The Quest for the Dark Tower - by Alissa Burger (Paperback)

About the Book

"A sprawling epic that encompasses many worlds, parallel and alternate timelines, and the echoes between these disconnections, Stephen King's Dark Tower series spans the entirety of the author's career, from The Gunslinger to The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012). The series engages with a number of distinct and at times dissonant genre traditions, including those of Arthurian legend, fairy tales, the fantasy epic, the Western, and horror. The Dark Tower series cross-references King's other works, from overt characters or places to more subtle allusions. This book examines these connections and genre influences to consider how King negotiates and transforms them, why they matter, and the impact they have on one another and on King's work as a whole"--

Book Synopsis

A sprawling epic that encompasses many worlds, parallel and alternate timelines, and the echoes between these disconnects, Stephen King's Dark Tower series spans the entirety of King's career, from The Gunslinger (limited edition 1982; revised in 2003) to The Wind Through the Keyhole (2012). The series has two distinctive characteristics: its genre hybridity and its interconnection with the larger canon of King's work. The Dark Tower series engages with a number of distinct and at times dissonant genre traditions, including those of Arthurian legend, fairy tales, the fantasy epic, the Western, and horror. The Dark Tower series is also significant in its cross-references to King's other works, ranging from overt connections like characters or places to more subtle allusions, like the sigil of the Dark Tower's Crimson King appearing in the graffiti of other realities. This book examines these connections and genre influences to consider how King negotiates and transforms these elements, why they matter, and the impact they have on one another and on King's work as a whole.

Review Quotes

"[T]he book covers Stephen King's Dark Tower series in ways that go beyond other studies of the same subject. The major advantage here is that the author looks at so many different genres, influences, and connections.... [R]eaders will find this book to be one of the most complete on the topic.... It's easy for me to picture King's fans reading this book and discovering just how much King put into his epic tale."-Carl Sederholm, professor of interdisciplinary humanities, Brigham Young University

About the Author

Alissa Burger is an associate professor of English and Director of Student Success at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.