Stephen King Fans discussion
This topic is about
The Gunslinger
Dark Tower Series
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Controversial
I hear it a lot actually. Go ahead and try the second book and see if you like it any better. The first can be confusing. In the 2nd book things start getting more linear and interesting.
I second Amanda's answer completely... We're actually reading the second book this month as the group read - you should join and give it a try while we're discussing it! :)
Ok, I'll give the second one a go-will it still make sense without having read the first one?
Jane wrote: "Ok, I'll give the second one a go-will it still make sense without having read the first one?"Yes. No worries there! :)
Mod
Chris wrote: "If you read the "Argument" at the beginning, it gives a summary of the first book."There's that too... I always skip that. LOL
Amanda wrote: "I hear it a lot actually. Go ahead and try the second book and see if you like it any better. The first can be confusing. In the 2nd book things start getting more linear and interesting."I just started the revised version of Dark Tower I yesterday and King even stated something along these same lines in the Prologue.
Amanda wrote: "I hear it a lot actually. Go ahead and try the second book and see if you like it any better. The first can be confusing. In the 2nd book things start getting more linear and interesting."Oh, definitely! The Drawing of The Three takes off with a BANG!!
Thanks everyone! I'll try the second book next time I go to the library :0) Hope you all have a great weekend
J
You can read the synopsis on Wikepedia, it is pretty good. Kings admits in the foreword of the revised edition, that the book is hard to read, even for him. He wrote it when he was 21. The story really gets its voice in the second book, he said.
I'm in the exact same boat as you. I didn't like or understand the first one. I followed these guys' advice and jumped in on the group read of book 2 without going back and rereading book 1 again.At the beginning of book 2, there is a short summary (the "argument") of book 1.
I'm 100+ pages in, and I'm finding it a much better read than Gunslinger.
I've heard that complaint about the Gunslinger a lot (even though I'm one that LOVED it) but many find it hard to get into.My husband read the series and skipped Gunslinger and did just fine (and enjoyed it immensely) so my suggestion is if you can't get through it just skip it, find a synopsis online, and read the argument at the beginning of DT2.
What everybody else said. The other books in the series are easier to read and more interesting than the first, and the first may make more sense when you have the context of the rest of the series, so you could even treat it like a prequel and read it last. You can learn everything you need to know by starting with the Argument. But if you're a fan of SK's work, the Dark Tower series is a must. Characters and situations from almost every one of his other novels and many of his short stories make an appearance, and for me it was like meeting old friends. Sometimes it's only a cameo and sometimes they have a storyline of their own. Throughout the DT series, you find backstories and explanations that let you re-read all the other, non-DT stories in a new light.
I agree with moving ahead to the 2nd book. Read The Gunslinger after book 7. It will all come together...
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That could be Angie... I read The Gunslinger after reading a good 3/4 of King's other stuff, and I really enjoyed it - even though it was very unKinglike. But heck, I'd probably love his laundry list if he published it. :P
I read the Gunslinger twice. First time, I got it out of the library and returned it unfinished. Second time I borrowed it from a friend and only thought it was ok. It gets better toward the end in my opinion. Loved the 2nd book and the rest of the series.
***Series Spoiler***This is just a general comment on the whole DT series. Initially, like many others, I had a difficult time w/ "The Gunslinger".. but, as I've mentioned, there are no King books I've left unfinished... but, for some reason, as the books came out, some with a long period between, some quite short...the series grew to become a part of me. By the time I finished the "The Wastelands" - some very strange things started entering my life. Immediately after I finished "The Wastelands," I went to a garage sale and found a beautiful piece of Indian pottery: a large Turtle:
"See the TURTLE with enormous girth...."
Right after I read the "Song of Susannah", while cleaning the house one day, I found a tiny white carved elephant.. no lie.
These things now stand on my Wiccan altar, but because of these, and several other "coincidences" I'll not mention, I found myself so emotionally bound up in this series that didn't know if I could stand to take the journey again.
When the group read "Gunslinger" - didn't do it..again. When we got to now, the Drawing of the Three, I found myself frantically searching for my copy .. which I couldn't find. The Library had theirs all checked out (some secret GR friends must be at work here)..so, while waiting, I picked up "The Wastelands" again- I realize I'll need to wait 'til next month, but the minute Oy entered the book, I was caught in the River, caught deep.
***end Spoiler***
I do envy those who are just reading it for the first time, and I just want you all to know - there are very, very few books that have this profound an affect upon a person's life. If you've not walked with Roland, you do owe it to yourself to do so.
Just to let you know, after being very distracted, I have reserved the drawing of the three, waste lands, and wizard & glass from my library. Going to definitely read them this time.
It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!
Jacob wrote: "It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!"Hi, I couldn't agree more, Jacob!:)
Dustin wrote: "Jacob wrote: "It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!"Hi, I couldn't agree more, Jacob!:)"
*shudder* LOL @ Dustin
Jacob wrote: "It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!"My favorite in the series. Stephen King sure knows how to make me cry. My husband thought I was crazy for being emotional over a book. He is not a reader, so he has no clue.
Oh, Erica, I know absolutely nothing about you, your life, anything.... but how on earth could you marry a non-reader?I know it's none of my business, but it's nearly impossible for me to imagine....
I was blinded by love and have forgiven him his horrible fault. :-D
I did get him to read Child Called It, but that's it.
Becky wrote: "That could be Angie... I read The Gunslinger after reading a good 3/4 of King's other stuff, and I really enjoyed it - even though it was very unKinglike. But heck, I'd probably love his laundry li..."hahahaha
Erica wrote: "I was blinded by love and have forgiven him his horrible fault. :-D"Strong woman
Erica wrote: "I did get him to read Child Called It, but that's it."Hi, Erica-
My beautiful wife has been telling me (for a couple years now) that I should read A Child Called It, but I still haven't. It isn't that I'm not interested-I'm quite intrigued, actually-it's just that all of her books are still in storage.
What are your thoughts/opinion(s) on the book, BTW?
Dani wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Jacob wrote: "It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!"Hi, I couldn't agree more, Jacob!:)"
*shudder* LOL @ Dustin"
Hi, Dani!
LOL?
Dustin wrote: "Erica wrote: "I did get him to read Child Called It, but that's it."Hi, Erica-
My beautiful wife has been telling me (for a couple years now) that I should read A Child Called It, but I still ..."
I thought it was a great book, though very hard to read at times. It will definitely stick with you after you're done.
Dani wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Jacob wrote: "It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!"Hi, I couldn't agree more, Jacob!:)"
*shudder* LOL @ Dustin"
Picking on you about W&G :)
Dani wrote: "Dani wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Jacob wrote: "It's worth everything to get to Wizard and Glass, I promise you!"Hi, I couldn't agree more, Jacob!:)"
*shudder* LOL @ Dustin"
Picking on you about W&G :)"
Oh, okay.:)
I wish you could have gotten more out of W&G, Dani..
Erica wrote: "Dustin wrote: "Erica wrote: "I did get him to read Child Called It, but that's it."Hi, Erica-
My beautiful wife has been telling me (for a couple years now) that I should read A Child Called I..."
Thank you, Erica, I appreciate your input!
My beautiful wife has been telling me (for a couple years now) that I should read A Child Called It, but I still ..."Dustin, it is a beautiful, heartbreaking book. It is about abuse and unconditional love, addiction, mental health (I think the mother was bipolar). Everyone can take something from this book.
WOW! Thank you very much, Tracy!:)Have you also read its sequel?
I'm enjoying "The Drawing of the Three"! I read up to "The Shuffle" and so Eddie is in the other world with Roland after the gun fight. It's so much easier to get into than "Gunslinger" so thanks everyone! The Wastelands is at the library now for me so I'll be picking that up later too :)
Also I love the lobstrosities! So cute- I want a pet one!
Hi, Jane-I'm glad that you're enjoying The Drawing of The Three so much!:)
Jane wrote: "Also I love the lobstrosities! So cute- I want a pet one!"You know, I sort of thought this too...until they started acting like the "strosity" part of their name.
It's funny, but I loved the Gunslinger and books 2-4, but as soon as I hit Wolves of Calla, everything strating going downhill fast. By Song of S, I was completely angry the series seemed to take a left turn from its origins.
This change makes sense given the length of time between 4 and 5, but after Wizard and Glass, I found the whole focus changed and not in a good way. Anyone else think this?
(That said, 1-4 are worth it, though I only recommend the Gunslinger to friends since I feel that getting too into the series is a bad thing given the way I feel it went off the rails)
Hi, Leah-After W&G, the direction of the series does change, but I think it only gets better with each book.
Dustin wrote: "Hi, Leah-After W&G, the direction of the series does change, but I think it only gets better with each book."
I can't help but be disappointed by King progressively leaving behind the detailed explanations and descriptions of Mid-World in favor of spending too much time in "ours".
There are naturally some strong points, which I hesitate to mention for spoiling the series, but the very very end was worth it. Otherwise though, I felt the last book especially relied far too much on deus ex machina, which detracted from the story.
But that is my two cents. I wanted more Lud, more lobstrosites, more Roland backstory, and less, much much less, Mia.
Oh, I love Mia!But I see what you're saying about more Lud, Mid-World (in general,) and those pesky lobstrosities.:) BTW, what are your thoughts on Blain "Is A Pain" The Monorail?
Thanks; yeah I quite enjoyed the Drawing of the Three (finished it now) so I'll be onto the wastelands soon. I think it's just the cute questions that the lobstrosities ask although I'm sure the intention wasn't that the reader finds them cute....
I'm a couple of hundred pages into the Dark Tower now so almost finished it all....I enjoyed Wolves of the Calla the most so far although they're all good.
Jane, you may want to mark your last comment with a spoiler alert.
Ah sorry, I didn't realise it was a spoiler to say that, will try to edit it
Which "spoiler" would that be? Because I really don't see one..
Basically I said that (view spoiler) but I don't think saying this really would spoil anyone's reading of the stories?Anyway, I've finished the whole series now...didn't love it to be honest
I love Stephen King and I've read lots of his horror books but I just can't get into this series...tried reading the first book again lately but just not feeling it. Anyone else have this problem?
J