Thanks for being my reading buddy through this journey. One of favorite things to do through this journey is to watch your video on that book after I finish it. I Should be finishing up rose madder today.
My wife and I are reading through this (her again, me the first time); and I’m doing the same thing. Love his videos and such a great companion to the read
Recommended reading order with links to his reviews: The Gunslinger (ua-cam.com/video/f5FTY_5vCAE/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) The Drawing of the Three (ua-cam.com/video/LtzC307p1EQ/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) The Stand (ua-cam.com/video/WyMMWHNu87I/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) The Waste Lands (ua-cam.com/video/DRQvO4VpPrs/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) Wizard and Glass (ua-cam.com/video/xg40BXKNKtw/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) Salems Lot (ua-cam.com/video/BGCrydHB8LE/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) Insomnia (ua-cam.com/video/iZ6gvuUNvF0/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) Everything's Eventual (only the 'The Little Sisters of Eluria' and 'Everything's Eventual' novellas) ua-cam.com/video/pLcod0XNXUs/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared Hearts in Atlantis (only novella called 'Low Men in Yellow Coats' ) ua-cam.com/video/Bj7v9l11shU/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared Wolves of the Calla (ua-cam.com/video/yxmIPzQEPCg/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) Song of Susannah (ua-cam.com/video/4jsv2ejWSWU/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) The Dark Tower (ua-cam.com/video/o9ps0YHK4JI/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) The Wind through the Keyhole (ua-cam.com/video/WY22xQGEyxs/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared) Can't wait to read (and watch) this series!
The Dark Tower 7 had both enlightened and destroyed me in the most emotionally violent rollercoaster I’ve ever been on. Its narrative structure is secretly genius in how you lose more of the journey part of the story the more you reach the tower, but it also gives you reason to enjoy what time you got left with the Tet. You understand the point of not just the series but really most of King’s body of work in the end. That Life is strange, scary, dark, but also funny, fascinating and worth living for. Ka is a wheel after all. Also, did you know King references Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt? I can tell that King was inspired by The Downward Spiral album, which depicts the sad corrosion and addiction of a man, and that it wasn’t worth it. Hurt (Reznor’s version) is embedded in book 7’s themes. The tier list is awesome btw! I think it’s easy to say you don’t need to read any of these books, but they do add to exploring the mythology in ways that change perspective on the main Ka-Tet story!
SUPER helpful thanks man! I’m on Black House having followed your original guide based on Jimmy Mango’s and I agree with your analysis entirely regarding which are essential vs complimentary vs non-essential
Hi, don’t know if some mentionned it, but u forgot 2 things... 1. "On writing" King relates his accident and this is ESSENTIAL to the Dark Tower... 2. " The long journey home" comics books wich take place just after ”Wizard and glass" Always love ur enthusiasm and passion in ur videos😊
I just finished my 2nd journey to the tower and my 1st through the extended order (although I had read most of those too years ago, just not in order). I even added a few others to my extended journey. The Shining, Bag of Bones, and From a Buick 8. I was a few months behind you but always went to your videos immediately after finishing a book. I discovered your videos when I was still on The Talisman. Had a great time, but I've been working on a revised essential list for a friend recently too. Thanks!
It’s fun seeing this even though I’ve been to the tower twice already ❤ I’m a huge king fan and am on the quest to read all his books which is a doozy! I still haven’t ready black house or talisman!
Agree with reading "Wind Through the Keyhole" at the end as a nice palate cleanser. It scratches that itch for a return to Roland's world while also being a stand alone breezy read.
This is perfect timing as I'm planning to start Jimmy's expanded Dark Tower reading order later this week. I had already wanted to cull down the list to make it more manageable by including only the non-DT books that I already intended to read (Stand, IT, Salem's Lot) as well as the books considered essential. Besides Insomnia, I wasn't exactly sure which other ones were essential so this list helps a ton! Going to do your exact recommended reading order, plus IT. Thanks so much! Looking forward to watching your read-along videos during my journey
What I would like to see is an expanded list that also includes essential material that inspired King, rather than just his books from the expanded universe. That could turn into quite a grand endeavor to get through.
Looking forward to this one!! I'm in the middle of my Dark Tower journey, currently reading Insomnia. I have used The Jimmy Mango list AND The Horror Show Channel to make my own list and reading path. Unfortunately, I'm still not convinced that I love the whole dark tower-thing....... but I'm going to keep on reading, too stubborn to stop really....
The series has high points and low points. There were moments when I was reading one of the books from the extended series and just slogging through but in the end I really looked back on the whole experience fondly.
So happy to see you've finished your journey!! I was reading along with you for a while but have hit a King slump after finishing Hearts in Atlantis. I've switched to Sanderson books for the time being and have been loving them! However this may inspire me to hop back in and finish my journey to the Dark Tower. Keep up the great work!!
I am currently on the stand. I am reading the book and then watching ur review and going in order. It helps me make sure I got all of the information before going to the next book. Can’t wait to finish it all along side your videos🙂👍
just realized Paperback Journeys is PBJ - also i think i realized that you're my new favorite book tuber. view and sub counts not reflecting how friggin good you are at this. keep it up, man. your recs are automatic pickups for me at this point. cheers to PBJ. I have read the stand and salem's lot already, but am starting this reading order next month, plus IT. can't wait!
Thank you for this man🙏 I've started this journey back at the beginning of June this year and I was so blown away by The Drawing of The Three (which is now my favorite book ever so far) that I was just really anticipating getting to the Wastelands. I read The Stand that I did enjoy, but The Eyes Of The Dragon was kinda just alright and also had me worried that I would just try to zoom across the non Dark Tower books to quickly get to the next one. But, after watching this video and seeing that some of the books aren't really required to appreciate the Dark Tower series, I'm gladly going to start up the Wastelands which I've been itching to get at after I finished Drawing of The Three in June. Thank you so much for this
When I took my journey to the dark tower I followed Jaime En Fuego from The Horror Show Channel reading order . It was all the same ones that were on mangos list minus the ones you had in the non essential section 😂 . But I like Jaime En Fuego’s order better , its main book side book main book side book . So nothing ever gets stale . And tbh all the books u have in complimentary section are essential as well . I do agree with your non essential list tho . And I’ve watched all of your journey to the dark tower videos , totally loved getting to revisit all these books with you through your reviews . Everyone’s journey is a little bit different and unique, but Ka is a wheel and we all ended up in the same place .
Excellent video! I love seeing everyone's different reading orders for DT and you make sound arguments for why you've placed the books where you have. Also (super spoilers for people who haven't visited the Tower yet!): The Stand is the direct prequel to the Gunslinger in my headcannon. I understand the ideas that there are multiple worlds and multiple levels of the tower itself, however, I believe The Stand takes place in the same world that the Three were drawn from, just years later. I dont think it matters that Jake was drawn twice. For me this is a function of time-hopping through one alternate world, not dimension-hopping across many worlds. I recognize that this is never proven, but I believe it's also never disproven. I think most people dont agree with this interpretation, but is why my re-reading order will put The Stand first. What a wild and wonderful story.
I can see why you'd say that. I was considering The Stand first but I think, the opening line just has so much meaning that it's epic to start the journey with those words.
Really cool to see ya try something new with this kind of video :) Your channel was the reason I finally took on the challenge of the tower and it was goddamn worth it. I read some other books (on the side) for it as well. “From a Buick 8” which I’d put in complimentary and Night Shift which wasn’t essential in the slightest, but a fun read to get some more info on Salem’s Lot and The Stand.
just gotta say this is a fantastic reading order. currently doing it. Would only say do insomnia before wizard and glass. thats what I did and It gives a lot of information on a certain character that is mentioned in wizard and glass and later on in the series
Fantastic video! So many Stephen King book videos are vague or incomplete, but this was very well done. You would have been on my list of UA-cam video buddies when I traveled to the Dark Tower for sure!
Thank you for this! I just started The Gunslinger the other day and was feeling unsure if I could commit to the whole extended universe as it's not my typical genre. It's still a daunting task, but I feel more capable of completing it with this shortened essential list!
I see “Stephen King” or “Dark Tower” in the title for a new video for this channel, I know I’m in for a treat. THE most intellectually respectable views on this material you will find anywhere online regardless of if you agree with them or not. Genuinely want to get a beer with you sir.
Thank you so much for the new essential-nonessential guide! The Jimmy Mango List was great but a bit intimidating for me length wise. I’m just barely past the start of my Dark Tower journey but I will want to reach the Tower by the end of next year 😊 (Maybe we could collab when I reach the Tower?)
Oh I'm so happy to hear that you're on the path to The Dark Tower. Yeah it was definitely overwhelming and after committing to the extended reading list on one of my early videos, I sometimes felt like I'd made a mistake. You definitely get away with skipping about half of the books on Jimmy Mango's list (although I'm so grateful for him for creating it!) I think Jimmy is a DT purist which is cool.
I’ve been doing Jimmy Mango’s reading order myself. I understood that much of it isn’t essential but as you say, it’s fun. It’s given me a reason to check out some of Kings books for the first time while giving some old favourites re-read. I’ve been at it now for just over a year and am currently on ‘It’ (I have been reading other things in between…I’m a slow reader but not THAT slow. 😂) which is now the third time that I have read It. The first was in high school way back in the 90s and I’m surprised how much I remember. I definitely retained things better back then. 😉 Anyway it’s been very enjoyable so far. After this I’ll be going through all of the Castle Rock stories. 🙂
Fab video! Thanks. I watched the Jimmy Mango video too and thought, I want to do this! But some of the detours between series books are mad long, and I know myself well enough that I'll fail the journey if I have to break off to read 3-4000 pages of other books in the middle 😅 So I'm reading the mammoths in advance. I'm on the final part of The Stand now, and will do Salem's Lot next. Was going to read It as well, but now I'm considering saving that until I've reached the Dark Tower. Will otherwise follow your suggestions, I think. (Although it's going to be hard to leave 4.5 for last. I get twitchy about reading books out of order 😂)
I had to read eyes of the dragon to only find out that Roland half mentions running in to Thomas and Dennis who are also looking for Randall Flagg in Wasteland. 🤦🏼♂️
I’ve been going through an extended reading order of Dark Tower on and off since 2020 and I really appreciate the confirmation for only having to read the first novella in Hearts in Atlantis! I’ve been unsure about whether or not the other three novellas were necessary or not for quite awhile! I’m planning on reading that novella after going through The Regulators.
Yeah with Hearts in Atlantis I definitely think it's only the first novella "Low Men in Yellow Coats," that you need. They also made a movie of it starring Anthony Hopkins and titled it Hearts in Atlantis which is a bit confusing. I won't spoil anything but I don't know how the movie can possibly make sense in isolation.
This is a great way of splitting the books out. I think there’s a couple you can split hairs over. You can argue that ‘It’ is essential reading for a King fan, but you can completely get away without reading it as part of the Tower and be none the worse off. And to be really controversial, while I like The Little Sisters of Eluria (either version) I think it’s one you can get away without it. On the flip side, even though you might not like Eyes of the Dragon much it does give a bit more insight into Flagg as a character and might be a bit more complimentary to the series. Oh what a great discussion. Love that you’ve done this. Great to see you back on The Dark Tower 😁
Oh yeah "It" is a must read if you enjoy Stephen King but for a journey to the tower, not essential as you say. I can see where you're coming from with Little Sisters but to my thinking, if you've picked up Everything's Eventual and there's a Roland story in there, then why not? 🤷♂️ With Eyes of the Dragon, maybe I should have put that in complementary. I mean you could even have that as the first book really but I just really didn't enjoy it AND I kinda think of that Flagg as someone totally different. It's almost as if this is a fairy tale from Roland's world that isn't cannon, a little like The Wind Through the Keyhole. Still... with some of the ideas explored in the later books maybe including fairy tales makes sense. Yeah it's great to think / talk about this stuff.
The only King book I read prior to the Dark Tower series was Rose Madder which was mentioned but not really relevant to the story. Since I've read the series I've read a large number of King novels including Salem's Lot but I don't even think that novel is all that essential to the plot. You get everything you need in the main series. Don't be discouraged to just read the 7 books in the series.
I read The Stand, but don't think I would put it in essential for the Dark Tower. Complementary yes. The villain is the same, but he's so different it might as well be a different character. They stumble across the world of the Stand at one point, but that's more of a cute nod rather than an essential part of the Dark Tower story.
He IS different but I think it's the events of The Stand that maybe change him? I also think it's better to know the character's backstory. You could say the same for Eyes of the Dragon but I strangely don't think of him as the same character. Thanks for the comment.
I agree, totally. I also just think The Stand as a 1000+ page detour that only provides a little additional context for someone's first journey to the tour is a little too daunting.
Have you read the marvel comic books yet? I have not… However I have bought them all on eBay (50 or 60 of them or so 😅) and plan to read them afterwards. Reviews online are good for them as complimentary to the books.
Question: I understand Insomnia takes place in Derry where IT takes place. Can I read Insomnia without having IT spoiled? If possible I'd like to save IT for later, but I don't want Insomnia to spoil it
It's been a little while since I made this video, but I think at the end of this video I give the order to read it in. I'm pretty sure this would be the chronological order of the events, although maybe not the publication order.
is it not a case of read these books then start the gunslinger and the rest of the dark tower series i dont see why you'd start them then go onto another book them back to the dark tower especially since its one long continuous story
Even though I prefer The Dark Tower, I think most people would recommend starting with Mistborn. It's a more traditional fantasy with a cool in depth magic system. The Dark Tower is quite an unusual series and some truly unexpected (weird) things happen. Most fantasy readers LOVE Mistborn. It wasn't for me, but I'm the outlier. It's got some interesting characters too.
Why would I want to read the essential books in the middle of the dark tower rather than ahead? Would it be better to read The Stand, Insomnia etc first and then do The Dark Tower from start to finish?
You can absolutely read the series alone but there are mentions of characters and events in the other books which kind of put this in chronological order and enhance the experience. If you read The Dark Tower series from beginning to end, for example, it would spoil the ending of Salem's Lot. You'd also meet characters from other books and have no idea who they are. Someone said it would be like watching The Avengers movies without ever seeing a Spider-Man or Ironman movie. I don't think it'd quite THAT bad but it's similar.
im now on book number 4, please without spoilers, how much percent is insomnia relevant to Dark Tower? Is it like 10% or does it have a big impact? Thank you :)
Okay no spoilers. If you have a reason that you REALLY don't want to read Insomnia, it'll be okay. I put it as essential but let's say you're HATING IT and you're thinking about quitting the series because of this one book, then just skip it. It's not as essential as say... Salem's Lot.
@@PaperbackJourneys I really wanna read it, but i cant wait for the plot to move, bcs the fourth book is flashback:D is it okay reading it after book 5? And thank you for answer :)
I read the whole Dark Tower without reading the extended books and you won’t miss anything plot wise, but the [spoiler reason] would probably have made my journey have a few more “ah ha!” Moments
I love King. I love The Dark Tower. But if you don't realise he added a bunch of book titles in the last couple of books for a cash grab, well you probably should go back to school. I think he was just sick of people asking him when he was going to finish the series that he wanted to troll his fans and make money at the same time.
I don't get why you guys keep saying the stand is essential it has nothing to do with it it's got one guy that kind of floats around in there that's ridiculous the stand sucks throw that trash away
Thanks for being my reading buddy through this journey. One of favorite things to do through this journey is to watch your video on that book after I finish it. I Should be finishing up rose madder today.
Oooh I love hearing this Joseph! I'm so glad you're liking The Dark Tower reviews mate. I'm pinning this comment! Love it!
My wife and I are reading through this (her again, me the first time); and I’m doing the same thing. Love his videos and such a great companion to the read
@@Turtlpwr what book are you on?
@@Turtlpwr I hope you and your wife are enjoying the journey mate!
Recommended reading order with links to his reviews:
The Gunslinger (ua-cam.com/video/f5FTY_5vCAE/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
The Drawing of the Three (ua-cam.com/video/LtzC307p1EQ/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
The Stand (ua-cam.com/video/WyMMWHNu87I/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
The Waste Lands (ua-cam.com/video/DRQvO4VpPrs/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
Wizard and Glass (ua-cam.com/video/xg40BXKNKtw/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
Salems Lot (ua-cam.com/video/BGCrydHB8LE/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
Insomnia (ua-cam.com/video/iZ6gvuUNvF0/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
Everything's Eventual (only the 'The Little Sisters of Eluria' and 'Everything's Eventual' novellas) ua-cam.com/video/pLcod0XNXUs/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
Hearts in Atlantis (only novella called 'Low Men in Yellow Coats' ) ua-cam.com/video/Bj7v9l11shU/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared
Wolves of the Calla (ua-cam.com/video/yxmIPzQEPCg/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
Song of Susannah (ua-cam.com/video/4jsv2ejWSWU/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
The Dark Tower (ua-cam.com/video/o9ps0YHK4JI/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
The Wind through the Keyhole (ua-cam.com/video/WY22xQGEyxs/v-deo.htmlfeature=shared)
Can't wait to read (and watch) this series!
The Dark Tower 7 had both enlightened and destroyed me in the most emotionally violent rollercoaster I’ve ever been on. Its narrative structure is secretly genius in how you lose more of the journey part of the story the more you reach the tower, but it also gives you reason to enjoy what time you got left with the Tet. You understand the point of not just the series but really most of King’s body of work in the end. That Life is strange, scary, dark, but also funny, fascinating and worth living for. Ka is a wheel after all. Also, did you know King references Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt? I can tell that King was inspired by The Downward Spiral album, which depicts the sad corrosion and addiction of a man, and that it wasn’t worth it. Hurt (Reznor’s version) is embedded in book 7’s themes.
The tier list is awesome btw! I think it’s easy to say you don’t need to read any of these books, but they do add to exploring the mythology in ways that change perspective on the main Ka-Tet story!
I love that web diagram with all the books. He put so much effort into developing these worlds
It's mind blowing isn't it? I love sitting around just thinking of all the connections, both confirmed and head cannon.
SUPER helpful thanks man! I’m on Black House having followed your original guide based on Jimmy Mango’s and I agree with your analysis entirely regarding which are essential vs complimentary vs non-essential
Hi, don’t know if some mentionned it, but u forgot 2 things... 1. "On writing" King relates his accident and this is ESSENTIAL to the Dark Tower... 2. " The long journey home" comics books wich take place just after ”Wizard and glass" Always love ur enthusiasm and passion in ur videos😊
Excellent series. Oy was my favorite character.
I just finished my 2nd journey to the tower and my 1st through the extended order (although I had read most of those too years ago, just not in order). I even added a few others to my extended journey. The Shining, Bag of Bones, and From a Buick 8. I was a few months behind you but always went to your videos immediately after finishing a book. I discovered your videos when I was still on The Talisman. Had a great time, but I've been working on a revised essential list for a friend recently too. Thanks!
It’s fun seeing this even though I’ve been to the tower twice already ❤ I’m a huge king fan and am on the quest to read all his books which is a doozy! I still haven’t ready black house or talisman!
Agree with reading "Wind Through the Keyhole" at the end as a nice palate cleanser. It scratches that itch for a return to Roland's world while also being a stand alone breezy read.
This is perfect timing as I'm planning to start Jimmy's expanded Dark Tower reading order later this week. I had already wanted to cull down the list to make it more manageable by including only the non-DT books that I already intended to read (Stand, IT, Salem's Lot) as well as the books considered essential. Besides Insomnia, I wasn't exactly sure which other ones were essential so this list helps a ton! Going to do your exact recommended reading order, plus IT. Thanks so much! Looking forward to watching your read-along videos during my journey
King hinted a new tower book on twitter a few days ago!!
Dude yes!! I saw that. I made a video about it, I just need to post it up!
I bet it is a tie in not a DK/Roland novel
What I would like to see is an expanded list that also includes essential material that inspired King, rather than just his books from the expanded universe. That could turn into quite a grand endeavor to get through.
Wonderful. Exactly what I needed. Thanks a lot. Iam starting the journey today
The art in the beginning makes the story look so much cooler than it was.
Looking forward to this one!! I'm in the middle of my Dark Tower journey, currently reading Insomnia. I have used The Jimmy Mango list AND The Horror Show Channel to make my own list and reading path. Unfortunately, I'm still not convinced that I love the whole dark tower-thing....... but I'm going to keep on reading, too stubborn to stop really....
The series has high points and low points. There were moments when I was reading one of the books from the extended series and just slogging through but in the end I really looked back on the whole experience fondly.
So happy to see you've finished your journey!! I was reading along with you for a while but have hit a King slump after finishing Hearts in Atlantis. I've switched to Sanderson books for the time being and have been loving them! However this may inspire me to hop back in and finish my journey to the Dark Tower. Keep up the great work!!
I am currently on the stand. I am reading the book and then watching ur review and going in order. It helps me make sure I got all of the information before going to the next book. Can’t wait to finish it all along side your videos🙂👍
The stands so good, I unfortunately read it after I completely finished the dark tower but that just means i have to do it again but in order
just realized Paperback Journeys is PBJ - also i think i realized that you're my new favorite book tuber. view and sub counts not reflecting how friggin good you are at this. keep it up, man. your recs are automatic pickups for me at this point. cheers to PBJ. I have read the stand and salem's lot already, but am starting this reading order next month, plus IT. can't wait!
Thank you for this man🙏 I've started this journey back at the beginning of June this year and I was so blown away by The Drawing of The Three (which is now my favorite book ever so far) that I was just really anticipating getting to the Wastelands. I read The Stand that I did enjoy, but The Eyes Of The Dragon was kinda just alright and also had me worried that I would just try to zoom across the non Dark Tower books to quickly get to the next one. But, after watching this video and seeing that some of the books aren't really required to appreciate the Dark Tower series, I'm gladly going to start up the Wastelands which I've been itching to get at after I finished Drawing of The Three in June. Thank you so much for this
100% agree with this, great list!
When I took my journey to the dark tower I followed Jaime En Fuego from The Horror Show Channel reading order . It was all the same ones that were on mangos list minus the ones you had in the non essential section 😂 . But I like Jaime En Fuego’s order better , its main book side book main book side book . So nothing ever gets stale . And tbh all the books u have in complimentary section are essential as well . I do agree with your non essential list tho . And I’ve watched all of your journey to the dark tower videos , totally loved getting to revisit all these books with you through your reviews . Everyone’s journey is a little bit different and unique, but Ka is a wheel and we all ended up in the same place .
Excellent video! I love seeing everyone's different reading orders for DT and you make sound arguments for why you've placed the books where you have.
Also (super spoilers for people who haven't visited the Tower yet!): The Stand is the direct prequel to the Gunslinger in my headcannon. I understand the ideas that there are multiple worlds and multiple levels of the tower itself, however, I believe The Stand takes place in the same world that the Three were drawn from, just years later. I dont think it matters that Jake was drawn twice. For me this is a function of time-hopping through one alternate world, not dimension-hopping across many worlds. I recognize that this is never proven, but I believe it's also never disproven. I think most people dont agree with this interpretation, but is why my re-reading order will put The Stand first.
What a wild and wonderful story.
I can see why you'd say that. I was considering The Stand first but I think, the opening line just has so much meaning that it's epic to start the journey with those words.
Just came across this video while reading The Drawing of the Three. Glad I did! I’m going to follow this order and will let you know my experience!
Really cool to see ya try something new with this kind of video :)
Your channel was the reason I finally took on the challenge of the tower and it was goddamn worth it. I read some other books (on the side) for it as well. “From a Buick 8” which I’d put in complimentary and Night Shift which wasn’t essential in the slightest, but a fun read to get some more info on Salem’s Lot and The Stand.
just gotta say this is a fantastic reading order. currently doing it. Would only say do insomnia before wizard and glass. thats what I did and It gives a lot of information on a certain character that is mentioned in wizard and glass and later on in the series
I read pretty much exclusively Stephen king and now books you recommend so I'm here for this video :)
Im following his reading order as well and Im about to start The Talisman light tonight or tomorrow. Your insight was helpful.
I hope you enjoyed it! That and Black House are just so much fun
Great video 😊
Thank you so much.
Fantastic video! So many Stephen King book videos are vague or incomplete, but this was very well done. You would have been on my list of UA-cam video buddies when I traveled to the Dark Tower for sure!
Thank you for this! I just started The Gunslinger the other day and was feeling unsure if I could commit to the whole extended universe as it's not my typical genre. It's still a daunting task, but I feel more capable of completing it with this shortened essential list!
My series in my TBL list. Yes not TBR. To Be Listen :) Many Thanks, I did not know the "way"!
The legendary Paperback Journeys channel just convinced me to read The Wind through the Keyhole AFTER the whole shizzle
Yeah I think it's better to skip it. Some commenters even got mad at me for reading it out of order of publication haha. Thanks for the comment mate.
@@PaperbackJourneys People can be C......Complicated🤣
I see “Stephen King” or “Dark Tower” in the title for a new video for this channel, I know I’m in for a treat. THE most intellectually respectable views on this material you will find anywhere online regardless of if you agree with them or not. Genuinely want to get a beer with you sir.
Thank you so much for the new essential-nonessential guide! The Jimmy Mango List was great but a bit intimidating for me length wise. I’m just barely past the start of my Dark Tower journey but I will want to reach the Tower by the end of next year 😊
(Maybe we could collab when I reach the Tower?)
Oh I'm so happy to hear that you're on the path to The Dark Tower.
Yeah it was definitely overwhelming and after committing to the extended reading list on one of my early videos, I sometimes felt like I'd made a mistake.
You definitely get away with skipping about half of the books on Jimmy Mango's list (although I'm so grateful for him for creating it!) I think Jimmy is a DT purist which is cool.
@@valliyarnl Oh and yeah... I'd love to collab and hear your thoughts when you reach the end of The Dark Tower! Absolutely.
I’ve been doing Jimmy Mango’s reading order myself. I understood that much of it isn’t essential but as you say, it’s fun. It’s given me a reason to check out some of Kings books for the first time while giving some old favourites re-read. I’ve been at it now for just over a year and am currently on ‘It’ (I have been reading other things in between…I’m a slow reader but not THAT slow. 😂) which is now the third time that I have read It. The first was in high school way back in the 90s and I’m surprised how much I remember. I definitely retained things better back then. 😉
Anyway it’s been very enjoyable so far. After this I’ll be going through all of the Castle Rock stories. 🙂
Fab video! Thanks. I watched the Jimmy Mango video too and thought, I want to do this! But some of the detours between series books are mad long, and I know myself well enough that I'll fail the journey if I have to break off to read 3-4000 pages of other books in the middle 😅 So I'm reading the mammoths in advance. I'm on the final part of The Stand now, and will do Salem's Lot next. Was going to read It as well, but now I'm considering saving that until I've reached the Dark Tower. Will otherwise follow your suggestions, I think. (Although it's going to be hard to leave 4.5 for last. I get twitchy about reading books out of order 😂)
Yeah I would feel weird about reading out of order too but some people actually got mad at me for reading 4.5 before 5 haha. IT is a great book.
I had to read eyes of the dragon to only find out that Roland half mentions running in to Thomas and Dennis who are also looking for Randall Flagg in Wasteland. 🤦🏼♂️
I’ve been going through an extended reading order of Dark Tower on and off since 2020 and I really appreciate the confirmation for only having to read the first novella in Hearts in Atlantis! I’ve been unsure about whether or not the other three novellas were necessary or not for quite awhile! I’m planning on reading that novella after going through The Regulators.
Yeah with Hearts in Atlantis I definitely think it's only the first novella "Low Men in Yellow Coats," that you need. They also made a movie of it starring Anthony Hopkins and titled it Hearts in Atlantis which is a bit confusing. I won't spoil anything but I don't know how the movie can possibly make sense in isolation.
This is a great way of splitting the books out. I think there’s a couple you can split hairs over. You can argue that ‘It’ is essential reading for a King fan, but you can completely get away without reading it as part of the Tower and be none the worse off.
And to be really controversial, while I like The Little Sisters of Eluria (either version) I think it’s one you can get away without it.
On the flip side, even though you might not like Eyes of the Dragon much it does give a bit more insight into Flagg as a character and might be a bit more complimentary to the series.
Oh what a great discussion. Love that you’ve done this. Great to see you back on The Dark Tower 😁
Oh yeah "It" is a must read if you enjoy Stephen King but for a journey to the tower, not essential as you say. I can see where you're coming from with Little Sisters but to my thinking, if you've picked up Everything's Eventual and there's a Roland story in there, then why not? 🤷♂️
With Eyes of the Dragon, maybe I should have put that in complementary. I mean you could even have that as the first book really but I just really didn't enjoy it AND I kinda think of that Flagg as someone totally different. It's almost as if this is a fairy tale from Roland's world that isn't cannon, a little like The Wind Through the Keyhole. Still... with some of the ideas explored in the later books maybe including fairy tales makes sense. Yeah it's great to think / talk about this stuff.
@@PaperbackJourneys I can see that with Eyes of the Dragon. Flagg’s twinner more than Flagg himself.
Love reading the books than watching your reviews after
The only King book I read prior to the Dark Tower series was Rose Madder which was mentioned but not really relevant to the story. Since I've read the series I've read a large number of King novels including Salem's Lot but I don't even think that novel is all that essential to the plot. You get everything you need in the main series. Don't be discouraged to just read the 7 books in the series.
It’s pronounced integral lol😂
Great video! The Dark Tower vids led me to your awesome channel last year ^_^
Should be on the list because of It but 11/22/63. Not really essential but it ties in
Did someone say "Dark Tower"? 😅👍
You heard it correct Sai.
omg someone other than me has read "the talisman"
Such a good story
Im on the Talisman on my read through at the moment, far behind but im getting there lmao
It's a long journey but it's one you won't forget mate. Whenever I pick up a Stephen King book now, it feels like coming home.
I would consider IT essential to give the turtle a lot of its context.
I read The Stand, but don't think I would put it in essential for the Dark Tower. Complementary yes. The villain is the same, but he's so different it might as well be a different character. They stumble across the world of the Stand at one point, but that's more of a cute nod rather than an essential part of the Dark Tower story.
He IS different but I think it's the events of The Stand that maybe change him? I also think it's better to know the character's backstory. You could say the same for Eyes of the Dragon but I strangely don't think of him as the same character. Thanks for the comment.
@@PaperbackJourneys "it's the events of The Stand that maybe change him?" oh that's interesting.
I agree, totally. I also just think The Stand as a 1000+ page detour that only provides a little additional context for someone's first journey to the tour is a little too daunting.
Yh luckily I read the stand first - I loved it and it got me into stephen king. It made flaggs appearance so much more satisfying in the dt
Have you read the marvel comic books yet? I have not… However I have bought them all on eBay (50 or 60 of them or so 😅) and plan to read them afterwards. Reviews online are good for them as complimentary to the books.
Question: I understand Insomnia takes place in Derry where IT takes place. Can I read Insomnia without having IT spoiled? If possible I'd like to save IT for later, but I don't want Insomnia to spoil it
So categories great. Can u or someone else provide a chronological order as well?
It's been a little while since I made this video, but I think at the end of this video I give the order to read it in. I'm pretty sure this would be the chronological order of the events, although maybe not the publication order.
is it not a case of read these books then start the gunslinger and the rest of the dark tower series i dont see why you'd start them then go onto another book them back to the dark tower especially since its one long continuous story
Wondered if there going to make a Hollow Cocoon book (it's great/mystery game)
I tried Eyes of the Dragon and I just couldn’t. I didn’t like it. Talisman and Black House, though, were so good. Agree, not essential, but so fun!
The man in the black suit is in everything's eventual. Randall Flagg is in it. It should at least be in your non essentials
New to fantasy I’m trying to see should I read this or Mistborn first
Even though I prefer The Dark Tower, I think most people would recommend starting with Mistborn. It's a more traditional fantasy with a cool in depth magic system. The Dark Tower is quite an unusual series and some truly unexpected (weird) things happen.
Most fantasy readers LOVE Mistborn. It wasn't for me, but I'm the outlier. It's got some interesting characters too.
@@PaperbackJourneys ahh thanks guess I’ll go with Sk with this one
Currently reading pet semetary hoping to start my dark tower journey by the end of the year
Why would I want to read the essential books in the middle of the dark tower rather than ahead? Would it be better to read The Stand, Insomnia etc first and then do The Dark Tower from start to finish?
You can absolutely read the series alone but there are mentions of characters and events in the other books which kind of put this in chronological order and enhance the experience.
If you read The Dark Tower series from beginning to end, for example, it would spoil the ending of Salem's Lot. You'd also meet characters from other books and have no idea who they are.
Someone said it would be like watching The Avengers movies without ever seeing a Spider-Man or Ironman movie. I don't think it'd quite THAT bad but it's similar.
Did anybody see Stephen's post?
im now on book number 4, please without spoilers, how much percent is insomnia relevant to Dark Tower? Is it like 10% or does it have a big impact? Thank you :)
Okay no spoilers. If you have a reason that you REALLY don't want to read Insomnia, it'll be okay. I put it as essential but let's say you're HATING IT and you're thinking about quitting the series because of this one book, then just skip it. It's not as essential as say... Salem's Lot.
@@PaperbackJourneys I really wanna read it, but i cant wait for the plot to move, bcs the fourth book is flashback:D is it okay reading it after book 5? And thank you for answer :)
I read the whole Dark Tower without reading the extended books and you won’t miss anything plot wise, but the [spoiler reason] would probably have made my journey have a few more “ah ha!” Moments
Sir paper isn't pregnant yet, but he never fails to deliver
I love King. I love The Dark Tower. But if you don't realise he added a bunch of book titles in the last couple of books for a cash grab, well you probably should go back to school. I think he was just sick of people asking him when he was going to finish the series that he wanted to troll his fans and make money at the same time.
I don't get why you guys keep saying the stand is essential it has nothing to do with it it's got one guy that kind of floats around in there that's ridiculous the stand sucks throw that trash away