The plan is to reread all of Stephen King’s works in the order that they were published. Richard Chizmar of Cemetery Dance had the vision. I’m doing it because I am a writer and I want to improve my fiction. And I love Stephen King’s stories. I think there is something to be learned through this process.
You can also go back to the beginning and read Before Carrie or any of my other posts up through this one and beyond by checking out this link to the Master List of all my #StephenKingRevisited posts.
If you are interested in my ongoing project with #BrianKeeneRevisited, you can check out that Master List as well.
Considering my negative bias when it comes to Stephen King collaborations, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Gwendy’s Final Task. I think it is arguably better than the previous two books in the trilogy. It still has its flaws, but it’s not a bad little story. Is it worth reading all three books? That might be a tough call. I recommend reading Gwendy’s Button Box and deciding for yourself if you want to continue on with her story in three parts. Third time’s the charm and last time pays for all.
So we’re back into breach with Gwendy all grown up and facing the responsibility of the box yet again, now with her age advancing. She finds herself in a position of political power which allows her to leverage herself into a position to do what ultimately needs to be done. Of course, everything comes at a cost and the stakes are higher than ever with the weight of The Dark Tower at play as well. All things serve the Tower, as they say. Hail, Discordia!
In 2026, a few linger remnants of Covid are about and the Space Race is back on. Gwendy: The Final Chapter… Gwendy goes to space. The strongest aspect of the story is the detail and feeling of accuracy around the descriptions of space flight.
And Covid has a connection to the button box as well, of course.
I can relate to Gwendy’s memory issues more than I care to. NG … Not Good, as Gwendy’s mother would say. “There are many things wrong with me and they’re crowding in on me all at once.” You said it, sister.
Space X and jet-setting billionaires playing in space are mentioned. Hal 9000 is referenced.
There is an Officer Malerman. I wonder if that is a nod to author Josh Malerman.
Gwendy wrote a novel about the Bradly Gang murders in Derry from the backstory of It. Derry looms large in this story and some of the costs are paid for dearly in this town still haunted by a clown thing.
Norris Ridgewick is a retired sheriff now and plays a small roll in Gwendy’s story. Sombra, the most evil of evil corporations that extends between worlds as it threatens the entire multiverse, is interested in the box, Gwendy, and the darkest button with all its black chaotic potential. The “men” in dusters with cars that don’t seem quite right roll into the story right out of Hearts in Atlantis and the Dark Tower series. One of them wears a crimson eye button that always seems to be watching.
The ending isn’t terrible and it is handled well for what it is. Maybe it was the necessary ending all considered. I do think there are more than a few story holes this ending fails to close, but I’m not dissatisfied with the book as a whole.
Good travels, Gwendy.
My next post in this series will likely be Before Fairy Tale found on the Master List of all my Stephen King Revisited posts.
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