Cracking the King "code"

[Heather]

I have been reading Stephen King for about 20 years. I know that the Dark Tower Series is his life's work. I have found numerous references to aspects of the Dark Tower series in many of his books.

Does anyone have a bread down of these occurrences and connections, or maybe as a group we can add to a list.

For instance I am reading Black House it mentions the "breakers" "Crimson King" "Does it really just start all over again theme" (I'm only on paging 200)

[Ellen]

I read Black House last year and remember there being quite a number of references to the Dark Tower series. I know there are a number of books out on how the Dark Tower series ties in with his non-Dark Tower books.

[April]

Stephen King's The Dark Tower The Complete Concordance

[GracieKat]

I just saw you! Isn't it more fun to do it ourselves?

[Lori, Super Mod]

I dont know why, but when that seires first came out, I couldnt get past the first few pages of the first book..... I might have to try it again...

[GracieKat]

I've never actually read The Dark Tower series but I know the references I've seen are from it. Heck, there might be more that I'm not seeing since I've never read it.

[Kate]

I think that "The Gunslinger" is the most impenetrable of the Dark Tower books to get through - it's essentially just one man going through a series of strange adventures. By the second book he starts acquiring some companions; Roland's more fun when he has other people to bounce off of. Skim the first book and enjoy the rest, that's my advice.

[Becky]

Kate's right, but you only have to skim The Gunslinger the first time. After that, you see how that part fits into the whole, and it makes more sense.

I love The Dark Tower series, and I've read it A LOT. One of my favorites!

[vicki_girl]

Hi, I am a long time browser, first time poster in this group. When I saw this topic, I thought I could help.

My personal favorite Dark Tower connections page, is now only available via Archive.org. I have copied the link below. Note: Be sure to read the text above the map, as it tells you how to avoid spoilers.

http://web.archive.org/web/2007100813...

Also, there is a listing of all the connections, by book on the Official Dark Tower page (but no map; I like maps).

http://www.stephenking.com/DarkTower/...


I hope this helps!

[J.C.]

I've been a Stephen King fan for as long as I can remember...but I hate to admit I've never gotten into the Dark Tower series. I remember reading a short story relating to Dark Tower in one of his collections and was underwhelmed. Give me Bag of Bones or Cell or The Mist (my favorite short story of Stephen's)...

JC De La Torre
http://jcdelatorre.com

[Irene]

It's been a while since of read any Stephen King- although he remains one of my favorite authors- I remember back in the eighties before Dark Tower came out even that he referenced his other books in his books- I had a little personal victory if I knew which book he was talking about when he mentioned something.
Kind of like free advertising for himself.

[Leah]

Long time Stephen King fan here - I remember sneaking The Shining off my Dad's bookshelf when I was WAY too young for it and reading it under the covers - I'm still scared of what might be behind the shower curtain. But it wasn't until this year that I discovered The Dark Tower series - and I can't believe I'd been turning up my nose at it for so long! I'm totally hooked - they are among the best stuff he's done, probably some of my favorite things I've ever read.

So, getting to the point - I would encourage a new reader to be sure to pick up a revised edition of The Gunslinger (2003). You'll know for sure because there is a lengthy introduction & forward in which King discusses the reason for revision. He admits that the first edition of The Gunslinger was "difficult to read" and didn't "sound like the later books". He says that "All too often I heard myself apologizing for it, and telling people that if they persevered, they would find the story really found its voice in The Drawing of the Three". Kind of makes me think there's probably something to the revision process... Stick with it, it's definitely worth it. I agree with Kate, though - once there are more characters, the story takes off. It was one of my customers who kept telling me to "just get across the desert - it explodes" who finally convinced me to try again. He was right...