The Dark Tower 7

856 Pages·2004·5.21 MB·English

THE DARK TOWER VII

THE DARK TOWER

BY STEPHEN KING

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ALTHOUGH WE DEPLORE UNPROOFED RELEASES
WE ARE TAKING THE RARE STEP OF RELEASING
THIS BOOK IN THIS FORMAT TODAY, 19 SEPTEMBER
2004 - ONLY SO THAT IT CAN BE ENJOYED PRIOR TO
THE PUBLICATION OF THE TREEBOOK ON 21
SEPTEMBER 2004.

YOU MAY REST ASSURED THAT A FULLY PROOFED
VERSION, IN MULTIPLE FORMATS, WILL BE
RELEASED BY US IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE!

ELF (EBOOK LIBERATION FRONT)

STEPHEN KING

ILLUSTRATED BY MKHAKL WHELAN

THE DARK TOWER VII:

THE DARK TOWER

The final volume of Stephen King's masterful

multi-volume epic—hailed as a "hypnotic blend of suspense and

sentimentality...a sprawling, eventful tale of demons, monsters, narrow

escapes, and magic portals" (The New York Times Book Review).

T

he most anticipated book in Stephen King's legendary career, The Dark Tower
VII: The Dark Tower is the final installment to the bestselling author's epic
series—a story that began thirty-three years ago with The Cunslinger and has

gathered millions of ardent fans since Donald M. Grant published a limited edition
of that first volume in 1981.

This volume completes the quest of Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger in

a world which has "moved on." Like the first book in the series, the last is beautiful-
ly illustrated by famed fantasy artist Michael Whelan. And with the same mix of tri-
umph and loss that made Wolves of the Calla a runaway bestseller, The Dark Toiver
tracks Roland towards his ultimate goal, the tower itself—the center of all time, all
place. But this time, as Roland's ka-tet moves through The Dixie Pig in New York
City to Algul Siento in End-World, the losses come from within his circle of com-
panions. His antagonists, from Mia's chap Mordred to the force of evil known as the
Crimson King, grow more desperate. In the final stage of his search, Roland needs
one more ally, a last key to gain entry to the tower. What awaits him there, at the
tower's very top, is a mystery sure to awe King's legions of devoted fans.

With Stephen King's unparalleled storytelling power, and with interest in

fantasy at an all-time high, the release of The Dark Tower will be the most exciting
publishing event of the year.

Stephen King is the recipient of the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished
Contribution to American Letters. The international bestselling author of more than forty
novels and two hundred short stories, including Wolves of the Calla, Everything's Eventual,
and Dreamcatcher, he lives with his wife, Tabitha, in Maine and Florida.

The Dark Tower VII
September 21, 2004
A Donald M. Grant Book/Scribner
Fiction
6x9, 864 pages
$35.00
1-880418-62-2
Nonmerch0684031795

Do not quote for publication until verified with finished book.
This advance uncorrected reader's proof is the property of
Simon & Schuster. It is being loaned for promotional purposes
and review by the recipient and may not be used for any other
purpose or transferred to any third party. Simon & Schuster
reserves the right to cancel the loan and recall possession of the
proof at any time. Any duplication, sale or distribution to the
public is a violation of law.

THE DARK TOWER VII: THE DARK TOWER

Copyright © 2004 by Stephen King

WWW.STEPHENKING.COM

Illustrations © 2004 by Michael Whelan
WWW.GLASSONIONGRAPHICS.COM

Book design by Thomas Canty and Robert K. Wiener

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products

of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events

or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Maps © 2004 by Robin Furth

"BAD COMPANY," by Paul Bernard Rodgers, Simon F. Kirke © 1974 (renewed)

WB MUSIC CORP. and BADCO MUSIC INC. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.

Warner Bros. Publications U.S. Inc., Miami, Florida 33014

Lyric excerpt from "Hurt" written by Trent Reznor, copyright 1994

Leaving Hope Music/TVT Music, Inc. Administered by Leaving Hope Music, Inc.

All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission.

"THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT" by George David Weiss, Luigi Creatore, and Hugo Peretti

© 1961, Renewed Abilene Music, Inc. Permission secured. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2004109365

Printed in the United States of America

1 3 5 7 9
1 0
8 6 4 2

ISBN 1-880418-62-2

FIRST TRADE EDITION

Distributed by Simon & Schuster, Inc.

SCRIBNER

1230 Avenue of the Americas

'
New York, NY 10020

DONALD M. GRANT, PUBLISHER, INC.

Post Office Box 187, Hampton Falls, NH 03844

WWW.GRANTBOOKS.COM

He who speaks without an attentive ear is mute.

Therefore, Constant Reader, this final book in the Dark Tower cycle

is dedicated to you.

Long days and pleasant nights.

Not hear? When noise was everywhere! it tolled

Increasing like a bell. Names in my ears
Of all the lost adventurers, my peers —

How such a one was strong, and such was bold,

And such was fortunate, yet each of old

Lost, lost! one moment knelled the woe of years.

There they stood, ranged along the hillsides, met

To view the last of me, a living frame

For one more picture! In a sheet of flame
I saw them and I knew them all. And yet
Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I set,

And blew. 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came.'

—Robert Browning

"Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came"

I was born
Six-gun in my hand,
behind a gun
I'll make my final stand.

—Bad Company

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

—Trent Reznor

CONTENTS

PART ONE:

THE LITTLE RED KING

DAN-TETE

I: CALIAHAN AND THE VAMPIRES
3

II: LIFTED ON THE WAVE
17

III: EDDIE MAKES A CALL
31

IV: DAN-TETE
55

V: IN THE JUNGLE, THE MIGHTY JUNGLE
81

VI: ONTURTLEBACKLANE
113

VII: REUNION
133

PART TWO:

BLUE HEAVEN

DEVAR-TOI

I: THE DEVAR-TETE
/.'
141

II: THE WATCHER
!
155

III: THE SHINING WIRE
171

IV: THE DOOR INTO THUNDERCLAP
189

V: STEEK-TETE
199

VI: THE MASTER OF BLUE HEAVEN
221

VII: KA-SHUME
247

VIII: NOTES FROM THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE
265

IX: TRACKS ON THE PATH
309

X: THE LAST PALAVER

(SHEEMIE'S DREAM)
321

XI: THE ATTACK ON ALGUL SIENTO
343

XII: THE TET BREAKS
.
387

PART THREE:

IN THIS HAZE OF GREEN AND GOLD

VES'-KA GAN

I: MRS. TASSENBAUM DRIVES SOUTH
II: VES'-KAGAN
III: NEW YORK AGAIN

(ROLAND SHOWS ID)

IV: FEDIC

(TWOVIEWS)

421
451

485

531

PART FOUR:
V

THE WHITE LANDS OF EMPATHIGA

DANDELO

I: THE THING UNDER THE CASTLE
549

II: ON BADLANDS AVENUE
577

III: THE CASTLE OF THE CRIMSON KING
597

IV: HIDES
629

V: JOE COLLINS OF ODD'S LANE
647

VI: PATRICK DANVILLE
685

PART FIVE:

THE SCARLET FIELD OF

CAN'-KANOREY

I: THE SORE AND THE DOOR

(GOODBYE, MY DEAR)
715

II: MORDRED
751

III: THE CRIMSON KING AND

THE DARK TOWER
777

EPILOGUE

SUSANNAH IN NEW YORK

807

CODA
FOUND

817

APPENDIX

ROBERT BROWNING

"CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME"
833

AUTHOR'S NOTE
843

»

ILLUSTRATIONS

". . . THE WHITE COMMANDS YOU!"

14

"COME ON THEN, YOU BASTARDS."

110

"...WILL YOU?"

174

HE REACHED FOR IT AGAIN . . .

206

BELOW THEM IN THE SEEPING LIGHT

WAS THE VILLAGE.

334

HE MOVED IN BETWEEN JAKE AND EDDIE.

398

. . THE PIACE WHERE ROLAND FINALLY STOPPED
FELT MORE LIKE A CHURCH THAN A CLEARING.

494

. . . HE SAT ON HIS THRONE —
. . . WHICH IS MADE OF SKULLS

622

. . . WOE TO WHOEVER HAPPENED TO BE

IN HIS PATH.

654

IT WOULD NEVER OPEN AGAIN . . .

750

. . . HIS FACE WENT SLACK

WITH A PECULIAR SORT OF ECSTACY. ..

782

THE DARK TOWER

814

REPRODUCTION

REVELATION

REDEMPTION
RESUMPTION

K TOWER VII