Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King Book Review & Reaction | Feels Like A Side Quest, But a Fun One

Mike continues along the path of the Beam by talking about the 5th adventure with the Ka-tet in 2003's Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla.
You can purchase Wolves of the Calla here: amzn.to/3Mye6Ur (physical) amzn.to/3tp1VCC (digital) amzn.to/3tqRChs (audio)
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0:00 Intro & Excerpt Reading
1:52 Background Info
3:03 What Is It About?
4:20 What Makes It Good or Bad?
14:12 Why You Should Read It
15:32 Final Thoughts
17:03 Multiverse Connections
#MikesBookReviews #DarkTower #StephenKing

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I don't have any issues with this book . . . but Oy introducing himself to the Calla is pure joy. Hear him! Hear Him!

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

Oh my god, the Cave of the Voices, the trip between worlds, Eddie kicking ass in Calvin's bookshop! Lots of great stuff in this one thinking back.

[@musicgenius1948]

The intros for your dark tower videos are absolutely phenomenal

[@maxkronader5225]

I enjoyed the Dark Tower series in spite of the fact that King can go off on tangents that are longer than other writers entire books! 😁

[@madisongoodyear5040]

Man, that intro was amazing! Great review.

[@jimave]

I love all of the DT books. I’ve read all of them three times and I’ll probably read them again.

[@zachbrehany2253]

Probably the best intro you have done in a minute. That needs to be memed. 🤣

[@ikillyourvibe4408]

Great video of my favorite DT book

[@jamesrazi3573]

I actually enjoyed the side quest aspect of this story. This one and Wind Through the Keyhole were really exciting to read. I wish King wrote more parallel stories in this universe.

[@Ner0mancer]

Wind through the Keyhole was a great book but not really a good Dark Tower book lol

[@omarsalman1331]

I just realized that I was subconsciously humming 'something', when I suddenly heard "There may or may not be a dance number here ... "

[@markb3534]

Great video Mike!! I liked the Meta stuff, no problem. It made sense to me. I liked the story in this... I like the progress to the tower using stories like this to develop characters.

[@devinpaul9026]

Andy the robot seems to be based on an infamous Nazi camp guard named Josef Mengale. Young and handsome, he was always happy and whistling, would never threaten the children-- he would even play games with them and offer them candies and small toys. Then he would smile just as brightly as ever as he hand picked a child to personally experiment on and torture to death. Obviously that isn't QUITE what andy's doin', but pretty much.

[@bernabefernandeztouceda7315]

Mengele wasnt torturing no chile lol 🤦😂 dont believe da hype

[@trevorromano2231]

Mengale also had particular interest in sets of twins.

[@Dude_on_a_Map]

Hands down my favorite out of all of them. 👍

[@jasonsmith6757]

One other connection that is here that gets a brief call out is to fire starter/the institute (even though it wasn't out yet) as you learn the kids (twins) are being used for their telepathy and mind powers to help bring down the beams.

[@praetorxyn]

I love Wolves of the Calla, I don't care what anyone says. But then, it's basically Seven Samurai, so of course I love it.

[@devinpaul9026]

Dinky Earnshaw from Everything's Eventual, too. LOVED his original short.

[@tyelerhiggins300]

My guy, I love your readings at the beginning of your videos. Also, _Wolves_ is my favorite book in the later part. When I read it, I always feel like 1-3 are their own thing, _Wizard_ and _Keyhole_ feel like their own thing, and 5-7 feel like their own thing.

[@jeffschaible]

I just finished this Wolves of the Calla today. It was my favorite in the series so far. I wonder how much my enjoyment can be attributed to NOT having to wait like you did for this to come out.

[@johnnybensonitis7853]

This book slowed things down a bit, but the next two are gonna pick things way the hell up if memory serves correct. I really, really liked the 6th book but can't wait to see the vid! This was great as well, thanks!

[@sharenbeveridge3220]

I love the Calla and any of the flash backs that Roland has in the books. I'd love any young Roland content we could get. And Mia... not my favorite storyline but it is what it is.

[@brentasmith]

Thank ya big big

[@OrangeRauy]

I loved the autobiographical meta aspects of the later half of the Dark Tower series that he started in this book. Those and the trips to our world in general are among my favourite parts of the story and I feel they add a great deal to the scope of the story and its whole position as King's magnum opus tying all his worlds together. I find the meta stuff just so unique and perfectly in line with all the other weird stuff in the Dark Tower. I haven't read that much King yet, but I definitely like when he gets weird and unique and the weirder and more intertwined with our universe The Dark Tower gets, the better to me. Now I read it all back to back and I do get why to fans growing up more with the initial idea of post-apoc Western the new meta aspects might have seemed too outlandish (or maybe even a bit vain) and it's also clear that it's most likely an afterthought he came up with after his accident. But I mean, even in Drawing of the Three and Wastelands we have crazy shit overlapping with our own world. So for something that integral to Stephen King's entire multiverse, it just seems natural how it all developed. I don't get much of the hate for Song of Susannah either (though, I haven't seen your review of that yet), as it continued very much in that vein. That is also why Wizard & Glass is my least favourite book in the series (and it's really surprising how much everyone else likes it). First of all I just don't really care about flashbacks in general, didn't much about the ones in Gunslinger either (I did enjoy Pere Callahan's flashback, although I hadn't read Salem's Lot beforehand, but it wasn't 500 pages long either). I don't really need to know why Roland became the Man With No Name, I want to see what happens NOW and to be honest, he's never been the most interesting character in the story and he wasn't as a teenager either. ;-) But also, the Mejis storyline was just too much of a rather conventional and not all that original Western story with a bit of magic. I did generally enjoy it, but I can't deny I definitely was waiting for it to be over so we can concentrate on the characters that are still alive and what crazy things they'll get into.

[@dailylordoftheringsvideos7787]

I gotta read Salems Lot someday. Somehow, despite spoilers everywhere these days, I never been spoiled the twist so I bet it would really stun me.

[@wifiraslibrary8096]

I've wanted to read SK for a long time. I have some of his books. I'm just scared. Might start with Misery.

[@mikesbookreviews]

A great place to start!

[@kaianthony8077]

Glad others enjoyed it. I could not stand the last 3 books but appreciate the fans that had a better experience.

[@tomahawkchop7669]

First fantasy series I read. Roland is still my favorite character of all time

[@deelak2329]

Doors of Stone is my "He's never gonna finish this..."

[@AK-rq1cz]

That intro 😂👍

[@vincentlorusso689]

I would just like to say that, thanks to these reviews, I have rediscovered the Dark Tower for the 4th time. 6 is underrated from a lore perspective.

[@marknuzzi7158]

If you want to learn of the origination of horoscopes in human history, then this book is for you. Andy messenger robot writes them in Cosmopolitan and the New York Times BTW if you require further reading.

[@Juanpa_SC]

I´m dying to hear your thoughts on Song of Sussanah! I know mine could be a hot take, but that book was the one that pulled me back into the story. I'm interested to know what you think on the more "special" parts.

[@timkirsten6184]

W&G is still my top in the series, but the show down at the end of this book, the character development and the western feel still stick in my memory a lot. A fantastic climax too.

[@KakashiHatake-ou7mp]

This was the last book I liked in the series. The curiosity to find out about the wolves was quite good

[@christopherwurtz650]

John "Sturges" directed the Magnificent Seven. Westworld (the movie) starred Yul "Bryn"ner.

[@alynam82]

Yep, as you've said -- I enjoyed the fight at the end, a lot. I enjoyed it so much that -- I wish it was much longer, with more to it. I must confess, Mike, that the aspect of next book that you don't like, was something I enjoyed very much. In fact, I feel that only in the Dark Tower universe could such an element be pulled off. Also, the very-very end of the book (the "Coda" or Journal Entries) told me a lot about this "character ". I wish I could elaborate, but that'd be too spoilery.

[@supernorry3847]

I dont have any issues with this book. I remember this book as one of the best. Btw the wolfs do have lightsabers :P

[@muppet1011]

This was my favourite book of the first read. Let’s see what happens on the second journey to the tower 🙂

[@Themaninblack19]

Currently reading this book and i still cant believe i haven't found one book which i haven't found bad or boring Wizard and Glads was frustrating because you want the story to continue and it does stop for a flashback but it was still very enjoyable

[@jakehensley1210]

I finished the DT series and I’ve never read ‘Salem’s Lot’. I still think I’m gonna read it one day. There are just too many opinions out there saying how frighteningly good it is; even though I might already know what happens at the end…

[@atom0191]

woww

[@stephenoakley7410]

I cannot wait for you to review the final dark tower book! I finished it some time ago and still don't know how I feel about it!

[@code_cat]

Some people I talk to didn't like this one, but I really liked it!

[@danbaillie6534]

Did you do a video on song of Susannah yet. I would like to see what you have to say about kings journal entries in the end.

[@DeicideBlues]

I’ve literally just finished the book last night and I have one thing to add to your thoughts on the battle. It was realistic in that it had this agonising build up and then was over in a flash, we the reader essentially got the Gunslinger experience minus the shooting! I had been picturing the battle with the wolves to be the entire last 1/3rd but honestly I can’t say I’m disappointed it wasn’t. Although I did think there was gonna be 200 more wolves or some sort of horror between the end of the battle and the following plot points!

[@ramonarmendariz1999]

Do you plan to do a video on the next 2 books?

[@angusmckeogh659]

That's funny. Angry because you don't want to take a digression. We're SO close to the Dark Tower. Buzzer sound! We're still 1,313 pages from reaching the Tower. Ouch. And if you include The Wind Through the Keyhole, you're talking about 1,633 pages until you reach the Tower.

[@mikesbookreviews]

That’s funny, making this comment about how I felt when I was 25 and reading it the week of release.

[@chrisconnors7418]

I read Wolves about 4 years ago now when I was reading the dark tower series for the first time (I’d read book 1 decades ago). I liked it. I felt Oy was the most interesting character in it and hoped the book would shed more light on its place in the world. I started Song after that but didn’t get far. I just gave up because various things bothered me. The townspeople still around being aggravating, the “regression” of Susannah, the sense that this book may not get the crew any closer to the tower. I’ll tune in for your review though to see what reasons you give for “why you should read this”. I may give it a second chance, and if so, maybe continue with the series.

[@jake3419]

Where is your song of Susannah review ?

[@Ner0mancer]

You're a cool dude, nice review. You remember the face of your father.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thankee

[@Themaninblack19]

Update 😂 This is tied with my Favorite DT novel , is so good !!!

[@Aust51989]

Eddie and Susannah’s insta-love makes some sense if you know the whole story. I won’t spoil it, but I’ll just call it Ka. And Ka is a wheel.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

Long days and pleasant nights, Sai! I’m delighted to be on the Path of the Beam, making my way to the Dark Tower. I haven’t read Salem’s Lot yet, but I’m not worried about it because I’ve found that King spoils his own books and still manages to keep me riveted. It’s fantastic to hear your thoughts on Wolves of the Calla, Mike, and I can’t wait for our Dark Tower palaver in late July!

[@vivianworden2706]

I have no problems with any of the books...except the next one. Song of Susannah. A little weird and I thought took the story in a weird direction.

[@Catcupid]

So, I have not read Salems Lot, cause I started Stephen King with The Dark Tower. However I loved his character and I thought that would be the next Stephen King book I read. I actually really enjoyed this book I think for the same reason I loved the drawing of the three. It felt like the book had a beginning, middle and of its own, instead of just traipsing off toward the tower when it was time to end the book. I do fall into the category of not being a fan of the book encompassing flashback in Wizard and Glass. Didn't connect at all and I could see how you could quit but this felt like a rejuvenation for me. I have been dragging my feet on picking up the last one, mostly I think just do to apprehension on how divided it is. You should do like a spoiler top 10 dark tower moments when you are done.

[@joshuavincent3515]

Gunslinger!!!

[@JaimeEnFuego]

I love about 2/3 of this one, however still think the Wolves reveal is lame and anti-climactic. Really dig the aborted Salem’s Lot sequel stuff, although totally understand those who gripe about another ‘side-story’ diversion situation. This one does tie in quite heavily with BLACK HOUSE and even though I know you weren’t big into THE TALISMAN that book really stands out on a pure adult level of Horror compared to it’s predecessor. With this book I will say despite the plotting starting to veer into that territory you and I have both been critical about for King’s back half stretch run I do applaud his celebration of storytelling in general here and I appreciate the psychedelic nature of Todash having been there before myself. Say thank ya for this continued cool coverage Sai! 🤘🌹

[@mikesbookreviews]

Man, you telling me you aren't into Doctor Doom with lightsabers? LOL

[@robertoneill1979]

The thing that pssd me off the most was the almost simultaneous release of WotC and the revised Gunslinger. SPOILER.... The changes and additions made to the revised Gunslinger, combined with the story told in WotC, basically gave away the ending of DT7 to me, to the extent that I KNEW what the last line of that book would be.

[@carltimms3994]

Great review - surprised it was received coolly on its release, I was blown away by this one, my favourite volume so far. Agree about side quest and there is a lot of just constantly hearing other people's stories, but I just found it whipped past compared to the very slow, overblown romance stuff of Wizard & Glass. The ending being quick matches all the volumes so far and also the western genre in general - shootouts are short, violent and brutal, you can't have an extended set piece as the action is over so quick and the gunslingers are so ruthless. I loved the ending. Not read 6 & 7 yet so well confused by the light sabres, Dr Doom, snitches stuff. But hey! King is certainly rolling with it and this is easily one of the most ambitious series I've ever read. I really hope it sticks the landing!

[@wjamimah7772]

Eddie is my favorite character of all time. It’s going to take A LOT to change that.

[@bernabefernandeztouceda7315]

Oy way better character than Eddie. I dont understand this book or the point of the series. Look like a 12 year old wrote it..🙄.

[@wjamimah7772]

@@bernabefernandeztouceda7315 Oy is amazing. I can’t really agree with you though as it’s my favorite series of all times. I guess I should say Eddie is my favorite human character of all time

[@vincentlorusso689]

I have also never been taken seriously for this theory, but if you have ever been a fan of the show Lost, I have a surprising revelation for you. Straight from a crazy level of the Tower lol

[@redtheftredemption2907]

You gonna review books 6 and 7? I’m currently making my way through the books

[@jimave]

I wonder if North Central Positronics made all of the droids and other cool machines in Star Wars and other stories? #thedarktower

[@nathanbeer3338]

Trying not to spoil anything from the last three books. I actually liked the three last books, they gave more information about King's universe, and Roland gets to visit, you know who, and yes, there were those underwhelming battles between these baddies in the end, but at some point, the end of the series seemed more philosophical than gun shooting action, it didn't end like the epic battle between Pennywise and the losers but it just ended in a way that seemed more sincere, more realistic considering Roland's state he was in during these battles and the very end just makes you think, and try theorizing what on earth you've just read, not every writer is able to accomplish that.

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

The only problem I had with this book is that the middle was to drawn out for my taste. The flashback was TOO long, not that I don't like Callahan, but I liked him best in present-day. Aside from that, I was a sucker for all the meta stuff, the Calla folk, Andy the robot, the final battle, Mia's chap, lightsabers, "sneetches". There was a lot happening in this book.

[@dgage1776]

What does "meta" mean?

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

@@dgage1776 is a form of fiction that emphasises its own narrative structure in a way that reminds the audience that they are reading a book

[@dgage1776]

@@JuanMartinez-ib7mz oh alright. Trying to decide if I want this book or under the dome. I'm to this point in DT series, but not really interested in a flashback story

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

@@dgage1776 no this is not a flashback, you should go for it. It's like a "side quest" but there is progress and important concepts introduced

[@dgage1776]

@@JuanMartinez-ib7mz Is there cool ancient technology? That's my main draw to the series

[@sarahmcdonald9624]

Oh man. I’m super nervous about book six😂😂

[@redvitaminblue]

When I read this I was at the peak of my DT fascination, and for the most part I really liked Wolves of the Calla. A few minor things detracted from the experience though, one of them being the colloquial speech of the Calla folk, which became annoying to me. Most dialogue with them was saturated by the same greetings, salutations, and tics - it was just used way too much and felt stilted after awhile. The other thing that was frustrating was that the ka-tet was stuck in that town for nearly the entirety of the book. I read "Wind Through the Keyhole" right after "Wizard & Glass", and both of those stories halted forward momentum. Don't get me wrong, they've become two of my favorite DT books in retrospect, but when I got to this book I was ready for momentum to resume, and it didn't. Three consecutive books with regressed momentum was a bit of a bummer. So my recommendation for new readers is to go right into "Wolves" after "Wizard" and wait to read "Wind" until after finishing the series proper (books 1-7). And not immediately after book seven, wait awhile. Much more rewarding that way.

[@neondemon5137]

I read Wolves of the Calla years ago and just bought Salems Lot yesterday. What am I in for? I probably forgot what happened anyway.

[@gregjacobs8544]

Roland's rice dance number was my favourite bit of the book. When's song of susannah review? Commala!

[@neme6ben]

I remember struggling alot while reading book 4, took me over a year to finish it, hated the flashback, way too long. Loved this one though, i finished 5 to 7 in about 6 weeks

[@calista3371]

I'm one of the people who loves the meta stuff. Book 5 was one of my least favorite of the series. I like 6 better. I'm strange, I know. Great review, as usual. Thanks for your work and putting out this discussion and coving Stephen King. I've read the Tower twice and its time to read it all again, I feel.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Thank god I read the dark tower series after all the books came out I can't imagine having to wait so long for the next book

[@buchanro]

Winds of Winter anyone?

[@dragonflii]

I loved Talisman and Black House. Black House is VERY MUCH tied in with the DT series. I'm surprised you haven't read it! Put it on your list! 😊

[@heavymetalheretic5386]

When are we going to finish the path to the Dark Tower, It's been a over a year. It's time to finish the path of the beam.

[@sstavlo]

When I went through the series a few years ago, I thought WoC was one of the better parts of the series

[@Dylan13Collins]

Spoilers! When I realized he was in it, I was concerned and predisposed to hate it lol. Then I read it. Instead of an annoying God type figure, he was vulnerable and fearful and openly critical of himself. And I loved it! I think this is my favorite book in the series!

[@johnnybensonitis7853]

No doubt! Roland didn't particularly care for him, either, and the entire thing just kinda blew me away.

[@chrisholmstrom8652]

bulletin board is old school discord

[@farhad_s]

I am so glad I never saw that spoiler cover before I read the book! Wizard and Glass it still my favourite so far, but next is Wolves of the Calla. Both are more Western than fantasy / horror, so wondering if that's a factor. Will read Book 6 next month, but will then fall behind the main readalong as there's a lot more related books I'll have to read before Book 7. I think I've only read The Stand, Salem's Lot and The Eyes of the Dragon. And Talisman, quite possibly my least favourite.

[@angelaholmes8888]

Wolves of the calla is good but it's not my favorite book in the series 👍

[@SystemUnderSiege]

I'm 2/3 of the way through and it's not even a side quest, it's all talking to the quest giver. I lost interest a decade ago but trying to power through on my second attempt. I hope the ending picks up

[@teutonicknight9041]

Keep your finger off of the trigger. Don’t have an accident like Alex Baldwin, because not only could you have a horrible accident that could hurt someone, but you won’t be treated so kindly. Other than that, have a wonderful day! :)

[@rendmc231]

cocaine/ no cocaine

[@cwdkidman2266]

This is about 11.22.63. have you reviewed it as promised? I can't seem to find it in your playlist box about King. I think it's the best thing he's done but it's not perfect. 1. King is simply unable to write about race or have any memorable black characters. He's no Faulkner or Twain. Maybe it's because he grew up in lily Maine? Or because he's an unreconstructed leftist who doesn't have the talent to depict black life realistically, and knows it, so he doesn't try?Who knows? Do you? Also, throw in gay characters with blacks. 2. I applaud his research, but he got it wrong about 2 things. First, JFK had wide support among the white working class in the South. So did RFK. Second, completely missed the Civil War centennial, which was HUGE in the South. White teachers took their students on field trips to see Gone With The Wind. We sang songs from that period. Etc. But he got it right when he had Jake enter Virginia and everything suddenly had the feel of a combat zone. Which it was. Now, of course, police attitudes have spread all over, from Rodney King in L.A. to George Floyd in that great southern city of Minneapolis. 3. I.always cringe at his efforts to be hip and cool. King's a nerd and at this stage he always will be. He might know this since he's always stealing lines from 1970s obscure hits. There was a group called the Jokers and they were laying it down is straight from Rock And Roll Hootchie-koo by Rick Derringer. 4. He lets his GenX mask fall.a.lot. When he sees the band at Mimi's retirement party and recognizes a young Doug Sahm from the soon to be Sir Douglas Quintet, he nearly shits himself. I don't blame him. I would, too. But how many GenXers would ID him or care? 5. Why didn't he fly to Vegas to place his bets? He had the money and could have avoided local leg dealers. I think. Not 100 percent on that one. 6. I would have been sorely tempted to load a laptop or 2 with every stock market page from 59 to 64, just to be sure. He had Al's notebook full of equally damning-if-found info on longshot sports winners. Of course Al didn't leave him with much time. But these are nitpicks. This time not only was The idea for the story great, but his execution of the story was perfectly doné. Give a nit here and there. And the Oswald quarrels and address changes kept him chained to reality; the Warren Report in all its many volumes dictated everything about Lee and Marina's life once he landed back in the US. And I mean EVERYTHING. So King was tied to mannerisms and dialogue. This made for two characters (Lee and Marina) getting the royal treatment: they leap.from the pages more alive than any other King character in any book. He clued me in on General Walker, about whom I knew nothing. He turned his wrath on the FBI/CIA, something that I will always love as an old leftist myself. When black leaders began saying that the government was flooding their neighborhoods with cheap.heroin, no one white believed them until it turned out to be true. And I'll always love Jody's ..niceness. I love the baby Boomer behind the GenX mask. Would an Xer know about John Scali and the Cuban missile crisis? Would an Xer be confused about the introduction of the Pill? Or care? I think they'd assume the existence of all manner of birth control. I will always miss Sadie and Jake, something I can't say about any other King characters. Sadie and Jake were decent and nice and intelligent, qualities I'll always take over hip and clever and cool any time. Maybe the subject matter raised King's game re dialogue and character construction and story execution. Who knows? I'm sure King doesn't know, either. What do artists know about their own work and why should we listen to them? They can talk all day about what they INTENDED to do, but we, the audience, are the final arbiters and judges. So...are you going to review 11.22.63?

[@RaddArtandComics]

I think non spoiler review is pointless.....if anything u could spoil in second half 99% want spoilers

[@lauds4]

This book was strictly okay. my biggest grip honestly is how Stephen King pulled things from Marvel, Harry Potter, and Star Wars to put in his book. This series is about this amazing multiverse and seeing pop culture things in there is just embarrassing, especially with how creative and imaginative King's mind is. It was very cringeworthy to me.

[@claytonhomer3096]

I completely agree. He had a few minor meta moments up to this point in the series and a somewhat big one with the wizard of oz at the end of book 4(which I also disliked to be consistent.) I don't know if you have read books 6 and 7 but he completely flushes the creativity down the toilet in service to more meta garbage. Ruins the story for me by breaking immersion, the one thing a fantasy book shouldn't do. Its like watching a Mel Brooks movie where the camera pans and shows you the movie set and its done for comedic effect. Well, thats a comedy, i don't want breaking the 4th wall in a Lord of the Rings movie though..

[@MadlandsMedia]

I find your lack of trigger discipline on the thumbnail, disturbing.

[@dustinneely]

This entire series is 🐶 💩

[@DeicideBlues]

What’s happened to these reviews :(

[@organic723]

The "connections" were rather pointless and self-serving. they did not help or improve the story, but only detracted from it.