Book Review: Dark Tower Series by Steven King

Article by Calminos

The Dark Tower series is considered renowned writer Stephen King’s magnum opus, and for good reason. It is considered a masterpiece by almost everyone that has read it for its ingenious incorporation of themes from multiple genres- dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror, Western.

Having been inspired by the Robert Browning poem, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” and taking inspirations from The Lord of the Rings, Arthurian legend and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, it is one of the most iconic stories to ever exist.

The plot follows Roland Deschain, the last living member of a knightly order called “Gunslingers” and the last in line of “Arthur Eld”, the analogue of King Arthur in his world. A feudal society, with slowly vanishing, but still prominent, traits of magic, with technology roughly matching the American Old West, Roland’s world has “moved on”, that is, it is slowly coming apart. Even time does not flow in an orderly fashion. Roland’s quest is to find the fabled Dark Tower, a building said to be the nexus of all universes. At the beginning of the series, we are not very clear on the details of Roland’s goals and age, though later they are finally revealed, slowly, throughout the series.

The only proper criticism that I have of the series is that the first few books in the series are not exactly very clear. They are, as a critic called it, “highfalutin hodgepodge.” They needed probably another draft, but, the series completely makes up completely makes up for the final few books which are, at worst, a very good book, and at best, a masterpiece.

At any rate, I would definitely recommend that everyone reads this. Please no ebooks. Please.