Below is the complete list of Stephen King’s Dark Tower books in order. For this series, the chronological reading order is the same as the order of publication.
The Dark Tower Books
By: Stephen King, Robin Furth
- The Gunslinger (1982)
The Gunslinger was published in 1982 and is listed as book #1 in the Dark Tower series. - The Drawing of the Three (1987)
Published in 1987, The Drawing of the Three is listed as book #2 in the Dark Tower series. - The Waste Lands (1991)
The Waste Lands is a 1991 release and appears as book #3 in the Dark Tower series. - Wizard and Glass (1997)
In the Dark Tower series, Wizard and Glass is book #4 and was published in 1997. - Wolves of the Calla (2003)
Wolves of the Calla was first published in 2003; within the Dark Tower series, it is listed as book #5. - Song of Susannah (2004)
Song of Susannah was published in 2004 and is listed as book #6 in the Dark Tower series. - The Dark Tower (2004)
Published in 2004, The Dark Tower is listed as book #7 in the Dark Tower series. - The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012)
The Wind Through the Keyhole is a 2012 release and appears as book #8 in the Dark Tower series. - The Complete Concordance (2012)
In the Dark Tower series, The Complete Concordance is book #9 and was published in 2012.
Publication Order of The Dark Tower: Beginnings Books
- The Gunslinger Born (2007)
(By Robin Furth, Peter David)
The Gunslinger Born was first published in 2007; within the Dark Tower series, it is listed as book #10. - The Long Road Home (2008)
(By Robin Furth, Peter David, Richard Isanove)
The Long Road Home was published in 2008 and is listed as book #11 in the Dark Tower series. - Treachery (2009)
(By Robin Furth, Peter David, Richard Isanove)
Published in 2009, Treachery is listed as book #12 in the Dark Tower series. - The Fall of Gilead (2009)
(By Robin Furth, Peter David, Richard Isanove)
The Fall of Gilead is a 2009 release and appears as book #13 in the Dark Tower series. - Battle of Jericho Hill (2010)
(With Robin Furth, Peter David)
In the Dark Tower series, Battle of Jericho Hill is book #14 and was published in 2010. - The Sailor (2017)
(By Robin Furth)
The Sailor was first published in 2017; within the Dark Tower series, it is listed as book #15.
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Books
By: Stephen King, Robin Furth, Peter David
- The Journey Begins (2019)
The Journey Begins was published in 2019 and is listed as book #16 in the Dark Tower series. - The Little Sisters of Eluria (2019)
Published in 2019, The Little Sisters of Eluria is listed as book #17 in the Dark Tower series. - The Battle of Tull (2019)
The Battle of Tull is a 2019 release and appears as book #18 in the Dark Tower series. - The Way Station (2019)
In the Dark Tower series, The Way Station is book #19 and was published in 2019. - The Man in Black (2019)
The Man in Black was first published in 2019; within the Dark Tower series, it is listed as book #20. - Last Shots (2019)
Last Shots was published in 2019 and is listed as book #21 in the Dark Tower series.
The Dark Tower: The Drawing of the Three Books
By: Stephen King, Robin Furth, Peter David
- The Prisoner (2020)
Published in 2020, The Prisoner is listed as book #22 in the Dark Tower series. - House of Cards (2020)
House of Cards is a 2020 release and appears as book #23 in the Dark Tower series. - Lady of Shadows (2020)
In the Dark Tower series, Lady of Shadows is book #24 and was published in 2020. - Bitter Medicine (2020)
Bitter Medicine was first published in 2020; within the Dark Tower series, it is listed as book #25. - The Drawing of the Three Omnibus (2023)
The Drawing of the Three Omnibus was published in 2023 and is listed as book #26 in the Dark Tower series.
About The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King is an expansive fantasy saga that blends elements of westerns, horror, science fiction, and epic adventure. Spanning multiple novels published over several decades, the series follows Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, as he pursues a mysterious structure known as the Dark Tower—a powerful nexus believed to hold the fate of multiple worlds.
Roland’s journey begins in The Gunslinger, the first book in the series. At the outset, he is already deep into a relentless pursuit of the enigmatic figure known as the Man in Black. Roland’s mission appears simple on the surface: track down his adversary and ultimately reach the Dark Tower. Yet as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the Tower represents far more than a physical destination.
Reading the Dark Tower books in publication order reveals the gradual expansion of King’s fictional universe. What begins as a solitary quest across a desolate landscape evolves into a vast narrative that connects many different worlds and timelines. Roland’s path takes him through ruined cities, strange alternate realities, and regions where the boundaries between worlds begin to weaken.
One of the central ideas in the series is the concept of a multiverse—an interconnected system of worlds bound together by mysterious forces. The Dark Tower itself is described as the central point holding these realities in balance. If the Tower were to fall, the structure of existence across multiple universes could collapse.
As Roland continues his journey, he forms a group of companions known as a “ka-tet,” a fellowship bound together by fate. Among the most important members of Roland’s ka-tet are Eddie Dean, a troubled young man drawn from modern New York; Susannah Dean, a strong-willed woman whose complex personal history shapes her role within the group; and Jake Chambers, a boy whose path becomes deeply intertwined with Roland’s quest.
These characters bring emotional depth to the story, transforming Roland’s solitary mission into a shared journey. Each member of the ka-tet must confront personal struggles while adapting to the strange and often dangerous environments they encounter.
The setting of the Dark Tower series is equally distinctive. Roland’s world resembles a faded version of the Old West, filled with abandoned towns, forgotten technologies, and lingering remnants of advanced civilizations. The phrase “the world has moved on” frequently appears in the novels, emphasizing the sense that Roland travels through a landscape shaped by decay and lost history.
Stephen King’s storytelling within the series draws on influences from many genres. Western motifs appear in Roland’s identity as a gunslinger, while elements of horror and supernatural suspense reflect King’s broader body of work. Science fiction concepts such as alternate realities and time distortions also play an important role in the narrative.
Another unusual aspect of the series is how it connects with other works by Stephen King. Characters, locations, and concepts from several of his novels appear within the Dark Tower universe, suggesting that many of King’s stories exist within the same interconnected multiverse.
Over the course of the series, Roland’s pursuit of the Dark Tower becomes both a physical journey and a deeply personal quest. The story explores themes of destiny, sacrifice, loyalty, and the cyclical nature of time. Roland himself is portrayed as a determined but flawed hero whose past decisions continue to shape his future.
Following the Dark Tower books in publication order allows readers to experience how the saga gradually unfolds across multiple volumes. Through Roland’s long and dangerous journey, the series creates one of the most ambitious narrative landscapes in modern fantasy, weaving together adventure, mythology, and philosophical reflection into a single interconnected epic.