The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King, George Guidall
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Book Reviews of The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1)
Book Review: readinisfun
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my all time favorite books and finding an extremely cheap copy in such great condition is a rare and lucky purchase. Thank you so muchBook Review: A Rare Stephen King Misfire
Summary: 2 Stars
While reviewing the first book, "The Gunslinger", of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series, I am trying to not let the brilliance of the subsequent editions cloud my judgment on this one. I am a "late" fan of King (still working my way through all his novels), and I finally decided to begin the journey to the Dark Tower. However, after reading this first installment, it took an editor's note from King himself to get me excited about continuing with Roland on his quest.
The main problem I had with this book is that absolutely no context is given for Roland's world on his travels as the book opens. Roland is wandering through a land that looks like our own but definitely is not, contains mutant monsters, and for some reason a "Man In Black" that Roland is compelled to follow.
As I continued reading, those mysteries were only beginning to be touched on as the novel came to a close. Thus, I spent way too much time trying to figure out just what the heck was going on (a task that is nearly impossible without reading the next few installments anyway) and less time just enjoying the adventure.
At the conclusion of my reading, I wondered exactly how Stephen King was going to make an interesting story out of this. Little did I know that King is actually utilizing a form of background storytelling, where the events in this book are not fully explained for two, three, or even four books down the line. I did not care for this type of narrative, as it creates way too much confusion and too little of the mystery that King likely was gunning for.
So, if you are looking to start your own quest for the Dark Tower, you still need to read this book, but keep firmly in your mind that the series absolutely explodes in the next few books, which is far different from the glacial-like pace of this first try.
Book Review: You have to read the whole series
Summary: 5 Stars
When I read this book, I actually thought that it was written by "another" Stephen King....someone that was using Steve's name to capitalize on his popularity. After reading the series, I am amazed by how it all comes together.Book Review: I want more
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Gunslinger" and "The Drawing of the Three" are probably the best of the series. Some of King's best work, especially from a writing standpoint. But I do want more, like maybe a prequel series that isn't a graphic novel or a rewrite of the 5th and 7th books, which both had moments, but in the end left much to be desired. Villains have to be bigger and badder then the protagonist, and they were until King emasculated two baddies (Crimson King and Randall Flagg/Martin) that not only ruined the Dark Tower series but a host of other King novels that they are connected to. If they are that weak as villains, why should I be afraid of them?Book Review: Not Free SF Reader
Summary: 5 Stars
Guns, sorcery and more.
Here is what Stephen King wrote in the afterword for this book, in the early eighties:
"The foregoing tale, which is almost (but not quite!) complete in itself, is the first stanza in a much longer work called The Dark Tower. Some of the work beyond this segment has been completed, but there is much more to be done -- my brief synopsis of the action to follow suggests a length approaching 3000 pages, perhaps more. That probably sounds as if my plans for the story have passed beyond mere ambition and into the land of lunacy...
...
"Most of the other poems had fallen out of my consciousness in the period between, but that one, gorgeous and rich and inexplicable, remained.., and it remains still. That poem was "Childe Roland," by Robert Browning."
A strange story that has another world, lower technology, with the feel of a dark western, yet people from our world are able to cross and become characters, as Roland, the Gunslinger, trails a sorcerer to his destiny after the death of his father.
Really good, eerie and sometimes horrific stuff here, with possession, murder, decay, and monsters.
The five stories that make up this collection are:
Gunslinger : The Gunslinger - Stephen King
Gunslinger : The Way Station - Stephen King
Gunslinger : The Oracle and the Mountains - Stephen King
Gunslinger : The Slow Mutants - Stephen King
Gunslinger : The Gunslinger and the Dark Man - Stephen King
Shooting up the town.
5 out of 5
Remember the demon bits.
3.5 out of 5
Prophecy, gates and a Dark Tower.
4 out of 5
Hawk trials and handcars.
4.5 out of 5
Readings and revelations.
4 out of 5