Endings - Or New Beginnings?
This past week I have run across a trio of items that in one way or another deal with the ending of something. Be it a book series, stories about the end of a life and/or lives, and the conclusion of season long story lines.
Even though all deal with endings they all also contain either the hint of new beginnings or in the case of Arrow - definite new beginnings.
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The Dark Tower Companion
Besides a personally guided tour by Stephen King himself, no one could do more a more insightful overview of The Dark Tower saga, and by extension the body of King's works, than Bev Vincent.
Long acknowledged a master of King lore, Bev uses that acumen to succinctly tie everything together. Not only does the book include a handy reference guide to the major characters, places, themes and tie-ins, but in typical Vincent fashion, Bev raises interesting possibilities beyond the material itself. Some are conjecture. Others of an insight that only comes to those mastered in their subject.
Bev Vincent proves himself a King Master with this book.
I'm doing a podcast interview with Bev about the book today and it should be up in couple of weeks. Keep an ear out for that! I'll post a link here when it goes live.
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Pork Pie Hat
Peter Straub is a gifted writer who knows not only what to put into a story but what to leave out for the reader to ponder over. This is another example of that unique talent in a novella length ghost story.
What starts out as a story about a man's curiosity about a jazz saxophone player turns into a ghost story which became the catalyst for the sax player's career.
Adroitly done.
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Arrow
Now that's how do you do a season finale!
Whew! So many great moments for each character. Quite a feat.
I am loathe to give away story/character specific spoilers but suffice it to say the show does not drag out arcs but continually reconfigures them or finishes them off so that new ones can be introduced. Nothing gets stales on this show.
The capper is the main threat may have been thwarted but the backup one was not and the town still ended suffering a major blow.
Well done Arrow show runners, cast, and crew. Well done.
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