literature All Books in the Dark Tower Series, Ranked Best to Worst
The best Dark Tower books are the top novels in the popular literary series by Stephen King. Spanning eight books over three decades, The Dark Tower series tells the tales of gunslinger Roland Deschain and his journey to a tower. Selling over 30 million copies and earning numerous awards, these books are one of the most popular book series of all time.
It can be argued that The Dark Tower series is the best from decorated author Stephen King. Exploring multiple genres, the series was influenced by some of the best books of all time and went on to inspire others alike. It spawned a slew of tie-in books, a comic series and multiple attempts at television and film, including interest from Ron Howard, but those efforts never came to fruition.
Regardless, The Dark Tower books were frequently selected for various awards, including the 2005 British Fantasy Award, five to The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, as well as a host of Locus Award nominations stretching from 1998 to 2005.
But when you have a great book series like this one, how you do pick a favorite book? Do you give extra points to the first in the series, The Gunslinger, or the last in the series, The Wind Through the Keyhole? Or do you pick one that had the most compelling story, which is completely personal preference? However you rank them, do it right here as we break down the best Dark Tower books!
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
The Drawing of the Three is the second book in The Dark Tower series of novels written by Stephen King and published by Grant in 1987. The series was inspired by Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning. The story is a continuation of The Gunslinger and follows Roland of Gilead and his quest towards the Dark Tower. The subtitle of this novel is RENEWAL. ...more
First Published: May 1987
Also Ranked
#17 on The All-Time Greatest Works of Stephen King
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands
The Waste Lands is the third book of the The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The original limited edition hardcover featuring full-color illustrations by Ned Dameron was published in 1991 by Grant. The book was reissued in 2003 to coincide with the publication of The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla. The book derives its title from the T. S. Eliot poem The Waste Land, several lines of which are reprinted in the opening pages. In addition, the two main sections of the book are named after lines in the poem. The Waste Lands was nominated for the 1991 Bram Stoker Award for Novel. Its subtitle is Redemption. ...more
First Published: August 1991
Also Ranked
#34 on The All-Time Greatest Works of Stephen King
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
Wizard and Glass is the fourth book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King published in 1997. Subtitled "Regard", it placed fourth in the annual Locus Poll for best fantasy novel. ...more
First Published: November 4, 1997
Also Ranked
#32 on The All-Time Greatest Works of Stephen King
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger
The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark Tower series, which King considers to be his magnum opus. Initially a fix-up novel that strung together five short stories published between 1978 and 1981, it was first published in book form in 1982. King substantially revised the novel in 2003, which is the version that is in print today. The story centers upon Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger who has been chasing after his adversary, "the man in black", for many years. The novel follows Roland's trek through a vast desert and beyond in search of the man in black. Roland meets several people along his journey, including a boy named Jake ...more
First Published: June 10, 1982
Also Ranked
#15 on The All-Time Greatest Works of Stephen King
#16 on The Best Young Adult Fiction Series
