The Dark Tower
by Stephen King · first published 1990
33% recommend54% neutral12% critical
Why HN recommends it
Sprawling fantasy epic that begins as a western with The Gunslinger, grows into multiverse sci-fi, and ties together many of King's other books. Fans love the immersive quest and the strong early volumes.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"Roland's ka-tet remains intact, though scattered over wheres and whens. Susannah-Mia has been carried from the Dixie Pig (in the summer of 1999) to a birthing room - really a chamber of horrors - in Thunderclap's Fedic; Jake and Father Callahan, with Oy between them, have entered the restaurant on Lex and Sixty-first with weapons drawn, little knowing how numerous and noxious are their foes. Roland and Eddie are with John Cullum in Maine, in 1977, looking for the site on Turtleback Lane where "walk-ins" have been often seen. They want desperately to get back to the others, to Susannah especia
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…well. I still think of the hair jacket when I come across someone with a smelly jacket and it never fails to crack me up. My recommendation for epic fantasy that is a bit different and unexpected: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Some very powerful stories in there. The first book is pretty short so it is a good way to try it out. Though I think it hooks from the very start.
on “The Animal Is Tired” ↗…other folks on HN would have more. I'll start with a few I think would be wonderful as TV adaptations and look forward to hearing other suggestions: 1. The Foreigner series by C.J. Cherryh 2. The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King 3. The Gateway Series by Fred Pohl What novels/stories/series would you like to see turned into TV treatments? [0] https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/03/ars-plea-someone-make-this-into-a-series/
on “Ask HN: What Stories Would Make for a Good TV Adaptation?” ↗I've been watching a lot of Thomas with my kid and yea it seems to somehow be a nightmare dystopia underneath even though nobody can explain why. Stephen King's The Dark Tower spoiler below: Stephen King's masterpiece "The Dark Tower" series has an intelligent AI in the third book called "Blain the Train". The dark tower series starts off as a kind of medieval Western in some…
on “Why are people modding Thomas the Tank Engine into video games?” ↗…and evil: Nietzsche * The Temple of the Golden Pavilion: Yukio Mishima * Steppenwolf: Hermann Hese * Library of babel: Borges * The Brain: David Eagleman * The Magical Mountain: Thomas Mann * The Dark Tower: Stephen King(actually tons of King books - I am a bit of a fanboy) * Factfulness: Hans Rosling * William Blake: selected poetry * Dostoevsky: The idiot * Captain Nemo: Jules Verne * The Hitchhiker's…
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗Ever heard of The Dark Tower series, by Stephen King? I actually started it about 6 years ago, but recently picked up The Wolves of Calla (the fifth book). The Gunslinger (first in the series) is awesome.
on “Ask HN: Best non-technical book you've read lately? ” ↗…do if you could introduce technology into a medieval world. Deverry Cycle by Katherine Kerr - Rebirth cycles, immortal main character watches and guides several characters through multiple lifetimes. Dark Tower series by Stephen King - Great story, ties into almost all of SK's books at some point. Earthsea by Ursula le Guin - A classic story, epic for sure. Scavenger Trilogy by K.J Parker - Dark and mysterious.…
on “Entitlement issues (2009)” ↗The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed Stephen King has written about how the Dark Tower was written, and it came from the opening line. A great opening line is an inspiration for the rest of the story, it sets the scene.
on “What makes a great opening line?” ↗Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger is among my favorites of all time. The Dark Tower series (Stephen King) is one of the most amazing tales I have ever had the pleasure to become immersed in. There are plenty more, but the key thing is just to READ. Read everything you can get your…
on “What books would you recommend reading? Why?” ↗Nothing 'exotic' really, my all time favourites are Asimov, Heinlein, Philip K.Dick, Stephen King (particularly dark tower series), Arthur C. Clarke, Orson Scott Card (Ender series), William Gibson, Douglas Adams. I was recently coaxed into reading the 'Kingkiller chronicles' by Patrick Rothfuss, I was sceptical thinking…
on “Ask HN: What literature do you read?” ↗…points that he's often criticized (in a snickering sort of way in literary circles, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King#Critical_response). As an example I thought the first two volumes of the Dark Tower series, especially the first one was great, but the volumes got thicker and thicker later. However, just now I found a comparison of approx. word counts of the series with other epic series and his books…
on “Stephen King: “Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully”” ↗…recaps were so compelling I couldn't stop. If you want to have a vicarious book club, and really examine a work in depth, check it out. (They also have an ongoing podcast discussing Stephen King's The Dark Tower series with a similar level of analysis and detail. An excellent way of examining good writing.)
on “What makes a character memorable?” ↗Thank you for this. I've recently been enjoying the Kingslingers podcast (in-depth read-through of Stephen King's Dark Tower series), and have been actively looking for other read-along analyses of good books. At least for Kingslingers, it has significantly increased my enjoyment of the series.
on “Gene Wolfe Turned Science Fiction into High Art (2019)” ↗…From Hell by Alan Moore - V for Vendetta by Alan Moore - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen series by Alan Moore - Dune by Frank Herbert - Immortality by Milan Kundera - first 3 books in the The Dark Tower series by Stephen King - The Dark Half by Stephen King - The Sandman series by Neil Gaiman - Coalescent by Stephen Baxter - 1984 by George Orwell - Animal Farm by George Orwell - Brave New World…
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗Fiction: 1. First Law cycle by Joe Abercrombie - too much violence for me is first books, but last trilogy is quite interesting. 2. Dark Tower by Stephen King - do I need to say more? 3. Old Man's War by John Scalzi, like this guy writing. 4. The Farseer trilogy and The Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb - pure pleasure. 5. Shades of…
on “Ask HN: Books you read in 2023 and recommend for 2024” ↗The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Totally changed how I view literature and life. Made me believe in magic again.
on “Ask HN: What book bit, stung and shook you deeply?” ↗