Dark Tower (and connected books) - Reading Order?

[adrianmarley]

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but is there a preferred reading order for The Dark Tower books and the books connected to it? I know that the DT series has connections to other SK books like 'Salem's Lot, Hearts in Atlantis, Insomnia etc.

If an enterprising young fellow, such as myself, were about to embark on a read of said Dark Tower, which books should he read and in which order?

Thanks in advance,
Adrian.

[Cowboy]

Comes down to a matter of opinion. I believe that as long as you read the DT series in order, it will all work out with the other books that are related.

[Eva9]

I would suggest reading Hearts in Atlantis and Salem's Lot before you get to the 5th book in the series, Wolves of the Calla.

[RandomMan]

IMO!!!
Eyes of the Dragon (just to set the mood)
Gunslinger
Drawing of the Three
Wastelands
Wizards and Glass
Salems Lot
Wolves of the Callah
Song of Susannah
Hearts in Altlantis
Dark Tower

[bopropadop]

I would suggest reading Hearts in Atlantis and Salem's Lot before you get to the 5th book in the series, Wolves of the Calla.

I agree. Especially Salem's Lot...

[Ben E Gas]

The dark tower is the first series of books that I read of King's. I was fine, not having read any of his other books. But I did stop before reading wolves of the Calla and I read the short story "the little sisters of Eluria". I thought it fit in nicely there and someone else recommended I read it. It is a story involving Rolands adventures of the past. Read "Everythings eventual" also another short story that you'll be glad you read before finishing the Dark Tower series. Both short stories are found in the collection "everything's eventual'.

[BTRNYC]

Hello! This was a topic in the "Bred any good rooks lately" section a few months ago. I started reading SK a year ago and had the same question you have. I can't take credit for the list, I'm trying to quote the list but if it does not quote (I'm not that great on the mb yet) it's from "devious 1". I am currently on The Talisman and cannot wait to start The Gunslinger soon!


hmmm, reading Sam's post, i thought i'd put down the order i feel works best, revolving around the DT saga, so you can have the best DT experience imo.

to start off with, as he said, read his some of his earlier books first. his order works well, but i'd say read Carrie, The Shining, Firestarter, Christine, then The Green Mile.

now it's time for DT, so here's the order it works best in imo:
1. The Stand Uncut
2. Eyes Of The Dragon
3. The Talisman
4. The Gunslinger Revised
5. The Drawing Of The Three
6. IT
7. The Waste Lands
8. The Mist (adds a dimension to W&G's thinny)
9. Wizard And Glass
10. Insomnia
11. Hearts In Atlantis
12. Black House
13. Bag Of Bones
14. 'Salem's Lot
15. Wolves Of The Calla
16. Song Of Susannah
17. The Dark Tower

anything else after that you can read in any order. there are other books related to the Tower, such as Desperation and The Regulators, but they don't really add anything to the story that you need to know so you don't need to read them with the series. the next time i tackle the Tower, i'm going to do it in this order with all the books, i've never actually done that before, but i want to get the full experience from the series. it's a shame tho that it won't all be new to me, i miss that feeling of wonder and amazement of reading a series like this for the first time.

[JohnDalglish]

I would suggest reading Hearts in Atlantis and Salem's Lot before you get to the 5th book in the series, Wolves of the Calla.

Hi,

AWES (And What Eva Said).

But The Stand before Wizard and Glass might be a good idea too, and I'd leave the rest of the connected books until you'd finished DT IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Cognac]

that is all good list, but for the full effect of mr. king, start with carrie and go from there.

[adrianmarley]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, and sorry for repeating a question that was already asked in another section.

[Sandman]

Personally I would read the Dark Tower 1-7 first and get the whole story. then thru reading them you will get an idea as to what other books you would like to read first. that is what I did at least. you can enjoy the tower on its own with out reading the other books. but I personally feel you will enjoy reading the other books after you know what happens in the tower.

[LeeAlexander]

My personnel opinion would be:
The Gunslinger
Little Sisters of Eluria
The Drawing of the Three
Wastelands
The Stand
Wizard and Glass
Salem's Lot
Wolves of the Calla
Hearts in Atlantis
Song of Susannah
Insomnia
The Dark Tower

However, Eyes of the Dragon, The Talisman, Black House, The Mist, IT, Desperation and The Regulators, From a Buick 8, and many of SK's short story collections would also be suggested reading

[tigerlilly2k]

DUDE! Ya GOTTA read DT IN ORDER or the story wont flow right! After all, it IS just ONE long story...reading it out of order would be a genuine mistake, IMO. Plus, it gets pretty complicated and it would be easy to get lost.
The rest...in any order is ok.