Stephen King's Roland Deschain, the Dark Tower Series

Stephen King's Roland Deschain descends from a long line of gunslingers and is the main character of Stephen King's, The Dark Tower series. He is the son of Steven and Gabrielle Deschain and is the last living member of the line of "Arthur Eld."  Arthur Eld is his world's version of King Arthur.  Deschain starts his quest to reach the dark tower alone for many years in the first of seven novels. Roland encounters several people along his journey, some who end up traveling with him part of the way. The story unfolds in a parallel universe in a world very reminiscent to the old west.  The intrigue builds in each novel in a whirlwind of the supernatural and fantasy.

Because this series has part fantasy, horror and western elements, it's sure to keep you captivated and looking forward to the next book in procession. One of Robert Browning's poems, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came and the westerns Stephen King grew up watching were the ideas behind this ambitious series, taking a span of 22 years to complete 7 books. Many of King's other books also relate to this series.  Roland Deschain stars in the first of the series as:

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1)
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followed by,

The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, Book 2)
The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower Book 3)
Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, Book 4)
Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, Book 5)
Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, Book 6)
The Dark Tower VII (The Dark Tower, Book 7)

There is quite a fan support of a series of 'prequel' comics that follows Stephen King's The Dark Tower novels.  The comics keep Roland's story persistent and continual.

Check out a sampling of Stephen King's infinite imagination. Find out more about The Dark Tower series, Stephen King audiobooks, or other Stephen King novels by clicking here.
 

Read what just a handful of people have to say about The Dark Tower novels:

The Gunslinger, March 27, 2010
Lisa Daniels "Darkmd"

This review is from: The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) (Paperback)

I have not read any of the other books in the series but after reading this first volume, I hunger for more. The story's beginning drags on at an almost agonizing pace, testing the reader and revealing few clues concerning the import of Roland's quest. His meeting with the dweller and foray into Tull cement mid-world's morbid atmosphere and Roland's grit but leave the reader grasping for context. Yet, as the narrative and Roland's backstory unfolds I was drawn into the mythology. I agree with other reviewers that Jake was a flat character and indeed his last lines belie a complexity he had previously failed to embody. But for their patience, readers are rewarded with a satisfying dialogue between the gunslinger and the man in black with the tease of even greater truths to come (for who knows how many lies MIB had woven with truth). My favorite reviews reveal little but give a taste of what the reader should expect. My advice, read on.

 
  Exceptional!, February 10, 2010

 By C. Cahill (Chicago, IL USA)

This review is from: The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, Book 2) (Hardcover)

I believe this is Stephen King at his best. It picks up right where the amazing 'Gunslinger' leaves off and sets you up perfectly to continue on the journey. There are more characters and they develop wonderfully, making this new installment even fuller in content. If you enjoyed the chapter in 'The Gunslinger' where Roland meets Jake and finds out where Jake came from, then you will love this book. It delves even deeper into this phenomenon and takes you even further into the twisting connections of this universe. The foreshadowing of the challenges ahead and the ultimate goal are still a bit hazy, but they are a perfect tease to keep you racing through to 'The Waste Lands.' If you have not read this book, you should. Start with 'The Gunslinger' and just go.

Stephen King Tower Series #3, April 5, 2010
A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved the book! It is the continuing saga of the tower series and if you're like me, you can't skip from one to 3 without reading two.

Stephen King: Master Storyteller, October 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, Book 4) (Paperback)

Wizard and Glass is mainline heroin for Dark Tower junkies. Be warned: do not undertake this novel during finals week or if you have housecleaning to do. By the time I was finished, my apartment resembled that of Tommy from "Trainspotting".
If you happen to be a serious reader, the length of this novel is a boon. King writes with such fluidity, his characters' dialogue is so real, that the length is a necessity. If you're hungry, you eat a big plate of lasagne; you don't pick a French restaurant where they serve you a thin slice of pate garnished with a little radish rosette. King may not agree with the critics, but he's damn satisfying, and the Dark Tower series is his piece de resistance.
Roland lives how we'd all like to live-- doing the right thing, no matter how difficult. He's a hero, but he's accessible. He's so good, he doesn't have to swagger. What's so real about him is that he doesn't have a grand plan; he lives each day as it comes and doesn't worry about ka.
Wizard and Glass is not just a great book-- it stands as a fortress against the cynicism and apathy that pervades so much of modern literature. King has the gall to say that some things really matter, and for that his critics will crucify him.

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