The Road to the Dark Tower

“This wonderful book by Bev Vincent opens doors to Roland’s world that not
even I knew existed. If you like The Dark Tower books, you’ll like this one.
Enthusiastically recommended.” Stephen King

Luitingh Sijthoff edition (The Netherlands)

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

It has been more than thirty years since Stephen King penned those words on a ream of bright green paper to begin his epic fantasy—and the crowning achievement of his literary career—The Dark Tower. 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, King’s seven-volume saga follows Roland, the last gunslinger, on his quest to reach the Dark Tower and not only save the world, but save every world across countless dimensions, all threatened by the Crimson King.

With the full cooperation of Stephen King himself, The Road to the Dark Tower examines the epic journey of the author, a quest that undoubtedly mirrors Roland’s, to complete a story that threatened to overwhelm him. From a series of short stories originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, The Dark Tower evolved over time to encompass King’s entire fictional universe.

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 titles, 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 consumed not only Stephen King, but his legion of constant readers.

  • Publisher: New American Library (September 28, 2004)
  • ISBN: 0451213041
  • Format: trade paperback
  • 368 pages
  • Cover design: Ray Lundgren
  • Cover art: Steve Stone

Other editions:

Interviews, reviews, commentary

Quotes:

  • Vincent proves himself a master of the Dark Tower world. Publishers Weekly
  • Bev Vincent is a true King insider, and all of his knowledge radiates through this comprehensive meditation on the Dark Tower books. His book is essential to every reader of Stephen King’s magnificent work. Peter Straub
  • There’s much…literature on Stephen King’s work, but most of it can be skipped. Not so with Vincent’s The Road to the Dark Tower, the first full-length study of King’s 30-year opus, a book-by-book summary with explanations and commentary. Charles N. Brown, Locus
  • Vincent has done yeoman’s work here. While THE ROAD TO THE DARK TOWER will not be the last word on Roland’s quest and the Stephen King Universe, it will undoubtedly be the standard by which all future works on the subject will be judged. Joe Hartlaub, Bookreporter.com
  • …an excellent and maybe even vital guide to King’s grand opus. Faren C. Miller, Locus
  • “…it’s brilliant!” Robin Furth, author of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower: The Complete Concordance