La Torre oscura, El pistolero

This is the first book of the fantastic series La Torre oscura by Stephen King. It is a short book that serves as an introduction to the seven-volume saga which took him more than thirty years to write.

It is about the pursuit that El pistolero (Roland) makes of El Hombre de negro. Along the way he travels to reach him, King tells us the story of Roland, his training and his consecration as a pistolero.

The novel is somewhat confusing. The universe is strange. It is not clear who El hombre de negro is nor why he is being pursued. It is only at the end that we find answers and the desire to continue with the other episodes comes.

In the prologue that King himself writes, he tells how he came up with the idea of writing this fantasy saga when he was very young. The inspiration came to him after reading The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien and then seeing the movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, one of the most famous westerns by Sergio Leone. An explosive mixture that could only occur to King.

This was a re-read for me. However, this time around, I have decided to experience the series in a different way. Instead of simply reading the words on the page, I am now listening to the series via audiobook.

As I listen, I find myself being drawn into the story in a whole new way. The narrator's voice brings the characters to life, adding an extra layer of depth and emotion to the story.

Surprisingly, I am enjoying it just as much, if not more, than I enjoyed it the first time. The audiobook allows me to immerse myself in the story while going about my daily activities, such as driving or doing household chores.

It has become a wonderful addition to my routine, and I look forward to listening to the rest of the series. I highly recommend giving audiobooks a try, especially if you are a fan of re-reading your favorite stories.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Fantasy + Western

Western….. Vague….. Confusing….etc
I was cautioned by my real-life friends that this wasn't a great fantasy book, and due to the elements mentioned above, I inclined to believe them. However, I still had an urge to experience this book for myself. I thought that even if they adored it, I might not. But I was proven wrong, and so were they! I fell in love with it! How and why? I have no clue.

The only thing I knew about this series was that it centered around a man in pursuit of the Dark Tower. I was completely in the dark about everything else. I also made an effort to avoid all spoiler reviews. I firmly believe this is a highly underrated Stephen King book. It has always been mentioned towards the bottom of the “Best of King’s books” list. But I don't fault the readers. It's not an easy book. The Gunslinger isn't your typical, enjoyable fantasy tale as I had expected. Nope, it's far more profound than that. It's filled with metaphors and, at times, philosophical. It offers one of the most surreal reading experiences I've ever had. The atmosphere of the story is incredible, extremely mysterious, and confusing. It delves into the secrets of life, the universe, and creation.

This is definitely not the kind of book you can read casually. It demands focus and your full attention. At first, everything seems extremely vague, and you'll feel lost. But once you persevere with focus, you'll start to understand things. I think King's main intention was to keep it all mysterious. He wanted the reader to be in the same position as the main character. Usually, for a book of this length, it wouldn't take me more than two days to finish. But The Gunslinger took me longer because I found myself pausing and reflecting on what I had read, whether it was a line or a paragraph. There are so many questions! And not many answers. It's a truly thought-provoking story.

Keep in mind that there are some brutal scenes in the book, so it might not be suitable for everyone. Like many of Stephen King’s books, this one contains elements of horror, religion, and mystery. When I told a friend that I LOVED this book and gave it a 5-star rating, he asked, “What will you rate the next books which are better?” I don't know, but I'll find out once I read them. In my new rating system, 5-star isn't an all-time favorite. Six-star is. My initial plan was to read one Stephen King book a month, so I decided to include The Dark Tower series in this plan. However, I'm not just reading the eight books in the series. My plan is to read all the related books that share the same King’s universe as the Dark Tower. In total, there will be 25 books, and I'm reading them in a specific order. I'm really excited about that.

Will I recommend The Gunslinger to everyone? I wish I could, but I know this book isn't for everyone. All I can say is to give it a chance. I did, and I LOVED it.

What do you get when you combine the epic grandeur of Tolkien, the coolness of “The Good The Bad and The Ugly,” a partiality for Arthurian legend, and perhaps (as some have suggested) an overindulgence in too much weed? You get “The Gunslinger,” the first book in Stephen King’s Magnum Opus “The Dark Tower Series.”

This will be my third time reading “The Gunslinger,” and each time, my appreciation for it grows. It’s not for its plot structure, which is often as fragmented as Roland himself, but rather for its unique “vibe.” There’s a certain coolness that radiates from a character who is chillingly relentless and unapologetically single-minded in his quest, bordering on obsession.

Plus, he wields a pair of massive .45 calibre six shooters.

For those who have completed the series, rereading the beginning holds many delights. There are people, characters, places, and events mentioned, sometimes only in passing, that will have veterans nodding in recognition. But for first-time readers, much of it will seem like gibberish. And many first-timers will loathe the ending or “non-ending” and might even curse the day King was born. That’s why I often recommend that novice Tower Knights skip this book altogether. There’s nothing in the plot that you truly need to start the journey. Because as a beginning, this book is so hopeless that many will despair of the quest before it even begins. But as a prequel, it’s fantastic. It’s like returning to an old lover and uncovering something deeper about their soul.

Do yourself a favor, cully, and wait a book or two until you’re ready. There’s no rush for this one. Otherwise, by the time you can appreciate this story, you’ll have forgotten it – as Vannay says, “Time’s the thief of memory.” So will you back out, maggot, and turn aside? No? That’s too bad. It will be sad to see you broken and set upon a blind path. But if you’re so determined to draw your weapon, then take your stance with legs spread wide, and I’ll do what I can, not to convince you to read this book, but rather to encourage you to continue with the next should you stumble along the way.

So come, let us have our palaver, if it please you.

Firstly, I’d suggest getting a copy of the 2003 edition or later. It has been edited and revised to better fit with the subsequent books and perhaps make a bit more sense for first-time readers. I would also recommend taking a look at Robert Browning’s poem that inspired this book, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came.” It’s about 34 stanzas long and tells the story of a knight on an elusive quest for the Dark Tower, driven by duty and obsession.

\\n  The Setting\\n

Somewhere beyond In-World, but not Mid-World. The world is broken.

‘The world has moved on,’ we say . . . we’ve always said. But it’s moving on faster now. Something has happened to time. It’s softening’

Clocks can’t be trusted, and people measure time by other means, like Jake, who counts one to two weeks as “3 poops.” Distance and direction are also adrift.

The landscape of the story resembles any barren wilderness in a Western. In fact, at the start, one could be forgiven for mistaking this book for a Western. But it’s not long before the reader gets the unsettling feeling that things are off-kilter. Walk into Tull, for example. It’s your typical Western shanty, complete with stables for your horse and a good old saloon-come-whorehouse. Except there’s a honky-tonk piano playing a rendition of “Hey Jude.” What the...? And pretty early on, we get a random glimpse of a Taheen. Do you know what a Taheen is? Forgive me, but how could you unless you had already read further into the series? I’m sorry. Man’s body, raven’s head – this one anyway. There are old machines long disused that were powered by electricity or atomics. There are slow mutants, and non-mutated men and animals are getting rarer. Ah, an alternate universe? Or rather, a parallel universe. Do you think so? One of many. ”...... there were many remnants of the gone world, just as there were demons.”

\\n  The Good\\n

\\n  Jake\\n

The boy who didn’t come from this place but vaguely remembers dying in a vaguely remembered other world. A world where the buildings are so tall they scrape the sky, people drink Coca Cola and watch TV, and there is a band of musicians called “Kiss.” Do you know it? He loves the gunslinger, even though the gunslinger doesn’t deserve his love any more than his neglectful mother and father did – perhaps even less.

\\n  The Bad\\n

\\n  The Man in Black\\n

“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”

In Browning’s poem, he is referred to as a “hoary cripple,” a liar, a kind of devil who is all too happy to make deals and point out the road to obsession. In this story, he is the sort of villain who resurrects a devil weed addict and imbues him with eternal life – not because he wants him to be well, but because he wants the addict to suffer in his addiction forever. He offers a barren woman a child. A child king. Just kill the unkillable interloper first. Not because he wants his enemy dead, but because he wants his enemy damned. He gives his enemy a boy to love, but... “While you travel with the boy, the man in black travels with your soul in his pocket.”

This bad man . . . this Marten . . . he was a wizard. Like Merlin. Do they know Merlin where you come from?”
“Merlin and Arthur and the knights of the Round Table,” Jake said dreamily.
The gunslinger felt a nasty jolt go through him. “Yes,” he said. “Arthur Eld, you say true, I say thank ya...

\\n  The Ugly\\n

\\n  The Gunslinger\\n

What is a “gunslinger” in this world? Well, it’s not a cowboy with a pistol. Roland Deschain comes from the heart of In-World. From Gilead in New Canaan, a city of castles.

Yar!” He paused. “When I was your age, I lived in a walled city, did I tell you that?”

The castles are ruled by knights called “Gunslingers.” So called because of the “Irons” that are the mark of their office. Roland’s father, Steven Deschain, was a direct descendant of Arthur Eld and Lord of his version of Camelot.

My father had by then taken control of his ka-tet, you must know—the Tet of the Gun—and was on the verge of becoming Dinh of Gilead, if not all In-World

But the world has moved on. And Roland is the last gunslinger, and he is on a mission to fix the universe. To find the Dark Tower. Everything else, love, family, humanity, his very soul, is expendable in the pursuit of the greater good. See it well. See it very well indeed.

So have I convinced you yet to carry on to book 2? I hope so. Because I’ve seen the end of that journey and would have you set upon the path. Not because I am wise or good. Perhaps I just play the hoary cripple – I say true. I say thank you.

\\n  From Robert Browning's Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came\\n

I.
My first thought was, he lied in every word,
That hoary cripple, with malicious eye
Askance to watch the working of his lie
On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee, that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.
II.
What else should he be set for, with his staff?
What, save to waylay with his lies, ensnare
All travellers who might find him posted there,
And ask the road? I guessed what skull-like laugh
Would break, what crutch 'gin write my epitaph
For pastime in the dusty thoroughfare,
III.
If at his counsel I should turn aside
Into that ominous tract which, all agree,
Hides the Dark Tower. Yet acquiescingly
I did turn as he pointed: neither pride
Nor hope rekindling at the end descried,
So much as gladness that some end might be.

\\n  \\n

Long days and pleasant nights

5 stars

I fully reserve the right to change this rating to a 2* or a 4* depending on the next book in the series.

EDIT: After nearly completing book two, I'm dropping this to 2.5*'s.

On one hand, this book was a jumble of various elements with no clear and coherent plot. It seemed to lack a strong narrative thread that could hold the story together. However, on the other hand, there were some truly brilliant scenes and a sense of foreboding that hinted at a much richer story yet to be told throughout the series. The interplanetary and multidimensional theories that all led to the dark tower were extremely intriguing. They added an element of mystery and complexity to the overall narrative. Similarly, the age-old battle between good and evil, god and satan, and the lineage of the devil betraying Eve and creating the Gunslinger added a layer of depth and historical significance.

Mr King and I have a rather complex love/hate relationship when it comes to his works. I often find myself firmly on one side or the other. In this case, I'm left wondering whether I'm going to deeply regret wasting my time by continuing this series or if I'll be handsomely rewarded for my perseverance. Only time will tell.

King is a truly gifted writer who has masterfully constructed an intertwined "multiverse" for his novels. This multiverse is both compelling and detailed, with a gritty and flawed nature. I have previously noted that I can't really consider myself a die-hard King fan. He seems to struggle in conceiving what I might term as "actual good" or "altruistic good". His protagonists are often terribly flawed in a critical way, not just in the "I'm human with feet of clay" sense, but rather in the "I'm capable of stomping a puppy in a weak moment" kind.

Nevertheless, this book, its sequels, and the other tie-ins that contribute to creating the said "multiverse" are highly compelling. I read the series, yet I don't believe I can say I "enjoyed" the experience in the traditional sense. They lead you down a dark and dangerous path where you'll be enthralled, fascinated, and completely absorbed. You'll gain a perspective on certain aspects of the human heart that we may not have explored much. Prepare for a dark, bloody, and mucus-smeared world where evil henchmen consume bloody secretions, and you'll discover that "The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: Who can know it?" (-Jeremiah 17:9).

King states that he worked on this series for years and was influenced by multiple sources, from "The Lord of the Rings" and the Arthurian Legend to Clint Eastwood's man with no name. He even mentions giving a nod to Robert Browning's poem, "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came". It's a fairly unique read and worthwhile if it aligns with what you're seeking. It will undoubtedly not be to everyone's taste, while others will love it.

I suppose the more accurate term here would be that I like or appreciate this book. When I describe the book or the story as "crude", I'm not referring to the writing itself. The prose is at times almost inspired, as Mr. King is an excellent writer. Instead, I mean that the characters inhabit a crude world, a world filled with slime-covered evil and creeping infectious debauchery. However, I actually like a significant portion of the book and story. It's another one of those stories that I sort of got "trapped" in. The character Roland (ironically, the name of arguably the first Paladin, and I didn't overlook that King probably chose this name deliberately, as he mentioned when writing about the book that another of his inspirations was the poem "Childe Roland to the Dark Came". Roland is also the name of Charlemagne's best-known Paladin) is well constructed, and I must admit to loving the line: "The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed." I read somewhere that it was "the hook to end all hooks", and I agree or at least would concur that it's "a hook to end all hooks". As I said, some of the prose is truly inspired.

So, while a lot of the needless "crudity" turns me off and significantly lessens my liking for the book(s), I give it 3 stars and recommend that you "might" give them a try yourself and see what you think. It will impact different readers in different ways.

A solid, "pretty good" or "excellent in places" from me.

Originally reviewed in 2009. Updated 2013.

Dear Stephen King,

I want to offer my sincere apologies for all the times I've made light of you in any manner. This includes that kid in my sophomore English 2 class who wouldn't stop gushing about you as if you were the only author in the world.

It's not that I thought that kid was right to only read your books and no others, nor did I think you were a terrible writer and now suddenly find you amazing.

However, this was truly a pleasant surprise. I'm not sure what I had expected. It was recommended by someone whose taste I trust, so I didn't anticipate it being bad. But I also didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did.

Basically, Roland (the Gunslinger) is pursuing The Man in Black across a desert. Along the way, he meets many people, including a woman with a scar on her face, a young boy, and a guy with a house in the desert. He shoots up an entire town, flees from/kills mutants, discusses his history, and mentions several different worlds and languages that I still don't fully understand. It's all a bit confusing, with some things being clarified and others not. But I forgive you for the confusion because I'm sure it's part of what keeps us eager to read the next book in the series.

Roland is an interesting character, though somewhat of a typical hero. He's a complete loner, has no more connections with those he loves, continues on a quest out of a sense of duty, and is unrelenting, even at the expense of others' lives and his own. He's at his best on his own. You've put him through some compelling moral dilemmas, and this is just the first book! (There are seven in total!) So, I'm intrigued to see what you do with the rest of the series. And your descriptions are one of the highlights of the book - I can vividly picture everything.

To be honest, my biggest complaint is a minor one: you use the word "sardonic" way too often! I swear, you use it more than I've heard in my 23 years combined, and I read some intelligent stuff. You could've just said "everything is sardonic" and made the same point. I should've kept a count. There were also a few other words that seemed out of place, as if you were trying to show off your vocabulary. I don't have a problem with that as long as it feels natural, and some of your word choices didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Overall, it's an adventure book, so I can't say I extracted any profound themes from it. But then again, it's only the first book, and you have the luxury of developing your ideas over multiple installments, if you have any (which I hope you do). It's off to a decent start, and I think there's real potential here. So, I'll definitely be reading the next book in the series.

I liked it enough that I'm not ashamed to be reading one of your books, so that's a win for you. Congratulations!

Best,

Taylor Long

“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” This iconic opening line immediately grabs the reader's attention and sets the stage for an epic adventure. So, I finally took the plunge and delved into Gunslinger, consuming it in the audiobook format. I have read two Stephen King novels and some of his short stories, and I have loved them all. Sadly, this is the first work of his that I cannot say the same about.

I did enjoy the character of Roland. There is something about him that makes him captivating, and the epic nature of the world we get a preview of is truly enticing. The enigmatic characters also added an element of mystery and intrigue, and the breadcrumbs left in this first installment have piqued my interest in the rest of the series. I am fairly certain that I will be giving the second book a try.

However, I had quite a few issues with this book. While there was action and some progression of the plot, I just wasn't hooked. I didn't feel engaged or sense the stakes, and as a result, it felt quite slow until about the halfway mark. I can see Roland potentially becoming a great character, but for me, there just wasn't enough in this book to make me root for him wholeheartedly. It all felt a bit too vague.

Stephen King, as always, shows his mastery of language with his natural and accessible prose. There were some truly fantastic passages that completely immersed me and showcased his class as a writer. So, even though I felt the book was a bit slow at times, it wasn't a chore to read because of King's prose, which still adds a touch of flair.

I had predicted that I would love this book, so part of my disappointment is due to going in with high hopes. But there were still many aspects that I enjoyed. While I have shared the issues I had, there was enough to keep me hooked and make me want to give the second installment a chance. However, I won't be rushing to it. Overall, I would rate this book 3/5 STARS.

Continuing my journey of reading or re-reading all of Stephen King's books in publication order, I find myself on my second adventure with The Dark Tower. This time around, I have a much deeper appreciation for the story. The first time I delved into this book, I was completely confused, and nothing seemed to make sense. However, after reading the entire Dark Tower series, I now have a whole new perspective and experience.

The build-up in this particular installment is truly remarkable. It is written with the same elegance and finesse as the rest of the series. Knowing the ending of the series actually enhances every moment and event that occurs within these pages. The descriptions are so vivid that I can clearly picture everything happening in my mind's eye.

Roland and Jake's relationship is just beginning to blossom, and yet, you can already sense the profound and sacred bond between them. I am eagerly anticipating going back through this series and reading it all over again. This is one of those rare series where, no matter how many times you read it, there will always be something new and exciting to discover.

What I learned from this book:

The gunslinger is a mysterious figure. He is the gunslinger who slings guns with great skill. He seems to have a penchant for shooting people, and he does this thingie with his fingers to load his guns. He also has a rather immoral side as he fucks women when they ask him nicely. Additionally, the gunslinger rolls his own cigarettes and takes LSD, not out of choice but out of necessity. His main goal is to get to The Man In Black. DARK TOWER DARK TOWER DARK TOWER DARK TOWER

BATWING!

The Gunslinger almost meets his end but manages to survive. Afterward, he rolls a cigarette.

Oh god, this was truly bad. After the amazingness that was The Stand, this first Dark Tower book is a huge letdown. I disliked everything about it. The characters lack depth and are boring, with virtually no development throughout the book. The world-building is extremely hazy, and the plot is minimal and dry, lacking excitement. Worst of all, the writing style makes this book borderline unreadable. Stephen King himself admits this in the foreword.

The Gunslinger did not even sound like the later books—it was, frankly, rather difficult to read.... That young man [who wrote this book] had been exposed to far too many writing seminars, and had grown far too used to the ideas those seminars promulgate: that one is writing for other people rather than one’s self; that language is more important than story; that ambiguity is to be preferred over clarity and simplicity, which are usually signs of a thick and literal mind. As a result, I was not surprised to find a high degree of pretension in Roland’s debut appearance (not to mention what seemed like thousands of unnecessary adverbs). I removed as much of this hollow blather as I could, and do not regret a single cut made in that regard.

This is still applicable to this revised edition. Yes, Stephen King, you didn't remove nearly enough.

So yeah, even though everyone claims that the next book is much better, I think I'll take a break before reading it. The Gunslinger was a terrible start for the series, and even if I eventually become a huge fan of The Dark Tower, I can't envision myself ever wanting to read this particular installment again.

P.S. The movie trailer makes a much better impression than this book and contains approximately the same amount of story. GO ON, DARK TOWER FANS! RIP ME TO SHREDS!

It can be noticed that this is the first book. The elements that distinguish the author have just begun to take shape. The writing style is perceptible, although still very much in the air.

The plot is somewhat disjointed and the elements are a bit blurred. However, it has something that makes you keep reading. Because the lack of answers can be the driving force that makes us move forward to dig for more information.

I really liked the main characters, Roland and the man in black. Their duality and the journey through a dry land that seems squeezed to survive is something I had never read before.

The western style is not my favorite, but here it was not unpleasant. Besides, with such an opening sentence as "He who does not fall defeated to it."