The atmosphere of decay, a society that has disintegrated into one chaotic, large, and harsh struggle for survival, is masterfully evoked by King. The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger pursued. This month, I have a penchant for rereads, and this is already the third one. Perhaps it is the comfort of familiar books that is enticing in these strange times. In any case, this one, like the other rereads this month, did not disappoint. As a 13-year-old child, I devoured the books of Stephen King, but this one, in my memory, started it all. The Dark Tower saga is epic, fantastical, and as complex as J.R.R. Tolkien's vision of Middle Earth. Set in a Western world, with dystopia, horror, and high fantasy intertwined, it truly captured my imagination and awakened a longing to know where the overall story is headed.

Allusions to later parts of the series, such as a horn, a talking badger, certain events in Wizardglass, Jake, of course, and Algul Siento, are subtly interwoven in this part, adding depth to the tale. The flashback within a flashback within a flashback structure of the first part leads to a significant slowdown in the story of The Gunslinger. However, it soon becomes evident how much of the book is about Roland Deschain, the eponymous Gunslinger, his youth, and the losses he endured to become who he is now. It is not a straightforward narrative of moving from point A to point B, and King was clearly a younger writer when he penned this, not entirely adhering to his own advice of limiting adjectives.

This time around, while reading, I had a distinct sense of Moria at the end, during the slow mutants chapter. This chapter has always stayed with me due to the moral ambiguity and ruthlessness of Roland, as well as the haunting images of a world that has changed. The mystical, unhinged, and epic world that King creates is truly impressive, and he manages to capture something of the vastness of the multiverse in which we supposedly exist. I am eager to reread the entire series!

At a loss for words when it comes to this book.

There is truly something that feels so incredibly new and fresh in terms of its genre. It combines elements of the Western, Fantasy, Coming-of-age, and possibly even Sci-fi.

All of these are things that I absolutely love. Having now read this, and being aware that it was first published in 1982, I'm pretty certain that one of my other favorite writers, the great Cormac McCarthy, must have drawn inspiration from The Gunslinger in both Blood Meridian and The Road.

This is truly one of the most original stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I simply cannot wait to continue this series and see where the journey takes me.

The unique blend of genres, the captivating characters, and the thrilling plot have all left me on the edge of my seat, eager for more.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure and is looking for something different and exciting to read.

August 2022: Fourth reread (this has definitely been a summer of rereads!). I had extremely high hopes to return to the tower. However, this time it may be a slower journey. Harry Dresden, and randomly, the Starks and Lannisters, etc. have completely taken over my entire reading life. Sai King will have to wait. I do want to incorporate other tower related books eventually, but now is not the time for grand expectations and stretch goals. There are attacks from the Nevernever destroying Chicago, and everyone in Westeros desires to sit on the Iron Throne. Roland will hold on a little longer before he draws the three and forms his ka-tet. He’ll be okay.

—————-

February 2018:

I'm a sucker for origin stories. In fact, this is the third time I've read this book. I've read The Fellowship of the Ring and watched the movie multiple times, but I've only read and seen the others once. I love watching Marvel movies, especially when the movie is just an origin story of a superhero. I love the first Harry Potter book where you get to learn all about Hogwarts and the amazing characters in that world.

In fact, I love origin stories so much that I usually just stop there and don't continue the series. I read the first Mistborn book, The Name of the Wind, Ender's Game, etc., but I never keep going. I'm content just learning about the world and the people involved in it, but sometimes it's hard for me to continue once everything is up and running.

I'm telling you all of this to basically say that this book and this series (at least the first half that I've read... maybe I'll actually reach the darn Tower this time!)... anyway, this series is the opposite for me.

The Gunslinger is okay, and the beginning and end of the story are great, but it doesn't have the same feel as what I expect from the first book in a series. It feels somewhat incomplete and disorganized, and at times it's hard to follow along. There's so much discussed and so many names that at times it can be frustrating. I don't know. It's short, and its intention isn't to give away much but to keep you intrigued so you continue in the series to learn more.

It isn't King's best writing, and it's a rough departure from what he normally does, although I feel like he makes up for that significantly in Wizard and Glass. That's one of my favorites of his ever if you exclude the ending. But this book gives you enough to start and pushes you into the next book where King gets back to being King and things really start to progress. I think if I finish the series, I will want to revisit this one as it will likely make a lot more sense.

Anyway, I'm continuing on to the Tower! Wish me luck!

But first... my post-book popkin!

I don't like people. They fuck me up.

Roland Deschain, the last of the Gunslingers, is on a pursuit after the Man in Black. Along his arduous journey, he encounters a young boy named Jake, who seems to hail from a world distinct from Roland's.

Ah, Roland. I had forgotten just how challenging it was to like you in The Gunslinger. Some of your decisions are indeed questionable, but that's the price paid for obsession.

The Gunslinger is so unlike King's typical writing style. The prose is beautifully poetic as we are introduced to a world that is starkly different from ours, yet certain similarities persist. The differences in language, terms used, and the general workings of this world can be a bit jarring on the first read. However, a reread is truly satisfying and rewarding!

The Gunslinger functions perfectly as a prologue to the series. It serves as an introduction to this otherworldly realm and to Roland himself. We catch glimpses into his past, his present, and even receive a few subtle hints about what his future might hold. Roland is initially portrayed as the strong, silent Clint Eastwood type (I can't help but think of Tony Soprano here LOL), but over the course of the series, he evolves into so much more and becomes one of the most complex characters I've ever come across in literature. Thank you, King, for creating such a fantastic character.

I will never cease to be amazed and intrigued by the world in which the Dark Tower series is set. Although I believe The Gunslinger works as an excellent prologue and sets the stage for the series, there are still numerous iconic parts within the story itself. We have Roland's past in Gilead with his mother and friends, an epic demonstration of his gunslinging prowess in Tull, and of course, our introduction to Jake Chambers and his eventful journey with Roland through the mountains. And then the book culminates with the Man in Black having a conversation with Roland, where he reveals his future. This part, in particular, is极其 enjoyable on a reread, as one can pick up on the different predictions made and all the foreshadowing. It's truly fantastic.

On my first venture to the Dark Tower and also on this one, I read the revised edition of The Gunslinger, as King went back to the original and made some amendments to make it both an easier read and to fix some inconsistencies. I really渴望 to get my hands on a copy of the original version so that I can compare!

The world-building is truly incredible, and I feel like King intrigues you enough to make you eager to pick up the next book immediately. But I won't be... as I am waiting until February - like the good readalong host that I am! *Yes, I deserve some credit*

I'm giving this rating only because I know what lies ahead... can't wait to continue with my reread of my most favorite book series. 4 stars.

The best opening line in literature? For me, that's simple. Repeat after me — “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”

When it was first written by a very young Stephen King five decades ago (1970 - 1982), it was a niche story. It was a strange vision of a harsh post-apocalyptic spaghetti Western in a world that has “moved on.” This world was once like ours, but now sandalwood guns and echos of remnants of technology coexist. A steely-eyed enigmatic gunslinger, Roland Deschain (inspired by young Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly), is following his quest to reach the mythical Dark Tower.

Back then, there was no sign that this would lead to the Dark Tower multiverse, with references beyond the seven-book series, now found in most of King's stories. King admits that even four books in, before his near-fatal van encounter, he didn't know where the quest would lead Roland and his ka-tet, let alone when he was nineteen.

This is the first time I've read the “revised and updated” version, released after the final book. It has subtle clues to the series' ending, connections to the greater Dark Tower universe, and an overabundance of the number “19.” It's also the first time I've read this since my teens. The differences between the original and this version are nicely summarized (but with spoilers if you haven't finished the series: https://web.archive.org/web/20071029222906/http://www.thedarktower.net/gunslinger/chapter/five/).

What I've always loved about this book is the inescapable feeling of how off this world is, how strangely wrong and hauntingly surreal it feels. It's also highly atmospheric, soaked in a grim fatalistic mood, barren and bleak, confusing and perplexing, with cruelty and brutality as the law of the land. It has that “magnificent dislocation” King refers to. It's not easy to get through, but it's worth it. After reading the entire series, reread The Gunslinger, and it has much more impact.

So much more is to come. The three are yet to be drawn from our world, the ka-tet is yet to form, friends are yet to be found and lost, and the Beams are yet to lead us to the Tower. The tone and language will shift, and everything will become different enough for The Gunslinger to feel like a febrile, surreal, uneasy prologue.

4.5 stars. I can't wait to revisit The Drawing of the Three, where the story really begins, and my personal favorite, The Waste Lands.

The Dark Tower series was truly one of the great joys of my reading life. However, it also brought me frustration to the extent that I often had the urge to bludgeon Stephen King with a hardback copy of It.

Back in my high school days, I was completely baffled by The Gunslinger. It was an unobtainable limited edition that appeared in the title card of King's other books. When it finally had a wide release, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. But to my dismay, I couldn't make sense of it. There was a cowboy in an almost apocalyptic landscape where magic existed, yet everyone knew the lyrics to Hey Jude. After scratching my head for a while, I thought King must have had one too many drinks that day, and then I promptly forgot all about it.

I was so unimpressed that I didn't even bother to get The Drawing of the Three when it first came out. But when I finally read it, I got a glimmer of what King was attempting, and it seemed really cool. Since I had delayed reading the second book for so long, I didn't have to wait long for the third one. By the early '90s, I had gone from being a Dark Tower skeptic to a hardcore convert. (Little did I know the frustrations that were yet to come.)

The gunslinger is Roland Deschain, a sort of knight armed with two six guns instead of a sword and shield. Roland is pursuing a mysterious'man in black' across a seemingly endless desert. We don't precisely know where they are, but the place appears to be in a state of decay. There are occasional remnants of very advanced technology, yet things have regressed to the point where Roland's revolvers are the most high-tech thing around. Magic, demons, and mutants are also commonplace in this world.

Over the course of the book, we discover that Roland has been chasing this man for years and is closer than ever. He eventually encounters Jake, a young boy whose last memory is of being pushed into the street and killed by the man in black in what seems to be our New York of the 1970s. Roland knows that Jake has been left as a trap to force him into a choice that will further damn his soul (which already seems rather tattered), but he is determined to catch the man in black so he can find the Dark Tower.

After the other books in the series were released, I would occasionally revisit The Gunslinger, and what came later completely changed my perspective on this book. It went from being a strange and incomprehensible book that I didn't care about to the surreal prologue to a series that I was more than a little obsessed with. I began to appreciate the cryptic vagueness and lack of information in the story. It was our introduction to the obsessed Roland, and once we got a broader view of that world, I came to love this book.

However, when King started the series, he had no idea what would come next or how it would end, and he never felt compelled to strictly adhere to the hints and clues he scattered in earlier books like this one or even his other books that contained bits of the Dark Tower. As a result, there were continuity errors and predicted events that never materialized. After finishing the series, King decided to update and revise The Gunslinger to align it with what he wrote later.

If he had just focused on cleaning up some of the continuity errors and revising the prophecy bits to match, I could have accepted that. Unfortunately, King couldn't resist adding even more history and foreshadowing of future events to the entire revised edition than in the original version. I preferred it when he simply threw us into the deep end with this strange world and morally compromised main character. I still favor my original copy, flaws and all.

However, there's another aspect to consider regarding this revised edition, but I can't discuss it without spoiling the ending. My official advice for new readers is to read the original version first, then the series, and then come back to this revised edition if they so desire. Call me old-fashioned, but I think it works better that way.

Here's a bit more about why King gets a bit of leniency for essentially doing what George Lucas did and having Han not shoot first. Do NOT read this if you don't want to know how the series ends.

King gave himself a Get-Out-of-Jail free card with the ending to DT. Since we know that Roland is trapped in loops where he keeps reaching the tower but then goes back to the beginning of The Gunslinger, King could present an almost infinite number of versions of the story with variations and claim that they're all different cycles. When I think of this updated version in that way, as slightly altered because it's a different cycle than the first time I read it, I like it a lot more.

Thinking about this, King could actually rewrite all the books as many times as he wants using this concept of it being just another cycle where Roland does things differently. If he really wanted to excite the DT fans, he could even redo the series as a 'final' cycle where Roland goes back but has the Horn this time, perhaps doesn't let Jake fall, and finally walks away from the trap in the Tower at the end.

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

Here's the story. THE DARK TOWER completely ended my long book funk. I devoured all ten of the original series graphic novels, and then the five from the spinoff. That's fifteen graphic novels in just three days! After that, I had to read the actual novel. #cantstopwontstop

You might ask, "Why?" Well, after reading all fifteen graphic novels, Roland still hadn't reached the tower. *bangs head against wall* And after reading THE DARK TOWER (the novel), I found out that with a few added flashbacks, probably from later installments, all ten of the original series graphic novels were based on this first book installment.

They were basically the same story, word for word. Maybe that's normal in this situation. I don't know. I don't think I've ever read a graphic novel adaptation of an existing book before. But here's the thing: whether it was the extra background or the powerful illustrations that came with Roland's many trials and tribulations, he's a much more likable character in the graphic novels.

In THE DARK TOWER (the novel), Roland is kind of a jerk. No, really, really a jerk. This is a sign of a bigger problem: there's a serious lack of character development. There was also insta-love. You might say, "In a Stephen King novel?" And I'd say, "Not in the traditional sense, but YES, there was."

And that was after he went back and edited it for rerelease. Because apparently if you're Stephen King, you can do that. #itsgoodtobeking But. I'm still hooked. I bought and downloaded #2 around 75% into #1 because I just had to know. *shakes fist at curiosity gods* Do I recommend it to anyone else? Not yet. We'll see. I hear it gets better, but for now I'm shelving it as what-the-hype.

This book marks the start of my Dark Tower re-read.

With that classic opening line, I am whisked away to a magical world that many of us have fallen in love with. I honestly forgot how beautifully written book 1 was.

While there's plenty of action to be had, the main focus is to intrigue the reader enough to want to read on. Stephen King does this masterfully with all the colorful new language he has created. These new terms and way of speaking seem so natural after a while you forget that it's not the norm in our world.

The gunslinger is such an enjoyable character that I'm actually a bit sad the rest of the series shies away from him to focus on others. I get that Roland shines through his interactions with others, so it's crucial, but he seriously is the ultimate lone warrior. Maybe he secretly needs love from others to be his best self.

The book leaves a lot of unanswered questions, so as a standalone novel it is a bit weak in that regard. Still, it has kicked off the awe so many have felt for Roland, his world and the journey he undertakes that it's almost impossible not to give it a 5 star rating.

The vivid descriptions of the desolate landscapes and the mysterious characters add to the allure of this world. King's ability to create a sense of atmosphere is truly remarkable.

As I continue my re-read, I'm excited to see how the story unfolds and how Roland's character develops.

I'm also looking forward to seeing how the unanswered questions from this first book are addressed in the subsequent installments.

Overall, this is a great start to what is sure to be an unforgettable re-reading experience.

The Gunslinger: A Disappointing Start

Recently, an Arabic article titled "The Armed Man" was published.

It's important to note that the movie is following the ending of the last book. However, in the first book, I had a very hard time. The reading was dry and boring as we followed a Man in Black in a weird, hot, and dry desert in August for an unknown reason.

We were trying to reach a Dark Tower, but we didn't know where it was or why. The story was filled with too many adverbs and ambiguity, which didn't help me get into the next two books that I had already bought.

Book one was a huge disappointment for me. I never expected this from Mr. King. I believe in his old works like "‘Salem’s Lot” and the new “Under the Dome”, but this one I really hated.

Maybe it's just me, but I have to confess that the ambiguity in the character of the Gunslinger and the other characters made it hard for me to connect with them.

The story was too strange and the writing style was too old-fashioned. I found myself fast reading many lines and still getting the gist of the story.

In the end, I think this book could have been much better if it was shorter and more focused. I'm hoping that the next two books will be better and that I'll appreciate this first book more when I read them.

So, until next February when the movie is released and I can read the next two books, I'll have to wait and see.

Mohammed Arabey

From 5 Aug. 2016

To 8 Aug. 2016

Next King Stop, The Stand

I read the first half of this when I was in seventh grade. I bought over a dozen Stephen King books at a garage sale and laid out a plan to complete the entire Stephen King catalogue. This was an extremely ambitious plan, even more foolish than my more recent attempt to read the entirety of In Search of Lost Time in one year. (I didn't succeed in that either). Of course, it's not that these feats can't be accomplished, but I have repeatedly proven myself incapable of following through with my grandiose plans, no matter how modest they may seem compared to others'.

I started several of his books as planned—IT, The Dead Zone, Cujo, The Skeleton Crew, and this one—but after reading a certain number of pages, I realized how much time it would take. Besides, The Simpsons was on. Nevertheless, I often carried his books with me everywhere I went; to school, to church (where I was asked not to), and to extended family gatherings. Between that, my Misfits hoodie, and my supposed resting bitch face, my outsider status began to form. I was silently exiled from my lunch table and had to sit alone for the rest of the year, solemnly perusing my thick tomes with the impressively large printed name of the master of modern horror.

My tastes have naturally evolved over time, but I largely owe my enduring love for literature to Stephen King. Returning to this story was a fascinating experience. Considering the author's age at the time of its creation (and his subsequent disavowal of some of the prose), the passage of time since its publication, the revisions to the original text, the scope and anticipation of the volumes to come in the series, and King's retrospectively obvious influence on my own writing, it was truly a journey.

King himself might not think this is a five-star book, but reading it again after all these years reminded me why I got into his works as a youth in the first place, and how truly disturbing some of his descriptions can be. The Man in Black is an iconic adversary, a devious and pretentious villain who drops hints of foreboding and soliloquizes on cosmic insignificance with great effect, without relying on the same tactics as our protagonist, Roland. He invites madness with a deliciously smooth subtlety.

It's easy to see that King, like many modern horror writers, was highly influenced by Lovecraft earlier in his career, not only in terms of the adjective-laden purple prose but also thematically, with the atmosphere of cosmic terror and inconsequentiality. Over the decades, King has matured and honed his skills as a storyteller, and many readers have followed him. Some of the writing in this book is good for a young writer, and much of it is good for any writer. However, some of it is also hilariously overwrought and silly. Despite these flaws, the book is filled with wonder and extols the contemplation of time and the grand cosmos.

Whatever the case may be, I had an excellent experience reading this book again. I owe a great deal of my life-long love for literature to Stephen King, and this has brought me back to the fundamental reasons why.

An intriguing book, it draws the reader in little by little. It is truly a captivating piece of literature that has the power to hold one's attention. The story is filled with elements that are both fantastic and imaginative, transporting the reader to a world beyond their wildest dreams. However, it is not without its flaws. There are moments of inconsistency, where the narrative seems to lose its way. Amidst the brilliance, there are also islands of abstraction that are so murky and almost Kafkaesque in absurdity that it becomes difficult to follow. But despite these drawbacks, the book is interesting enough that I will probably read the sequels.

Of course, this is another detraction. The book does not stand alone but leaves the reader with many questions unanswered. While these questions are fun and lead the reader to seek further, a work of literature should ideally be able to be read independently. The ideas of alternate realities and worlds within worlds are very interesting, and King, as a literary descendant of Lovecraft, Matheson, and Blackwood, may be uniquely qualified to pull it off.

****2015 amendment******

"The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed." These iconic opening lines have stayed with me for a couple of years. I find myself constantly thinking about this series and wondering what I have missed. Hundreds of thousands of people love this series, and yet I am on the outside looking in. When I first read this, I was put off by the purely fantastic setting. But now, three years after reading the first book, I am ready to return and give it another try.

** 2018 - This series brings out so many mixed emotions in me. When I first read this, I thought I had missed the boat and would be left on the outside. Years later, I started the rest of the series, but I am taking these books slow. I have a love-hate relationship with his writing here, but I keep coming back for more. I just started Wizard and Glass, the fourth in the series, almost nine years after reading this one. So I am reading at the pace of how he published these!

For such a highly hyped up series, this book was truly a bit of a mess.

It seemed to lack the coherence and focus that one would expect from a much-anticipated installment. The storylines felt disjointed, and the characters didn't quite come to life as vividly as they should have.

Despite the initial excitement and buzz surrounding the series, this particular book failed to deliver on many fronts.

However, if you're still curious to hear more about my thoughts on this book, watch my video review by clicking here.

In the video, I'll go into more detail about the specific aspects of the book that I found disappointing and offer my overall assessment.

So, don't miss out on my in-depth analysis and click the link to watch the video now!