斯蒂芬·金，当代惊悚小说之王，通俗小说大师。一九四七年出生于美国缅因州的波特兰，后在缅因州州立大学学习英国文学，毕业后因工资菲薄而走上写作之路。二十世纪七十年代中期，斯蒂芬·金声名渐起，被《纽约时报》誉为“现代惊悚小说大师”。自二十世纪八十年代以来，在历年的美国畅销书排行榜中，其作品总是名列榜首，居高不下。金的很多作品都成为好莱坞制片商的抢手货。有超过七十部电影和电视节目取材自他的作品，包括《闪灵》（The Shining）、《绿里》（The Green Mile）、《肖申克的救赎》（Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption）等等。他在三十二岁时成为全世界作家中首屈一指的亿万富翁·斯蒂芬·金还是第一位在互联网上发表作品并提供收费下载的作家。二○○三年，他获得了美国国家图书奖的终身成就奖。

Set in a world of extraordinary circumstances, filled with stunning visual imagery and unforgettable characters, the DARK TOWER series is unlike anything you have ever read.Here is the fifth installment, "one of the strongest entries yet in what will surely be a master storyteller's magnum opus" ("Locus").Roland Deschain and his "ka-tet" are bearing southeast through the forests of Mid-World on their quest for the Dark Tower. Their path takes them to the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis. But beyond the tranquil farm town, the ground rises to the hulking darkness of Thunderclap, the source of a terrible affliction that is stealing the town's soul. The wolves of Thunderclap and their unspeakable depredation are coming. To resist them is to risk all, but these are odds the gunslingers are used to. Their guns, however, will not be enough....