Need some preparation for a purchase...

[JRM]

I've heard a lot about this series, both good and bad, but I consider the "bad" reviews for the most part to be from people who were unprepared for the books (such as a friend of mine). It's my understanding that there are a handful of Stephen King books that are somehow connected to this series. Can anyone tell me which books those are (I've heard "Insomnia" was one of them after I read it...wasn't a big fan of that particular novel), and the order in which you recommend me reading them? Thank you.

By the way, I'd also appreciate comments on the series as a whole (with no spoilers, of course); I've never dove into a book series like this.

[Moderator]

There are connections, large and small, in nearly all of his work but the major ones can be found on the main site in the Dark Tower Connections section. You can still read the series without having read them, but doing so provides a richer experience especially if you do not have any familiarity with the plots of the connected stories.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

IMO The Dark Tower is the greatest work in the history of literature, so I'm a bit biased!

Enjoy the amazing journey (buy The Drawing of the Three at the same time as The Gunslinger).

Long days and pleasant nights

[thymeoperator]

i just finished 'the gunslinger' last night and have to say that having read 'the talisman' made it make a lot more sense than i imagine it would have done otherwise, and also i'm glad i'd already read 'IT' because it made the ending of 'the gunslinger' extremely exciting.

[CruelPuppet]

There are lots of little references here and there throughout King's books, but here are some of the more major ones...
-There's a big reference to The Stand in the 4th Tower book, Wizard and Glass, so you may want to read it before you start the 4th book. Also, a major character in The Stand recurs throughout the Tower series.
-A major character from Salem's Lot is introduced in the 5th book, Wolves of the Calla, so you may want to read that before you get that far.
-I haven't read it yet, but I believe a character from Hearts in Atlantis is in I think the 7th Tower book.
-I'm in the middle of Insomnia now, and I'm mostly enjoying it. I think the 7th Tower book would have been more satisfying if I'd read Insomnia first, but since you didn't like it maybe it won't make a difference.
-And then in Everything's Eventual there's a short story about Roland called Little Sisters of Eluria which takes place before The Gunslinger, but I think should be read afterward, since it was written afterward and also I think The Gunslinger should be your first introduction to Roland.

I'm sure there are more connections, but these are the biggest ones I can think of.

and also i'm glad i'd already read 'IT' because it made the ending of 'the gunslinger' extremely exciting

Really? Why?? I read them both but I forget. (Maybe you can PM so as not to spoil it.)

[kutchek]

You'll want to also read Talisman and Black House. But you don't need to read anything before you start. But you might want to read them in between the series. That makes it kinda cool to compare. After youre done with Dark Tower, go read a short story called the Little Sisters of Eluria (it's best to wait until at least book 4 to read this story).

[morganelafee]

i've read Salem's lot and Hearts in Atlantis. in my french version of the seventh book, at the end, there's a list of book that are related to the DT.

[OneEyedNick]

What really got me interested in that other world that Sk created was the barren landscape stripped of all illusions of civiliation and refinement, the raw beauty that permeates the story.
All you have to do is read the opening sentence of the Gunslinger and you're well on your way: "the man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed."

[Chelle71]

I loved the Dark Tower series. It is hard to get into though, reading the Talisman will help. It is very worth it though and so amazing how it conects all SKs books....buy it for sure!