The Dark Tower series was inspired by the poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning. Referred to as Stephen King’s magnum opus, Incorporating themes from multiple genres, including dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror, and Western The Dark Tower series is an epic fantasy adventure that you don’t want to miss out on. And The Dark Tower has been adapted into a film starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. So, check out all the books in the series now!
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The Dark Tower Series In Order
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is an epic and sprawling fantasy saga that spans eight books and multiple genres, including horror, science fiction, and western. At its heart, it’s the story of Roland Deschain, a gunslinger on a quest to reach the Dark Tower, a mysterious and powerful structure that is said to hold the key to the universe. Along the way, he is joined by a group of companions, including a boy named Jake, a junkie named Eddie, and a woman named Susannah. Together, they must confront a range of deadly foes and navigate treacherous landscapes in their pursuit of the tower. With unforgettable characters, richly imagined worlds, and a gripping plot that will keep you turning the pages, the Dark Tower series is a must-read for fans of Stephen King and epic fantasy alike.
Here are all the books in the series in reading order:
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
Roland of Gilead is the Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with a boy from New York named Jake.
A #1 national bestseller, The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake.
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
Roland encounters three mysterious doorways on a deserted beach along the Western Sea. Each one enters into a different person’s life in New York. Here, he joins forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean, and with the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes, to save the dark tower.
In the second novel of Stephen King’s bestselling fantasy masterpiece, Roland of Gilead, the Last Gunslinger, encounters three mysterious doors which open – for Roland, and Roland alone – to different times in our world. He must draw the three who should accompany him on the road.
In 1980s New York, Roland joins forces with defiant Eddie Dean. The second door leads to the 1960s and conflicted civil rights activist Odetta Holmes. The final door reveals Jack Mort, a deadly serial killer, in the 1970s. Mort is stalking Jake, the young boy Roland met in Mid-World.
As titanic forces gather, a savage struggle between underworld evil and otherworldly enemies threatens to bring an end to Roland’s journey toward the Dark Tower…
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
Roland’s two new tet-mates have become trained gunslingers. They must follow the Path of the Beam all the way to the Dark Tower. There are new evils, new dangers to threaten Roland’s little band in the devastated city of Lud and the surrounding wastelands. As well as horrific confrontations with Blaine the Mono, the piratical Gasher, and the frightening Tick-Tock Man.
In the third novel in Stephen King’s epic fantasy masterpiece, Roland, the Last Gunslinger, is moving ever closer to the Dark Tower.
Roland has altered ka by saving the life of Jake Chambers in New York. Now they exist in different worlds, paradoxically sharing memories. Roland, Susannah and Eddie must try to draw Jake into Mid-World then follow the Path of the Beam through an urban waste land to the Dark Tower.
Pursued by the Ageless Stranger, Roland and his friends cross a desert of damnation in this macabre new world as revelations begin to unfold about who – and what – is driving him forward.
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
As Roland, Eddie, Susannah, and Jake survive Blaine the Mono’s final crash, only to find themselves in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, that has been ravaged by the superflu virus. While following the deserted I-70 towards a distant glass palace, Roland recounts his tragic story.
In the fourth novel in Stephen King’s bestselling fantasy quest, the Dark Tower beckons Roland, the Last Gunslinger, and the four companions he has gathered along the road.
In a terrifying journey where hidden dangers lurk at every junction, the pilgrims find themselves stranded in an alternate version of Topeka, Kansas, that has been ravaged by a superflu virus.
While following the deserted highway toward a distant glass palace, Roland recounts his tragic story about a seaside town called Hambry, where he fell in love with a girl named Susan Delgado and where he and his old tet-mates Alain and Cuthbert battled the forces of an evil harrier who ignited Mid-World’s final war.
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
Roland and his ka-tet are bearing southeast through the forests of Mid-World. Their path takes them to the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis, a tranquil valley community of farmers and ranchers on the borderlands. Beyond the town, the rocky ground rises toward the hulking darkness of Thunderclap, the source of a terrible affliction that is slowly stealing the community’s soul.
In the fifth novel in Stephen King’s bestselling fantasy series, Roland and his ka-tet are bearing through the forests of the Mid-World on their journey to the Dark Tower.
Tracking their every move is a group of farmers from the town of Calla Bryn Sturgis. The trackers have been warned that the Wolves, a band of masked riders, are about to gallop out of the dark land of Thunderclap and raid their town. And they want to enlist the help of the four gunslingers.
How can Roland and his tet both protect the innocent community and return to New York to save our world’s incarnation of the Dark Tower from the machinations of the evil Sombra Corporation?
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances, filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters, the Dark Tower series is unlike anything you have ever read. Here is the penultimate installment.
The pivotal sixth novel in Stephen King’s bestselling epic fantasy saga provides the key to the quest that defines Roland’s life.
Susannah has used the power of Black Thirteen to get to New York where she can give birth to a child fated to grow up as Roland’s nemesis. Jake and Father Callahan set out to break her date with destiny and to find Calvin Tower, owner of the vacant lot where a magical rose grows – a rose that must be saved at all costs.
Meanwhile, Roland and Eddie tumble into Maine in the Summer of 1977. Here they are greeted by the gangster Balazar and must face their maker, a man called Stephen King…
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
Roland and his ka-tet have journeyed together and apart, scattered far and wide across multilayered worlds of wheres and whens. The destinies of the group are bound in the Dark Tower itself, which now pulls them ever closer to their own endings and beginnings and into a maelstrom of emotion, violence, and discovery.
The final book in King’s epic The Dark Tower series, sees gunslinger Roland on a roller-coaster ride of exhilarating triumph and aching loss in his unrelenting quest to reach the dark tower.
Roland Deschain and his ka-tet have journeyed together and apart, scattered far and wide across multilayered worlds of wheres and whens. The destinies of Roland, Susannah, Jake, Father Callahan, Oy, and Eddie are bound in the Dark Tower itself, which now pulls them ever closer to their own endings and beginnings and into a maelstrom of emotion, violence, and discovery.
And as he closes in on the Tower, Roland’s every step is shadowed by a terrible and sinister creation. Finally, he realises, he may have to walk the last dark strait alone…
Movie Adaptation
There has been one Dark Tower movie adaptation released, which premiered in 2017. The film starred Idris Elba as Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, and Matthew McConaughey as the Man in Black, the film’s main antagonist.
However, the movie was not a direct adaptation of the Dark Tower series. Instead, it was marketed as a continuation of the story and featured several elements from various books in the series. This was done to allow for creative freedom, as the Dark Tower series is a complex and lengthy work that spans several books.
Unfortunately, the movie was not well-received by fans or critics. Many felt that the movie failed to capture the spirit of the books and that it was too condensed and simplified for its own good. The film’s poor reception and lackluster box office performance have cast doubts on the possibility of a sequel.
Overall, the Dark Tower movie adaptation was a disappointment for many fans of the series. While it had a talented cast and crew, the film failed to capture the depth and complexity of the books, resulting in a lackluster experience for audiences.
Here’s hoping that the upcoming TV series adaptation will do a better job of bringing The Dark Tower series to the screen.
Upcoming TV Adaptation
The upcoming TV adaptation of “The Dark Tower” has been in the works for several years. The series is being produced by Amazon Studios and is said to be a complete reboot of the story, rather than a continuation of the 2017 film adaptation. The show is expected to follow the same basic storyline as the book series, following Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, as he journeys across a post-apocalyptic wasteland in search of the mythical Dark Tower. There is currently no confirmed release date for the series, but it is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in the near future. Watch this space as we will keep you updated!
Frequently Asked Questions
What order does the Dark Tower series go in?
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King should be read in the following order:
- The Gunslinger
- The Drawing of the Three
- The Waste Lands
- Wizard and Glass
- Wolves of the Calla
- Song of Susannah
- The Dark Tower
This is the recommended reading order for the series as it follows the chronological order of the story and ensures the best reading experience.
Is The Dark Tower going to be a TV series?
Yes, The Dark Tower is currently in development as a TV series. Amazon Prime Video is reportedly adapting the series, with Glen Mazzara as showrunner and executive producer. However, there has been no official release date announced yet.
Is The Shining and The Dark Tower connected?
The Shining and The Dark Tower are connected in the Stephen King multiverse. The Dark Tower series features several references to The Shining, including recurring characters and locations. In addition, the character of Roland Deschain from The Dark Tower series briefly appears in King’s novel, Doctor Sleep, which is a sequel to The Shining.
How many books are in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series?
There are 8 books in Stephen King’s Dark Tower series. The following is the recommended reading order:
- The Gunslinger
- The Drawing of the Three
- The Waste Lands
- Wizard and Glass
- Wolves of the Calla
- Song of Susannah
- The Dark Tower
There is also a short story called “The Little Sisters of Eluria” which is set in the same universe as the Dark Tower series and features the protagonist, Roland Deschain. It was later included in the revised edition of The Gunslinger.
Should I read The Dark Tower Series in order?
Yes, it’s highly recommended to read The Dark Tower series in order. The books build on each other and contain recurring characters, settings, and themes that are important to the overall story. Reading the books out of order can result in confusion and a less enjoyable reading experience.
What books do I need to read with The Dark Tower Series?
The Dark Tower series can be read on its own, but there are other Stephen King books that are connected to the series and can enhance the reading experience. These books include “Salem’s Lot,” “The Stand,” “Insomnia,” “Hearts in Atlantis,” “The Talisman,” and “Black House.” These books feature characters, locations, and events that are referenced in The Dark Tower series, so reading them can provide additional context and depth to the overall story. However, it is not necessary to read these books to understand or enjoy The Dark Tower series.
In conclusion, the Dark Tower series is a fascinating journey through a richly imagined multiverse filled with memorable characters, epic battles, and emotional depth. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Stephen King or a newcomer to his work, this series is a must-read for any lover of fantasy, science fiction, and horror. We hope this guide to reading the Dark Tower series in order has been helpful, and we encourage you to dive in and experience this incredible story for yourself. Long days and pleasant nights!
