Should all those other books be read before starting this series?

[tahoepuppy]

I noticed that one of the categories is The Dark Tower. I want to start reading this series sometime this year. I have read quite a few of the books listed. I am not even close to having that whole list read. Is it necessary to read them all before I start?

[mogil]

The Dark Tower Series can be read at anytime. I was a fan of SK's other works long before I read The Dark Tower Series - but you will need to read the DT series in order.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

No, definitely not, just pick up The Gunslinger and Drawing of the Three and dive in to the greatest journey in world literature IMO.

Enjoy (you will).

Long days and pleasant nights

[Princemeister]

As long as you read the dark tower series in the correct order then it's all good my friend. The Gunslinger was my first read of Mr Kings, (and in fact the 1st fiction I'd read since I left school 13 years ago) and the rest of the series was my 2nd to 7th. They were what sparked my love for his books and yesterday i finished my 23rd book of Sai Kings. Anyway, i seem to have gone of the tracks a little a bit.
Any books that i've come across since which have cross over parts with the DT series wouldn't have added or taken away from the experience of what was a fantastic one for me. If anything they feel they've added to the non DT books IMO. After all thanks to Mr's Roland and King i know have his other books to look forward to.
Read on my friend- and prepare to spend a small but very worthwhile portion of your life on a 7 part epic adventure!
Long days and pleasant nights indeed!

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

But -- I always end up being the one to remind people of this -- you REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY should not read any threads here in the forum on the subject of DT series before you've read the books. Really.

We all float down here.

[tashariddle]

I noticed that one of the categories is The Dark Tower. I want to start reading this series sometime this year. I have read quite a few of the books listed. I am not even close to having that whole list read. Is it necessary to read them all before I start?

the first time i read the DT series i hadn't read even a small portion of the books listed, and i also started reading The Gunslinger hesitantly because it looked nothing like any of the other books i had read, but i will tell you, i was hooked!! it's definitely not a neccessity to read all of the books listed but it does add to the "aha!" moments when you pick something up from another novel. since my first reading of the DT series i have gone back through and reread all the books listed, and noticed a LOT of things that i had never noticed before! it just shows how much of a genius sai King actually is when you realize how the books are all connected somehow. my advice to you, START READING THE DARK TOWER SERIES ASAP!! it is the best thing you will ever read say thankya!!

[Elemeno P]

But -- I always end up being the one to remind people of this -- you REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY should not read any threads here in the forum on the subject of DT series before you've read the books. Really.

We all float down here.

Totally agree with Lencho.....

Hard for me to say this, but I am so glad I didn't find the MB till around I started book V.

Just reading some of the titles of posts give away little nuggets, not big spoilers (although I did run into some of those), but just enough to anticipate things.

I loved coming back though after I finished a book and reading everyone's input.

It was definitely a love / hate relationship during the journey.

[Princemeister]

i never enter any of the message boards until i have read the book in question just in case. I'm currently reading the bachmann books and am dubious to even click on rage or the long walk threads in case theres mention of any thing in road work or running man which i haven't read

[jacobtlong]

I can't imagine not reading the DT series in the correct order. I mean, wouldn't it be just plain weird? Of course having read the series I can say that. Some books in a series don't have to be read in any order, but that cannot be said of the DT.

And I am so glad that I didn't peak at any of the DT threads while I was making my journey. I stopped myself, but the temptation was always there.