Kevin's Watch

Hi, I am new here and I am not sure if this subject has been tackled before, if so I apologize. Having read Stephen King's Dark Tower series and most Covenant books (currently reading Fatal Revenant) I can't help but notice the similarities between the 2 bodies of work. I know that they are more than likely just coincidence but here are some of the major similarities.

Spoiler

Both Roland of Gilead and Thomas Covenant are missing the same two fingers of the same hand.

The Dark Tower and the Arch of Time are very similar and The Crimson King is trying to destroy the Tower while Lord Foul is trying to destroy the Arch.

People from "our" world are transported to both worlds in nearly the same way; through dying in one world or doors in time (falls?) Also, Thinnies and Falls seem to be nearly the same thing.

Although I haven't seen ka-tet or any similar phrase mentioned in the Covenant books it seem Linden has her own sort of ka-tet.

Lord Foul and The Crimson King are very similar, although I doubt Foul will turn in to a spider (hopefully)

These are just the similarities that jump out off the top of my head, I am sure that there are more, though. [/spoiler]

First...maybe a mod can merge this one with the original posted in the general discussion?
Second...welcome Theomatch.
Third...Lord Foul will never turn into a spider
Fourth...I'm obviously in list mode again.
Fifth...I'm gonna stop that now.
I'd really never noticed the similarities you mentioned...interesting catch. The ka-tet idea...I think that's one of the 'tools of the trade' in several genres, but very much so in fantasy. King named it, twisted from Egyption myth/theology, which is pretty cool.
Symbolically, at least, King Crimson...er...the Crimson King and LF do have a lot in common, though I think there is more depth and precision in Foul.
Thinnies and Falls though...not so much...there are a number of differences, but the one that really matters: Falls are an assault, and an expression of power [mad, uncontrolled power, but power nonetheless]. Thinnies are a symptom.

As I said in the other thread (and a GenDisc mod has to do it, I can't), King's read Donaldson.

But which actually came first? King states he started writing The Dark Tower early on in his career. I don't think that one copied the other I just think there are a lot of similarities, and some of them didn't appear until later on in the series. True, King brought in ideas from other authors in the last 3 DT books, such as some concepts from Harry Potter and even comic book characters.

Personally, I stand by the belief that there are no new ideas in fantasy. Let's be fair after all; both Tolkien and Donaldson borrowed concepts from Der Ring des Nibelungen, which originally existed in Norse Mythology... every fantasy writer reads fantasy, and every fantasy writer is influenced in some way by those things they have written.

IMO, of course.

Brad

Tena koe from New Zealand Theomach
Welcome to the Watch.

King in no way equals the emotional intensity of Donaldson (perhaps the closest is Wizard and Glass). I didn't see many similarities.

I for one liked the Drawing of the Three the best. But, for example, when the ka tet is on the Monorail, I was idly interested, however I was completely consumed when Saltheart Foamfollower and Thomas approached Fouls Creche, however.

I don't think Thomas will get to the end of the last book and get transported back to the start of Lord Foul's Bane.

The Dark Tower is good, don't get me wrong, but borrowing from other authors (and putting himself into the story) smacked of self indulgence and lazy writing to me.