What Order Should I Read the Dark Tower

Greetings, fellow Junkies!

Equally regular readers of the Dark Tower novels know, many of Stephen King's other works tie in to the Tower – either straight or indirectly. In fact, Bev Vincent'due south The Road to the Dark Tower even provides synopses of the primal necktie-in books and how they relate to the Tower. Some Constant Readers even insist thatall of King'due south works ultimately tie in to the Dark Tower!

Because of this, lots of people have come up up with lots of dissimilar ideas well-nigh an extended reading list – the best order in which to read the Dark Belfry novels, with the other tie-in novels slipped in betwixt the seven (or eight) chief books.

I've recently started listening to the well-nigh first-class The Year of Underrated Stephen King Podcast, which I can highly recommend for truly insightful analyses of the bottom known Stephen King works. The host, kim c, has not read the Tower novels and plans to begin her journey at the starting time of 2021. (At the time of writing – June 2020 – it's not entirely clear that humanity will even get to 2021, but we must alive in hope!) She put out a plea to Tower Junkies everywhere to guide her in her quest for the Belfry. With that in mind, I thought I'd put in my 2 cents on the thought of an extended reading listing of Tower-related literature.

Why have an extended list?

For those who haven't been keeping up, I started my Tower journey in the most mundane of ways: by reading the (then) seven main Tower books in order. I had never read any other Stephen King (as I described here), and I went on to listen to the main Belfry novels twice over again before reading any other King works.

Conspicuously I was very content with the story as-written. I felt information technology was a completely self-independent and thoroughly satisfying stand-alone story, and this experience is reflected in my recommendation correct here, which is this:

There IS NO Need TO ADD Whatsoever BOOKS TO THE Vii Chief DARK Belfry NOVELS!

Controversial, I know. I accept since read all of the chief tie-in novels, and discovered some other nice subtle tie-ins in other books, some of which I may just be making up. (Side note: every bit of writing, I have read 57 of Male monarch'southward works). All the same, I found it very satisfying to discover these tie-ins after the fact, rather than priming myself by reading some of the other works first.

So my main advice hither is non to agonise over the determination. The books stand beautifully on their own, and in my stance at that place is no need at all to have read whatever other Stephen King books to thoroughly enjoy The Dark Belfry.

But I want the full experience!

Okay, that'southward completely fair enough and all opinions are valid when it comes to The Tower 🙂 And then allow's run into what yous're getting yourself into.

Hither is a fairly consummate list of books that have pretty solids tie-ins to the Dark Tower novels (and a couple that don't, simply I like the tie-ins I encounter there anyhow). They are listed in publishing order, which is interesting to look at of itself, one time yous've read them all.

That'southward 23 books, if you count the ii versions of The Stand, The Gunslinger, and The Little Sisters of Eluria (which also appears in the story collection Everything's Eventual).

Seriously, y'all could read them in publishing order and you wouldn't go far wrong. However, as indicated above, I see no reason to read all these novels for your first go at the Tower story. With almost twice every bit many tie-in books as master novels, I imagine you would lose heaps of continuity to the main story. Besides, some of these books simply hint at similar themes to the Tower books, or else explicate a pocket-sized (almost insignificant) aspect of Tower lore.

And then how should I tackle this? I am going to list the necktie-in books in order from most to least important (in my stance of course!) in terms of their demand to be read within the Belfry books.

Here we get.

1  – (Most Important) The Stand

The Stand up is an epic novel, and considered by many King fans every bit his greatest work. Indeed, it was the beginning King book I read outside the Tower novels and it is a terrific story.

It'south tie-in with The Dark Belfry is potent. I would be inclined to read this one before embarking on reading The Dark Tower novels. If you want to slot it in to your Tower reading, then between books three and 4 would probably exist the best spot.

Oh, and make sure you read the "complete and uncut" edition (1990). I've non read the original release (1978), but the 1990 edition is the full story, the style Stephen King intended it to be.

2 – 'Salem'south Lot

'Salem's Lot is another book with strong ties to The Dark Belfry. Once more I recommend reading it at some time earlier starting The Dark Belfry. Otherwise, put information technology immediately before book 5.

3 – Insomnia

In many ways it could exist argued that this book is the most important 1 to read along with the main Tower books. However, while it is a great story and the Tower tie-ins are very strong, many people struggle with the book. Information technology'due south very long and has a boring build-up that some readers find dull. I struggle to suggest putting any other books between your reading of the Tower novels, and I wouldn't recommend this every bit a must-read before embarking on The Dark Tower. If you want to read it along the fashion, and then I'd advise either before volume 5, or else between books 5 and half-dozen, or books half-dozen and 7.

The reason for this recommendation is that books 5-7 were written and released dorsum-to-back. They tend to read as one continuous novel (especially books six and vii) and so sticking such a huge other volume in the middle of it all would really detract for me. Just if you must, then these are your options.

four – The Wind Through The Keyhole

Okay, this is an actual Nighttime Belfry novel, and chronologically it fits between Book iv (Wizard and Glass) and Book 5 (Wolves of the Calla). All the same, it was written after the other 7 books, and was published eight years subsequently their final release. It is therefore quite definitely an "boosted" Dark Belfry novel, and not needed as part of the main sequence.

Many people agonise over whether they should read this book later completing the other vii, or in its chronological sequence betwixt books 4 and v. I'm currently on my sixth trip through the books, and this is the first fourth dimension I've read Wind between books 4 and 5, and I acknowledge it fits at that place uncommonly well. Nevertheless, it is far from essential to the overall story, and if this is your first fourth dimension reading then I wouldn't fuss too much about this. Slot it in betwixt books 4 and five if y'all want a more leisurely journey, or else save it until afterward. I'd be inclined to practise the latter.

FIRST RECOMMENDATION

So far I've but mentioned 3 additional novels, and I recall this is a pretty solid reading order for a first go at The Dark Tower.

As I said, you may want to move Insomnia up before The Gunslinger, keeping it equally pre-reading forth with The Stand up and 'Salem'due south Lot. All the other tie-in books can happily be read after completing the primary sequence of books. However, for those who really want to break upward their journey through the Tower novels, here are the next most of import ones to include.

five – Hearts in Atlantis

Hearts in Atlantis is a collection of interconnected stories, and the only existent necktie-in here is with the showtime of these stories, titled Depression Men in Yellow Coats. This is also by far the longest of the stories, and then tin can easily exist read by itself for those simply interested in the Tower. Nonetheless, the entire collection is a story in itself, and a wonderful one at that.

Let me be clear: I admireHearts in Atlantis!

So I would recommend reading the entire drove. It slots in nicely between books 6 and 7.

half-dozen – Everything's Eventual (short story)

Everything'southward Eventual, the short story from the collection of the same name, is a dainty piddling read that fits betwixt books 6 and 7. Certainly non essential reading on your way through the Tower novels, but a great yarn if you lot're wanting to actually infinite out the Tower story.

7 – The Talisman / Black Firm

These 2 novels were written years apart, only they are continued:Black Firm is a sequel toThe Talisman.

I discover it difficult to recommend these 2 books in a Tower read-through. The Talisman has potent themes similar to The Dark Belfry, and is certainly connected to the Tower. Many love this book, and I admit I similar it quite a lot. Black House on the other manus has explicit tie-ins to The Night Tower. However, it has a very different feel toThe Talisman, and I really didn't enjoy this one much (other than seeing the Tower connections).

I'd strongly propose reading these after completing the master Tower books. However, if yous're going to include these in your read through so information technology doesn't really matter besides much when y'all read them. Just readThe Talisman beforeBlackness House.

8 – The Gunslinger 1982 vs 2003 editions

Stephen Rex started writing The Gunslinger in 1970. It was first published in a magazine in the late 1970's, and so every bit a volume in 1982. It took Male monarch until 2004 to finish the main story, 34 years after he began information technology, at which time he went back and revised and re-published The Gunslinger in 2003, to make it fit better with the story that eventually played out.

Both versions have their charm. I recommend reading the original version of the volume to start with, which is a lot grittier than the revised version. Then go dorsum and read the revised edition after completing the chief books.

nine – Everything Else

Seriously, all the other books in the list are very much peripherally related to The Dark Tower, or (in the case of The Little Sisters of Eluria) are great niggling Dark Tower stories that don't add together anything to the main sequence even though they are directly related. Publishing gild will do nicely. Many of these are cracking tales and deserve to exist read, so do get to them.

COMPLETIST'S RECOMMENDATION

So, pulling all of that together, I would recommend the following list to go the complete Nighttime Belfry experience.

I retrieve this would be a very satisfying read, which would even so requite lots of continuity to the master Belfry books.

Special mention – Duma Primal

I've not listed Duma Key in this list, as the Night Tower necktie-ins are extremely peripheral at all-time, and non-existent at worst! Notwithstanding, to me they are subtle yet compelling – like the entire novel Duma Key.

Duma Primal is one of my absolute favourites of King's works. if yous're taking a break from your Tower reading and then I recommend this 1 be near the top of your "other King" reading lists. Who knows … yous may discover (or invent) the Tower references I did besides!

Long days and pleasant nights,

Chris

What Order Should I Read the Dark Tower

Source: https://chartingthetower.wordpress.com/2020/06/17/extended-dark-tower-reading-order/

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