Stephen King's Dark Tower Gunslinger Series

Ranked #2,802 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #110,424 overall

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed..."

From that best first line of all time in the first Dark Tower book, The Gunslinger, you'll be hooked. It's classic western meets fantasy sci-fi all with Stephen King's flair for the macabre.

Whether you're already a fan of Stephen King or just discovering his work, this is where you can find all things Dark Tower.

Welcome. Enjoy the journey. Long days and pleasant nights.

Hooked on Stephen King

I have been reading Stephen King books since I was a kid. The first one I read was "Christine" and I do admit to having a few nightmares -- who knew a book about a car could be so scary!! Then again, I think I was also 12 years old.

I came across the Dark Tower books when the first 2 installments were already published. From the moment I read the first line, I was completely hooked and I flew through the The Gunslinger and then The Drawing of the Three, totally wrapped up in the world of the Dark Tower. I have anxiously awaited the release of each installment in the Dark Tower series so that I could continue my journey with Roland and his ka-tet. A true addiction considering the final novel was released in 2004 -- yes, that's at least 14 years of scanning the New Release section in bookstores. For those of you who were on the journey from the very beginning, let me commend you on your 22 year journey!

Stephen King, thankee-sai for not breaking The Beam or abandoning the quest MidWorld.

The good news for you, Constant Reader, is that if you haven't been introduced to this fantastic series yet, you don't have to wait 22 years to find out how it ends.

Below, you can find all 7 of the novels, including a box set of the first 4 (if you're into that kind of thing).

I've also added the audiobook versions for you audiophiles out there.

Plus, if you're a total geek like me, check out lower down on the page for some cool Dark Tower merchandise to show the King of Horror some love.

Origins of The Dark Tower

"Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came"

The Dark Tower series was first inspired by Robert Browning's poem, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came". If you want to read the full poem, it's included in the appendix of the seventh (last) Dark Tower book of the novel series.

Stephen King lists his other inspirations for the Dark Tower series as: "The Lord of The Rings" (the location names and unique language called 'High Speech' were also influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien's work), the Aurthurian Legend, and "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" (King says that Roland Deschain, The Gunslinger, was inspired by Clint Eastwood's "Man with No Name" character--and seriously, don't we all picture Clint Eastwood in that role?).

Image is: Thomas Moran - Child Roland to the Dark Tower Came 1889

Stephen King's Dark Tower Series: The Novels

Without further ado, here are The Dark Tower Novels... Enjoy!
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Stephen King's Dark Tower Series: The Novels Continued

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Who is Your Favorite Dark Tower Character?

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Stephen King's Dark Tower Series: The AudioBooks

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Stephen King's Dark Tower Series: The AudioBooks Continued

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Which Dark Tower Book Do You Think is the Best of the Series?

The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, Book 3) by Stephen King

The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, Book 3) by Stephen King

Roland the Gunfighter and his two companions continue the quest for the tower at the portal of all the worlds...in this third volume in the epic that continues to dominate the bestseller lists.2 points

Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, Book 4) by Stephen King

Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, Book 4) by Stephen King

The end is near.
Start at the beginning.


The Dark Tower saga builds to an explosive climax...
In November 2003, the fifth Dark Tower book hits stores for the first time-followed by books six and seven.

This #1 bestseller heralds the beginning of the end.1 point

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King

Filled with ominous landscapes and macabre menace, Stephen King's latest mass market novel features The Gunslinger, a haunting figure in combat with The Man in Black in an epic battle of good versus evil. A spellbinding tale that is both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike.0 points

The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, Book 2) by Stephen King

The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, Book 2) by Stephen King

The Man in Black is dead, and Roland is about to be hurled into 20th-century America, occupying the mind of a man running cocaine on the New York/Bermuda shuttle. A brilliant work of dark fantasy inspired by Browning's romantic poem, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came".0 points

Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5) by Stephen King

Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5) by Stephen King

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 fifth installment, "one of the strongest entries yet in what will surely be a master storyteller's magnum opus" (Locus).

Roland Deschain and his ka-tet are bearing southeast through the forests of Mid-World on their quest for the Dark Tower. Their path takes them to the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis. But beyond the...

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Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6) by Stephen King

Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6) by Stephen King

SONG OF SUSANNAH

THE DARK TOWER VI

Susannah Dean is possessed, her body a living vessel for the demon-mother Mia. Something is growing inside Susannah's belly, something terrible, and soon she will give birth to Mia's "chap." But three unlikely allies are following them from New York City to the border of End World, hoping to prevent the unthinkable. Meanwhile, Eddie and Roland have tumbled into the state of Maine -- where the author of a novel called 'Salem's Lot is about to meet his destiny....

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The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7) by Stephen King

The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7) by Stephen King

Creating "true narrative magic" (The Washington Post) at every revelatory turn, Stephen King surpasses all expectation in the stunning final volume of his seven-part epic masterwork. Entwining stories and worlds from a vast and complex canvas, here is the conclusion readers have long awaited -- breath-takingly imaginative, boldly visionary, and wholly entertaining.

Roland Deschain and his ka-tet have journeyed together and apart, scattered far and wide across multilayered worlds of wheres and whens....

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Did You Know? The World of The Dark Tower Pops Up in Other Stephen King Books

Dark Tower Related Books

In many of Stephen King's novels, the world of the Dark Tower makes itself known. Sometimes it's just a reference, but at times it's an introduction of characters or concepts that are evolving in the series. I've only included the books with larger references to the Dark Tower, but be on the lookout as you read his other novels for other references!

Should you read these related books before you read the Dark Tower novels? Should you read them after? Or does it matter if you don't read them at all?

It's up to you, but I would recommend reading them in the order Stephen King wrote them for full effect (All things follow the beam).

I've listed them in order of release below and have put a note in each section to show where the Dark Tower books fit in the timeline.

You don't have to read these Dark Tower related books, but if you don't, is your quest really complete?

Dark Tower Related Books

by Stephen King

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) fits between The Stand and The Talisman
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More Dark Tower Related Books

by Stephen King

Read The Eyes of the Dragon, followed by The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, Book 2). Then read The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, Book 3), followed by Insomnia.

Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, Book 4) fits after The Regulators.
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Still More Dark Tower Related Books

by Stephen King

Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6) and The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, Book 7) fit after From a Buick 8.
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Dark Tower Websites

The Official Stephen King Dark Tower Website
It's the official website, what can I say? Not only do you get the phenomenal artwork, but you also get a glossary for the books and the latest information about new Dark Tower projects.
Wikipedia: The Dark Tower Series
Great place to get Dark Tower background info and plot summaries.
The Dark Tower Palaver (Forum)
Connect and chat with other Dark Tower enthusiasts.

Stephen King Dark Tower on eBay

Are you looking for a collector's item, like first covers of the books? Check out eBay for Stephen King Dark Tower items.
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Dark Tower Clothing and Gifts

Ok, so if you're a total geek like me, or know someone who's a total Stephen King fan, you have to check out the Stephen King Dark Tower gear below. Wear or show your geekiness with pride!!

I'll add more cool things as I find them so check back to see the latest! There are way too many options to show so If you're looking for a particular dark tower item, phrase or logo on something, let me know and I'll add it.

Questions? Comments?

Post them here!

  • SophiaStar Apr 5, 2012 @ 4:19 pm | delete
    I love this series and Stephen King in general am a Constant Reader. Great job on this lens and I love how you included his other books that have references to the Dark Tower, thankee-sai!
  • SukoMiabals Dec 13, 2010 @ 10:50 pm | delete
    Love this series! Thank you.
  • ReluctantAuthor Sep 26, 2010 @ 7:50 pm | delete
    Congatulations! Your lens has been featured on Stephen King: The Ultimate Stephen King Source lens (http://www.squidoo.com/Stephen-Edwin-King#module122046111). - A fellow Constant Reader.

    On a side note, you mention that The Dark Tower Series was first inspired by Robert Browning's poem, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came," which is indeed true. But you fail to mention the deep influence that T. S. Eliot's "The Waste Land," also came to have on the series as well. You may want to add some information on that to your lens.

    Long days and pleasant nights.
  • GroovyFinds Aug 8, 2009 @ 3:56 am | delete
    Great Lens!

by

leighais

Hi, I'm a big Stephen King fan. The Dark Tower books are my favorite so I thought I'd share them with you! Enjoy!

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!