The Dark Tower is the well-known fantasy series by the highly acclaimed “horror author” Stephen King. It is fantasy topped off with a spaghetti western sauce in such a way that some will not like but keeps me asking for more.
Story
The gunslinger Roland is on a quest to find the Dark Tower. He lives in a world, Mid-World, resembling somewhat the dark ages with aspects of the American wild west. However, there is also magic in this world and signs of a past technological civilization. Along the way Roland picks up several friends who together with him form the Ka-tet of the Nineteen and Ninety-nine. These friends have issues of their own but share in Rolands destiny and through many amazing, strange adventures, both on different worlds, including our own, and in different times, Ronald step by step gets nearer to The Dark Tower.
Themes & Styles
The Dark Tower contains both contemporary and dark fantasy elements. It is definitely somewhat of an odd one out on this website. The Dark Tower is not at all the typical high fantasy that characterizes the rest of the series in my list of best fantasy series. However, the story does contain magic and happens partially on imaginary worlds. Besides, it is so good that I simply couldn’t leave out and within this specific subgenre of fantasy it is by far the best ever made. On the other hand I have to admit that it is a difficult read which will cause many to put away the books.
Books
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (1982)
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987)
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991)
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997)
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003)
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004)
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004)
Written by the legendary Stephen King, The Dark Tower is dark, mysterious, and disturbing: what more could you wish for?
Official website of The Dark Tower.
Tags: Fantasy Series, Stephen King, The Dark Tower
