If we single out the most popular writer of our time, then, definitely, the name of Stephen King is remembered. This American author has been creating for more than 50 years and is not afraid to dive into new genres for himself. The army of his fans is growing steadily, including thanks to numerous creative experiments. The author considers the Dark Tower cycle to be the jewel of his career. The order of the books and the timing of their release excited the minds of the fans. To date, the whole story is written in its entirety. Why is it worth reading?
History of creation
Stephen King is called the "King of Horrors", but, in truth, not all of his works are so scary. The writer works in various genres, including thrillers, science fiction, fantasy, mysticism and drama. Many films and television shows have been shot in his books. He has published over 50 novels and 5 non-fiction books. Plus more than 200 stories.
The author of the Dark Tower cycle calls the peak of his work in many interviews. Fans know the order of books by heart, and it’s better to move along it to preserve the mood. Books are written at the crossroads of the fantasy, western, horror and fiction genres. The plot focuses on the long wanderings of the last shooter of Roland and his search for the center of the universe - the Dark Tower. The cycle included many themes and characters from King's other creations. We can say that he embodied the universe of the author.
Hero addiction
How was the Dark Tower cycle written? The order of the books and the plot, according to King himself, came to him in fits and starts, as if from another world. The author transferred these creative throwings to the plot. Initially, King wanted to create his own story of wanderings. The plot with a long search really liked him after reading the story of The Lord of the Rings. But the hero had to look.
The image of Roland is collective and inspired by Robert Browning 's poem "Childe Roland Came to the Dark Tower" and Westerns with Clint Eastwood. The author has repeatedly admitted that Roland captured him, and sometimes began to weigh and bore him. The story seemed too complicated for the reader. However, the audience warmly received the first book and demanded a continuation. So the cycle "Dark Tower" began to appear.
Book order
The story begins with the story of the Strelka. We find a hero in the middle of the desert. He follows his main enemy - the Man in Black. Ahead of the sands, lack of water and food, but the shooter, not thinking about the consequences, goes for his goal. So begins the first book of the Dark Tower series - The Shooter. In it, we get acquainted with the central hero, find out his character and begin to become interested in the reasons for this persecution. And in fact, what drives Arrow forward? His feelings are too complex to be explained simply by seeking, revenge, or curiosity.
The shooter seeks answers to his questions, seeks advice and prophecies. For him, the Man in Black is not so much an enemy as a goal that will open the way to the biggest goal - the Dark Tower, which stands in the center of all worlds and holds them together. The shooter strives for the Tower, wanting to protect it from destruction. If the Tower falls, then all worlds will collapse. On the way, the shooter meets the boy Jake, whom he begins to consider his adoptive son. Then they continue the pursuit together, and on the way the Strelok sacrifices his named son to open the way to the Tower.
The second book of the Dark Tower series, The Extraction of the Three, begins on the beach, where Roland gains company. From other worlds, he removes former addict Eddie Dean and legless split-legged woman Odette Holmes. Shooter also prevents the death of Jake in his world, which causes a temporary paradox. Its resolution will be the plot of the third book - Badlands.
Center of the universe
In "The Dark Tower," Stephen King was able to prove himself a real romantic when he described the first and only love of Roland Diskain. In the fourth book of the Sorcerer and Crystal series, he described Susan Delgado, the girl who sacrificed everything for Strelka. Alas, that story did not have a happy ending! Susan's death left a scar on Roland's heart for life.
The fifth book of the series “Wolves of Kali” is an almost independent story in which the tragedy of a small settlement is narrated. Once every two decades, mysterious wolves, stealing children, are outraged here. The shooters come to the rescue and demonstrate the full power of their turn.
In “Suzanne's Songs,” the sixth book of the Dark Tower series, Stephen King appears as a character. He is the keeper of one of the rays holding the Tower.
Roland and his friends save King from death under the wheels of the van in the seventh of the cycle of the same name, "The Dark Tower". They manage to prevent the fall of the Tower, but at too high a price. As a result, Roland completes his journey as he began, all alone. The end of the cycle leads to philosophical reflection on the path of Strelka and his fate. It turns out that while Roland continues his search, the world manages to be kept in order.