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The Road to the Dark Tower: Exploring Stephen King's Magnum Opus Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 145 ratings

AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE DARK TOWER SERIES—INCLUDING BOOK-BY-BOOK ANALYSIS AND INSIGHT INTO STEPHEN KING'S CREATIVE PROCESS.

In 1970, Stephen King embarked on what would become the crowning achievement in his literary career-the Dark Tower. The seven-volume series, written and published over a period of 30 years, was inspired by Robert Browning's poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came," as well as J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and the spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone.

With the full cooperation of Stephen King himself,
The Road to the Dark Tower examines the epic journey of the author to complete a story that threatened to overwhelm him. In this indispensable companion, Bev Vincent presents a book-by-book analysis of each volume in the series, tracing the Dark Tower's connections to King's other novels including The Stand, Insomnia, and Hearts in Atlantis, and offering insights from the author about the creative process involved in crafting his lifelong work-a work that has consumed not only Stephen King, but his legion of devoted readers. This is essential reading for any Dark Tower-or Stephen King-fan.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

How does one determine what the greatest work of an author’s career is? The answer to this query, posed in the final pages of this book, can be found throughout Vincent’s in-depth analysis of King’s seven-volume Dark Tower epic (The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, etc.). Making sense of a story that switches back and forth through time, across multiple universes, and involves the safety of a tower that represents the fate of all existence is no easy task. Kudos to Vincent for even trying. But readers beware—the work is analyzed in its entirety, so expect spoilers galore. Vincent—whose column on Stephen King, "News from the Dead Zone," appears in Cemetery Dance magazine—tracks the evolution of both King’s three-decade avocation (the very first line was written in 1970) and the development of the saga’s characters and plot. Most importantly, Vincent shows how the few members of gunslinger Roland’s fellowship, recruited to help him protect the Tower, slowly evolve from reluctant participation to resolve about their leader’s quest. Former cocaine addict Eddie, for example, puts his sarcasm and skepticism aside and learns to embrace the dream of his surrogate father. As Vincent writes, "If Roland were to die on their journey, Eddie would continue with the others, for having dreamt of the Tower and the field of roses, the compulsion to reach the Tower claims him, too." Vincent also devotes a full chapter to discussing some of King’s other works that are related to the Dark Tower series, such as Hearts in Atlantis and Insomnia. In light of King’s own admission that the Dark Tower epic is the nexus of all his books—"The Dark Tower finishes everything that I really wanted to say"—Vincent asserts, "What else, then, is a magnum opus if not something that both ties together and summarizes a person’s life’s work?" With this thorough analysis of King’s epic, Vincent proves himself a master of the Dark Tower world.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Vincent's expansive synopsis of horrormeister King's Dark Tower saga arrives nipping the heels of its seventh and last volume, The Dark Tower [BKL S 1 04]. Besides recapping the epic itself, Vincent points out the most germane aspects of other King novels and stories that touch upon it, sketches its leading characters, notes influences on it, and discusses its creation and the layered, self-consciously reflexive concept (King himself is a character in it) that animates it. Appended are chronologies of the saga's writing and publishing and of events in its main setting, Mid-World, and in "Keystone Earth" (i.e., our reality from the 1950s on, but including the saga's characters' doings when, at various times, they enter it), a too-small Mid-World glossary, and the Robert Browning poem that initially inspired King. The large and perdurable King fandom should embrace Vincent's effort and spur him to correct misstatements about the Odyssey and Dante's Commedia, in particular, in the chapter on influences and explain the saga's many pop-cultural references (e.g., the Crimson King) in future editions. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000OIZSVO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (September 28, 2004)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2004
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2699 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 362 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 145 ratings

About the author

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Bev Vincent
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Bev Vincent is the author of several non-fiction books, including The Road to the Dark Tower, The Dark Tower Companion and Stephen King: A Complete Exploration of His Work, Life and Influences. In 2018, he co-edited the anthology Flight or Fright with Stephen King.

He has published over 120 stories, with appearances in Ellery Queen’s, Alfred Hitchcock’s and Black Cat Mystery Magazines, as well as several SHIVERS anthologies and two Mystery Writers of America anthologies. He has published numerous essays, interviews and book introductions. His book reviews can be found at Onyx Reviews.

His work has been published in 20 languages and nominated for the Stoker (twice), Edgar, Ignotus and ITW Thriller Awards. Recent works include “The Ogilvy Affair” and “The Dead of Winter,” the latter in Dissonant Harmonies with Brian Keene. To learn more, visit bevvincent.com

He lives in Texas with his wife.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
145 global ratings

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Customers find that the book provides detailed information and new insights into the story. They consider it a great addition to their collection and a companion for fans of the Dark Tower series.

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11 customers mention "Information quality"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides detailed information about the series. It explains the story in a clear way, providing new insights and highlighting subtle details. They find it helpful as a reference and consider it an interesting discussion of Stephen King's writing process. Overall, readers consider the book a good guide to the series.

"...It highlights many aspects of the book's subtleties and weaves together the text with insight into the deeper meanings behind the characters and..." Read more

"...This book explains all and let me enjoy the entire story at a new level." Read more

"...In addition, this book gave me a few new insights to the works I've already read." Read more

"...They add to the DT stories in ways any fan would love!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Book value"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great addition to their collection and King's magnum opus.

"...perfect addition to your collection." Read more

"The Dark Tower is King’s magnum opus." Read more

"Great companion if you love the Dark Tower..." Read more

Bev does amazing work!
5 out of 5 stars
Bev does amazing work!
This book is a must-have for any fan of Stephen King or The Dark Tower! Bev performs some serious magic here in connecting the DT series to many other King’s works and deserves honorary citizenship to Mid-World (assuming anyone would want such a thing! 😉) Also pick up the updated version The Dark Tower Companion so you can read about the Marvel Comic connections as well. They add to the DT stories in ways any fan would love!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2022
    This book is a thoroughly researched exploration of the Dark Tower series. It highlights many aspects of the book's subtleties and weaves together the text with insight into the deeper meanings behind the characters and events. I enjoyed the perspective and it enriched the "journey" to the tower.
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2024
    I finished the Dark Tower books 15 years ago (2009). I had many questions about the characters fate and how they were intermingled in the none DT novels such as Insomnia. This book explains all and let me enjoy the entire story at a new level.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2004
    I picked this up because I was about to start Wolves of the Calla and I hadn't read the three previous works in a while and needed a refresher (without spending all the time to read every page). In this respect, I was happy with this book. In addition, this book gave me a few new insights to the works I've already read.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020
    This book is a must-have for any fan of Stephen King or The Dark Tower! Bev performs some serious magic here in connecting the DT series to many other King’s works and deserves honorary citizenship to Mid-World (assuming anyone would want such a thing! 😉) Also pick up the updated version The Dark Tower Companion so you can read about the Marvel Comic connections as well. They add to the DT stories in ways any fan would love!
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bev does amazing work!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020
    This book is a must-have for any fan of Stephen King or The Dark Tower! Bev performs some serious magic here in connecting the DT series to many other King’s works and deserves honorary citizenship to Mid-World (assuming anyone would want such a thing! 😉) Also pick up the updated version The Dark Tower Companion so you can read about the Marvel Comic connections as well. They add to the DT stories in ways any fan would love!
    Images in this review
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    Customer image
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2006
    It's taken years and seven books but we have finally finished our quest for the Dark Tower. Now, we have this book to help us make sense of the journey. There is a love for the story that Bev brings to this book that many of us can empathize with. Bev's information, especially when discussing influences, is a very helpful adjunct to the series. There are bios of the characters, also a big help in keeping things straight. The poem which inspired it all (Childe Roland To The Dark Tower Came) is wonderful to have.

    Bev knows his topic very well and brings this knowledge to all of us. Another trip to the Tower will be in order once you have this guide at your side.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2014
    If you loved the Dark Tower series, you know that you always want more. This book ties all the stories together in a way that you will appreciate. You will learn things that you did not realize about the characters and the interaction of all of King's stories. A must have for your Stephen King collection
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2009
    Not a bad read for the Tower Junkie. There are just a few factual errors in this book, but I don't want to put any spoilers up here. Bev Vincent gets it MOSTLY right, but the errors stand out to someone who has read this series a few times.
    On the plus side, he points out a few other bits of information that are correct, and interesting to boot!
    Don't read this book until you have finished reading The Dark Tower series first. This book is not as exhaustively comprehensive as "The Dark Tower: A Concordance", by Robin Furth, which I also recommend for the serious Dark Tower Junkie.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2013
    Originally, planned on only ordering the Stephen King's The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance - then I saw this one. I ordered them for my son & he loved, this one. He said " this is the better of the two." I was very pleased with the service I received - quick and a great price.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Diego A. Salazar
    1.0 out of 5 stars Damaged
    Reviewed in Mexico on July 29, 2023
    The media could not be loaded.
    Already wrote a 1 star review on THE DARK TOWER COMPANION. Same thoughts and feelings apply to this book.
  • Daniele Lisa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bello
    Reviewed in Italy on March 6, 2018
    Pacco arrivato integro e nei tempi stabiliti. Il libro è in ottime condizioni, ed è un must per chi, come me, adora Stephen King e la serie della Torre Nero. Unico consiglio, acquistatelo solo se il vostro inglese è buono.
  • G. G. Curtis
    5.0 out of 5 stars For all Dark Tower fans
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2010
    Being an avid Stephen King fan and having read the Dark Tower series, 'The Road to the Dark Tower' by Bev Vincent was an absolute bonus, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone else who has also read what Bev Vincent describes as Stephen Kings Magnum Opus. It gave me a deeper insight and understanding, which I am very much appreciated.
  • Frank Reibold
    4.0 out of 5 stars Macht Zusammenhänge klarer
    Reviewed in Germany on November 21, 2007
    Dieses Buch erzählt die Entstehungsgeschichte des Dunklen Turms und stellt die damit in Zusammenhang stehenden Bücher und die wichtigsten Personen vor. Kapitel über das Ka und Kings Quellen, Literaturangaben und Websites runden das Buch ab.

    Den Hauptteil bildet jedoch eine Zusammenfassung der sieben Bände des Dunklen Turms in einzelnen Kapiteln. Dabei werden immer wieder Verbindungen zu den anderen Bänden und Büchern hergestellt. Der Autor zeichnet dabei vor allem nach, wie sich die Charaktere geändert haben und wie das Ka wirkt. Man muss dabei jedoch beachten, dass Vincent alle Informationen, die über das Ende des siebten Bandes hinaus gehen, im Internet als seine Spekulation bezeichnet hat. Wir wissen also nicht, ob Roland wieder jemanden ziehen wird und ob dies wieder Eddie, Susannah und Jake sein werden. (Ich würde es ihnen jedenfalls nicht wünschen.)

    Mir hat das Buch gefallen, weil es viele Zusammenhänge klarer gemacht hat. Wer jedoch genaueste Informationen zu Orten und Personen benötigt, sollte "Das Tor zu Stephen Kings Dunklem Turm" lesen.
  • I. C. Pizzie
    4.0 out of 5 stars A book for Dark Tower devotees
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2010
    Provides good, solid background info for those of us who know that we are all walking the road to the Dark Tower. A great gift for King fans.

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