Quote:
Originally Posted by BTBaboon
For those who have gone through the full DT series, did you read all the related side-works? If so, which do you consider essential and what would you suggest as the preferred reading order? So far I've done:
The Gunslinger (Dark Tower I)
'Salem's Lot
The Stand
The Drawing of Three (Dark Tower II)
The Waste Lands (Dark Tower III)
Wizard and Glass (Dark Tower IV)
Little Sisters of Eluria
Everything's Eventual
I'm currently ~20% through Insomnia. Im wondering how essential Eyes of the Dragon, and Hearts in Atlantis are to the completion of the main series - any thoughts? Depending on those, then my plan would be to read:
Wind through the Keyhole
Wolves of the Calla (Dark Tower V)
Songs of Susannah (Dark Tower VI)
Talisman
Black House
The Dark Tower (Dark Tower VII)
Is that finishing order fair and in-place? My plan is to have finished the list by the end of 2021
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The Talisman isn't really Dark Tower related, although Black House pulls Jack into the universe.
Black House goes into more depth about some of the stuff that is mentioned/seen in Low Men in Yellow Coats (really the only DT related thing from HiA) and UR (from "Bazaar of Bad Dreams collection).
The Eyes of the Dragon is fun and a great backstory with Roland and Flagg. Not essential to enjoy the rest of the Dark Tower series though. Even Wind Through the Keyhole is mostly a pleasant diversion from the rest of the series.
Insomnia is heavy on the DT references, but as you'll discover later on they don't end up mattering quite like you think they will.
Honestly I'd just get to V, VI and VII and worry about the other books later. They're good though, and in some cases have more interesting ideas than what King ended up doing with the main series.
There's also a picture book by "Beryl Evans" called Charlie the Choo-Choo.