Go Back  DVD Talk Forum > Entertainment Discussions > Book Talk
Reload this Page >

Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Community
Search
Book Talk A Place To Discuss Books and Audiobooks

Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-03-11 | 06:50 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: Oregon
Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

I've never read Stephen King but I'm really curious about this series. I did some research and for the most part, people enjoyed it. I don't know much about the series but I like fantasy and science fiction books. So should I start the journey?
Old 03-03-11 | 07:24 PM
  #2  
rocketsauce's Avatar
DVD Talk Limited Edition
 
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,500
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: Chicago
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

You should. I recently started it a few months ago knowing absolutely nothing about it and I'm glad I did. I got the the first four books in a row but needed a little break, but plan on finishing the series soon. It takes a little bit to get going but stick with it.
Old 03-03-11 | 11:02 PM
  #3  
Thread Starter
Member
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: Oregon
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Sweet! Sounds good. I'll take the plunge.
Old 03-04-11 | 06:50 AM
  #4  
JAA
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,166
Received 7 Likes on 4 Posts
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Enjoy the ride!
Old 04-02-11 | 12:33 AM
  #5  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Read the first four books, and don't read the last 3. The latter ones can't compare the first 4.
Old 04-04-11 | 08:58 AM
  #6  
Xander's Avatar
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,712
Received 88 Likes on 68 Posts
From: Iowa
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Lastblade
Read the first four books, and don't read the last 3. The latter ones can't compare the first 4.
Worst advice ever. Telling someone not to read the ending of a series? While the quality of the last three DOES suffer somewhat, I would never advise someone not to finish out the series. Some people actually LIKED the ending.
Old 04-04-11 | 10:27 AM
  #7  
Rob V's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 13,201
Received 527 Likes on 411 Posts
From: On the lake
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Lastblade
Read the first four books, and don't read the last 3. The latter ones can't compare the first 4.
Don't do this. Read them all. They all have their merits and low points but all in all it's an epic journey.
Old 04-04-11 | 01:08 PM
  #8  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 10,300
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
From: Land of the Lobstrosities
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

I wouldn't recommend them to start King. I really liked the first one, in the original form, the rest ranged from good to pretty bad, in a generally declining progression. The last two in particular were a mess, full of self-referential material and tie ins with his other works. Maybe it would work better without knowing all the references, but I doubt it.
Old 04-04-11 | 04:43 PM
  #9  
DVD Talk Gold Edition
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Xander
Worst advice ever. Telling someone not to read the ending of a series? While the quality of the last three DOES suffer somewhat, I would never advise someone not to finish out the series. Some people actually LIKED the ending.
I don't mind the ending, it is the book(s) that suck. Thousands of pages of unenjoyable crap. I LOVED the first 4 books, but the last 3 just soured my opinion on the entire series. It is akin to watching The Matrix, and pretend the sequels do not exist
Old 04-04-11 | 11:33 PM
  #10  
movie diva's Avatar
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Read them all, I am not a fan of the last 3 but I have read the entire series twice, so enjoy and have fun.
Old 04-05-11 | 10:40 AM
  #11  
Xander's Avatar
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,712
Received 88 Likes on 68 Posts
From: Iowa
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Lastblade
I don't mind the ending, it is the book(s) that suck. Thousands of pages of unenjoyable crap. I LOVED the first 4 books, but the last 3 just soured my opinion on the entire series. It is akin to watching The Matrix, and pretend the sequels do not exist
I am not going to argue the merits or quality of the books. That's totally subjective. I'm just saying telling someone not to read the ending of a story seems way harsh. Why get invested if you're not going to finish?
Old 04-06-11 | 07:36 AM
  #12  
Michael Corvin's Avatar
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 63,455
Received 1,377 Likes on 943 Posts
From: Louisville, KY
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Xander
I am not going to argue the merits or quality of the books. That's totally subjective. I'm just saying telling someone not to read the ending of a story seems way harsh. Why get invested if you're not going to finish?


If you aren't going to read them all, don't bother. As mentioned they all have their ups and downs and the latter 3 have their detractors, but they are still very fun books.
Old 04-12-11 | 09:16 PM
  #13  
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
 
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 9,779
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
From: Houston, TX
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

I'm reading The Stand right now. After I finish with it I intend to start with the Dark Towers Series. But now I'm confused, is it finished with 7 books? I thought he just announced he was writing another?
Old 04-13-11 | 07:58 AM
  #14  
Philzilla's Avatar
Political Exile
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: America
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Alyoshka
I'm reading The Stand right now. After I finish with it I intend to start with the Dark Towers Series. But now I'm confused, is it finished with 7 books? I thought he just announced he was writing another?
The ending is finished, the new book takes place between book 4 and 5
Old 04-14-11 | 07:09 AM
  #15  
JAA
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,166
Received 7 Likes on 4 Posts
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by Philzilla
The ending is finished, the new book takes place between book 4 and 5
Interesting . . . I look forward to this then as book 4 was my favorite in the DT series.
Old 04-14-11 | 09:25 AM
  #16  
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 4,086
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: Little Rock, AR
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Funny ... I was just re-reading these books and buying them for my Kindle. I made it through Wizard and Glass then stopped. I suppose I'll pick up the rest, though my desire definitely flags a bit.
Old 04-15-11 | 07:33 AM
  #17  
Michael Corvin's Avatar
DVD Talk Godfather
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 63,455
Received 1,377 Likes on 943 Posts
From: Louisville, KY
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by silentbob007
Funny ... I was just re-reading these books and buying them for my Kindle. I made it through Wizard and Glass then stopped. I suppose I'll pick up the rest, though my desire definitely flags a bit.
I've read the first 4 probably three times each, up until the release of 5-7(read those once). Now I'm curious how flawed they actually are, or if it all comes down to initial disappointment.

Anyone read the last 3 more than once?
Old 04-15-11 | 09:09 AM
  #18  
Xander's Avatar
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,712
Received 88 Likes on 68 Posts
From: Iowa
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

I've read them twice. I think Song of Susannah (book 6) is still probably my least favorite book, but I liked book 7 more than the first time I read it. I also liked Wolves of the Calla a lot more.
Old 04-17-11 | 11:26 AM
  #19  
Rob V's Avatar
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 13,201
Received 527 Likes on 411 Posts
From: On the lake
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

To me, the 6th book was the worst as well. I think the 4th was my favorite -- I believe that was the one flashing back to a young Roland.
Old 09-20-12 | 12:33 PM
  #20  
GoldenJCJ's Avatar
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 32,783
Received 4,856 Likes on 3,039 Posts
From: Colorado
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

I started my Dark Tower journey yesterday. I'm a little worried starting such a large endeavor knowing how Stephen King has a tendency to not know how to finish his stories but I figure I'll give it a shot anyway.
Old 09-20-12 | 03:34 PM
  #21  
JAA
DVD Talk Special Edition
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,166
Received 7 Likes on 4 Posts
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Don't worry too much about the destination. You'll probably enjoy the ride.
Old 09-21-12 | 01:46 AM
  #22  
DVD Talk Legend
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 10,300
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
From: Land of the Lobstrosities
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Has anyone read The Wind Through the Keyhole? It totally slipped off my radar since I haven't enjoyed much of Kings latest works.
Old 09-21-12 | 08:41 AM
  #23  
Philzilla's Avatar
Political Exile
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: America
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by wmansir
Has anyone read The Wind Through the Keyhole? It totally slipped off my radar since I haven't enjoyed much of Kings latest works.
I own it, but haven't got around to it. I'm planning on doing a massive DT re-read so the plan is to get to it then.
Old 09-21-12 | 10:22 AM
  #24  
Xander's Avatar
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
 
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,712
Received 88 Likes on 68 Posts
From: Iowa
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

Originally Posted by wmansir
Has anyone read The Wind Through the Keyhole? It totally slipped off my radar since I haven't enjoyed much of Kings latest works.
You didn't enjoy Under the Dome or 11/22/63? I thought they were pretty solid.

That said, I thought WTTK was just okay. The "story within a story" thing didn't work for me that well. It does pretty much zero to advance the stories of any of the main characters. I didn't hate it, I guess, it just wasn't what I was expecting.
Old 09-21-12 | 01:01 PM
  #25  
Mike86's Avatar
DVD Talk Hero
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 25,739
Received 1,411 Likes on 1,088 Posts
From: South Dakota
Re: Thinking About Starting The Dark Tower Series

I started reading this series a few months back. So far I've completed the first two and thought they were pretty good reads especially The Drawing of the Three. I have the third and fourth books as well as The Wind Through the Keyhole but haven't started them yet. I need to pick up the final three at some point but I'll probably wait until I've finished the others off.


Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.