The Gunslinger
discussion
Is the Dark Tower series worth reading?
message 1:
by
Bailey
(new)
Feb 16, 2014 07:42AM
Okay, I'll admit that I'm a big Stephen King fan, but I just couldn't get into the Dark Tower series. I read the gunslinger and didn't like the western feel to it. Does it change at all away from the western to the typical King horror
reply
|
flag
Honestly, and I say this as a huge Stephen King fan, the Gunslinger is by far the worst of the series. It was also one of his earliest books. I think it started out as something very different (more of a Western), but is in a VERY different place after the final installment. Even The Drawing of the Three is a very different and much better book in my opinion. I would give that a go and see if you like it any better. Gunslinger is a very solitary book, but I loved all the rest. A couple of years ago actually, I bought them all on audio book to listen to while working out, but skipped The Gunslinger. It is definitely the odd-ball of the series. Also, the last four are the best, though Wizard and Glass is my personal favorite and one of my desert island books. I hope you enjoy it.
I'd say even if you dislike one or two books of the series it is still worth a read mostly because you get to see Stephen King's changing as a writer and there is a lot of mixed criticism on the last books but it is one of things that, you just won't know until you try
The ending to the series was so bad that King actually wrote an afterword saying that he didn't want to hear complaints about it.
Thanks guys :)And Dann are you referring to The Wind Through The Keyhole ending?
Dann wrote: "The ending to the series was so bad that King actually wrote an afterword saying that he didn't want to hear complaints about it."I didn't find it bad well that bad, but i can see why people would hate it, personally it was a pretty perfect ending
Wind Through the Keyhole was not great. I think, without spoilers, that if you stop reading the last book when King advises you to, then you will be much better off. I also wouldn't mind a philosophical discussion of the actual ending, though that would ruin it for Bailey.
Hahaha I would love to have a conversation when I'm done... how many books are there altogether?Oh and also should you read the short story little sisters of eluria first? The short story? I have it in one of the collections, says its an intro to the series??
Oh i thought he meant the end of the series, yeah the Keyhole wasn't all what it was suppose to be, it was okay as an individual book in mid-world but as a Roland story it was eh
I haven't read the little sisters of eluria. I will have to check that out. Thanks for the tip. There are seven books total (eight if you count Wind Through the Keyhole, but I don't, really). The nice thing is that the world is continually developing. There are comic books/graphic novels that touch on a lot of back story that King never went into. That being said, there is enough actual story in what is probably close to 6000 pages of books to keep you busy for a while. I'm jealous that you get to experience it for the first time. Enjoy!
Bailey wrote: "Hahaha I would love to have a conversation when I'm done... how many books are there altogether?Oh and also should you read the short story little sisters of eluria first? The short story? I have ..."
It's not necessary to read it (it's in Everything's Eventual) but it is a nice read better than the Keyhole, i think. Also there are 7 complete books plus Wind Through The Keyhole and Little Sisters of Eluria
Ok, I will have to read them. So what exactly is it about, the series as a whole? Does the gunslinger have any relation to the series in the end?
It starts out as a tale of Roland, The Last Gunslinger, following the man that brought about the ruin of his kingdom, Gilead. He is looking for answers, but finds more questions first. Starting in the next book, he will begin drawing people to help him with his quest to reach The Dark Tower and to save Mid-World. This is the quest that takes him over the six books and into other worlds. The story is continually opening up. Think of the Gunslinger as season one of a show like Lost where you see a very simple seeming plot, only to have the focus expand in season two. This is what King does so well. Each book expands the universe and the group's goals, drawing the reader in further until you are just as much a part of the group as Roland. I think Michael had a great point too that it is an excellent way of watching King mature as a writer. He started the Gunslinger in the 70's and finished the Dark Tower in the 21st century, so all of his development can be felt in the writing as well.
One more thing i would like to add is to keep reading other King books because while it is a seven book saga it doesn't limit itself to those books, it's an intertwining universe of magnificent scope.
Ok thanks guys! I do kinda want to read the series now, I will update this as I progress.
It's a fascinating and brilliant series, but the writing and pacing are uneven -- and sometimes actively bad. It's more than "worth reading", though. Warts and all, it's kind of a masterpiece.But there ARE warts. Big, ugly warts.
Drawing of the 3 and The Wasteland are stunning books, the rest are sadly not. Nothing matches the sheer high of the end of Wasteland, it's breathless and sadly is never paid off.The last 3 books are worth a read but have a feeling off silliness, rules change at whim, characters are inconsistent and the Big Bad Guy is limp
I am NOT fan of "The Gunslinger Series" myself. I think it takes an active imagination to understand what ka-tet, Mid-World, etc. He should have stuck with horror writing. I know it is more along the line of fantasy. I am not a fan of fantasy books at all. Oh well. A lot of people love the series, though.
Yes that's true Jeffrey, I'm reading them for their iconic value with his fans. The Gunslinger honestly has me so confused though
Bailey wrote: "Yes that's true Jeffrey, I'm reading them for their iconic value with his fans. The Gunslinger honestly has me so confused though"
What confused you? By the by I'm not some hardvore fan that defends his work who'll bash you for not liking it Lol I had a problem with several of the later books I just actuallt really loved the first book and want to help clear what I can. Though o do not knowing everything haha
He's like looking for the man in black, then he's in the restaurant (Sheb's?) and he's suddenly sitting down... Talking with the man in black???
Bailey wrote: "He's like looking for the man in black, then he's in the restaurant (Sheb's?) and he's suddenly sitting down... Talking with the man in black???"I don't remember it too well but I don't think thats what happened.
the first book really is a mood piece rather than a novel. i understand King re wrote it later so perhaps the revised edition would be better. the early one - or the one that i read when it came out who knows how long ago - was a relatively ugly surreal sketch of a story that really is only a stepping off point for The Drawing of the Three which is a far far better book
The Gunslinger orders three hamburgers, and the man in black is then mentioned, chasing away a customer then some guy comes in saying he was touched by god and wants to stop smoking the grass.
Ahh okay I seriously got to reread that book. Well the whole series as it is.
Haha I can't wait to be done of Gunslinger... Can only get better from here!!
Ups and downs. A lot of ups and downs I won't lie. But it is worth it.
Yeah, a lot of his books are pretty even in both ups and downs. But him on a bad spell is better than most authors bests lol
Bailey wrote: "Yeah, a lot of his books are pretty even in both ups and downs. But him on a bad spell is better than most authors bests lol"Sadly that is very true Lol I think a lot of his work is overrated but hes still one hell of an author compared to a lot of crap out there. Mine included lol
A lot of work is put to shame. I don't even see him as horror though. But hes a hell of a character builder. Believable character builder.
Love Stephen King, but hated the Dark Tower series. Probably take my gunfighters too seriously :)
This is interesting, I never met a King fan who didn't like dark tower aside from myself, although I'm giving it another honest try
I think what made them hard to read were the later books after 4 (for me at least. 5 was the worst but ive heard other opinions)
I think this will be my least favourite. The worst of King I've read so far lol
Lol to each their own is what I believe and stands true here
That's true. I'm staying with it for the whole series though
I commend you for it. Many just trash it and never pick it up again Lol same goes for any book
I just finished part one :) I liked the big shooting with the gunslinger towards the end (crap sorry to anyone who reads this before reading the book...)
Bailey wrote: "I just finished part one :) I liked the big shooting with the gunslinger towards the end (crap sorry to anyone who reads this before reading the book...)"And now you can begin the better books
By the by I'm sure you can edit your post sonehow idk how though
I don't even know how to quote lol sorry I'm on mobile
I read almost everything he's put out, I read the entire Gunslinger series, I loved the first 3 books, then I kept reading hoping they'd be as good as Drawing of the Three...and they weren't, the last book was just disappointing.
Ok, thanks for your input :) I'm assuming nothing good will happen after book 3 lol... it is kinda like Stephen to milk it a bit though
I strongly disagree. Book 4, Wizard & Glass, is the strongest book in the series as far as I'm concerned. The three following are good in their own right. I know some people take issue with the final book, but I love how he uses The Dark Tower to weave in and out of his other novels. Does it have flaws? That's a personal decision. I think it does, but it's King's story. Not only does he have the right to have it unfold the way he wants, but from start to finish it is a pretty damn good story. Just like any book, to each his own, but I think The Dark Tower is an outstanding series all told. It's probably over 5,000 pages of an intricate, complicated, and well-spun tale. There are not many writers who could pull that off successfully. I say he deserves a round of applause. I'd at least say thank you for the many enjoyable hours I've spent going through the series twice.
I have to confess book 4 was the one I found to be the worst. I know one mans meat is anothers poison but I'm fascinated with folk who loved book 4 as it really was drivel for me5, 6 and 7 seemed rushed, as though King dashed them off at high speed and said "publish and be damned" - they are fascinating in a "Oh No He Didn't" way (some of the plot developments are literally jaw droppingly audacious) and the curiosity of getting to the end is addictive.
if you make it through book 1 you will more than likely read the rest
To me, 1 and 3 were amazing, especially 3. 2 was utter boredom, just getting the gang together with nothing else going on. 4 was a flashback that did nothing to advance the story. 5 was a stand-still episode that did very little to advance the story. The rest zigged and zagged without making much forward progress, spending more time dealing with paperwork in modern New York than anything else. And the climax, the laughable, awful climax . . . aaaarrrrrggggg!!! I hope Stephen King rewrites it all someday, excepting Waste Lands, which was awesome.
I hope he leaves it just the way it is.
I'm with shaun on this. To go back on it would ruin it more than people already think is ruined. granted I disliked 5 with a leaping passion, but as a while saga and not individually it really is a great saga. in my opinion at least
The answer is simple. Yes, yes, and even a more monotonous yes! It is simply the best fantasy epic/ spaghetti western you can read!
yes read the dark tower it's awesome all of them except maybe for wizard and glass but I loved them all even the ending!!! not all stories are suppose to be satisfying but it had to end like that it really did if you think about it roland is the tower in away and he can't save humanity if he can"t save his own
all discussions on this book
|
post a new topic
