my King haul.

[sgt.null]

Jenn sent me all 7 of the Dark Tower books in paperback. (my preferred mode.) and then this past weekend Julie picked up for me...

Blaze
the Dark Tower Concordances I & II
Cycle of the Werewolf

I'll have to go through the collection - but I should have just about everything now.

does anyone else have the concordances? are they helpful to you?

she got everything at half price books - quite a steal.

[Menolly]

Sarge, have you seen Av's suggested reading list for the cycle? It's not the full list, that incorporates most of King's work, but it is pretty comprehensive.

Damn, I envy you in a way. Just beginning that journey.

The Eyes of the Dragon and The Stand are important connections to me I think, (in fact, the Eyes has a connection much earlier in the DT series than anything else. Book II actually.) But it's not important in any sense except if you've read it, you'll go "Hey! Eyes of the Dragon."

Here's an ill-thought-out suggestion of order if you really insist though. (Anybody is welcome to revise it if they want, this is off-the-cuff.)

Eyes of the Dragon
DT I
DT II
DT III
The Stand
DT IV
'Salem's Lot
DT V
Low Men
DT VI
Insomnia
Everything's Eventual (title story and Little Sisters of Eulalia)
DT VII

Those are, I think, the most solid connections.

--Avatar

[sgt.null]

thanks! i need to see if i have Eyes of the Dragon. i shall use the list, maybe write it in the first dark tower book's margins.

[Cord]

I read them in the order above, which was a mission (took me 18 months), but it was worth it in terms of getting the complete picture.

Insomnia is an awesome book - probably my fave along with Salem's lot

[sgt.null]

how is salem's lot connected? and should the short story jerusalem's lot also be part of this?

[Menolly]

I won't say how 'Salem's lot is connected. I puzzled through that multiple times in my Fresh Journey thread as I read it. And just like those who encouraged me to continue, I will only say IMO, it is essential to continuing on to Wolves of the Calla.

I didn't read a short story called Jerusalem's Lot, so can't comment. As I said, there is a chart that incorporates nearly all of King's work prior to The Dark Tower into the cycle. The short story is probably included somewhere.

As for Insomnia... I had a really tough time with the beginning of that book. I still thank Cail and Av for encouraging me to forge forward. I found the story intriguing after awhile, but... *shrug*

It was not my favorite and the connection to the cycle, as duke puts it, seems simply as a softening of a sub-plot. Not really essential, IMO. But, I seem to be in the minority regarding appreciating it.

[Cail]

It's a love/hate response to "Insomnia". Very few people are ambivalent about it.

[sgt.null]

I won't say how 'Salem's lot is connected. I puzzled through that multiple times in my Fresh Journey thread as I read it. And just like those who encouraged me to continue, I will only say IMO, it is essential to continuing on to Wolves of the Calla.

I didn't read a short story called Jerusalem's Lot, so can't comment. As I said, there is a chart that incorporates nearly all of King's work prior to The Dark Tower into the cycle. The short story is probably included somewhere.

As.

jerusalem's lot is a tribute to hp lovecraft. i can't remember the name of the story - but king returned to salem's lot in a short story set in modern times. when i get to Callla i will get the connection? i like puzzles.

[Menolly]

when i get to Callla i will get the connection? i like puzzles.

Between 'Salem's Lot and Wolves? (and Song of Susannah too) Most definitely.

[sgt.null]

cool. salem's lot is my favorite king full length novel. the mist is my favorite novella. now if king would write a few more milkman stories.

[lucimay]

i'm so tempted to start through them all again this summer!!

could pass the time waiting for erikson and MARTIN. arg.