The Dark Tower Series Summary
Stephen King

The Dark Tower Series Summary

A projected seven volumes, the Dark Tower series currently comprises The Gunslinger (1982, five short stories and a novel); The Drawing of the Three (1987, novel); The Wastelands (1991, novel); and Wizard and Glass (1997, novel). The series concerns a man's quest to find a mystical place known as the Dark Tower. These novels go beyond many quest novels in exploring the personality and conflicts of the quester — his motivations and the choices he is forced to make. These concerns inform the themes of The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three.

Roland's motivation hinges on his observation that the world has changed and "moved on." Civilization, as he knew it, has collapsed, and he seeks to discover the reasons. The Dark Tower is a nexus or center for all existence, time, and size, and Roland believes that he has to go there and perform an act...

(read more from the Short Guide)