Movies - TV
The Proper Reading Order For Stephen King's The Dark Tower
By MICHAEL BOYLE
“The Gunslinger” and “The Drawing of Three” introduce the world of “The Dark Tower” and its central characters, including Roland, the gunslinger and series protagonist. Though this is a stand-alone series, the main antagonist gets more fleshed out in King’s other works, “The Stand” and “Eyes of the Dragon,” where he appears as Randall Flagg.
Considered by many to be the height of the series, “The Wastelands” embraces the stranger elements of sci-fi and fantasy, ending with a dramatic cliffhanger and a six-year series hiatus. King’s classic “It” doesn’t directly reference “The Dark Tower,” but they have many world-building and thematic similarities, with the “It” creature sharing characteristics with later villains.
“Wizard and Glass” was a divisive entry, as fans waited six years to receive a story mainly focused on Roland’s past without advancing the plot much. Several characters from King’s other works, ”Salem's Lot” and “Hearts of Atlantis,” make their way into “The Dark Tower” world, as does information found in “Insomnia” and “The Little Sister of Eluria.”
After another six-year wait, “Wolves of Calla,” “Song of Susannah,” and “The Dark Tower” move the story along at full speed and feature some of the boldest writing choices of any mainstream author. Though the story ends with “The Dark Tower,” King released “The Wind Through the Keyhole” in 2012, which takes place in the time skip between “Wizard and Glass” and “Wolves of Calla.”