Plot Summary

The Dark Tower

Stephen King
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The Dark Tower

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1982

Book Brief

Stephen King

The Dark Tower

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1982
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mid-World • Time-shifted fantasy world

Publication Year

1982

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

930L

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Super Short Summary

The Dark Tower recounts the final leg of Roland Deschain’s journey to a tower of enormous metaphysical significance as he battles his nemesis, the Man in Black, and various other antagonists including his own monstrous son, Mordred, in hopes of repairing his fractured world. The book deals with significant violence and themes of loss, existential dread, and intense emotional distress.

Mysterious

Dark

Gritty

Suspenseful

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

4.5

189,885 ratings

83%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Stephen King's The Dark Tower series intricately blends fantasy, horror, and Western genres, earning praise for its imaginative world-building and complex characters. However, some readers find the narrative pacing uneven and the ending polarizing. Overall, it remains a compelling, albeit divisive, magnum opus in King's oeuvre.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Dark Tower?

Fans of epic dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction will be captivated by Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series. Drawing parallels to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, readers who revel in intricate world-building, complex characters, and a blend of genres will find this series enthralling.

4.5

189,885 ratings

83%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Mid-World • Time-shifted fantasy world

Publication Year

1982

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

930L

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