Should I read this series? Please answer some questions about the ending (Spoilers)

[Michael]

Is this series even worth it. I mean, I heard it was all just a cycle and the ending reverts back to the beginning. So should I even read it. And please explain the ending to me, I have to know if its good enough. Thanks

[SaraElle]

If you're truly a Stephen King fan, then yes, you should read it regardless of the ending. The "Dark Tower" is more about the journey of the characters.

That being said, this is kind of a linchpin for SK. He ties this series back to a number of his other books so there's quite a bit of cross-over. (It's all about the "Wheel of Ka".) Which to me, is fun.

Should you decide to read "Dark Tower", just know that it's a big commitment because it's a heavy read but an enjoyable one, imo.

[Marc]

I think it worth atleast reading the first book since its fairly short and see if you want to go further.
Whilst you do know the core of the ending there still plenty more twists and turns your not aware of on the way to the ultimate end.

[Michael]

Is the ending a cycle? Which it starts at the beginning again.

[Marc]

There is more to it than that.
If you really want to know wikipedia it...but just reading an answer wont get you any real emotional connection or involvement.

[Papaphilly]

The ending is brilliant. When I first read it, I was c'mon your kidding me. After a few days I realized it was truly a brilliant ending. In the first book King talks about a lost object and Roland bemoans its loss. At the end of the book he has the lost object. You are left with a feeling this time it will be different. If you read the books well you will understand why it ends the way it does with the great wheel of Ka.

[Ed]

Definitely worth reading. The first few are really good, and the fourth book (Wizard and Glass) is one my all time favorites of any genre. I thought the series really fell off badly starting with the fifth book, but it was still well worth the time. I didn't mind the ending, but I find myself disliking a lot of King's later stuff, including some of these. But still definitely worth your time. As a King fan, how can you leave this series on the table?

[SaraElle]

@Micheal
It's worth the read. However, you're too worried about the ending which may be an indication that this type of book series isn't your cup of tea.

You said in another post that you only read series. This series is very different from the series that you may be reading from today's authors. SK doesn't follow the standard series formula that you may be used to.

[Steve]

I would agree that SK pulled some of his resolutions outta his ass, but do read it. I consider it a fantastic series. However, if you can't be open to a bit of meta-fictional twistyness you will be pissed by book 6.

[Papaphilly]

Michael wrote: "Is this series even worth it. I mean, I heard it was all just a cycle and the ending reverts back to the beginning. So should I even read it. And please explain the ending to me, I have to know if ..."

If you have read The Talisman or Black House, then you spent time in the Dart Tower World. If you have read The Stand, then you have met characters in the Dark Tower World. My point is that there a ton of Easter eggs in his books that tie to the Dark Tower.

[Lucy]

I have loved Stephen King's books since I read the first paperback edition of 'Salem's Lot. I read The Dark Tower in hardcover when it first came out. I followed the series all the way through; when he cranked back up on it, I rejoiced. I've read The Talisman (which I loved) and Black House (which I loved less) and Hearts in Atlantis and probably most of the stories that reference this mythology.
And when I got to the end of the story, I wished I had never started it. That was quite some time ago, and I'm not over it yet. So many people seem to think this is King's masterwork. I would emphatically disagree. There are segments of it that are masterful. But the payoff stinks. And I understand it; I "get it." I just don't like it. A lot.

[Papaphilly]

Lucy wrote: "I have loved Stephen King's books since I read the first paperback edition of 'Salem's Lot. I read The Dark Tower in hardcover when it first came out. I followed the series all the way through; whe..."

I am surprised you don't like it. It is the perfect ending because it states what has been stated the entire series. A turn in the great wheel of ka.

[Lucy]

If the great wheel of ka had turned for the length of a novella, I would have loved it. But after I had invested that much time and emotion into the characters, it didn't feel like the culmination of a mythic circle; it felt like a cop out. King may very well have intended to end it that way from the beginning; that may have been the only way the story could have ended, and my disappointment could be me trying to push something else onto it that was never there and never could be. But if so, I'm even more disappointed. Bill Murray in Meatballs managed to get to "It just doesn't matter!" in a lot less than seven books. (And I know, I know, the matter is in the journey, not the destination. Whatever.)

[Papaphilly]

That was the entire point. Everything came full circle and he has another chance. This time he has the chance to save his world. This is not the Hollywood ending everybody including myself thought was going to happen.

[Lucy]

I'm glad you liked it. I didn't see it as another chance; I saw the circle as his eternal task. He's never going to get it right. He's not supposed to get it right. It would screw up ka if he got it right. And to me, that's the kind of joke only Flagg would find funny. But I'm not trying to convince you you're wrong; your interpretation makes sense.

[Papaphilly]

Lucy wrote: "I'm glad you liked it. I didn't see it as another chance; I saw the circle as his eternal task. He's never going to get it right. He's not supposed to get it right. It would screw up ka if he got i..."

Your interpretation makes sense too. You are saying it is a Sisyphean task. I never thought it this way before. The only reason I disagree with you is that he had the horn one the next go around and that is the hope that was not in the first time. King leaves the reader with hope for a better future. Ka is much like Karma in the idea of what comes around goes around. I cannot imagine if there was never a better future, King would not have left the other three happy in their world.

[Lucy]

You make a good--and very comforting--point. I'm still not sold on the ending, but I feel better about it than I did before we talked. So thanks!

[Papaphilly]

Lucy wrote: "You make a good--and very comforting--point. I'm still not sold on the ending, but I feel better about it than I did before we talked. So thanks!"

You made my day. It is not about convincing, but enjoying the writing.

[Lucy]

Exactly - thanks so much for a great conversation.

[K.L.]

Most definitely worth reading. Absolutely love the series. Remember flopping down on the conch in my basement with the second book and not getting up until I'd finished it. Drawing of the Three is one of my all time favorite books. As for the ending, it's going to be a personal feeling on whether you like it or not. It's been debated and will continue to be debated for years to come. People tend to have a strange reaction one way or the other.

The series as a whole is incredible. King gets you (or at least he did me) to care for the characters, to worry about them, to become just as obsessed with reaching the tower as Roland is. I'm not sure if I pity or am jealous of new fans to the series. Waiting over the years for each new volume to come out was a kind of torture and yet each time a new volume hit and you got to return to Roland and his gunslingers it was an incredible experience. The anticipation made the experience of reading the new adventure just that much sweeter. (yes I realize I sound like a 16 yr old girl and not a 42 yr old man :p )

[Poit]

Definitely worth reading! If you are a King fan, a Constant Reader, it is an absolute must! It is about the journey, the characters. I admit when I read this series I was disappointed with the ending. But the more I sat and reflected the more sense it made. And now I can't imagine a better ending. It is perfect for this epic tale. Ka is a wheel, after all.

[Linette]

I agree that this series is most definitely worth reading. I've read it all the way through three times. The characters are so well created, I feel like I know them in real life. The ending takes some time to adjust to, it's true. I believe in reincarnation and the idea that we are here on earth to learn certain lessons, though, and we will repeat lifetimes until we learn those lessons, so that is how I took the ending. Roland hasn't learned all the things he was meant to learn on his journey to the Tower, so he must repeat it until he does. If that sort of thing is not your cup of tea, you may feel pretty robbed by the ending.

[Amy]

First of all, so sorry the ending was ruined for you. King writes at the near end to stop reading. At that point it is a happy-ish ending. Of course I kept reading. The ending haunted me. I loved it. This is my favorite series of all time. Wizard and Glass is the best of them all!

[Kate]

Lucy wrote: "If the great wheel of ka had turned for the length of a novella, I would have loved it. But after I had invested that much time and emotion into the characters, it didn't feel like the culmination ..."

My sentiments EXACTLY, Lucy. It felt like SK just couldn't decide what to put in that damned room up there, so he just made it go back to the beginning.

And yes, I got the overarching message, ka is a wheel, blah blah blah. But this ending was outrageous in the most literal sense of the word. When I read that last part, I was outraged.

[Amy]

The ending was genius. Pure genius!

[Frank]

Dark Tower series is King's magnum opus. Forget Carrie or other 'horror' works. Recall this is the man who wrote the story for The Shawshank Redemtion and The Green Mile. Don't worry about the ending, start at the beginning. "The man in black fled across the desert and the gunsslinger@ followed...."

[Wise Cat]

It's worth it! I almost didn't read it because I didn't like the first book, The Gunslinger, that much. I thought it was a weird book, I "didn't get it", and thought "What was THAT?" But an online friend who's also a fan of his, encouraged me to keep going.

I did, even re-reading The Gunslinger as she recommended, albeit I didn't do it till years later, LOL.

She said I had to get past the first book to get to the MUCH better material later, and boy does it get better!!! It's quite a journey, with unforgettable characters. I even use "Dark Tower lingo" with online friends, if it "does ya fine." :-)

The fourth book, Wizard and Glass, was a bit draggy for me, esp. when they were in Mejis. And the "Wolves" in Wolves of the Calla disappointed me in what they turned out to be.

I liked #2, 5, 6 and 7 the best. I thought the series got better in the second half, after #4.

[Kate]

The Dark Tower is about the journey of the characters, not the fact that the journey is repeating. If your interest in the series is not that of a Stephen King fan but as a lover of fantasy/scifi/westerns, then this is the series for you. If you love other Stephen King works but have yet to read this series (what is wrong with you?!?!??!!!!) then you need to read it. You will see people that you recognize from numerous other books and people that you were sure there was more to when you were reading.

If you're having a hard time getting in to it, I recommend the audio books - they're fabulous. The last reread I did was just after the rumour mill of the movie started up again and when that happened... and somewhere during my re-reading of The Dark Tower it was announced that Idris Elba would be playing Roland.... Well I think I lost it! I was so excited - and the movie will be - well it will be amazing even if you haven't read the series, but I recommend it because Stephen King's hinted that this is the final go round in the movie verse, not the books but that Roland is on the last cycle and that this time he may really win.

The books were haunting - I recommend them to any lover of excellent writing and character development.