The Dark Tower 7-Tale Series

[Infrazael]

Who has read it? Who is reading it? Who loved it?

I think the series is probably the most amazing one I have ever read, yes, better than classics I've read, better than Tolkien, better than ALOT of stuff. . . . .

[YODA]

Do a search for "Dark Tower" - all will become clear :D

[Eddie Dean]

Do a search for "Dark Tower" - all will become clear :D


Tower junkies baby - there's a lot of them about :)

Oh and happy new year, Ka turns like a wheel :)

[Infrazael]

Ka-tet

[YODA]

Hehehe

http://www.insanewriters.com/josh/dt/home.cfm

[Athleng Nordic]

Haven't read the Tower series. Back in the 80's I tried King's stuff and found it dry and boring. I did get pressed into reading The Green Mile and loved that so gave The Shawshank Redemption a go and liked it. I might have to give this one a try. What's the over all premis and run of the story?

[YODA]

What's the over all premis and run of the story? Parallel universes revolving around a central nexus - the Dark Tower.

6 "beams" holding up the tower - end of which guarded by 12 guardians.

Roland Deschain - last of the "Gunslingers" (Think Jedi) is on a quest to find the tower and defeat the big baddie, The Crimson King, who is using psychic children from multiple universes to destroy the beams and bring down the tower. Along the way he gathers a set of people to assist him - his "fellowship" if you like :D

Think "Lord of the Rings meets Clint Eastwood Western" set in a post appocalpyse "Mad Max" type setting whilst hopping in and out of various stages of 20th Century New York and Maine.

[GeeniusAtWurk]

Haven't read the Tower series. Back in the 80's I tried King's stuff and found it dry and boring. I did get pressed into reading The Green Mile and loved that so gave The Shawshank Redemption a go and liked it. I might have to give this one a try. What's the over all premis and run of the story?

A gunslinger tries to get to the dark tower, and along the way he draws 3 people into his world (think parallel universes as they exist on different levels of the tower) to help him. To give any more info would ruin at least some of it, but its probably the best book series I have ever read in my entire life. A couple of the books were merely so so, but the last one made up for it in spades. God I love that flipping book.

[YODA]

A gunslinger tries to get to the dark tower, and along the way he draws 3 people into his world (think parallel universes as they exist on different levels of the tower) to help him. To give any more info would ruin at least some of it, but its probably the best book series I have ever read in my entire life. A couple of the books were merely so so, but the last one made up for it in spades. God I love that flipping book.
YAY! Another DT nut!

Welcome Sai :D

[Athleng Nordic]

YAY! Another DT nut!

Welcome Sai :D
Thanks. I have a itch for post holocaust type of stories and I've just recently got hooked on Weird West horror. Try Dead Man's Hand by Nancy A Collins if you like these kind of stories.

[GojuKJoe]

i just finished the gunslinger last night and am going to start the drawing of the three tonight. so far i'm very impressed

[YODA]

i just finished the gunslinger last night and am going to start the drawing of the three tonight. so far i'm very impressed
You have some great stuff ahead! Volumes 2 & 3 are my faves :D

[Infrazael]

I like 4. Roland's past is, beautiful and haunting to say the least.

[Twimyo Jirugi]

Sounds cool, but I'm a bit confused, what order do the books go in? All I know is that The Drawing of the Three is the second volume, help with the others?

[YODA]

1. The Gunslinger
2. Drawing of the Three
3. The Wastelands
4. Wizard & Glass
5. Wolves of the Calla
6. Song of Susannah
7. The Dark Tower

[Twimyo Jirugi]

Cheers, bossman :D

So, The Gunslinger is the one I should pick next time I'm out. I'll report back with my thoughts when I'm finished it (should be some time soon)

[YODA]

Cheers, bossman :D

So, The Gunslinger is the one I should pick next time I'm out. I'll report back with my thoughts when I'm finished it (should be some time soon)
Make sure you get the revised edition. He changed a few things after he'd written the first 3 or 4 books - I guess he had clear picture of where it was headed then :D

[Athleng Nordic]

Okay another question for you Dark Tower nuts.


The main character is this gunslinger. Is this character well written and developed through out the series? What can you tell me about the character?

[Infrazael]

Roland of Gilead, the LAST Gunslinger.

Traveling across a land that has. . . . . "moved on."

A past that is both terrible and beautiful.

With a deep monomania about the "Dark Tower."

Roland is a romantic, but on the outside at times he seems like an utmost soulless and pragmatic creature.

EVERYTHING for the tower. . . . . . .

Ka and, of course, Ka-tet

He is one of the most developed characters in history, methinks.

YODA - don't reveal too much. The Wheels of Ka must turn themselves, lest you have forgotten the face of your father.

[Athleng Nordic]

Thanks for the insight on the character. Does he continue to develop over all of the books or does he develop through so many then the story goes? Also does the other characters he picks up also develop along the way?

[Infrazael]

They ALL develop severly.

[GeeniusAtWurk]

ya, mucho character development. its more about the people and the journey to the tower rather than finally getting there anyways. i guess the moral of the story is like life - its the journey, not the destination.

[Athleng Nordic]

They ALL develop severly.
Thanks.

[Infrazael]

Tis the journey that matters.

The book truly takes you on levels that no other books have before, for me at least.

Emotionally, Intellectually, Instinctively, and more. . . . . sometimes, your mind just finds the book incomprehensible.

[YODA]

One thing I forgot the mention is that the Dark Tower series ties in many of King's other books. For example...

The Stand
'Salem's Lot
Insomnia
IT
The Talisman
Black House
Desperation
Hearts in Atlantis
... and more

They all play a role in the central Dark Tower plot. To the extent that some of the characters from the above books have minor & major roles in the Dark Tower series.

[Infrazael]

Flagg.

[YODA]

Flagg.
There are many more!

People, times, places - and much of the actual history and "structure" of the DT "Multiverse" is explained in The Talisman, Black House & Insomnia.

[Ophqui]

I'm currently reading book five of the series. I started stealin these outta the school library in september (they had the whole series, now they only have 6 an 7, lol). Personally i feel that 5 is a big let down in a series that was great until then. Book four is easily a contender for best book i've ever read, but five is pretty boring, and king seems to have lost both the plot and the personalities of the characters somewhere along the way. The only reason im still reading is to find out how cuthbert and alain died, which interests me more than the tower for some reason

[YODA]

Please DO NOT post spoilers in this thread.

I have moved the last two posts here into the following thread for those that have read all 7 books...

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16152

[GojuKJoe]

i've read the start of the second book....what a great way to start it! you're right yoda, i thank you again for introducing me to this series!

[YODA]

i've read the start of the second book....what a great way to start it! you're right yoda, i thank you again for introducing me to this series!
LOL! Told you it started off with a bang! What a shocker huh? :D

[GojuKJoe]

LOL! Told you it started off with a bang! What a shocker huh? :D

yeah I know! "I see serious problems ahead....."

[mhyst]

hell yes! i tried reading 3 different books after i finished the dark tower series but i got bored really fast and couldn't get into them.. nothing compares to the dark tower series!

[YODA]

hell yes! i tried reading 3 different books after i finished the dark tower series but i got bored really fast and couldn't get into them.. nothing compares to the dark tower series!
Wahey! Another Dark Tower fan :D

I'm currently on Volume 7 again after re-reading some of the tie-in books (The Stand, IT, Deperation, Regulators, Insomnia, The Talisman, Black House ....etc)

Remember - No spoilers in this thread!

Spoliers & general discussion for those that have read the whole series here...

http://www.martialartsplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16152

[notquitedead]

I picked up the first one yesterday. It's pretty good but it seems short.

[YODA]

I picked up the first one yesterday. It's pretty good but it seems short.

Yes - The Gunslinger is short. Trust me - they get bigger.

Warning - Volume 2 & 3 will hook you :D

[Twimyo Jirugi]

Goddamn, these are hard to find. I checked with three different bookstore chains, they said something about it not being in print anymore :S I'm going to scour some second hand bookstores now or maybe I'll just order off Amazon :D

[YODA]

Here you go... and you'll be supporting MAP in the process :D

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0340829753.02._PE20_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

The Dark Tower Vol 1 - The Gunslinger (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340829753/martialartspl-21)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0340829761.02._PE20_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

The Dark Tower Vol 2 - The Drawing of the Three (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340829761/martialartspl-21)

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/034082977X.02._PE20_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

The Dark Tower Vol 3 - The Wastelands (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/034082977X/martialartspl-21)

[ballistic]

ive just got on to song of suzanna but i cant find it! hard back dosnt seem to be in the shops anymore, and paper back is only up to wolves! arrrggghhh. does anyone know when song of suzanna will be out in paperback?

[MaxG]

I'm thinking about picking this series up. Before I do should I read the other SK books mentioned here? The ones that the DT series supposedly ties together? Would I need them to understand the series? I'm not a big SK fan so I haven't read any of his other books. That seems like a huge investment. :(

[namaste]

Tower Junkie here :)

I find most of king's stuff crappy, unless it relates to DT in some way. But DT is magic stuff.

[Sparkle]

Long days and pleasant nights everyone. (I'm reading the dark tower series now, I'm on the first book : P, but it's hooking me enough to read the entire series )

[ajs1976]

After Gunslinger was re-released I read it and theo others as the came out, up to book 4. I took a break (college) and then read 5. I started 6 last christmas and haven't finished it yet. Maybe after things settle down, I will try to finis them.

I don't think you have to read the tie in stories to understand what is going on in the DT, but if you read any read the Stand.

[MattJ]

Hi guys. Just thought I would mention that I am a huge fan of the DT series, and just finished reading Volume 7. AWESOME. I was not disappointed (well......maybe here and there), and recommend it.

[notquitedead]

I don't want to read the thread yet in case there are any spoilers, but I think the series has gotten progressively worse. I feel like I'm just finishing the 7th book to finish it now... but there are about 100 pages left so I might as well.