Long days and pleasant nights, gunslingers and lobstrosities! I'm beyond excited to talk Stephen King's magnum opus, The Dark Tower, with you. Any questions, please feel free to drop them below and I say thankee-sai.

"The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." My favorite opening line of any book.

Just finished the Waste Lands a second time. It’s so cinematic, I don’t understand how the film and television industry continues to fail and pass on this massive universe.

Absolutely adore The Gunslinger series. "See the turtle of enormous girth! On his back he holds the Earth..."

I finished this series in January and this is without a doubt one of the most extraordinary and unique fantasy series I have ever read. I still regularly think about Roland and the Dark Tower universe. The dark tower is definitely not for everyone but oh man, if you are looking for something that will bend your mind, and simultaneously draw you into the a fantasy world, then read the Dark Tower. Definitely one of my all time favourite series (and yes, I actually liked the ending!)

The only thing I would add: don’t base a decision to read the books on whether you enjoyed the movie. The movie is far different in just about every way imaginable.

The audio book reading of Wizard and Glass, by Frank Muller, is possibly one of the best audio performances of a novel you will ever hear. It's incredible.

".... I come in the name of Jake Chambers- he of New York -who I call my own true son. I am Roland of Gilead, and I come as myself. YOU WILL OPEN TO ME." Not many books get a swell up from me, this did it.

I read the Gunslinger twice before I actually got to the other books. I drive 8 hours at a time for work so I thought I'd give the audio books a go. It's insane. I feel like I know these people. I feel like I know the world. It's huge and expansive and utterly mad. I'm half way through Song of Susannah and I can't wait to finish. Although I feel like I'm really going to miss them when they're gone.

I love the Dark Tower series. I got into it in my late 20s just as the last few books were comming out and the last book was god damn emotional. Like most Stephen Kings books the journey is better than the destination but the characters in this series will always have a special place in my heart. I've been listening to the series again while out on my walks and Stephen King books are even better in a audible format.

I never read a Stephen King book, I guess it is time now.

I think Wizard and Glass is King at his absolute best. I know that one is a little divisive but I thought it was spectacular. I’m not really a binge reader. I usually read in short bursts but I think I blew through the last 150-200 pages of this in one sitting.

i was in a transitional period of my life when I picked this book up, and I was worried because I had been digging through so many books and was losing interest or wouldn't finish the novels. I thought that I had just lost the patience to read books again and my brain had gone soft and smooth. Then I started reading book one, and I literally have not spent a single second without reading the series. I'm on the fourth novel now and I've only been reading the series for 2 weeks. This is all while working full time and keeping up a pretty active social life. I've actually gotten worried about my health because I stopped working out and started gaining weight a bit because all I do is sit around and read all day. I definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys fantasy. I haven't been reading this obsessively since maybe I was a kid and I used to consume mystery novels and poke'mon books.

This video is a fabulous introduction to The Dark Tower series! I just read The Gunslinger recently, and I’m excited to continue. From what I’ve seen so far, I would call it fantasy, though it’s also genre-defying at times as it blends in some elements that aren’t traditionally fantasy. Anyway, I really enjoyed your perspective and experience with the series. Thanks very much!

The Talisman, Insomnia, the stand, Black house, King created WORLDS. hot chocolate, mit shlat( whipped cream)..... I love my tortoise the most:)

The Dark Tower is the series that has had the biggest influence on my life, hands down. After finishing it I wrote my first (and only) letter to an author and had really passionate arguments with my Dad, who had that immediate negative reaction. I also have a cool Dark Tower story: as a teenager I worked as a tour guide in my hometown (which is in a small national park in Newfoundland). I gushed to a couple from Maine about my love for King, and they actually served on a committee with his wife. A few months later I received a signed copy of Song of Susannah with a personalized message. Best moment of my teen life! I recently read The First Law trilogy (thanks for convincing me!) and I was surprised at the thematic similarity to The Dark Tower. They are wildly different styles (and stories) and have ultimately different variants of the same message, but it was an interesting connection nonetheless. Really enjoyed this video, as always :)

Many readers have complained about the ending but i appreciate the ending of the series a lot. I think it makes perfect sense in the whole story and the theme of the series. The ending was never there to satisfy the readers, it was there to serve the story (or serve the ka). Plus if you read close enough i think there are lots of foreshadowings to the ending whether intentional or not. It sure hurt me a lot and left a deep scar in my heart but i think the bittersweetness of it is what makes me come back to this series over and over again. You can make lots of theories about the ending even about the whole story and that is magical. Honestly i cannot think of a better way to end the series even though the parts with the crimson king were a bit weak, i accept that. However, the very ending of the story is unforgettable and unique. This is the series, which redefined my whole thinking about literature and life in general. I will never ever forget it.

I'm reading this series for the first time and have almost finished "Wolves of the Callah". I had not read fantasy for almost ten years and this series brought me into aldult fantasy and back to the genre in general. Now here I am, going through your channel and wonderfully done videos, and I'm so happy to have great recommendations for a long time to come! Thank you for the passion you're putting into all this, it is infectious.

love the video!!! it would be really cool if you had the time to do a spoilers video discussing more of your thoughts on the last book. I'd be so interested to hear

I’ve read The Gunslinger and The Drawing of the Three but have never gone further. Recently bought the paperback box set and I’m committing to go all the way through this time. Finishing up a first read of Salem’s Lot (a little over halfway) and then I’m diving back into The Dark Tower 😬

Dude! I’ve been waiting for ages for this video. I’m so happy to hear you’ve fallen in love with the series. I’m currently making my way through it now.

Thankee Sai, long days and pleasant nights to you.

Thank you for this video, Mike! The comments on my recent video makes me interested in trying The Dark Tower again, and this video may really settled it!

My mom bought me that book when it was new, I think I was 14. She knew I was a king fan. I figured, 'what the hell is going on here, King writing westerns...???", after third chapter was so hooked. Could only get those books here in my home town at whatever is on rack at the convenience stores.... and was a long, long wait till number two, the drawing of the three, then so much longer for the wastelands, was in university then..... and then boom boom boom sure love this series.

As a long time King fan I can't tell you how happy I am to hear you talk about his books. I absolutely love the channel and the fact that you love King is just the icing on the cake. And I have to tell you that you totally blew my mind with this whole multiverse stuff-- I had no idea it was all connected!! I have not read this series yet and am now even more excited to get into all of it. Apparently I've missed a few things Lol. Thank you for the fabulous content-- keep it coming!!

Great video, Mike. I'm making my way through the multiverse, and I can't wait to read this series.

My all time favorite books. I read the first 2 books and was instantly hooked. I remember hating that I had to wait for book 3 to come out and each book after.

This is easily in my top 5 favorite fantasy series of all time. Maybe even top 3. Glad to see you cover it.

my first stephen king book was the wastelands. i bought it from the book store because the cover was this ghostly train, and i thought it looked cool. cover art is how we picked everything back in the day. got towards the end of the book, and i realized we didn't have enough time to finish up. it felt it like we were just getting started. i didn't realize it was part of a series, and i was on book 3, and book 4 wasn't even out yet. i was a kid just getting into books, so i didn't know any better. i loved the wastelands despite reading it out of order, and i still think about it. i think its time to finally get into this series, after i finish the stand.

Awesome video! Just finished Drawing of the Three tonight! About to fire up Waste Lands here in a few min :)

Accidently chanced upon the series and it is INCOMPARABLE. My #1favorite series of all time.

Mike your the man you make the best reviews. Just watched you Mistborn reviews and It review. Love all your content your so relatable for me

Interesting that your video popped up haha I just recently started this series. On the 3rd book! So far the most action packed for sure!

Nice shout out to Insomnia - after The Stand, that's one of my favorites. I didn't mind the ending of the series at all, and while some of King's choices in the latter few books were startling, I respect that he makes bold choices even if they don't work for everyone. I found it fascinating, myself. I love how so many of his works tie right in to the Dark Tower. Great video :D

Man, I appreciate this channel so much. I am just starting to become a more avid reader, averaging a book every week and a half (trying to balance academics and work does not leave me much free time) and this channel makes me just read more despite this lack of time. Honestly, I watch quite a few booktubers and Mike you might have to be my favorite! In general, I just like the manner in which you describe things and I happen to agree with your "book politics" and reviews on books.

Yea just decided I need to reread Salem's Lot along with some others before my Dark Tower reread. Great video.

your intro to the books always makes your videos bloody interesting ❤👌

I loved how Kings dark tower encompassed all of his stories woven into that universe.... at first, the gunslinger pissed me off, but after the firs chapter.... dude. hooked.

Hey there Mike. That sounds pretty cool. I might pick up that series, after I get done with my current listening projects. I have just finished volume 10 of the Collector's Edition of the Fruits Basket manga. It was so intense. I just have 17 more chapters left, and I will have finished that series. I do plan on diving back into the Dresden Files and the Wheel of Time after that. I also did get my digital audio book of Peace Talks today on my audible app. I can't wait to get caught up with that series.

Thankee Sai. I've read the series 4 times now. Will read again. Long days and pleasant nights.

I was never into reading fantasy until I read this series. I was blown away and now I've been discovering more fantasy authors. I've recently been reading The Stormlight Archive and now I'm well and truly hooked.

Even all these years later I can still recite "The man in black fled across the dessert and the Gunslinger followed" at the drop of a hat. Some books are just etched into your being and this is one of those books for me. So many years since I read it. This video is making me want to open up my copy and start a re-read.

The hardest part people say about getting into the Dark Tower is the first book, the Gunslinger. They say it drags or its boring but I recommend anyone picking up the series for the first time go ahead and get the revised and expanded edition. Not only does it add more to the story and lore, it’s more exciting and captivating. I never had a problem getting into the Gunslinger but the revised version is a much better way to read it.

When I first read the ending, I was pissed. Then I began to think about it more and I’ve come to actually like it. I think my issues now are more about a few events that take place before the ending. Specifically, the fates of two major enemies....

When I first read the final Dark Tower I had no idea of the backlash but holy moly was I pissed off, I can't recall ever being so angry at book after reading the "true ending", but I've grown to appreciate it more over the years, I think it's soon time for me to read the whole Dark Tower saga again.

Love them. Been trying to get my son to pick it up. He loves it.

I’ve been wanting to read this for a while. I had the ending spoiled for me and since then I’ve been putting it off. I’ve learned not to expect too much from his endings (not all of them) but I think I’ll read this soon. Thanks for the recommendations, love listening to you!

The ending is SO King!:)

The reread of that series will have to happen soon because I've been craving it.

I finished The Dark Tower series for the first time last night and I'm still trying to process it all. What an experience that was.

I've only read the Gunslinger (I do plan on reading the rest) but it has my favourite opening of any book ever.

I am going through my first venture to the Dark Tower, on the 2nd audiobook and I am hooked!

Gladly watched this video even though I've read The Dark Tower series at least seven times. Yes, it is my favorite series, and I had no problems with books 6 or 7, nor with the end. But I can understand why someone would. I'm not that blinded by my love for this series. I actually think there are a lot of great moments in book 6. Funny thing is I actually avoided this series even though I was already a constant reader. I can't put a finger on why, but yes, I actually didn't read it until about six or seven years after the last book came out. I was not disappointed, and I chided myself for putting it off as long as i did. I've talked about it at home so much one of my sons wants to read this series. He's too young at the moment, but I look forward to his experience with it. Anyway, keep up the great work Mike!

Perfect cast for the dark tower movies: Roland - Josh Brolin (Clint Eastwood is the obvious choice, but he's 90). Eddie - Chris Pine, Susanna/Detta - Zoe Saldana, Man in Black - Johnny Depp, Father Callahan - Tom Hanks.

Now on my 6th time of reading the series and I pick up stuff that I've missed previously every time I read them. And by the way I loved the ending, absolute classic!

In General, I met king by chance and not in the best way - from the book "Gunslinger". I was walking around the store, looking for an adequate popular book on physics, and then BANG, out of the corner of my eye I clung to the section of science fiction and fantasy. I decided to take a look, I see: the cover with a man in a hat and raincoat, a tower behind, the author's name is on the ear (I've heard a lot about him before), and the price tag is tempting (discounts). I decided to buy it. Came home, opened and... couldn't make out anything. I spent too much time on this thin book: two weeks, and realized that for some reason I did not like it. And thank all that I came across the next book of the cycle, after I listened to the author himself about the "Gunslinger". He himself says that the book, frankly to put it mildly, is so-so. I read "The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three" and was satisfied. Now the shelf is bursting with his books)

Bought the gunslinger brand new at Barnes and Noble years ago, but never touched it (wasn’t a reader then), it, along with a bunch of other books I hadn’t read got cleared out and sold. Now (that I’m actually reading) I’ve since recovered most of the titles from used books stores, including the gunslinger. But the one I just bought has that really cool old school Signet cover, rather than the cookie cutter one Id originally bought. Excited to crack it open and get started on The Dark Tower saga. Appreciated the video

I like ur book case!! Keep safe!! 😊📖

Yaaaaaayyyy was waiting for this one

I was thinking of reading the dark tower, but now I am sure that I want to read it

I'm about to embark on the 2nd journey to The Tower in few months. Kinda celebrating the 5th year of having read the series "in one go." Being a Constant Reader, I'm used to The Author's quirks and nooks when it comes to endings, yet the contraversal ideas and unwarranted decisions make him [ SK ] a brilliant writer. You simply don't see what's comin'; if King wants you to have a clue, he'll hint one, but at the end of the tale he's gonna be the one smiling, thinkin', "Ya ain't seen that comin'!" Because he doesn't even know where his characters are going. This is the simple fact that makes Stephen K a story-telling genius. Narrating the tale "in the mind set of the character, complete with its own personality and vocabulary" we read about, being ulta-modern in ways that many writers are incapable of due to old age. Absolute treasure The Dark Tower saga is, nothing on its ending either!

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed..." I devoured avidly the first three books, had a several years hiatus before Wizard and Glass because I couldn't find it anywhere, but I think it was Ka just preparing me for what I was about to face. That fourth book crushed me and still haunts me to this time, I can't mention that book without tears coming to my eyes as I remember Roland looking at the pyre through the crystal ball... Wolves of Calla was great, but I found it difficult to keep on after about one third of it, I could continue it after almost 3 years, and when I took it back, it was finished in less than a week. Song was different, I read it through also quite quickly, and enjoyed it a lot, but understanding that it was just part of a bigger whole. And then the last one... I fall short to tell how wild of a ride it was, but I can definitely say that its ending was the most mind-blowing thing I could have ever expected, and I can't imagine a better way to close every single of the characters' arcs. "The man in black fled across the desert, and the Gunslinger followed."

I have just a couple books in front of the gunslinger, but hot damn Mike you've got me hyped.

Just wanted to add that I wasn’t crazy about the ending, but after thinking about it for awhile, it’s the only ending that could have happened

I laughed when you said you wouldn't recommend starting Stephen King with the Dark Tower. As someone who is just starting the Song of Susannah it is a little too late for that advice. I chose it mostly cause I am not that fond of horror, but I really like fantasy. I thought it would be a good starting point for me and it has. The ending I think will be interesting. Mostly cause I feel I've gotten all these opinions and feelings from other people that it will be hard to go in without any expectations. Will I be waiting for that moment where I decide where I love it or hate it? Or will I be too worried about getting to that point to enjoy it? I would also love for you to do a spoiler review of the series (that I would watch after I finish it) and see what parts you liked and disliked. Great Video.

I love this books I finished all the books 1week ago, now im reading The dark half

best series ever along with berserk.

Reading the gunslinger, loving it, ordered the rest of the series, Salem's lot and the stand. King is definitely one of my favorite authors especially his horror and fantasy novels

Never understood the hate for the "real" ending. King told you to stop reading and enjoy the ending you wanted, if you chose to read on and find out what really happens don't be mad. I thought the real ending was amazing and every time you do a read through you pick up more and more clues of what was to come. The Dark Tower to me is my favorite series/story of all time!

Intresting that his magnus opus is almost an underground work

In the midsts of a reread. As a teen I stopped at song os susannah, so trying again. Just finished Waste Lands. First read the Drawing of the Three was my favorite, this time its absolutely the Waste Lands. Onto Wizard and Glass!

insomnia is the next king book i wanne read since it matters so mutch for the Dark Tower (even tho i have already read the dark tower series)

I had read IT(x2) and The Stand than read The Dark Tower. I kind of wish I had read more of King's works but I am now reading more of his works and maybe in a year or so I may re-read The Dark Tower with a better understanding of King's Universe [rinse and repeat lol (can't read all his works in a year lol)]

Good, fair review/recommendation for people who are thinking of picking up the series. I will only add that (like yourself) I usually tell horror fans that it's best to start with some of his other novels if you've not read King before. The one exception to this is the first book- The Gunslinger. It's such a brilliantly different type of story and so well executed that I recommend it to everyone on it's own merits. It's great even as a standalone in my opinion. Ranks right up there with some of Bradbury's best fantasy/horror literary work.

I'll never forget Blaine the mono 😂

I don't know why i waited so much to subscribe you're chanell,been watchin' you for a long time,i guess this was the last drop...sooo much love for these series,i have feeling Sai King write this shit just for me :)

I recently started the series. The first book was a bit difficult to get through (I thought it was kind of boring). The second was quite good. Just started the third, and I think I am starting to really love it! Other than this, the only SK I have read is The Stand, It (read those last year) and Insomnia (read that one almost 15 years ago, my first SK ever). I hope it is good enough to go on.

The greatest series of books ever...just my humble opinion

Water for your crop. Long days and pleasant nights Sai Mike! I'm a DT tragic mate. From my elbows to my wrists I'm tattooed with Jae Lee's Marvel comics artwork of Susan Delgado and Aileen Ritter lol. I'm 43yo now and I've been a Constant Reader since I was 12yo, starting with "Salem's Lot." For the longest time I had no interest in the DT series. But then I read "Insomnia" and Ralph and Lois gave me my key to the tower. Ironically, a few nights ago I watched "The good, the bad and the ugly" for the first time, and I only now understand SKs foreword regarding his inspiration from this film. The stark deadly landscape is the Mohaine desert to a tee. The apotheosis of all deserts indeed. A huge thankie sai to you Mike, great vid mate. "He could afford it. If she was no Gunslinger, then he was a Billy Bumbler."

I'm trying to read it, I'm on the fourth book. The first one was so hard for me to get through, it felt disjointed to me, like a fever dream. They have got better as I've gone, but I still have that initial taste in my mouth, not unpleasant, just not my jam. But, I'm going to finish it eventually. I made a deal with my buddy, he reads Dresden Files and I read DT.

love the varied worlds

I’ve read the entire series several times over the past 20 years, just finished my seventh reading.

Grest review Sai, I love the Darktower it's my favorite series of all time. Im a huge Sai King 👑

Just finished the entire series. It's break my heart. 💔 Greetings from Argentina .

The ending was the best way to finish the book. And I would suggest that it was the only way to end it. I almost want to know what happens to Roland after (hard to describe the question without spoiling).

KA is a wheel!!! Great books!!!

If someone were to ask me about The Dark Tower then this is the video I would send them. You have put across the essence of the story better than I ever could. Got to say I’m with you on book 6 Song of Susannah. However…. The final book rewarded my faith in the journey I had taken with Sai King. I have to say at the time of reading the ending I was floored, but in a good way. I put the book down and was thinking about it for weeks afterwards. No book /series has come close to having the same effect. I certainly can see why it was and still is devisive but for me? Exceptional. Long Days and Pleasant Nights Mike 🤠👍🏻🇬🇧

Hey Mike. I was wondering which versions of the Dark Tower you had. Recently picked up the first two by Plume publications and wanted the other to match. Just found out Plume only published the first 4. Which versions should I get for 5-7?

I understand that human beings are most comfortable when we can slap a label on a thing and identify it, quantify it, and communicate the label to others (oh God, marketing). The problem with Stephen King is that he isn't very good with labels, and, more specifically, he is not very good with boundaries. He tells stories, and he is not particularly concerned with telling stories to/for the audience, which is not to say that he doesn't care what you think. Consider his perspective for a moment. The man is a globally acknowledged master of his craft of writing, which he mastered on his own through his labor and sweat. 30 years and millions of sold books later, the audience says "You boned the ending of the Dark Tower and we don't like it." A rational, thoughtful, self-reflective fellow would look at that response and spend an appropriate amount of time asking "Am I losing my touch, or is the reader wrong on this one?" Based on comments from King himself, I suspect he did that very thing. And then, without pride or ego or malice, he said "Screw those hippies!" and went right on doing what he does. I think it's fair to say that it's been a long time since he wrote for the money. He probably stopped that about the time he kicked that Bolivian marching powder problem he had in the 80's. He writes for himself, and the constant reader is along for the ride. If, at any point, you want to get off the ride--I'm looking at you, Tommyknockers--you're free to close the book and then sell it, burn it, use it for toilet paper, whatever. What the Stephen King reader should NOT do is attempt to pigeonhole King's stories into tightly specific genre categories, because the man simply does not work that way. For a list of examples to support my argument, one need look no further than the films adapted from his works. Some of them are spectacular and some of them are doggie doodle with a lifelike aroma that actually sticks to your senses. Oscar, Razzie, Oscar, Razzie, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Razzie Razzie. Is King such a hit and miss author that he can't tell the difference between literature and doggie doodle, or did some film makers either adapt him faithfully to the story he was telling while others tried to label him and failed? The reader is a hitchhiker, looking for adventure. SK is the car that stops to pick the reader up. Sometimes you like where he takes you and there is cake, and sometimes you get torn apart by rabid penguins at the end. I don't believe that King every wrote a truly "bad" book, though I did find some to be kinda whiffy. I think that sometimes I got in the car and met the penguins, but mostly there was, if not cake, then at least a reasonable facsimile thereof. And at the end of the analysis, how many authors can I say that about? When the car stops, get in. Take the ride. You can always get out if you start seeing penguins. In this case, I just don't think it's legitimate to either blame the reader or damn the author if you don't like the ride. No authors, books, oxford commas, or penguins were harmed in the fashioning of this analogy. Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.

Started the series for the first time. There are some parts of The Gunslinger where I get confused, or lost, and I find myself having to go back and reread. I have just accepted that I may have to read more than once to fully grasp.

I read the series, or swallowed the series, when I turned 40 and I frikkin loved it! One of the best reads ever :)

I loved the ending. VAGUE SPOILER AHEAD SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ, DON'T READ ANY MORE. The way he ended it - the very end, book 6 was lousy - it makes me imagine that the journey is still continuing, rather than being done. There's something very beautiful in that, especially how we often mourn the end of a great book series.

Just finished The Gunslinger...I'm going to keep going!

Everyone: I would not recommend starting with dark tower if you've never read Stephen King Me: decides the gunslinger will be my first Stephen King book 🤷‍♀️

I really recommend that book for all.

The ending was jarring when I read it. After time, I understood it and thought it was...well I don't want to spoil it for anyone. I accept the ending now.

Read the the gunslinger. I thought it was ok. Had trouble getting through the drawing of the three, but its on my list of series to go back to eventually.

I think the ending is perfect. I need to re-read the series. I wasn’t overly in love with the series in my original read through but I didn’t hate it either. I do feel that King rushed the last 3 books because of the pressure to finish it.

Good sales job. As a chicken who can’t read King’s horror novel and therefore didn’t understand the references - I still loved this series. It was so weird and wonderful. Though I liked ending (my best friend set my expectations low by hating it so that was easy). As for the tropes - well they are there, if only to be smashed!

I can definitely see where you're coming from with the choices made in book 6 and 7. There's two huge things I absolutely hate, that being said, still absolutely love the ending itself and the series as a whole is still magical. But hearing you clarify that some made me realize I'd probably mostly agree with you.