I have read the entire Dark Tower series except for The Wind Through the Keyhole. I know it's a connection between books 4 and 5, and mostly a flashback of Roland's younger years, but I'd like to know if the people who have read it would recommend reading it between those books, or reading it after book 7. Which way flows better?

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10 years ago
14 answers

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Eileen I read it after the core DT series, after a few months. I highly recommend the same as it provides a bit of nostalgia value. I think reading it between books 4 and 5 will chop up the story a bit too much -- a lot of action happens during that time and you don't want to get derailed.

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Oliver Brackenbury I'd read it after book seven. It's a story within a story that doesn't really spoil anything from book five on and I found a pleasant return to world - if not really the characters (you barely see the main cast) - of the series.

But honestly, as long as you read it after book four then you're in the clear.

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Dave I'm reading it all a second time, and I'm glad I thought to check here. I just finished 4 and will go on to 5.

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Irwin Fletcher If somebody were reading the series for the first time I would recommend saving this, and Little Sisters Of Eluria, for the end For re-reads the assigned positions might work better. I first read the DT series right around the time this book came out and I put it in the 4.5 position. With 4 and 4.5 both being mostly Roland telling campfire stories I think it makes for too long a stretch of living in the past. Kind of slows the pace/progress way down.

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Tara read it years later, no problem. Loved it.

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Cody Everyone i've talked to has told me read between 4 - 5

Which is what I think i plan on doing. As well as reading Salem's Lot

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thecmancan All things serve the beam.

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Ron I've read 1-4, plus the Sisters of Eluria, and I just finished 4.5 thinking it would or should be next in order. The real answer to your question is that it doesn't matter when you read 4.5. I think it is best read after you have read 1-7, because it makes allusions to the dark tower that I felt I was missing, and reading it after 1-7 is true to when the book was written. But again, it doesn't really matter.

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Hart Johnson I think as long as it is after Wizard and Glass it could be read anywhere. The ka tet tale within is very minor. It is really two separate stories. One of Roland's youth and one a related story he tells a boy within that story. No spoilers, no critical information. Just connected entertainment.

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Peter Deeks I'd read the others first, as this one slots in somewhere in the overall story line, which is a pretty complicated plot, so you probably won't have a clue who the characters are or their significance, and what on earth they're doing, if you read this one first. Perhaps read a couple of pages just for the feel. The whole series is really worth the read.

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Theresa I have read the entire Dark Tower series and have just started reading The Wind Through the Keyhole today. I don't really think it matters when you read it from what I have been told. SK states at the very beginning of the book that you can read it either way. I am kind of glad I waited as it is nice to revisit the some of the characters and places from the story. I'm sure you'll enjoy it whenever you decide to read it. Enjoy!

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Andrew I read up through book 5 years ago and never finished the series. I am currently re-reading the entire thing and wanted to do it chronologically so read this after Wizard and Glass and really enjoyed that placement.

There's a nice little emotional punch at the end that sort of follows up on events in Book 4. Also I suspect that it might have felt gratuitous if I had read it after the entire series was over, already knowing everyone's fate and all.

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