"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."

Written by Stephen King in 1970, five years before the publication of his first novel, that sentence opens up a world still unknown to many of his readers. It begins a spectacular seven-volume epic fantasy — The Dark Tower — that is sure to become an American classic.

Preparing the way for the publication of the saga's concluding volumes, this hardcover edition of The Waste Lands, the exciting third book in the series, features a special introduction by the author and all of the full-color illustrations by Ned Dameron from the original limited edition published by Donald M. Grant, Publisher, in 1991.

Roland continues his quest for the Dark Tower, but he is no longer alone. He has trained Eddie and Susannah — who entered Mid-World from their separate whens in New York City in The Drawing of the Three — in the old ways of the gunslingers. But their ka-tet is not yet complete. Another must be drawn from New York into Mid-World, someone who has been there before, a boy who has died not once but twice, and yet still lives. The ka-tet, four who are bound together by fate, must travel far in this novel encountering not only the poisonous waste lands and the ravaged city of Lud that lies beyond, but also the rage of a train that might be their only means of escape.

"King throws in everything but the kitchen sink in an effort to keep things entertaining. It works like gangbusters. (Be forewarned: Though all the novels end in a sort of cliffhanger, this volume's cliffhanger demands Volume IV be nearby)." Dorman T. Shindler, The Denver Post

"Splendidly tense — rip-roaring..." Publishers Weekly

"The Waste Lands sees Roland and his fellow travelers continuing the quest for the Dark Tower. They journey through imaginative landscapes, over astounding obstacles, and meet with and confront a unique and fully drawn cast of characters, both human and nonhuman....Highly recommended for all fiction collections." Library Journal

"Chapter three of King's epic...saga [contains] some of his least restrained writing in years, great sagging storm clouds of padded prose that only occasionally thunder or brighten with lightning inspiration....Still, some of the action cooks up shivery suspense..." Kirkus Reviews

"While the story (inspired by Robert Browning's narrative poem 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came') is entertaining, what really makes it outstanding are King's unique, multifaceted characters. This is Stephen King at his best." School Library Journal

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.

Stephen King has written more than forty books and two hundred short stories. He has won the World Fantasy Award, several Bram Stoker awards, and the O. Henry Award for his story "The Man in the Black Suit."