Need help with Dark Tower.

[tim0122]

I have some questions about the Dark Tower series.

1. What universe does this take place in? Is it post The Stand (I haven't read The Stand yet so I don't know if this is possible)? Doesn't it take place in The Eyes of the Dragon world?

2. I know The Dark Tower series references a lot of King's other work. I've seen some of the thing it's references posted on here before (Insomnia, Pet Semetary, etc...). I just would like to know all the books and short stories the Dark tower references and what order to read them in conjunction with the Dark Tower series.

Help would be appreciated. :smile2:

[Moderator]

It takes place in a different Universe but the characters also, on occasion, travel between Universes.

For the connections to other titles, go to the Connections page on the Dark Tower site (http://www.stephenking.com/darktower/connections.html).

[kono]

There is no precise order that they would need to be read in. The ones that are most closely connected are Salem's Lot, The Stand, It, Eyes of the Dragon, Insomnia, Everything's Eventual, and Hearts in Atlantis. All other connections will be just as significant if read after the series than if read before.

[deltadog32]

There are many references to the Tower in many books and you need only read at your leisure. You don't have to read them in any order. It does shed new light on things that happen in the Dark Tower series. The place on the Dark Tower connections page is very helpful. I have gone back and read most of the stories with ties. It opens up new portions of the story you didn't think were there.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

And let's not forget Black House. Which makes more sense if The Talisman is read first IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

[kisun]

Hi,

And let's not forget Black House. Which makes more sense if The Talisman is read first IMO.

Long days and pleasant nights

Of course :biggrin2:.

[amandacolene]

I have some questions about the Dark Tower series.

1. What universe does this take place in? Is it post The Stand (I haven't read The Stand yet so I don't know if this is possible)?

Actually, yes/no. In one of the books the Tet comes upon the aftermath of the superflu

[HorrorHero]

Actually, yes/no. In one of the books the Tet comes upon the aftermath of the superflu

Ah but the cars in the parking lot are of types that do not exists in this realm.

[marew1]

The Dark Tower books came after The Stand. You don't have to read these in a particular order but I did which I think helps clarifies this series.

[kono]

Ah but the cars in the parking lot are of types that do not exists in this realm.

But this is all after they have entered into another realm.

[devious1]

that is one of the more common reader mistakes throughout the Tower series. in W&G when they get to Topeka it appears to have been decimated by the same superflu from The Stand, so most readers believe they (Roland and his tet) are in the same world where The Stand took place. but it is not the same. there were no Takuro Spirits, no Nozz-ala cola, and certainly no Kansas City Monarchs baseball team in The Stand, all the product mentions are products from our world (and movies too, in the uncut version Larry goes to see a Nightmare On Elm Street movie). so the Topeka in W&G cannot be in the same world as The Stand. it appears to be another, alternate world where the plague had an effect.

[kisun]

The Dark Tower books came after The Stand. You don't have to read these in a particular order but I did which I think helps clarifies this series.

In the intro to Wolves, Sai King says that you should read the Cycle chronologically. I think it is necessary to read them in order to get the most of the experience.

[devious1]

well King was talking about the Tower books when he said that, he wasn't making reference to The Stand or any of his other works which is what marew1 is saying, you don't need to read The Stand before you read DT, you can read it before or after.

[kono]

that is one of the more common reader mistakes throughout the Tower series. in W&G when they get to Topeka it appears to have been decimated by the same superflu from The Stand, so most readers believe they (Roland and his tet) are in the same world where The Stand took place. but it is not the same. there were no Takuro Spirits, no Nozz-ala cola, and certainly no Kansas City Monarchs baseball team in The Stand, all the product mentions are products from our world (and movies too, in the uncut version Larry goes to see a Nightmare On Elm Street movie). so the Topeka in W&G cannot be in the same world as The Stand. it appears to be another, alternate world where the plague had an effect.

Yes, but the other thing to remember is that they have even travelled into another realm than they were in in book 3, so the rest of the series is not in the same realm as W&G. Roland's world is not even that similar to the world of The Stand.

[devious1]

Yes, but the other thing to remember is that they have even travelled into another realm than they were in in book 3, so the rest of the series is not in the same realm as W&G. Roland's world is not even that similar to the world of The Stand.well obviously they are in another realm from The Waste Lands. that is made very clear. but i believe this was the first instance we see in the series of the "multiple Americas," worlds that are like alternate worlds from the one we know (Keystone world). however a lot of people i've spoken to who have read the series believe that the Topeka in W&G is from the same world that the events of The Stand took place, when it is in fact not the same world at all.

and Roland's world isn't similar to The Stand at all, but it isn't supposed to be. Roland didn't come from America or any alternate America, so i'm not even sure what the point of you mentioning that was.

[kisun]

well King was talking about the Tower books when he said that, he wasn't making reference to The Stand or any of his other works which is what marew1 is saying, you don't need to read The Stand before you read DT, you can read it before or after.

OH! I gotcha! What has two thumbs and made a slip-up? This guy :biggrin2:!

[kono]

Roland didn't come from America or any alternate America, so i'm not even sure what the point of you mentioning that was.

I felt that the the discussion discussion originally came unclear responses to the question that was brought up by tim0122 and I felt that the clarification of that best helped to completely answer the question.


I have some questions about the Dark Tower series.

1. What universe does this take place in? Is it post The Stand (I haven't read The Stand yet so I don't know if this is possible)? Doesn't it take place in The Eyes of the Dragon world?

[Matticus]

I think Blaine traveled through many levels of the Tower and that Topeka was the Topeka of the Stand, after the superflu.

Remember: There were thinny's all around them on the turnpike.

They left via the Emerald Palace.

[Mistressoftheundead]

Blaine kicks ass! Hes so cool. LoL. I am also a fan of Oy and of course Roland. Of course the man in black (the ageless stranger) or walter is my favorite character.

Tick Tock was interesting but I didn't like his womanizing ways lol.

[HorrorHero]

But this is all after they have entered into another realm.

Yes but the comment was made was this a location in America after the super flu and the answer would be no. It is not the America that the stand takes place in (our America so to speak).

[bethmoorahpl]

You almost have to real all of his books to see all the connections. I know that's not terribly helpful right now, but there's no better way to explain it. They are all, absolutely connected. Sometimes, there's just little, tiny nothing little mentions that actually shed a lot of light on another story.

[chimpanity]

I really think reading them In a certain order or researching what books pertain to The Dark Tower and reading only thoes, kinda kills the fun... let the discovery be random and read what you can, when you can....

[karend3]

It is supposed to sound like post the Stand, but it is actually parallel to the Stand on another beam. They definitely do find stuff that seem post the Stand

[garykingfan]

the dark tower series can be read on its own without any reading up on other titles beforehand. it makes a nicer surprise then once you've read them when you read something else and a ddaark tower reference pops up. it's caught me a few times and all i can do to smile to myself.....problem is whe that happens i wanna start reading the series again. thats probably why i am on my third set of copies and why the other twwo wore out!!

[taipeidryad]

... there are other worlds than this ...
... time is only consistent if you watch it ...
in one of the 'wheres' and 'whens' of the tower , the super flu was mentioned , as was Salem's Lot , as was , as was , as was ...

[thewordisnineteen]

it's easier to read "wolves of the calla" after you've read Salem's lot, but you don't have to.

[genestang]

If you have read any number of Mr. Kings books you would understand that the cross reference to other books is normal and actually at this point expected. It was actually what tipped me off when I read books by Bachman before it became known that they were actually King. A friend told me to read a Bachman title because "it is as good if not better than King." I read it and told him it was Mr. King's work, he told me I was wrong, later he apologized.