Dark Tower series

[Oryx Crake]

I hope this is in the right part of the forum. So, I have some spare cash and I am not sure what to spend it on. A few of my friends have recomended the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Anyone have any opinions on the series as to whether or not I should get some of them?

Also, exactly how many are there in the series?

Thanks.

[Doug_Brunell]

I like them. Haven't read the last yet, though. I believe there are 7 in the series. Admittedly, you have to be a King fan to enjoy them, as there are some parts that get a little self-indulgent.

[scallywag]

The first books in this series are great. The last will leave you shaking your head wondering what the heck was King thinking. I was a serious fan of Kings before this and "Cell" came out. Now I will not even look at anything he writes again. He has lost touch with his fans and his genre. Any author that writes himself into his story has lost it.

The last chapter of the last book leaves you thinking "Is this the only thing he could think of as a way to end this?"

Sorry Mr. King you should think about retirement.

[chicklit]

I like a lot of Stephen King's older works, but the Dark Towers series is something that I just can't seem to get into. I can't seem to get past the first couple of pages (as I find myself nodding off to sleep). Maybe it gets good after the first couple of chapters.

[Erick1106]

I'm not much of a King fan, but I liked The Gunslinger (book one). It was a very good book, but i just couldn't get into book two.... I don't recommend it.

[Kitten]

I really enjoyed the series and at the time was a huge King fan. I liked how so many of his books had ties to the Gunslinger series, characters or places showed up in other books that I never would have noticed if I hadnt read the series. I wasnt all that crazy about the last couple of books but after investing all that time in the first 5 I had to see how it ended.

[Montetre']

Yeah, you just HAVE to finish them!

[Kitten]

Yeah, you just HAVE to finish them!

I know what you mean. My husband read up to half way through the seventh and then moved onto something else. I couldnt believe it, to this day it drives me crazy, but I refuse to tell him how it ends.....

[prettyvicky]

7 series. that will take a while. lol

[jasonkendall]

coolllll

[william309]

I think Stephen King deliberately wrote those books to be his Magnum Opus, so even though the Dark Tower series is a little less horror, a little more high fantasy than his normal fare, you still need to be a King fan to get into them. The last book or two definitely plateaus, but overall its a great series that I really enjoyed. I would try the Gunslinger, the first book, which is fairly short and fast-paced, to see if you like it.