Need advice for starting The Dark Tower series.

[Soapstone]

I have heard that the books weave through the worlds of some of King's other books, do I need to have read these books as a prerequisite to reading The Dark Tower books or can I read the series and be fine with reading the original books later?

What are the books I need to read that tie into The Dark Tower?

 

[Dana Jean]

When I finally decided I wanted to read The Dark Tower books, I read all connecting books first. But that was me. I'm glad I did.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

Do what I did...grab whatever is available, read it...realize, oh shoot! shoulda read this other one, too...and so you read that one and then you read the other one again...and then you discover there's this other you need to read. 'Bout the only thing I recommend is reading them progressively, first #1, then #2, #3, so forth so on. There's not a soul around who will fault you for reading the stories again and again...and I mean all of them. Just keep your bumper to the building...in case you have any bumper stickers upsetting to the faint of heart.

 

[not_nadine]

I must say again. I had trouble with Gunslinger. I am not the only one. I don't know why.
Joining these boards, I knew I had to get through it. Many loved it, don't get me wrong. I do now and understand on my 4th read.

It took me years. It did. Just trust that you will fall in love with all of them.

I can only say wait till "The Drawing of the Three." You will lose yourself in the journey.

There are many others who could explain it with more eloquence that I just tried to do.

Good luck.

 

[not_nadine]

Tie in book? Salems' Lot for sure.

I will say no more.

 

[skimom2]

You don't need to have read any of the others, but it does enrich the experience.

 

[The Nameless]

I didn't. I'm reading salems lot now and I read the whole DT series a little while ago. If you have read a connecting book, when the character/s appear you will know their background and story already. If you read the dark towers 1st, then you read (for example) salems lot, when you come across the character from the DT you will have some knowledge of them from that.

If you're going to read all of his connecting books first then you won't be reading the dark towers anytime soon, there are a LOT of them.

To touch on NN's point about the gunslinger, I know I'm repeating myself but imagine the dark towers are one very big book, then the gunslinger is the first 30 or so pages of a normal book. It's the intro, it's setting the scenery, giving you a little taste. She's right though, it starts properly with drawing of the 3

 

[CrimsonKingAH]

You don't have to read all the others first... you can go back and read them and the DT again and again. He is a masterful storyteller... he is amazing. There are many characters that intertwine in his books... truly amazing.

 

[blunthead]

If OP decides to read the other books first which books will those be? I know 'Salem's Lot and Insomnia are two of them.

 

[ALOT]

I have heard that the books weave through the worlds of some of King's other books, do I need to have read these books as a prerequisite to reading The Dark Tower books or can I read the series and be fine with reading the original books later?

What are the books I need to read that tie into The Dark Tower?

I read all of his other stories first, not because I planned it that way, it's just how the cookie crumbled. Then I read the entire Dark Tower series. You don't need to read the other stories first to get the Dark Tower series, so you can start there if you wish. Somewhere down the road, if/when you've become an avid SK constant reader, you will see the common threads throughout his works (but not all tie into the Dark Tower). When you look back you'll think, oh yeah...and something will become clearer than it was previously. Depending on your reading style, there's nothing to get or study. Just relax, enjoy the stories and let it unfold naturally. Chances are, if you stick around long enough, you'll be reading it more than once anyway. Enjoy the ride, and welcome to the board.

 

[ALOT]

Do what I did...grab whatever is available, read it...realize, oh shoot! shoulda read this other one, too...and so you read that one and then you read the other one again...and then you discover there's this other you need to read. 'Bout the only thing I recommend is reading them progressively, first #1, then #2, #3, so forth so on. There's not a soul around who will fault you for reading the stories again and again...and I mean all of them. Just keep your bumper to the building...in case you have any bumper stickers upsetting to the faint of heart.

lol

 

[CrimsonKingAH]

If OP decides to read the other books first which books will those be? I know 'Salem's Lot and Insomnia are two of them.

black house and even IT has reference to it. There are more.. I just have to think about it and I'm fading fast now.. lol

 

[bobledrew]

There's tons of ties between the worlds of the DT and the rest of the bibliography.

Off the top of my head:

• Salem's Lot
• It
• 11/22/63
• Insomnia
• Lisey's Story
• Hearts in Atlantis
• "Everything's Eventual"
  
• "Lunch at the Gotham Café"
• Talisman
• Black House

And on and on and on...

 

[Spideyman]

Just take the journey- read in order and enjoy. Life changing. Then read the other SK books and find characters you've met during the journey.

 

[Spideyman]

co

Spoiler: connections

Spoiler: more

 

[paper_is_sweet]

None of the tie-in/cross-over books are mandatory reading for the Dark Tower series. The Gunslinger was actually one of the first King novels I read (in 7th grade or so...), and I wound up reading things as they appeared, either due to publishing dates or because they were already on my dad's bookshelf.

I kind of liked discovering the universe that way. Now, every time I read *anything* with even the *faintest* nod to the Tower, I squee in the most undignified fashion...

 

[Bev Vincent]

I have heard that the books weave through the worlds of some of King's other books, do I need to have read these books as a prerequisite to reading The Dark Tower books or can I read the series and be fine with reading the original books later?

What are the books I need to read that tie into The Dark Tower?

I recommend a reading order in The Dark Tower Companion that is pretty much "in order of publication," with this exception: try "Little Sisters of Eluria" first -- it's a later novella but it deals with the main character at a point when he's younger and, perhaps, a little more engaging. It's an easier entryway into the series than The Gunslinger, in my opinion.

 

[muskrat]

I couldn't imagine reading Dark Tower without having been a constant reader since I was a kid. Sorry. It's just SO MUCH more rewarding for us life-long fans. So...go ahead and read EVERYTHING else first, then tackle those eight books.

Better get readin...

 

[AnnaMarie]

I have heard that the books weave through the worlds of some of King's other books, do I need to have read these books as a prerequisite to reading The Dark Tower books or can I read the series and be fine with reading the original books later?

What are the books I need to read that tie into The Dark Tower?

I had probably read them all, or most, but only because I usually read each of his books shortly after they were published. For the most part, I really don't think it would matter. Maybe Salem's Lot...a character from that book plays a big enough part that knowing his background is kind of important. For the rest, it's more like bumping into an old friend in an unexpected place.

 

[AnnaMarie]

So, when do people recommend reading Wind Through the Keyhole?

As book 4.5, or at the end?