The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King

Who has read these awesome books? After reading the first two (of seven) i was hooked. I continued to read the rest non-stop. To me, they were hands-down the best book series I've read, even surpassing LotR. What do you all think?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I read The Last Gunslinger, and it was my favorite book to date. I also got about 1/3 through the second, but I got a computer and then reading was secondary. =/

I'll probably pick it back up when I'm done reading Asimov's robot series.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah, the more you read the more crazy it gets. They kind of start like a western, but they end up fantasy/horror.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I've always wanted to start this series. A friend read them and it pretty much ruined his life since would forego class and even sleep to get them done.

How ya doing, buddy?

I bought the first four books just because the series seems very interesting, but I still haven't read them yet. I may just buy the other three books and just read the series all in one go one day, but with school coming up in about a month, I doubt I would finish in time. I'll probably wait until next summer to do something like that.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I think it's a pretty cool series. There's a lot of good homage to other books, movies, and stuff in there. There are some cool connections to other Stephen King books, too. I found that all very interesting. My favorite books were The Drawing of the Three and Wizard and Glass.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Just moved so its been awhile since I could post, so to see this particular subject excites me. Before I get into the Dark Tower series, if you will allow me to digress for moment it would be appreciated. I, like everyone in the late seventies and eighties knew who Steven King was but never "really" read him. After pursuing writing and filmmaking for years, I truly embraced it around "99" "00". At this time I decided to stop looking at film and started looking at literature. Not just the classics but contemparary as well. Of course this lead me to King. In King I found many of the same themes I was exploring, it all clicked. Upon picking up what was to be King's magnum opus "The Dark Tower" that since of "clicking" not only continued but overtook me. King was doing what I've always wanted to do and that is, blend genres. At this point I am some what remiss to continue without heading into extreme spoiler territory. But needless to say whether or not Stephen King ultimately succeeded with this saga. He still manged to blend different genres successfully. I would love to continue my return to these forums by finding away to discuss this particullar opus thourohgly.

FELIPE NO

I haven't managed to read these yet as I was handed a box of Dean Koontz books a while back to read and haven't managed to get back to the good old Stephen King goodness (although Dreamcatcher was awful IMO). But like Jochie said there are homages to his other books, some of which are Insomnia, The Talisman and Black House (both cowritten by Peter Straub). These three mention the Dark Tower or related mythology in some form or other and so I'm very eagre to read the series proper.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I don't know why anyone liked Wizard & Glass. I found it dull, boring, and wanted to hear none of the dramatics about Roland's past. Who cares. Your girlfriend

Spoiler:

got burned at the stake alive. Thanks Rhea.

My favorites were probably The Wastelands (BLAINE <3) and Song of Susannah. I thought the ending of The Dark Tower (VII) was fucking ridiculous, but I guess it's the only way to have ended such a series.

I am a little critical of some of King's red herrings with the series though. You can tell it was his magnum opus and was written over the course of his entire career. I think he forgot some of the more intimate details of things he had written in the past. It's a forgiveable kind of fuck-up, though. I don't mind that he

Spoiler:

called upon a pretty inconsequential succubus who later morphed into a male demon who fucked Susannah, thus bearing offspring of ULTIMATE PROPORTIONS, who later turns out to be a complete flop

Brady (or anyone else), whats this about a "Last Gunslinger" book. Is it, like, one of those guides? Because those are pretty icky in my opinion.

Overall, though - once you pick up The Gunslinger and you read through it, you are really tempted (and should be encouraged) to move onward through the series. By the time you hit the end of the second book, you'll be hooked.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I love the dark tower series. Its one of the most interesting fantasy series to date for me. And I actually liked Wizard and Glass but then again I've always been a sucker for those kind of tragic pasts stories.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Sassafrass

Spoiler:

... a male demon who fucked Susannah, thus bearing offspring of ULTIMATE PROPORTIONS, who later turns out to be a complete flop

Spoiler:

I thought spider baby was supposed to be It, which automatically made it cool in my opinion. Then I got confused by what's-his-face who takes them into his house and then tries to eat them, right before they reach the Dark Tower. You know, the thing that had that other what's-his-face kid who draws shit locked in a cage. I thought that thing seemed like It, too. Maybe there are many It's?

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Originally Posted by Jochie

Spoiler:

I thought spider baby was supposed to be It, which automatically made it cool in my opinion. Then I got confused by what's-his-face who takes them into his house and then tries to eat them, right before they reach the Dark Tower. You know, the thing that had that other what's-his-face kid who draws shit locked in a cage. I thought that thing seemed like It, too. Maybe there are many It's?

Spoiler:

The baby spider was Roland's son. I think the It character was that guy who kept the artist locked up in his cellar. The one in The Dark Tower (VII). He was that clown dude.

I am pretty sure the Spider Kid wasn't supposed to be It. He wasn't very badass, either. Neither was Randall Flagg. SO EASILY CRUSHED. In fact, I was almost ALWAYS disappointed with how easily the bad guys fell. Hello, Crimson King. You're a weak lunatic.

Blaine is the most badass of everyone.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I honestly can't think of why this series is held in such high regard except for the characters.

I like it, sure, but that's not the same thing as saying that an amalgamation of pop culture references is the best story I've read in months. Frankly I'm at a loss as to why King gets so much attention if not for his characterization.

But as I said, I like it. Wolves was definitely a slump for me, having seen the Seven Samurai, and I was having trouble picking up where I had left off with Wizard & Glass. A lot of things seemed much too convenient, deus ex machina-esque, or "as Ka wills," you might say. Either way, I think it picked up a lot with Song of Susannah. It reads more like a thriller, which is what I enjoy most, and there's a lot less of the convenient little happenings.

I know, you can try to convince me about convenience by telling me that King is writing about

Spoiler:

the possibility that their worlds are only stories that the character, King, has made up.

It still doesn't serve to keep me engrossed in the story. It only makes me more aware that I am reading someone else's fiction. I really hate it when I am reminded of that.

I haven't read the final book yet, because it hasn't come out in paperback, but I fully expect that nothing can live up to the standards King has set for himself with this series. Expectations are sure to be disappointed.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Skexis

I haven't read the final book yet, because it hasn't come out in paperback

Yes it has.

Though I share your apparent remorse for the feeling of reading "someone else's fiction."

What also irked me was King's underlying need to insert himself into the story. I realize he tends to do that a lot, even with his TV series and movies. I understand that this was his magnum opus and all and he felt apart of it all, but really.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I love this series. Just finished Song of Susannah, which was excellent. Going to start the last book tomorrow. I don't really think it was necessary for King to insert himself into the story, but it was pretty damn entertaining and as tastefully done as something so self-indulgent can be. My favorite book is probably The Waste Lands. Gasher and Lud ftw.

Wizard and Glass is probably my least favorite, but I still enjoyed it. Oh, except for

Spoiler:

Rhea of the Coos exploring Susan Delgado's body. Sick, dude.

FELIPE NO

I finished the first one recently, but I've been caught up in summer reading for next semester.
It's okay -- although his style is something I admire, I don't enjoy reading through a book where I don't know anything about anything.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Sassafrass

Spoiler:

In fact, I was almost ALWAYS disappointed with how easily the bad guys fell.

Oh, totally. I think the entire series can probably be similarly summed up. Lots of build-up and interconnectedness, but not so much pay-off or significant meaningfulness. Is 'meaningfulness' a word yet? Yet.

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Originally Posted by Sassafrass

Yes it has.

Though I share your apparent remorse for the feeling of reading "someone else's fiction."

What also irked me was King's underlying need to insert himself into the story. I realize he tends to do that a lot, even with his TV series and movies. I understand that this was his magnum opus and all and he felt apart of it all, but really.

By paperback, I mean the small, 7.95 version. I don't have room enough on my bookshelf for that monstrosity.

There's nowhere I can't reach.