It's been one of those things on my to-read list, for, like, ever. My father, who was an avid King reader when I was a kid was unenthusiastic about the series, but he also doesn't like fantasy. I saw the movie, and wasn't thrilled by it, but there were things to like. I enjoyed the action scenes, which isn't the best recommendation for a book, but it also seemed like there was the roots of some interesting world-building in there. I've read many of King's older regular novels, including just about all of the classics, but the one fantasy I did read, Eye of the Dragon, I found unimpressive.

So what's the deal with the Dark Tower series? I know it supposedly ties in with some of his other books (and I recall definite references to the series in "Insomnia" ), but to what degree is familiarity with his other work required, since I have probably not touched them in over a decade? Was it like the older books, since I was less thrilled with his middle to late career (It, The Tommyknockers & Dreamcatcher spring to mind as examples of how the horror elements & evil were more repulsive, than horrifying or monstrous) ?

I also got the impression that the books in this series were not written in any sort of regular pace, and that it might have got away from King later on. Is that true, or is it worth it to get through?