The Dark Tower (series)
A gunslinger's quest through a crumbling multiverse.
The Dark Tower is a series of eight novels, one novella, and a children's book by American author Stephen King. It blends dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror, and Western genres, following a gunslinger on a quest toward a tower that is both physical and metaphorical. The series expands King's multiverse, linking many of his other works.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Stephen King
- Illustrator
- Michael Whelan
- Phil Hale
- Ned Dameron
- Dave McKean
- Jae Lee
- Bernie Wrightson
- Darrel Anderson
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Genre
- Dark fantasy
- science fiction
- horror
- Western
Facts from the source article.
Overview
Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger and descendant of Arthur Eld, seeks the Dark Tower, the nexus of all universes. His world, Mid-World, is a feudal society with Old West technology and lingering magic, but it is decaying: nations have fallen, regions vanish, and time flows erratically. Roland's age and motives are initially unclear. The series is interwoven with many of King's other books, including It, The Stand, 'Salem's Lot, Insomnia, Hearts in Atlantis, Black House, The Eyes of the Dragon, The Shining, and Cell. The TV miniseries Kingdom Hospital may share the same universe as books 4 and 5, as Nozz-A-La is the most popular beverage there. Roland's ka-tet includes Jake Chambers, Eddie Dean, Susannah Dean, and the billy-bumbler Oy. His enemies include the Man in Black, Mordred, and the Crimson King.
Main series
Though the seventh volume was published in 2004, King later described the series as unfinished, calling the seven books sections of one über-novel. In 2009 he mentioned a new short story idea that grew into a novel, and in 2011 he announced The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole, published on April 24, 2012, set between books 4 and 5. Each original hardcover contained full-color illustrations by a single illustrator; trade paperbacks usually preserve them, except for books I and IV. Pocket-sized reprints have only black-and-white chapter or section header illustrations.
Reception
Bill Sheehan of The Washington Post called the series a humane, visionary epic and a true magnum opus, praising its pure storytelling and tragic moments. Erica Noonan of the Boston Globe noted its fascinating world but said its epic nature hinders accessibility. Allen Johnston of The New York Times was disappointed by the progression, admiring the absurdity and King's style but finding the author lacked finesse for the narrative games. Michael Berry of the San Francisco Chronicle deemed early installments a highfalutin hodgepodge but the ending a valediction that delivers. Joshua Rothman of The New Yorker praised the series as better and weirder than expected, recommending it to King fans.
Other media
Robin Furth published the two-volume Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance, an encyclopedia originally written for King's personal use. Bev Vincent wrote The Road to The Dark Tower and The Dark Tower Companion, which includes interviews and coverage of Marvel graphic novels; King endorsed these books. Charlie the Choo-Choo, a children's book by King under the pseudonym Beryl Evans, was adapted from The Waste Lands and illustrated by Ned Dameron. Marvel Comics published several Dark Tower arcs: The Gunslinger Born (first issue February 7, 2007), The Long Road Home (March 5, 2008), Treachery (September 10, 2008), a one-shot Sorcerer (April 15, 2009), Fall of Gilead (May 13, 2009), and Battle of Jericho Hill (December 3, 2009).
More in Works
Elsewhere in Stephen King
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