From the Publisher
Beginning with a short story appearing in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1978, the publication of Stephen King’s epic work of fantasy--what he considers to be a single long novel and his magnum opus--has spanned a quarter of a century. Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances, filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters, The Dark Tower series is King’s most visionary feat of storytelling, a magical mix of science fiction, fantasy, and horror that may well be his crowning achievement. In November 2003, the fifth installment, Wolves of the Calla, will be published under the imprint of Donald M. Grant, with distribution and major promotion provided by Scribner. Song of Susannah, Book VI, and The Dark Tower, Book VII, will follow under the same arrangement in 2004. With these last three volumes finally on the horizon, readers--countless King readers who have yet to delve into The Dark Tower and a multitude of new and old fantasy fans--can now look forward to reading the series straight through to its stunning conclusion. Viking’s elegant reissue of the first four books ensures that for the first time The Dark Tower will be widely available in hardcover editions for this eager readership.
About the Author
Stephen King was born in Portland, Maine, on September 21, 1947, to Donald and Nellie Ruth King. King wrote his first short story before he was seven years old. As a teenager, he played on the football team and joined a rock band, but also had two of his short stories published. After graduating with a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970, he married Tabitha Spruce, also a writer, in 1971, and began a career as a teacher. His spare time was spent in writing novels that were consistently rejected by publishers. King's first novel would never have been published if not for his wife. She removed the first few chapters from the garbage after King had thrown them away in frustration. Three months later, he received a $2,500 advance from Doubleday Publishing for the book that went on to sell a modest 13,000 hardcover copies. That book, Carrie, was about a girl with telekinetic powers who is tormented by bullies at school. She uses her power, in turn, to torment and eventually destroy her mean-spirited classmates. When United Artists released the film version in 1976, it was a critical and commercial success. The paperback version of the book, released after the movie, went on to sell more than two-and-a-half million copies. Many of King's other horror novels have been adapted into movies, including The Shining, Firestarter, Pet Semetary, Cujo, Misery, The Stand, and The Tommyknockers. Under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, King has written the books The Running Man, The Regulators, Thinner, The Long Walk, Roadwork, and Rage. Today, Stephen King is one of the world's most successful writers, with more than 100 million copies of his works in print. Many of his books have been translated into foreign languages, and he writes new books at a rate of about one per year. King and his wife have three children and live in the small town of Bangor, Maine, where many of his stories are set.
Hardcover
256 Pages, 6.25 x 9.25 x 0.88 IN
June 24, 2003
Viking USA
English
0670032549
9780670032549