who do not like the narration. While George Guidall is one of my favorite narrators. I can listen to King all day. It is like hearing Frost read his poetry -- you can hear in the act of telling/listening the art of story telling.

honestly the story is good but...

Stephen king can't narrate. I love the mans stories but listening to his narration i can't do it. But the story it self is really good and entertaining. Just as good as any of the others in the dark tower series, I just cannot listen to his voice.

For Listeners For Whom the Reader is Paramount:

...go buy the hardcopy.

This story is lovely, beautifully crafted, and I'm glad that King wrote it. But King is just NOT a good reader, despite the fact that he wrote the book. This is why I say that if how the reader sounds is the most important part of your experience with audiobooks, you're better off just buying the book and letting your mind do the 'vocal' work.

That said -- if you don't care over much what the reader sounds like, or if you have no problem with readers who lack a variety of inflection or differentiation of character voices, then you might be just fine with King's reading. He certainly has an intimacy with the material that is obvious; his interpretation of the cadence of a character's speech is going to be spot on, since he wrote those characters. I admit, though, it was interesting to see how his versions of Roland and Jake especially was different from both George Guidall and Frank Muller. Still - while interesting, still not really worth the credit spent to me.

I love Roland!!!!

If you could sum up The Wind Through the Keyhole in three words, what would they be?

I love hearing about "Roland the young"! He is one of my all time favorite characters. To put a story in a story so masterfully....Wonderful!!

King is a horrible narrator

Would you try another book from Stephen King and/or Stephen King?

Have done so plenty

Would you be willing to try another one of Stephen King’s performances?

Good lord no.

Any additional comments?

I purchased this shortly after it was released. I try to listen to it about once a year. I never make it 5 minutes. I honestly can't comment on the actual story

All of the other reviews are right...

The story itself is interesting, I've read many of the Dark Tower books recently and I was excited for this continuation but the narration really made it hard to get through. I'm sure that I missed so many important details because I couldn't get over how dull Stephen King's performance was. Great storywriter obviously, but please, someone else do the narration for his books!!

Wonderful

One of the best stories in the set. What an imagination King has. Hated for the series to end.

ZZZZZZZZ...ZZZZZZZ

Not the best in the series, but just ok.

I probably would have enjoyed the story more had it not been narrated by Stephen King.

Great novelist, dull and monotone voice.