The Dark Tower series

[Hiromi]

Thanks!
Any other books I should definately read before Dark Tower?
Also, can you say anything to my other questions?

Not really, Tik's list above works pretty well but Salem's Lot is really the only one that gets spoiled if you don't read it first.

[UltimateMarvel Dude]

Not really, Tik's list above works pretty well but Salem's Lot is really the only one that gets spoiled if you don't read it first.

Thanks.

Could you tell me which release of the books you have? Also does it include all colored illustrations?

[Chiasm]

Seems like you forgot to include a link. Did you maybe meant to show this one or this one?

Oops. Yeah the second one.

http://www.stephenking.com/DarkTower/connections.html

[Hiromi]

I read them all on Kindle(I was in Afghanistan at the time, so paper books wouldn't have been practical), which had black and white illustrations.

[Chiasm]

I just started 11/23/63. Does it have any connections? I'm already assuming that the time portal is some sort of thinnie or something like that.

[dan bailey]

Hmmmm. Interesting. I've been reading King for something like 32 1/2 years now, & I've never before heard (mainly because I haven't been paying attention) that there were any echoes between the Dark Tower stuff & other parts of his oeuvre. I read the first Dark Tower book back in '89 but wasn't impressed; I've got the next 2 or 3 but haven't cracked their covers. Other than Lisey's Story & Duma Key (which I just haven't gotten around to) & bits & pieces of Just After Sunset, I think they're the only things of his I haven't read.

[Expletive Deleted]

It's like Asimov's late career push to link up his Robots, Empire, and Foundation series. If you're obsessive, the connections are all there. If you're not, they mostly read fine on their own. Ninety-five percent of them are just glancing references or Easter Eggs.

The only bit that bothers me is the 2003 revision of The Gunslinger to bring it in line with later books in the series. The book was fine as is, and arguably the best book in the series.

[Chiasm]

Hmmmm. Interesting. I've been reading King for something like 32 1/2 years now, & I've never before heard (mainly because I haven't been paying attention) that there were any echoes between the Dark Tower stuff & other parts of his oeuvre. I read the first Dark Tower book back in '89 but wasn't impressed; I've got the next 2 or 3 but haven't cracked their covers. Other than Lisey's Story & Duma Key (which I just haven't gotten around to) & bits & pieces of Just After Sunset, I think they're the only things of his I haven't read.

I'm assuming you didn't read Insomnia or Black House then because those two books are so deeply connected that its impossible to miss. Black House especially since it directly refers to Roland and his crew many times.

[Captain Clarkie]

Other than Lisey's Story & Duma Key (which I just haven't gotten around to) & bits & pieces of Just After Sunset, I think they're the only things of his I haven't read.

You should read Lisey's Story, it's possibly my favourite King book. It's a beautiful tale and a great examination of grief and loss.

[Meehl]

There are various good reasons to skip all the non-DT books, even the ones that seem important:

Eyes of the Dragon. The characters were said to show up in DT series but never did.

The Stand. Just because Flagg is in the book doesn't really make it necessary to read to enjoy the DT series. You could go into Book 4 without knowing who Flagg is and be fine. That being said, the Stand is my favorite thing he wrote.

Talisman/Black House/Hearts in Atlantis. Although obviously part of the DT world, they're not necessary information for Roland's quest. I guess it helps explain what exactly the big bad is doing and how he's doing it, but that knowledge isn't necessary.

Salem's Lot. You could go into Book 5 without knowing the background of the priest, as suggested by another poster.

Insomnia. It's perhaps better not to read Insomnia because the prophetic information about Patrick only partially came true, anyway. More exposition about the big bad but not necessary.

Also, there's a new DT book advertised on Amazon. I guess it's book 4.5?

[Lee Kaye]

It's like Asimov's late career push to link up his Robots, Empire, and Foundation series. If you're obsessive, the connections are all there. If you're not, they mostly read fine on their own. Ninety-five percent of them are just glancing references or Easter Eggs.

I still remember reading the end of one of those books that tied nearly everything together and going woooooooo. And that was 20 years ago.

[insidemyhead]

I just started 11/23/63. Does it have any connections? I'm already assuming that the time portal is some sort of thinnie or something like that.

Perhaps you've finished it by now, but yes it definitely has some small connections (a Takuro Spirit & the number 19 all over the place are a couple examples) as well as possibly one really big connection near the very end that I won't spoil here.

[dan bailey]

I'm assuming you didn't read Insomnia or Black House then because those two books are so deeply connected that its impossible to miss. Black House especially since it directly refers to Roland and his crew many times.

Insomnia I read, though I don't recall anything being as obvious as you say ... though I don't doubt that you're correct.

Black House I haven't read because I never made it more than a couple of dozen pages into The Talisman.

[Chiasm]

Insomnia I read, though I don't recall anything being as obvious as you say ... though I don't doubt that you're correct.

Black House I haven't read because I never made it more than a couple of dozen pages into The Talisman.

I haven't read Insomnia in a while so I can't remember specifics other than the book is largely about the Crimson King and what he's doing and why he must be stopped.

Talisman gets much better once you get past the beginning.

[cphilli]

Perhaps you've finished it by now, but yes it definitely has some small connections (a Takuro Spirit & the number 19 all over the place are a couple examples) as well as possibly one really big connection near the very end that I won't spoil here.

Also a couple of characters from IT

Speaking of the ending (no spoilers I promise) but I think 11/22/63 has one of the best and emotional endings of a King book.

New Tower book comes out this month. Part of me is worried that the story shouldn't be added to but mostly I'm just excited to see these characters again.