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The Dark Tower Series Reading Order.

Quick Answer

Start The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King with "The Gunslinger", then follow the publication sequence. This order preserves the intended narrative twists and world-building progression.

Stephen King's epic saga following Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger, on his quest to reach the Dark Tower, the nexus of all universes.

Reader's Guide

This series spans 6 main titles released between 1976 and 2005. For the best experience, we recommend following the Publication Order below to preserve key plot reveals.

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Official Verdict

Short Answer:
Start with "The Gunslinger"

To experience the narrative as intended, read the main sequence in Publication Order.Ignore novellas and side stories until you finish the first 3 core novels. This resolves all timeline confusion and preserves every major twist.

Community Consensus

Medium Debate

"The overwhelming consensus is to start with the main ten-book series, 'Malazan Book of the Fallen,' beginning with 'Gardens of the Moon.' This order (release/publication order) is generally considered superior to chronological order, as the chronological starting point, 'Forge of Darkness,' is deemed less accessible to new readers and contains significant spoilers/fan-service moments that only resonate after reading the main series. The secondary books (Ian Esslemont's novels and the Kharkanas Prequels) should be read either concurrently by release date or, for maximum safety and simplicity, read entirely after the completion of the main ten-book series."

Key Reddit Advice

Start with 'Gardens of the Moon' (Book 1 of Malazan Book of the Fallen), continue through the 10 books, and save 'Forge of Darkness' and the other Esslemont companion novels until afterward.

Why This Order Is Confusing

Many reading lists for The Dark Tower Series conflict because early publishers often labeled short story collections as standalone novels, or rearranged internal chronologies for marketing. This guide follows original author intent and narrative continuity to settle the debate for good.

Can I skip the short stories?

Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it for The Dark Tower Series. The shorter volumes often establish the core character motivations and world-building that the main saga assumes you already know.

I watched the show/movie first — where should I start?

Ignore the screen adaptations' timeline. Start with "The Gunslinger" to see the original depth of the world. The books offer a significantly different (and usually more complete) experience than the on-screen versions.

Why do people disagree on the order?

Disagreement usually stems from the conflict between purely chronological order and publication order. Most long-term fans recommend publication order to preserve the emotional arc and mystery reveals.

Curator's Strategy

Recommended Reading Order Strategy

The authoritative way to read the "The Dark Tower Series" series is in Publication Order. Start with the first published book. It's the way the author intended the world to be revealed.This ensures you experience character reveals and plot twists exactly as the author intended.

Complete Series Reading Order

Publication Reading Order6 Titles

Why Publication Order?We recommend reading in Publication Order (default). This follows the author's release schedule, ensuring you experience plot twists, character growth, and world-building exactly as intended without spoilers.
Best Start Here
1

No description available.

2

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Gunslinger".

[The Dark Tower][1] II Part II of an epic saga. Roland, the last gunslinger, encounters three mysterious doorways on the beach. Each one enters into a different person living in New York. Through these doorways, Roland draws the companions who will assist him on his quest to save the Dark Tower. ([source][2]) [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81600W/The_Dark_Tower_1-7 [2]: https://stephenking.com/library/novel/dark_tower_the_drawing_of_the_three_the.html

3

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Drawing Of The Three".

Contains: - [The Gunslinger][1] - [The Drawing of the Three][2] - [The Waste Lands][3] [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81628W/The_Gunslinger [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81616W/The_Drawing_of_the_Three [3]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81625W/The_Waste_Lands

4

Plot details hidden until you finish "The Dark Tower (Gunslinger / Drawing Of The Three / Waste Lands)".

[The Dark Tower][1] IV Part IV of an epic quest. Roland the Gunslinger and his followers have to contend with a sentient monorail intent on killing itself and taking them with it. While seeking to return to the Path of the Beam that will lead them to the Dark Tower, Roland tells his friends a story about the tragic loss of his first love, Susan Delgado. ([source][2]) [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81600W/The_Dark_Tower_1-7 [2]: https://stephenking.com/library/novel/dark_tower_wizard_and_glass_the.html

5

Plot details hidden until you finish "Wizard And Glass".

[The Dark Tower][1] V After escaping the perilous wreckage of Blaine the insane Mono and eluding the evil clutches of the vindictive sorcerer Randall Flagg, Roland and his ka-tet find themselves back on the southeasterly path of the Beam. Here, in the borderlands that lie between Mid-World and End-World, Roland and his friends are approached by a frightened band of representatives from the nearby town of Calla Bryn Sturgis. In less than a month, the Calla will be attacked by the Wolves--those masked riders that gallop out of Thunderclap once a generation to steal the town's children. The Calla folken need the kind of help that only gunslingers can give, and if the tet agrees to help, the town's priest--Father Callahan, once of 'Salem's Lot, Maine--promises to give them Black Thirteen, the most potent and treacherous of Maerlyn's magic balls. He used it to enter Mid-World, and now it sleeps fitfully beneath the floorboards of his church. Meanwhile, in the New York of 1977, the Sombra Corporation plots to destroy the lot at Second Avenue and Forty-Sixth Street. How can Roland and his friends both save the rose and fight the Wolves? Only by using the magic of Black Thirteen, but how can anyone trust this sinister and treacherous object which is, in actuality, the eye of the Crimson King himself? Time is running out on all levels of the Tower, but unless our ka-tet can defeat the minions of Thunderclap both in our world and in Mid-World, they will never reach that great lynchpin of the time/space continuum which, even now, begins to totter . . . ([source][2]) [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81600W/The_Dark_Tower_1-7 [2]: https://stephenking.com/library/novel/dark_tower_wolves_of_the_calla_the.html

6

Plot details hidden until you finish "Wolves Of The Calla".

[The Dark Tower][1] VI Susannah, now pregnant, has yet another taking control of her. The demon-mother, Mia, uses Susannah and Black Thirteen to transport to New York City of 1999. Jake, Oy, and Pere Callahan must rescue Susannah while Eddie and Roland transport to the Maine of 1977. A vacant lot in New York is the prize that must be saved and ties these together. ([source][2]) [1]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL81600W/The_Dark_Tower_1-7 [2]: https://www.stephenking.com/library/novel/dark_tower_song_of_susannah_the.html

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it okay to skip books in the The Dark Tower Series series?

We recommend ignoring novellas and short stories until you finish the core sequence. However, main sequence novels should never be skipped as they contain critical character development and plot progression.

What is the best order to read The Dark Tower Series?

The final answer for the best experience is to start with "The Gunslinger" and proceed in publication order. This sequence preserves character developments and plot reveals exactly as Stephen King intended.

Can I read The Dark Tower Series books in any order?

No. The main narrative is strictly sequential. Skipping volumes or reading out of order will lead to significant plot spoilers and confusion regarding character arcs.

Are there spin-offs or companion books?

Yes, the The Dark Tower Series universe includes several companion works. These are marked as 'Optional' in our guide and can be read at any time without disrupting the main storyline.