I have not read or watched one thing on the Dark Tower, and I feel like I'm in that special spot of noobness that so many would kill for. This was perfect for where I'm at
@@truckerdad2396 I was just thinking the other day how the dark tower movie is the single most disappointing piece of cinema in the history of the world
I haven't read any of these books either, other than It. Only just started getting into stephen king, and I'm so happy to be a complete noob. Just finished Misery yesterday.
I read the Gunslinger years ago and was just about to jump back into the series thinking 7 books in a decent length like harry potter lol, Now i have a 23 TBR for one series Nice. 😆
Some on the list are short stories but those are in books of short stories. It helps if you understand how king thinks and writes, I'd even add the Dark Half to understand the King character in the Series. Firestarter and Carrie are Breakers. So is the psycic in Dead Zone. With Randal Flagg being an Advisor to the crazy President. Add those to Everything's Eventual Short story and hte Marvel comic about himmie the Breaker who could Teleport but was mentally retarded, he appears in Wizard in glass so the comic falls right after Wizard. He was ordered by God? the Tower? a voice to follow and help Roland. He was born with the ability to teleport but can't control it. While following Roland, young Roland he is captured by End World Tech and upgraded, like a cyborg, his teleport ability being greatly improved to include World jumping and be controlled, he has a chip in his head but is sitll, retarded. He is next seen as a Breaker. I think he only appears in wizard and dark tower but he might be in song. been a few years.
1. The Gunslinger (DT1) 1:12 2. The Drawing of the Three (DT2) 2:26 Detour I 3. The Stand 3:29 4. The Eyes of the Dragon 4:23 5. The Talisman 5:03 Back to Dark Tower 6. The Wastelands (DT3) 5:40 7. Wizard and Glass (DT4) 6:37 Detour II 8. Salem's Lot 8:04 9. The Mist 8:52 10. IT 9:38 11. Insomnia 10:49 12. Rose Madder 11:43 13. Desperation 12:23 14. The Regulators 12:53 15. Everything’s Eventual 13:26 16. The Little Sisters of Eluria 13:51 17. Hearts in Atlantis (Little men in yellow coats) 14:14 18. Black House 14:42 Dark Tower 19. The Wind Through the Keyhole (DT 4.5) 15:18 20. Wolves of the Calla (DT5) 15:54 21. Song of Susana (DT6) 16:27 22. The Dark Tower VII 17:04 Epilogue 23. The Gunslinger (DT1) 17:51
July of 2022 this video popped in my suggestions. Wanting to get into the DT series I decided to follow the journey you have laid out. I’m proud to say 8-9 months later I’m about to finish the final book. The Gunslinger was the only book of the 22 I had read beforehand. I got more out of this journey than I ever thought I would. Each story building off each other made me appreciate the series to an unbelievable degree. You’ve quite literally given me a path to experience something of such joy and appreciation. I just wanted to let you know how pleasing this was. Btw, of all the books, The Stand and Wizard and Glass were my favorites. My goodness they were so amazing.
@@amgoosehjonk8734 its fine. But i would read the Stand before going further. You might just want to reread gunslinger anyway later in the order i suggested.
While you're reading, pay a little attention to product names and trademarks in the series, King gives you clues as to whether the story elements are taking place in our universe or in a parallel subtly different one (cigarette, soda brand names, sports team names, names of gas station chains etc.)
Was literally just thinking the other day about starting the expanded Dark Towers series for the first time but wasn't sure exactly where to start, so this video came at the perfect time! I'll follow your guide and see how it goes!
I’m fairly proud of my Dark Tower editions, but your collection is next-level. I’m glad that those wonderful copies are owned by someone who really appreciates them.
I haven’t read a single King novel before, but when I found your video of you ranking every single king novel, I went to the library and immediately checked it out. So far I’m hooked!! I used to never go anywhere without a book in hand, but I slowly fell out of that. So, it’s amazing to reconnect with reading again! I don’t know when I’ll read the dark tower, but I know for sure it’s on my list!
1. DT1: The Gunslinger 2. DT2: The Drawing of the Three 3. The Stand - Randall Flagg 4. The Eyes of the Dragon 5. The Talisman 6. DT3: The Wastelands 7. DT4: Wizard and Glass 8. Salem's Lot 9. Mist 10. It 11. Insomnia 12. Rose Madder 13. Desperation 14. Regulators 15. Everything is Eventual 16. Little Sisters of Alluria 17. Hearts in Atlantis 18. Black House 19. DT4.5: The Wind through the Keyhole 20. DT5: Wolves of the Calla 21. DT6: Song of Susanna 22. DT7: The Dark Tower 23. DT1: The Gunslinger
Nice list !...as a constant reader since 1976, and an original DT junkie...this is definitely an extremely well thought out path. I was nodding in agreement but nearly cheered when you got to your thoughts on 4: quite frankly, I think people miss, entirely, what this series is about I'd they don't GET how integral, beautiful and IMPORTANT 4 is. When it comes to my all time favorite King, i have an extremely prejudiced soft spot for The Lot...but, truth be told, 4 may be his absolute best writing AND best storytelling ever. Great job, man...if some newbies follow this path along the beam, they will not be disappointed, sir !
Hi! I just discovered and subscribed to your channel as I’m a huge King fan. I don’t make RUclips videos but often times post my views on Facebook, including what may or may not be the full Dark Tower experience. When posting in a few Stephen King discussion groups I was given a lot of flak for recommending an order to a complete read through of The Tower. Your video was a refreshing view and to know I’m not the only one who sees a journey through The Tower is most rewarding when it includes everything. My list is not in the same order as yours and I include a few things you don’t, but I feel, with a few exceptions, King’s work is best in order of publication because of how characters are introduced and reappear at random in later works. I also highly recommend the revised version of The Gunslinger from 2003, which reads much better because King himself wrote that the original version was a young writer trying too hard to be important. He also said he removed hundreds of offensive adverbs. This is a copy and paste of a Facebook post from 2019, just my thoughts on a what constitutes a full reading of The Tower. There is the question of what makes for the full experience of The Dark Tower. For anyone who reads King, they know that the entire story of The Dark Tower is spread across quite a few more books than just the eight Tower novels. In fact, many important concepts and characters are first introduced in books that are not part of the main series (such as the Crimson King, the primary final antagonist, who first appears in Insomnia). So what should you read to cover the entire story and in what order? To be honest, the complete answer is to read everything, in order of publication. However, that's a lot of reading. Therefore, this is what I would consider The Dark Tower reading experience, in order: 1. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger - revised version from 2003 2. 'Salems Lot 3. The Stand - The Complete and Uncut Edition from 1990 4. The Mist - short novel collected in Skeleton Crew 5. The Talisman 6. The Eyes of the Dragon 7. It 8. The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three 9. The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands 10. Insomnia 11. Rose Madder 12. Desperation 13. The Regulators by Richard Bachman 14. The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass 15. Bag of Bones 16. Low Men in Yellow Coats, from Hearts in Atlantis 17. Black House 18. From a Buick 8 19. The Little Sisters of Eluria from Everything's Eventual 20. Everything's Eventual from Everything's Eventual 21. Ur from The Bazaar of Bad Dreams 22. The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole 23. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla 24. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah 25. The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
I almost done with my first trip to the Tower, currently half way through Song of Susannah. I have only read about 9 books from Stephen King so I think I want to read all of these other King books for the first time with this format. Go through the Dark tower series for the second time but reading all the detour books for the first time. Thanks for this video!
As someone who read the dark tower first and then moved on to Salems lot and a few of the other books you mentioned I definitely agree it would have been nice to read them first. I'll likely circle back and give your full extended journey a go in a couple years when the memory of the dark tower isn't as fresh.
Thank you so much man!! You have no idea how much I wanted to find a guide like this to start my journey reading the dark tower series. This video goes straight to my favorites list
Just found your channel and I’ve read up to book 5 of the dark tower. Wish I had found a video like this sooner because I’ve only read a few of the other books you mentioned before getting through the first 4! I look forward to reading The Stand which I’ll do before moving forward
I have been making my way steadily through this whole series. It's my first time reading SK and I've just finished The Stand and have Eyes of the Dragon and The Talisman on the shelf ready to pick up and enjoy! The Gunslinger - An intriguing start. I think if I hadn't watched this video before I started I would've put the book down a quarter way into it, but I ploughed through it despite my misgivings. I found it to be an enjoyably esoteric start to the series and I'm looking forward to understanding more about this book as I go. I can definitely see why you recommend reading it again at the end! Drawing of the Three - This felt more like what I was expecting from SK. I really enjoyed the main characters, especially Eddy. Thrilling stuff. The Stand - This is by far the longest book I've read. Definitely did not enjoy some of the slower middly chapters based in the Boulder Free Zone but the end paid off in a big way. A great intro to the mad and bad Randall Flagg. Cheers!
I’ve been coming back to this video like once a week just to get hyped and keep my journey going currently halfway through the talisman can’t wait for the rest
Honestly your video inspired me to go back and read the Dark Tower series again after some... 6-7 odd years? Your SK content is super enjoyable and your passion for it is contagious.
I finished my journey to the Dark Tower about a month ago. Such a fun ride!! I did some of the other books but not the whole extended read. I am totally going to do the extended read in a few years when I’m ready for another ride down the path of the beam
I’m not sure why YT finally recommended one of your videos, but I’ve now watched 2 and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts on these books. DT is my favorite series of all time, and I’ve read / reread all of the books on this list over the years… but never with any sort of plan. Time to dive back in…
What got me into the Dark Tower series was the book Everything Eventual that had the story The Little sisters of Eluria. Which was a short story about Roland coming across a wierd town while in pursuit of the Man in Black. Such a good little story and i was absolutely hooked and had to read more about Roland. But Wizard and glass is a master piece and the best in the series. I still cry thinking about that book.
your list is perfect so far but you left out “The Shinning”. There is a massive connection between "The Shining" and "The Dark Tower" .In "The Shining," the character of Danny Torrance possesses a powerful psychic ability called "the shining." This ability allows him to communicate with spirits and see future events. The concept of "the shining" is also explored in various ways throughout the seven-book "The Dark Tower" series. In fact, the character of Father Callahan, who appears in both "The Shining" and "The Dark Tower" series, also has a connection to this psychic phenomenon
The Gunslinger is MOST DEFINENLY a book-end -- excellent selection. I'm definitely going to be taking your reading order into account the next time I feel like diving into this King behemoth. Happy Halloween!
I've been trying to complete the list since 1975 but king keeps adding to it. Lot's of his books not on these lists tie into the tower. The Breakers are those with mind powers, so all the Greats are also Breakers. Firestarter, Dead zone, Carrie, Everything's Eventual and the Shining. Which he wrote a Sequel so it too. Even the book IT ties in as the Crimson King is a cousin of IT.
That cover on The Gunslinger is AMAZING, however, for actually reading I would definitely recommend people go with the expanded version. It's a short book anyways so getting that extra stuff in there is nice, especially with something like this where the goal is already to expand your time with the series. I believe most of the other books in the main series have Author Cut's or whatever you want to call them as do many of his other books and in general, I'd suggest you go with those versions. For some, it adds that little extra spice but for others, it is integral, with The Stand being the classic example of that.
The expanded version is actually somewhat of a rewrite. King wanted to clean up some potential inconsistencies and make gunslinger the book it should have been. He just didn't have the skills to do it until 2003.
I may have said it before, but W and G is absolutely sublime. Incredible work of fiction. It broke my heart and made me a Dark Tower junkie. King was on another level with this book.
Wow, I've read a number of the expanded series books but there's more there than I realised! Gotta go back and read some additional ones clearly! Thanks.
Thanks for this amazing guide video helping with the order in which novels are to be read without giving out any spoilers but just giving enough info and background or overview.
I'm joining a readalong in 2022 for The Dark Tower. I've read The Gunslinger, The Stand, 'Salem's Lot, Desperation and Rose Madder (fave SK book) so far. Looking forward to catching all the connections.
I read the original Gunslinger to start, then after VII, I read the revised edition of the gunslinger. It was so cool to read the changes!! Great series!!!
Finally, just finished your list front to back! What a journey. I likely would have omitted Desperation and the regulators, while exchanging Rose Madder for Buick 8, but a great time non the less!!
Just read The Gunslinger for the first time and have been making my way through some King lately after stumbling across your ranking vid. Can't wait to continue my journey to TDT!
I just started on my journey to The Dark Tower. Finished The Gunslinger moments ago. Haven't been much of a reader before but am looking forward to this Appalachian Trail of books.
Dawg you saved me a headache. Lol I’m almost done with Waste Lands and wasn’t sure what I was going to do after Wizard and Glass. I want to take my time with the series too
I just got done reading the Stand, and I’m getting ready to start Eyes of the Dragon. And after the 1153 pages of The Stand, Eyes of the Dragon seems like a cake walk now.
About once every 4-5 years or so I'll go back for a Mid-World adventure. One of my favorite series. When the comics came out I did buy the first season of comics and I thought that they did a great job on those. If you're into Wizards & Glass then the first comic series will be will explain some back stories about Roland. I never got a chance to get the other seasons but I've been thinking about hunting them down. Happy reading!!
YESSSS this is exactly what I needed! I decided to read the Dark Tower again for the....ok I have no idea how many times I've read them. But I love everything that you included, especially Insomnia, one of my favorites of ALL TIME! Now I'm just wondering how RUclips figured out that I started the series again LOL.
Haha, same here. This video just popped up in my recommendations and just today I was going thru some boxes and found my first season of the Dark Tower comics that I started to read earlier today. Just weird that this video appeared out of nowhere.
Wizard and Glass is definitely my favorite as well! I just finished the series for the second time after 10 years. I actually really enjoyed book 7 way more this time around too. Actually found the ending really great.
I really enjoy the idea of doing this reading list. I'm new to Stephen King and am currently reading IT. I'm about to finish part 1. But after IT I will start with The Gunslinger and follow this timeline. Thanks for the list :)
Very cool! I might also suggest Later while you’re going through IT and Insomnia. There is a very similar character and a very familiar confrontation that I think will appeal to Tower/King fans. It’s fair to draw parallels between Pennywise, Dandelo, Crimson King and this new menace.
I stumbled into your video just as I was starting the drawing of the three. Perfect time pause and begin detour 1. Working on the talisman now. I’m also set for the rest of the expansion now too. Thanks for this video, looking forward to the many hours ahead in the multiverse.
Can’t thank you enough for this expanded read. Just finished with the revised Gunslinger again. I couldn’t imaging reading this in any other way. So excited to started the rest of King’s work. I think Pet Sematary is next! Keep of the great reviews.
Great list! Absolutely recommend finishing with the Gunslinger, especially your first time through. The first time I read Gunslinger I felt disoriented and blinded to Ronald’s world; the second time the clarity was exhilarating. I have been reading ‘From a Buick 8’ for Tower connections, and I’m kind of glad not to see it on your list because I’m struggling with it. This video looks like it was made before it’s release, but Fairy Tale is a fun read once you’ve read everything else!
The Dark Tower journey is what I’m venturing into next! I think I’ll take this route because it has a reread I’ve been meaning to get to and a handful of others I haven’t read or own, with others I still remember well so I don’t have to reread first time through. I just finished The Stand for the first time, so I’m a little out of order already, but I’m so pumped! Thanks for doing this!
I am ending my third journey through the series right now, less than a hundred pages to go! This guide couldn't be more helpful! I will definitely use this on my next trip for sure. I have been struggling to get through the last 300 pages of book 7 because I didn't want it to "end" and this will totally make the next journey fresh, exciting and extended. Thanks again for the suggestions!
I just had to come back here to praise Insomnia! I think maybe that is my favourite SK book this far, I just loved it! Theoretically it is pretty long, but it was such a pageturner, so that beside my fulltime(and then some) job I read it in two weeks. I just can’t say how much I enjoyed it, so great :,) and I just generelly find his longer books are the best ones, The Stand, Wizard and Glass, It and now Insomnia have all just exceeded all my expectations, and I am so glad i embarked on this journey 🤩
I am 45 years old and been reading King since I was a teen. I read all the classics but somehow always avoided the Dark Tower and most of its expanded universe books as well. This video made me realize I gotta dive in, at least once! For reference, from this list, I tried The gunslinger back in the day and I dont think I finished it, Read The Stand many times, Salem's Lot my favorite King book, Have read Mist, IT many times, Desperation way back when it released, Hearts in Atlantis when it released and that's it, I've never touch any of the other books mentionned in this video so I think that now, I'll give it a shot and start the Gunslinger. I tried it when I was a teen and it did not made a lot of sense back then, maybe i'll appreciate it more now, wish me luck!
i have heard you talk about insomnias importance to the dark tower a few times... i have read insomnia with little knowledge of the dark tower.. i am very interested in reading the dark tower series and insomnia again.. i thought it was a great sand a lone read/story
I've read all these books, not in the order you recommended, but still...this is a very good compilation for new readers. As an aside; Wolves of the Calla and The Wind Through the Keyhole are the best books imo. Thanks for this! It made me nostalgic, especially when recalling how many years I waited for the last 3 main books and how I discovered the connection to Kings other books before the internet.
Wolves of the Calla, Wind through the keyhole and Wizard and Glass are my favorites. So many people hate on wolves and wind and I don’t understand it. They’re amazing. I started the series with Drawing of the Three. Sucked me right in. Excellent series.
Thanks for the video. I have been reading a lot of Stephen King this year and just started the DT series. I just finished the first 3. I love King's crossovers, so getting an order that lets me appreciate more of those crossovers is great! I've already read a lot of the side quest books, but love knowing what other titles to add to my list. Thanks!
I just finished my journey a couple weeks ago. Thanks so much for this extended guide. It made it waaay longer, but much more satisfying. And the end of book 7... Whoa. It stunned me. Going back and rereading The Gunslinger again is huge. It makes so much more sense and it is amazing how much of it is woven throughout the series. Thanks!
My Theory on Rose Madder: The painting was painted by Patrick Danville or his twinner and is a doorway to Mid-world. The Minotaur's (a Can-toi) temple is an 'out building' of Castle Discordia and lies near the river Whye and the Grand Crescent of Calla Bryne Sturgis.
Wow what a great video! I have tried to make my way to the top of the tower twice now and have always felt like I was missing something. Now I can finally get completely filled in. Thank you so much!
I’m gonna have to track down copies of the books I don’t own but I’m looking forward to reading the series this way. It’s been a long time since I originally read the 7 main books in the series.
I didn't know Salem's lot was connected to this series. It's the only Stephen King Novel I've read so far, and one of my all time favourites. I'm ordering a box set now.
Me too, it’s my favorite book of all time and when I found out not only were pretty much all his books in a multiverse, but Salem’s lot was like the second most important spin-off behind insomnia I was very pleasantly surprised, especially since I adore connected universes, like the mcu for example.
Hahaha I am nearly finished with book one (btw my first King Book) which I bought last week with some other Books and I was thinking about maybe I shouldn't start an eight book long series, bc I still have a lot to read. I guess I was a fool thinking I can just read the dark tower series. Also I heard it is more fantasy than horror, but I guess now I also have to read the horror books so I won't be sleeping anytime soon.
I love your channel! So happy it was recommended to me. My brother-in-law and I are huge Stephen King fans. Subscribed and notified. Going to follow your lead in order of reading. I'm so excited to dive into it! 💖 Thank you. 😀
Literally just finished the DT series, and read a few DT related novels in between (Salem's, Stand, Eyes of the Dragon). And thought that was enough, reading #7 I sure wish I read Insomnia... Ah well it was a great experience! Well timed and informative vid man!
I would absolutely recommend reading Insomnia after book 7. I had my brother read Insomnia before reading books 6 and 7 and he didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did.
I’m just reading The Gunslinger now so I shall go with your reading order as it includes a lot of other King books which were on my reading (or re-reading) list anyway. Also I love your first edition hardcovers, wish they would release facsimiles of these.
Awesome video as always. I've only read The Shining and Doctor Sleep. I hated IT but I guess I'll give it a second shot. Man this list is amazing. Beginning January 2022 I will create a TBR list with absolutely all these books you've recommended and I will read the entire Dark Tower Expanded Universe. Thanks dude you're an amazing reviewer.
Amazing videos ! Keep up the good work. Would be cool if you could do an in depth overview of 'The Stand'. Was published way back in 1978 and draws crazy parallels to what's happening now with the pandemic.
I'm gonna use this video to go through it all the first time. It was my father's favorite. He died not long ago and I feel like I need to do this for him.
I started reading with your order. Never read a Stephen King book before and I'm enjoying it. Almost finished with the stand. But after rewatching I can only think of one reason to reread the gunslinger at the end and I'm so curious if I'm right but I don't want to spoil myself. 😢
Great list! I haven't yet read Mist, IT, or Rose Madder. I will say though, some of the things you mentioned were, IMO, a bit spoilery. I know it's different for everyone, but I typically don't want to know any extra information. For me, being told the end of the series is up for interpretation and being told to re-read the Gunslinger because of how TDT ends would be revealing too much about how the series ends. I already kinda guessed it the first time I read, and that information would have been enough to give it away. Otherwise, great list and great video. I'm subscribing!
Have to agree about the spoilers. He has another video where I thought the same thing. I subscribed but here’s to hoping there’s a little more care paid to not ruining some of the great surprises in this series and others in the future.
I've been wanting to read this series for a while, but just didn't know where to start with all his interconnected stories. I am so excited to start this! Thank you for this guide!
The Talisman is my favourite book ever.. Before I read the Dark tower- i suspected & desperately hoped the Main character from The Talisman(& Blackhouse) grew up to be the Gunslinger... I am still a little disappointed this isn’t the case. Missed op iyam... (What characters in Salem's are in the dark tower? 🤔)
I read up through Wastelands when they were new. Then I saw an interview with King where he admitted he didn't have a planned ending to the series and that he may never write an ending book and I stopped reading the specific Dark Tower novels. I loved the first two so I may go back and read rhem all.
I have not read or watched one thing on the Dark Tower, and I feel like I'm in that special spot of noobness that so many would kill for. This was perfect for where I'm at
Do. Not. Watch. The. Movie.
Agreeing with trucker dad. Do. Not. Watch. The. Movie. It’s an absolute insult to the series
I don’t even acknowledge it exists. You’ll notice I didn’t even mention it at all. It’s a complete disgrace.
@@truckerdad2396 I was just thinking the other day how the dark tower movie is the single most disappointing piece of cinema in the history of the world
I haven't read any of these books either, other than It. Only just started getting into stephen king, and I'm so happy to be a complete noob. Just finished Misery yesterday.
I read the Gunslinger years ago and was just about to jump back into the series thinking 7 books in a decent length like harry potter lol, Now i have a 23 TBR for one series Nice. 😆
Some on the list are short stories but those are in books of short stories. It helps if you understand how king thinks and writes, I'd even add the Dark Half to understand the King character in the Series. Firestarter and Carrie are Breakers. So is the psycic in Dead Zone. With Randal Flagg being an Advisor to the crazy President. Add those to Everything's Eventual Short story and hte Marvel comic about himmie the Breaker who could Teleport but was mentally retarded, he appears in Wizard in glass so the comic falls right after Wizard. He was ordered by God? the Tower? a voice to follow and help Roland. He was born with the ability to teleport but can't control it. While following Roland, young Roland he is captured by End World Tech and upgraded, like a cyborg, his teleport ability being greatly improved to include World jumping and be controlled, he has a chip in his head but is sitll, retarded. He is next seen as a Breaker. I think he only appears in wizard and dark tower but he might be in song. been a few years.
1. The Gunslinger (DT1) 1:12
2. The Drawing of the Three (DT2) 2:26
Detour I
3. The Stand 3:29
4. The Eyes of the Dragon 4:23
5. The Talisman 5:03
Back to Dark Tower
6. The Wastelands (DT3) 5:40
7. Wizard and Glass (DT4) 6:37
Detour II
8. Salem's Lot 8:04
9. The Mist 8:52
10. IT 9:38
11. Insomnia 10:49
12. Rose Madder 11:43
13. Desperation 12:23
14. The Regulators 12:53
15. Everything’s Eventual 13:26
16. The Little Sisters of Eluria 13:51
17. Hearts in Atlantis (Little men in yellow coats) 14:14
18. Black House 14:42
Dark Tower
19. The Wind Through the Keyhole (DT 4.5) 15:18
20. Wolves of the Calla (DT5) 15:54
21. Song of Susana (DT6) 16:27
22. The Dark Tower VII 17:04
Epilogue
23. The Gunslinger (DT1) 17:51
Thanks for posting this!
You're doing the Lord's work
Wait so you read gunslinger againa at the very end.. huh neat
@@aidendeir4130 yep. Ever play Bioshock Infinite ?
@@scottmune4484 i have not
I like the idea of circling back to The Gunslinger at the end -- that works on a lot of levels!
July of 2022 this video popped in my suggestions. Wanting to get into the DT series I decided to follow the journey you have laid out. I’m proud to say 8-9 months later I’m about to finish the final book. The Gunslinger was the only book of the 22 I had read beforehand.
I got more out of this journey than I ever thought I would. Each story building off each other made me appreciate the series to an unbelievable degree. You’ve quite literally given me a path to experience something of such joy and appreciation. I just wanted to let you know how pleasing this was.
Btw, of all the books, The Stand and Wizard and Glass were my favorites. My goodness they were so amazing.
Thank you for this comment! I’m glad I could help you out and that you enjoyed the journey!
NO WAY, i just got the entire dark tower series for my birthday, this is perfect
I suggest reading The Stand FIRST, not in the middle. Its a LONG book, but it sets up Randal Flagg and Kings' sense of good and evil.
@@Astrochronic oh no, i already finished the gunslinger, i guess ill wait and buy the stand before i start with the second dark tower book
@@amgoosehjonk8734 its fine. But i would read the Stand before going further. You might just want to reread gunslinger anyway later in the order i suggested.
@@Astrochronic ok, i guess ill do that
While you're reading, pay a little attention to product names and trademarks in the series, King gives you clues as to whether the story elements are taking place in our universe or in a parallel subtly different one (cigarette, soda brand names, sports team names, names of gas station chains etc.)
Was literally just thinking the other day about starting the expanded Dark Towers series for the first time but wasn't sure exactly where to start, so this video came at the perfect time! I'll follow your guide and see how it goes!
How was it?
I’m fairly proud of my Dark Tower editions, but your collection is next-level. I’m glad that those wonderful copies are owned by someone who really appreciates them.
I haven’t read a single King novel before, but when I found your video of you ranking every single king novel, I went to the library and immediately checked it out. So far I’m hooked!! I used to never go anywhere without a book in hand, but I slowly fell out of that. So, it’s amazing to reconnect with reading again!
I don’t know when I’ll read the dark tower, but I know for sure it’s on my list!
I agree with you on Wizard and Glass in every way. It's definitely my favorite of the series and a top 5 overall.
1. DT1: The Gunslinger
2. DT2: The Drawing of the Three
3. The Stand - Randall Flagg
4. The Eyes of the Dragon
5. The Talisman
6. DT3: The Wastelands
7. DT4: Wizard and Glass
8. Salem's Lot
9. Mist
10. It
11. Insomnia
12. Rose Madder
13. Desperation
14. Regulators
15. Everything is Eventual
16. Little Sisters of Alluria
17. Hearts in Atlantis
18. Black House
19. DT4.5: The Wind through the Keyhole
20. DT5: Wolves of the Calla
21. DT6: Song of Susanna
22. DT7: The Dark Tower
23. DT1: The Gunslinger
This is actually AMAZING! EVERYTHING fits perfectly in this order.
Nice list !...as a constant reader since 1976, and an original DT junkie...this is definitely an extremely well thought out path.
I was nodding in agreement but nearly cheered when you got to your thoughts on 4: quite frankly, I think people miss, entirely, what this series is about I'd they don't GET how integral, beautiful and IMPORTANT 4 is.
When it comes to my all time favorite King, i have an extremely prejudiced soft spot for The Lot...but, truth be told, 4 may be his absolute best writing AND best storytelling ever.
Great job, man...if some newbies follow this path along the beam, they will not be disappointed, sir !
Hi! I just discovered and subscribed to your channel as I’m a huge King fan. I don’t make RUclips videos but often times post my views on Facebook, including what may or may not be the full Dark Tower experience. When posting in a few Stephen King discussion groups I was given a lot of flak for recommending an order to a complete read through of The Tower. Your video was a refreshing view and to know I’m not the only one who sees a journey through The Tower is most rewarding when it includes everything. My list is not in the same order as yours and I include a few things you don’t, but I feel, with a few exceptions, King’s work is best in order of publication because of how characters are introduced and reappear at random in later works. I also highly recommend the revised version of The Gunslinger from 2003, which reads much better because King himself wrote that the original version was a young writer trying too hard to be important. He also said he removed hundreds of offensive adverbs. This is a copy and paste of a Facebook post from 2019, just my thoughts on a what constitutes a full reading of The Tower.
There is the question of what makes for the full experience of The Dark Tower. For anyone who reads King, they know that the entire story of The Dark Tower is spread across quite a few more books than just the eight Tower novels. In fact, many important concepts and characters are first introduced in books that are not part of the main series (such as the Crimson King, the primary final antagonist, who first appears in Insomnia).
So what should you read to cover the entire story and in what order? To be honest, the complete answer is to read everything, in order of publication. However, that's a lot of reading. Therefore, this is what I would consider The Dark Tower reading experience, in order:
1. The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger - revised version from 2003
2. 'Salems Lot
3. The Stand - The Complete and Uncut Edition from 1990
4. The Mist - short novel collected in Skeleton Crew
5. The Talisman
6. The Eyes of the Dragon
7. It
8. The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
9. The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
10. Insomnia
11. Rose Madder
12. Desperation
13. The Regulators by Richard Bachman
14. The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
15. Bag of Bones
16. Low Men in Yellow Coats, from Hearts in Atlantis
17. Black House
18. From a Buick 8
19. The Little Sisters of Eluria from Everything's Eventual
20. Everything's Eventual from Everything's Eventual
21. Ur from The Bazaar of Bad Dreams
22. The Dark Tower: The Wind Through the Keyhole
23. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla
24. The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
25. The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
Hey Sean! Thanks for posting this. Always interesting to see someone else’s opinion on this subject.
Amazing talent
I almost done with my first trip to the Tower, currently half way through Song of Susannah. I have only read about 9 books from Stephen King so I think I want to read all of these other King books for the first time with this format. Go through the Dark tower series for the second time but reading all the detour books for the first time. Thanks for this video!
As someone who read the dark tower first and then moved on to Salems lot and a few of the other books you mentioned I definitely agree it would have been nice to read them first. I'll likely circle back and give your full extended journey a go in a couple years when the memory of the dark tower isn't as fresh.
Thank you so much man!! You have no idea how much I wanted to find a guide like this to start my journey reading the dark tower series. This video goes straight to my favorites list
Just found your channel and I’ve read up to book 5 of the dark tower. Wish I had found a video like this sooner because I’ve only read a few of the other books you mentioned before getting through the first 4! I look forward to reading The Stand which I’ll do before moving forward
I have been making my way steadily through this whole series. It's my first time reading SK and I've just finished The Stand and have Eyes of the Dragon and The Talisman on the shelf ready to pick up and enjoy!
The Gunslinger - An intriguing start. I think if I hadn't watched this video before I started I would've put the book down a quarter way into it, but I ploughed through it despite my misgivings. I found it to be an enjoyably esoteric start to the series and I'm looking forward to understanding more about this book as I go. I can definitely see why you recommend reading it again at the end!
Drawing of the Three - This felt more like what I was expecting from SK. I really enjoyed the main characters, especially Eddy. Thrilling stuff.
The Stand - This is by far the longest book I've read. Definitely did not enjoy some of the slower middly chapters based in the Boulder Free Zone but the end paid off in a big way. A great intro to the mad and bad Randall Flagg. Cheers!
I’ve been coming back to this video like once a week just to get hyped and keep my journey going currently halfway through the talisman can’t wait for the rest
Honestly your video inspired me to go back and read the Dark Tower series again after some... 6-7 odd years? Your SK content is super enjoyable and your passion for it is contagious.
I finished my journey to the Dark Tower about a month ago. Such a fun ride!! I did some of the other books but not the whole extended read. I am totally going to do the extended read in a few years when I’m ready for another ride down the path of the beam
I’m not sure why YT finally recommended one of your videos, but I’ve now watched 2 and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts on these books. DT is my favorite series of all time, and I’ve read / reread all of the books on this list over the years… but never with any sort of plan. Time to dive back in…
Great video, thank you. And your Dark Tower hardcover collection is awesome, right on!!
What got me into the Dark Tower series was the book Everything Eventual that had the story The Little sisters of Eluria. Which was a short story about Roland coming across a wierd town while in pursuit of the Man in Black. Such a good little story and i was absolutely hooked and had to read more about Roland. But Wizard and glass is a master piece and the best in the series. I still cry thinking about that book.
your list is perfect so far but you left out “The Shinning”.
There is a massive connection between "The Shining" and "The Dark Tower" .In "The Shining," the character of Danny Torrance possesses a powerful psychic ability called "the shining." This ability allows him to communicate with spirits and see future events. The concept of "the shining" is also explored in various ways throughout the seven-book "The Dark Tower" series. In fact, the character of Father Callahan, who appears in both "The Shining" and "The Dark Tower" series, also has a connection to this psychic phenomenon
The Gunslinger is MOST DEFINENLY a book-end -- excellent selection. I'm definitely going to be taking your reading order into account the next time I feel like diving into this King behemoth. Happy Halloween!
I've been trying to complete the list since 1975 but king keeps adding to it. Lot's of his books not on these lists tie into the tower. The Breakers are those with mind powers, so all the Greats are also Breakers. Firestarter, Dead zone, Carrie, Everything's Eventual and the Shining. Which he wrote a Sequel so it too. Even the book IT ties in as the Crimson King is a cousin of IT.
An interesting take on the Dark Tower journey, I'm rereading them now and I'm gonna go by this. Cheers.
That cover on The Gunslinger is AMAZING, however, for actually reading I would definitely recommend people go with the expanded version. It's a short book anyways so getting that extra stuff in there is nice, especially with something like this where the goal is already to expand your time with the series. I believe most of the other books in the main series have Author Cut's or whatever you want to call them as do many of his other books and in general, I'd suggest you go with those versions. For some, it adds that little extra spice but for others, it is integral, with The Stand being the classic example of that.
The expanded version is actually somewhat of a rewrite. King wanted to clean up some potential inconsistencies and make gunslinger the book it should have been. He just didn't have the skills to do it until 2003.
It’s always sad when you reach the end of a series like this, but I guess Im not actually done just yet. You rock brother!!!
I may have said it before, but W and G is absolutely sublime. Incredible work of fiction. It broke my heart and made me a Dark Tower junkie. King was on another level with this book.
Wow, I've read a number of the expanded series books but there's more there than I realised! Gotta go back and read some additional ones clearly! Thanks.
Thanks for this amazing guide video helping with the order in which novels are to be read without giving out any spoilers but just giving enough info and background or overview.
I'm joining a readalong in 2022 for The Dark Tower. I've read The Gunslinger, The Stand, 'Salem's Lot, Desperation and Rose Madder (fave SK book) so far. Looking forward to catching all the connections.
Love the gunslinger. The ending with the palaver is awesome
I read the original Gunslinger to start, then after VII, I read the revised edition of the gunslinger. It was so cool to read the changes!! Great series!!!
Finally, just finished your list front to back! What a journey. I likely would have omitted Desperation and the regulators, while exchanging Rose Madder for Buick 8, but a great time non the less!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Just read The Gunslinger for the first time and have been making my way through some King lately after stumbling across your ranking vid. Can't wait to continue my journey to TDT!
I just started on my journey to The Dark Tower. Finished The Gunslinger moments ago. Haven't been much of a reader before but am looking forward to this Appalachian Trail of books.
Dawg you saved me a headache. Lol I’m almost done with Waste Lands and wasn’t sure what I was going to do after Wizard and Glass. I want to take my time with the series too
I just got done reading the Stand, and I’m getting ready to start Eyes of the Dragon. And after the 1153 pages of The Stand, Eyes of the Dragon seems like a cake walk now.
Thanks so much for this looking forward to following this journey as my 2022 TBR
About once every 4-5 years or so I'll go back for a Mid-World adventure. One of my favorite series. When the comics came out I did buy the first season of comics and I thought that they did a great job on those. If you're into Wizards & Glass then the first comic series will be will explain some back stories about Roland. I never got a chance to get the other seasons but I've been thinking about hunting them down. Happy reading!!
YESSSS this is exactly what I needed! I decided to read the Dark Tower again for the....ok I have no idea how many times I've read them. But I love everything that you included, especially Insomnia, one of my favorites of ALL TIME! Now I'm just wondering how RUclips figured out that I started the series again LOL.
Haha, same here. This video just popped up in my recommendations and just today I was going thru some boxes and found my first season of the Dark Tower comics that I started to read earlier today. Just weird that this video appeared out of nowhere.
Wizard and Glass is definitely my favorite as well! I just finished the series for the second time after 10 years. I actually really enjoyed book 7 way more this time around too. Actually found the ending really great.
I really enjoy the idea of doing this reading list. I'm new to Stephen King and am currently reading IT. I'm about to finish part 1. But after IT I will start with The Gunslinger and follow this timeline. Thanks for the list :)
Very cool! I might also suggest Later while you’re going through IT and Insomnia. There is a very similar character and a very familiar confrontation that I think will appeal to Tower/King fans. It’s fair to draw parallels between Pennywise, Dandelo, Crimson King and this new menace.
I've read up to wizard and glass and am now starting my journey over using this map of the Stephen Kingdom!
I stumbled into your video just as I was starting the drawing of the three. Perfect time pause and begin detour 1. Working on the talisman now.
I’m also set for the rest of the expansion now too. Thanks for this video, looking forward to the many hours ahead in the multiverse.
Can’t thank you enough for this expanded read. Just finished with the revised Gunslinger again. I couldn’t imaging reading this in any other way.
So excited to started the rest of King’s work. I think Pet Sematary is next!
Keep of the great reviews.
Great list! Absolutely recommend finishing with the Gunslinger, especially your first time through. The first time I read Gunslinger I felt disoriented and blinded to Ronald’s world; the second time the clarity was exhilarating.
I have been reading ‘From a Buick 8’ for Tower connections, and I’m kind of glad not to see it on your list because I’m struggling with it.
This video looks like it was made before it’s release, but Fairy Tale is a fun read once you’ve read everything else!
The Dark Tower journey is what I’m venturing into next! I think I’ll take this route because it has a reread I’ve been meaning to get to and a handful of others I haven’t read or own, with others I still remember well so I don’t have to reread first time through. I just finished The Stand for the first time, so I’m a little out of order already, but I’m so pumped! Thanks for doing this!
I am ending my third journey through the series right now, less than a hundred pages to go! This guide couldn't be more helpful! I will definitely use this on my next trip for sure. I have been struggling to get through the last 300 pages of book 7 because I didn't want it to "end" and this will totally make the next journey fresh, exciting and extended. Thanks again for the suggestions!
I just had to come back here to praise Insomnia! I think maybe that is my favourite SK book this far, I just loved it! Theoretically it is pretty long, but it was such a pageturner, so that beside my fulltime(and then some) job I read it in two weeks. I just can’t say how much I enjoyed it, so great :,) and I just generelly find his longer books are the best ones, The Stand, Wizard and Glass, It and now Insomnia have all just exceeded all my expectations, and I am so glad i embarked on this journey 🤩
Thanks for the comment Liv! I’m really glad you enjoyed insomnia as much as I did!
I think this is my sign to start reading this series I’ve been holding off for atleast 3 years 😬
I am 45 years old and been reading King since I was a teen. I read all the classics but somehow always avoided the Dark Tower and most of its expanded universe books as well. This video made me realize I gotta dive in, at least once! For reference, from this list, I tried The gunslinger back in the day and I dont think I finished it, Read The Stand many times, Salem's Lot my favorite King book, Have read Mist, IT many times, Desperation way back when it released, Hearts in Atlantis when it released and that's it, I've never touch any of the other books mentionned in this video so I think that now, I'll give it a shot and start the Gunslinger. I tried it when I was a teen and it did not made a lot of sense back then, maybe i'll appreciate it more now, wish me luck!
i have heard you talk about insomnias importance to the dark tower a few times... i have read insomnia with little knowledge of the dark tower.. i am very interested in reading the dark tower series and insomnia again.. i thought it was a great sand a lone read/story
Glad about this video. I've wanted to embark on my DT after year's of reading it.
Thank you so much for this video. I really needed this to get into the Dark Tower series. I will follow this order in my reading. Thumbs up.
I've read all these books, not in the order you recommended, but still...this is a very good compilation for new readers. As an aside; Wolves of the Calla and The Wind Through the Keyhole are the best books imo. Thanks for this! It made me nostalgic, especially when recalling how many years I waited for the last 3 main books and how I discovered the connection to Kings other books before the internet.
Wolves of the Calla, Wind through the keyhole and Wizard and Glass are my favorites. So many people hate on wolves and wind and I don’t understand it. They’re amazing.
I started the series with Drawing of the Three. Sucked me right in. Excellent series.
@@BriMonies my first book was The Wastelands, I read The Talisman right afterwards and I remember thinking 'Waaaiiiittt...this is Midworld!' Love it 😀
Just started reading King and I am seriously thinking of taking this journey. Thank you sir.
I finally got to the top, thank you for this recommendation. Will now be re-reading the gunslinger.
Diving in this year! Following this list. Thanks so much!!
Thanks for the video. I have been reading a lot of Stephen King this year and just started the DT series. I just finished the first 3. I love King's crossovers, so getting an order that lets me appreciate more of those crossovers is great! I've already read a lot of the side quest books, but love knowing what other titles to add to my list. Thanks!
I just finished my journey a couple weeks ago. Thanks so much for this extended guide. It made it waaay longer, but much more satisfying. And the end of book 7... Whoa. It stunned me. Going back and rereading The Gunslinger again is huge. It makes so much more sense and it is amazing how much of it is woven throughout the series. Thanks!
My Theory on Rose Madder: The painting was painted by Patrick Danville or his twinner and is a doorway to Mid-world. The Minotaur's (a Can-toi) temple is an 'out building' of Castle Discordia and lies near the river Whye and the Grand Crescent of Calla Bryne Sturgis.
Not bad. It all fits for me. Thanks!
Yes yes yes! Great take!
Wow what a great video! I have tried to make my way to the top of the tower twice now and have always felt like I was missing something. Now I can finally get completely filled in. Thank you so much!
I’m gonna have to track down copies of the books I don’t own but I’m looking forward to reading the series this way. It’s been a long time since I originally read the 7 main books in the series.
Thanks for this. It's extremely helpful for my first Dark Tower journey. I'm up to The Talisman, right now.
The Talisman is a must read in the canon. Also often overlooked is the Tommy Knockers and Hearts in Atlantis... But I have no doubt you will cover HoA
This was great, thanks so much! Will definitely follow this order!
Great video mate.
I’m on the Drawing of the three, so a perfect time to get inspired by your list.
Thanks😄
I didn't know Salem's lot was connected to this series. It's the only Stephen King Novel I've read so far, and one of my all time favourites. I'm ordering a box set now.
Me too, it’s my favorite book of all time and when I found out not only were pretty much all his books in a multiverse, but Salem’s lot was like the second most important spin-off behind insomnia I was very pleasantly surprised, especially since I adore connected universes, like the mcu for example.
Hahaha I am nearly finished with book one (btw my first King Book) which I bought last week with some other Books and I was thinking about maybe I shouldn't start an eight book long series, bc I still have a lot to read. I guess I was a fool thinking I can just read the dark tower series. Also I heard it is more fantasy than horror, but I guess now I also have to read the horror books so I won't be sleeping anytime soon.
I love your channel! So happy it was recommended to me. My brother-in-law and I are huge Stephen King fans. Subscribed and notified. Going to follow your lead in order of reading. I'm so excited to dive into it! 💖 Thank you. 😀
Thank you! Always nice to have another constant reader on board. 🍻
Literally just finished the DT series, and read a few DT related novels in between (Salem's, Stand, Eyes of the Dragon). And thought that was enough, reading #7 I sure wish I read Insomnia... Ah well it was a great experience! Well timed and informative vid man!
I would absolutely recommend reading Insomnia after book 7. I had my brother read Insomnia before reading books 6 and 7 and he didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did.
I love the idea of reading The Gunslinger again at the end!
It’s interesting “The Institute” didn’t make the list based on it’s obvious link with “beam breakers”. Still yet. An amazing compilation.
Yes, I thought the same when I read the Institute after wolves
It’s a newer book made after the series so I get it
Yes the institute absolutely belongs on this list. I was pretty surprised that you didn't add it in. Still I loved your list. Well done!
When do you recommend to read the Institute?
@@bernd8778 That's a really good question. I'm not sure. What do you think Joshua?
Love seeing smaller creators promoted on RUclips 👏👏👏
I’m just reading The Gunslinger now so I shall go with your reading order as it includes a lot of other King books which were on my reading (or re-reading) list anyway. Also I love your first edition hardcovers, wish they would release facsimiles of these.
Awesome video as always. I've only read The Shining and Doctor Sleep. I hated IT but I guess I'll give it a second shot. Man this list is amazing. Beginning January 2022 I will create a TBR list with absolutely all these books you've recommended and I will read the entire Dark Tower Expanded Universe. Thanks dude you're an amazing reviewer.
I finished the shining last week and Dr sleep 2 days ago.
Dr sleep was better in my opinion. But I enjoyed both.
Just finished little sisters, currently reading these books in this order, what a ride but it’s taking forever.
Amazing videos ! Keep up the good work. Would be cool if you could do an in depth overview of 'The Stand'. Was published way back in 1978 and draws crazy parallels to what's happening now with the pandemic.
I’d have to give it a re-read but I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for the suggestion!
@@jimmymango Legend !
This is perfect!! I just got into it, and I’m currently on The Drawing Of The Three 👌🏻
Solid list, well done! Also your editions are bananas
As soon as I saw Insomnia I subscribed. I love that book even though it's not well received.
Awesome recap of the extended series. You've inspired me for a complete reread!!
Just finished The Gunslinger and was recommended to watch this video for this extended journey.
Dude! Well done! Thank you! Starting this journey.
I'm gonna use this video to go through it all the first time. It was my father's favorite. He died not long ago and I feel like I need to do this for him.
I started reading with your order. Never read a Stephen King book before and I'm enjoying it. Almost finished with the stand.
But after rewatching I can only think of one reason to reread the gunslinger at the end and I'm so curious if I'm right but I don't want to spoil myself. 😢
About to take my second journey through the Tower, thanks for this recommended reading list.
I am a Wizard and Glass guy too. It’s maybe my favorite.
Thanks so much for this video! Going to dive into all of this starting next year!
Great list! I haven't yet read Mist, IT, or Rose Madder. I will say though, some of the things you mentioned were, IMO, a bit spoilery. I know it's different for everyone, but I typically don't want to know any extra information. For me, being told the end of the series is up for interpretation and being told to re-read the Gunslinger because of how TDT ends would be revealing too much about how the series ends. I already kinda guessed it the first time I read, and that information would have been enough to give it away. Otherwise, great list and great video. I'm subscribing!
Have to agree about the spoilers. He has another video where I thought the same thing. I subscribed but here’s to hoping there’s a little more care paid to not ruining some of the great surprises in this series and others in the future.
Regarding the stand, the virus captain trips is even mentioned in wastelands.
I've been wanting to read this series for a while, but just didn't know where to start with all his interconnected stories. I am so excited to start this! Thank you for this guide!
The Talisman is my favourite book ever.. Before I read the Dark tower- i suspected & desperately hoped the Main character from The Talisman(& Blackhouse) grew up to be the Gunslinger... I am still a little disappointed this isn’t the case. Missed op iyam... (What characters in Salem's are in the dark tower? 🤔)
I read up through Wastelands when they were new. Then I saw an interview with King where he admitted he didn't have a planned ending to the series and that he may never write an ending book and I stopped reading the specific Dark Tower novels. I loved the first two so I may go back and read rhem all.
I am just about to start Dark Tower, as soon as I finish the Mr. Mercedes trilogy.
I am reading The eyes of the dragon. 4th of this series
I do love the short stories though! “Here they be Tigers”