Language in DT series.

[jakersmith88]

I've been fortunate enough to read all seven novels back to back. Didn't have to wait several years at a time for each book to come out. One thing I noticed from novel to novel was the the language and tone of each changed everytime. I'm wondering if this was intentional or purely a product of Mr. King developing and growing as a writer. If intentional, was it to show that the characters were progressing through different levels of the tower on their journey? Was it another one of those "ka is a wheel" situations where the language in the first and last books where the same? This has been rolling around in my head for quite some time now. Share your thoughts.

-Jake

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Welcome to the MB, and keep posting!

Interesting thought and I think it was just his own development as a writer and a person over the thirty years or so it took to write.

I ass-u-me that since you read it in one go, you probably read the revised Gunslinger which, I believe, was actually revised AFTER DT7 was written, which would explain the the language.

Can I recommend Robin Furth's fine Concordance and also Bev Vincents The Road to the Dark Tower (try Amazon!) ?

Long days and pleasant nights.

[omm poppa mow mow]

The most significant difference in language, tone, voice, exists in the contrast of the original Gunslinger and the revised Gunslinger. I suspect you are a more careful reader than myself, as I don't believe I saw as total a difference from one volume to the next, other then the above.

[Spideyman]

To tell the truth, I never noticed a change in language or tone throughout the books. Mayhap because they were read as published. Also, having read SK other books in-between the DT book publications, I may have become accustom to any variance in his style. I do feel the characters matured along the journey. And indeed, Ka is a wheel. If you have not read the original Gunslinger give it a try.

[jakersmith88]

That's correct. I've had some trouble finding an original Gunslinger.

[JohnDalglish]

That's correct. I've had some trouble finding an original Gunslinger.

Hi,

Aye, you will indeed, haunt the secondhand and thrift shops IMO.

It's my opinion that the cycle actually consists of eight books, the the original Gunslinger as Volume One and the revised edition ('Resumption') as the 8th volume.

With The Wind Through the Keyhole about to make it nine.

Long days and pleasant nights

[GNTLGNT]

I think it was a natural evolution in maturity and honing of style.....

[jakersmith88]

Thanks for the input!

[Krissstina]

I have had the chance to read each one in the last few months, so I have seen some changes in language as well. I was thinking that perhaps each book had slightly different language to reflect a new part in the story and to show how characters evolve as they are faced with new situations. The characters travel to different wheres and whens, so it makes sense that language wouldn't be the same everywhere and everywhen. As the characters become more accustomed to each where and when, they add some of the "new" language to their own, just like most people do when they spend a lot of time in a different place. I think that these changes in language promote a more realistic character development than most authors would think to do.

[popsqueak]

Hi Ho, talking about the Dark Tower language, last night I learnt something while reading Wizard and Glass. Before I thought when addressing someone as 'Sai', was what you would say to a man, but realised 'Sai' can also be said to a woman. I noticed this when Susan is walking back into town after the witches house. When she met a horseman on the way back. So I suppose it is more of a manners thing. Am I right?