The Gunslinger
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Is the Dark Tower series worth reading?
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Richard
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rated it 2 stars
Feb 17, 2014 04:31PM
i'd avoid saying too much about the ending given this is only about Book 1
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Skip straight to the Wolves of Calla, best book in the series
I thought the topic was if the dark tower series was worth reading not if the gunslinger was worth reading
it is, but i'd still shy away from saying too much about the ending. It's more fun getting there without a clue what's coming
yeah I guess your right I might have said to much I just felt like everyone was making the ending out to be horrible when to me it was very interesting
This is not your stereotypical Stephen King series. That's the first thing you need to understand about it.That fact aside, I personally thought is was phenomenal and would recommend it in an instant to and sci-fi/fantasy fans. It fits more in that genre than horror.
I've heard the endless complaints about the ending. Understand them even, but I can't imagine a more perfect ending.
Richard wrote: "it is, but i'd still shy away from saying too much about the ending. It's more fun getting there without a clue what's coming"hey Richard what are your thoughts on santa claus I felt him and big bird were by far the weakest points in the series of course i'm referring to the crimson king and the other bad guys I forgot what there call something toi but anyways I perfered the sisters of euriel opposed to the ladder of bad guys
Jen wrote: "This is not your stereotypical Stephen King series. That's the first thing you need to understand about it.That fact aside, I personally thought is was phenomenal and would recommend it in an ins..."
I couldn't agree more with you on that jen the ending was perfect and I think king did a brave thing by doing it the way he did
YES it's worth the read. The ending alone is worth all 7 books' lead up.
Wow I haven't posted in a while...So in response to other posts YES the post is intended for the entire Dark Tower series, BUT bear in mind that the discussion creator (me, in other words) HAS NOT read the novels. I don't mind saying which books are better and why, it really doesn't bother me.
Thanks guys for your input on the series, I am giving it a trial of a couple of books. I enjoy everyone's opinions and respect them all equally.
As a Stephen King fan, I am interested in seeing how all his other works tie into this series.
pretty much every book ties in with this series. this is the list, i've commented on a few of them'Salem's Lot
The Stand - big connectivity
The Talisman - big connectivity
The Mist
It
The Eyes of the Dragon - big connectivity
Insomnia - this one drove me nuts, after The Wastelands there was a huge break before book 4 and Insomnia has a tiny hint at The Dark Tower almost as a throw away line on one page. The wait for book 4 was almost unbearable
Rose Madder
Desperation
The Regulators
Bag of Bones
Hearts in Atlantis - big connectivity
Black House - big connectivity
Everything's Eventual
From a Buick 8
Ur - big connectivity
Cell
The Dead Zone
Cujo
Blockade Billy
Full Dark, No Stars
Under the Dome
11/22/63
The Long Walk
Just After Sunset
The Colorado Kid
NOS4A2
No, the dark tower is not worth reading. The first book shows promise, but in the hands of Stephen King, it's crap.
Michael, I'm a huge king fan, I love most of the words he puts on the page, I don't find him rambling on.I value your opinion but I think mine will be quite different. I could just be biased because I'm a f
keep messing up! I was saying I'm a huge King fanboy
This is fascinating to read all of your comments - because I've finally started the Gunslinger after urging from both my son and partner for - like years! And I'm loving it. Always intriguing (especially as an author) to see how what one person loves somebody else hates.
The Dark Tower was a great idea that spiraled out of control. The story jumped the shark after the fourth book, which was nothing but Roland's extensive backstory. The ending was simply ridiculous. I can't recommend this series.
Fascinating discussion, I always enjoy King's work though sometimes it can be less gripping than others. But don't mention the horror stereotyping, this is fantasy. The Gunslinger is a brilliant book, the Dark Tower a fantastic series. Even though the books, the world and the characters change and vary, throughout it all Roland is the Gunslinger, an iconic character relentlessly pursuing his goal.
I found it immersive and compelling - I happily recommend it to everyone.
Bailey, if you are a King fanboy, then I think you will really enjoy the series. It's his piece de resistance. True, it's not for everybody, but I think it's a staggering achievement.
Ok thanks guys :) I'm reading this series as well as Flowers in the Attic from V.C. Andrews, which I won't lie, I'm enjoying more lol. Sure it will get better though.
Hell no. The world he creates is breathtaking, the scope, the vision, everything. But the story itself is no good, after the 4th book. The 4th book is like a tipping point for the series where it goes to shit. Anything after that is hardly worth the time.
My personal opinion, King outdid himself with the series. Individual books suffer here and there, but those characters are with you until you're dead, there's never been anything quite like it. Plus, the themes change but vibe together well throughout. By the end of the last book, you're gasping for breath and screaming at King for being a bastard. Well worth it all.
I'd also like to add that this is the only book to make me cry, damn you King damn you
Bailey, as a response to your question about how the gunslinger was in the desert chasing the man in black and then all of a sudden is in a diner talking to him. That's a flash back to when he was in the town of Tull. You should probably pay more attention if you want to fully understand the story.All in all, I love the series. Wastelands is the best and despite popular opinion Wolves of The Calla is my second favorite. The ending is a trip, and you will either hate it or love it; but in actual fact, it totally makes sense, ka being a wheel and what not.
By the way, this is a fantasy/science fiction story in every way. It is different than all of King's other work. If you are a King fan you are definitely accustomed to the supernatural; but this story takes it to a different level and gets complete fantastical. If your not into that, then you shouldn't continue.
Been reading King since I was in Jr High (in the 70s) and have read just about everything he has written. Books 1-4 of Dark Tower I enjoyed, Book 5 I sort of enjoyed, and then I never read 6 or 7 for some reason. Keep thinking I might start over at 1 again, but --- oh well, maybe not, who knows? You can tell I am sort of ambivalent about the Gunslinger guy. When I tried to re-read Wolves of Calla again, and then read last two the way they spoke to each other really sort of annoyed me. So, I do like King, and I'm thinking if you are someone that doesn't mind long fantasy series then go for it!
I am having trouble reading some of these blogs... some of you have forgotten the face of your father you should beg for pardon. bailey put away your stupid flower book and finish the gunslinger it gets good at the end then buy drawing of the three and so on tell your done with the fuckin series until then I don't want hear you call yourself a king fanboy again
I loved the Dark Tower series (started reading it back in 1991 or so). For me, Books I-IV were my favorite and I could read The Gunslinger and Drawing of the Three over and over. I also really liked book IV, even though it was primarily backstory for Roland.I wouldn't ever read books VI or VII again. And, to be honest, I wish I never read VII.
The series is worth reading if you're a fan of fantasy writing. The plot lines can get pretty convoluted even if you read the books in order. I liked The Gunslinger and the Drawing of the Three but after that not so much.
After you get through the 1st book, then you are hooked.
Thanks guys. I haven't been on for a long time, I didn't like the gunslinger but the second one was okay.... still not my favorite King book.
You crazy homeboy
I am not a big King fan and I really love the books. Instead of scary its cleaver and Roland just keeps on getting better and better. The thing I like about King that I think you can see through all the books, is his easy writing. The use of long and difficult vocabulary is not necessary. With just some simple words can he paint a picture that lingers in your mind. That is what I like and I'm enjoying every sentence when I read this series.
Yes, it's worth it.
Zosch wrote: "I am not a big King fan and I really love the books. Instead of scary its cleaver and Roland just keeps on getting better and better. The thing I like about King that I think you can see through a..."
I agree with you concerning King's writing style being a big part of the enjoyment in reading his books. His stories are inventive, but it's his voice as a writer that has me eager to listen to them. It's as if King is telling the stories to you himself through his characters. I'm only halfway through this series, and despite some of the criticisms I've heard about it, I'm looking forward to continuing with it, all the way through to the end.
I think you must consider the books as a whole, including the little sisters of Eluria, which I came across as a short story in one of his other books. You really have to be a King fan because his books continually interact, as they do in The Tower series. I loved it. Song of Susannah is the only one that I thought was a bit off, but the Wastelands made up for that. I have read most of his books and he has the most unusual imagination, for which I congratulate him. I really had to laugh at the end though. After all Roland went through. What a finish - or was it???
I'm reading Song of Susanna right now so please don't tell me about the ending ;) I really enjoyed the first book because of the wasteland. Its simple on a minimalism way and the questions is piling up. Makes you want to keep reading.
bailey isn't right in the head anyone with problems liking the dark tower MUST have serious mental issues and not the cool kind of mental issues like I got he should be resrained and forced fed taste medicine until he sees the error in his judgements
I have flagged your comment there Bejamin, I only asked for serious Stephen King fans to input in here, you offer nothing to my conversation so go away.
YMMV but I think some of them are great (The drawing of the Three, Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla), some are not that great (Song of Susannah) and some are there in between ;-)However, I don't quite think the series lives up to the "Magnum opus" King himself would like it to be, it is a bit incohesive (being written over many years), the links to his other works feel a bit forced and his personal appearance in the series feels a bit tacked on. There are so many question left unanswered about the universe the book takes place in that it left me a bit frustrated.
I agree Nicklas, I haven't finished the entire series yet but I'm a little bit into it. I like his other books better, actually, but its not his worst work. It doesn't feel quite like him for most of it, it's like he was in a hurry to send in books for a deadline so he threw them together and didn't... Do something to them that he does with the others (I don't know exactly what that is)
Nicklas wrote: "YMMV but I think some of them are great (The drawing of the Three, Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla), some are not that great (Song of Susannah) and some are there in between ;-)However, I d..."
I totally agree Niklas. Did you like The Wasteland? That was my favorite of the series.
Joseph wrote: "Nicklas wrote: "YMMV but I think some of them are great (The drawing of the Three, Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla), some are not that great (Song of Susannah) and some are there in between ;..."The Wasteland was my favorite of the series. King at his peak.
Bailey wrote: "I have flagged your comment there Bejamin, I only asked for serious Stephen King fans to input in here, you offer nothing to my conversation so go away."god you flagged me that's not cool i was just kidding and i'm a serious fan i really love most of his work i just think he did his best work in the dark tower series if you don't like it then that's your problem i just don't understand how you couldn't and i guess that's my problem well anyways sorry for offending you
Joseph wrote: "Nicklas wrote: "YMMV but I think some of them are great (The drawing of the Three, Wizard and Glass, Wolves of the Calla), some are not that great (Song of Susannah) and some are there in between ;..."I guess the pattern of my liking is "The more standalone the book was, the more I liked it. The more I had to fit the events in the larger storyline, the more my brain hurt and the less I liked it"
Going through these comments, there's a lot of references to how The Dark Tower is different to King's usual work, inferring that he is a horror writer. He's not. He hasn't written a strictly horror novel in a long, long time. Dr. Sleep is a thriller, Under the Dome is fantasy/sci-fi, 11/22/63 a thriller, and on and on. There are definitely horror elements to a lot of his work, but almost all of his work dwells in the realm of fantasy. He's said it himself again and again.Oh, and everyone should read The Dark Tower. Best fantasy ever. So there.
"The more standalone the book was, the more I liked it." By that criteria, then TDoTT (the second book) would probably be the best.
"The more I had to fit the events in the larger storyline, the more my brain hurt and the less I liked it"
That's funny. The Wasteland did fit into a larger storyline and set up future storylines, all of which were pretty head-splitting.
I think they are worth reading, once you get through the first book, The Gunslinger. I had to read that twice to even get something out of it.I was encouraged by an online friend to keep reading. She said the second book is way, way better. She was right.
I've only read up to the 4th book so far. (Wizard and Glass) The books are really, really long and complex. They are a mixture of fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, action, adventure, and suspense in my opinion. There's some humor now & then. And being King, of course some horror also.
I've found the characters to be likeable people, with real depth. I feel like I know them in real life, and I've cared about these characters.
It is a long series, so you have to be in the mood to settle in for a long read for each book. Some people can fly right through them, but not me.
I had to take a break between each book, reading other books by other authors.
I agree Benjamin. Everytime I finished a book I felt a sense of loss until I could start the next one. An absolutely awesome series that is worth a re-read.
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