The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger

Stephen King

Jan 2016 · The Dark Tower Book 1 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

“An impressive work of mythic magnitude that may turn out to be Stephen King’s greatest literary achievement” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution), The Gunslinger is the first volume in the epic Dark Tower Series.

A #1 national bestseller, The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake.

Inspired in part by the Robert Browning narrative poem, “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came,” The Gunslinger is “a compelling whirlpool of a story that draws one irretrievable to its center” (Milwaukee Sentinel). It is “brilliant and fresh…and will leave you panting for more” (Booklist).

Ratings and reviews

This is my first entry into the Stephen King universe, and it was a strange one. I do not know if it is his writing style or the western/fantasy narrative of the book, but this is definitely different from what I normally read. I believe the world shown to us is fleshed out in great detail, but still leaves so much more unknown. I left feeling like I learned a great deal of what Roland wanted me to see, but know that the world is so much bigger than that. This book very much feels like chapters 1-5 of a larger book. I would recommend this book for the world building and only if you plan to delve into the series. I do not think it is made to stand on its own.

'The Dark Tower I' (of a seven book series) was 1st published in June 1986. The last book, 'The Dark Tower VII', was published in September 2004. Don't be misled into thinking this is a new book series or publication by Stephen King. If you want to know when his or any other book being sold by the Play Store was published, I advise you to "Google" the title and author for up-to-date facts. Being I'm 67 y.o., I recognize a multitude of the titles being sold as being from when I was in my 20's. This is relevant when it comes to the self-help books because the information contained within those pages are pertinent to the problems of those eras that too often no longer exist. So check the publication dates for the more recent books, especially those that reference mental/health care advice. Also, history, since new information comes out quite often that challenges and/or changes those days and facts. For me, personally, I like all my books to be recent. But that's just me.

The character development and their relationships was quick. I found it hard to read between the lines, but that may be my lack of imagination. The poem like language used also lost me at times, but again this could be my lack of apprehension. Either way it gets a 4 because the premise is good and makes me want to read the second volume. We will see if that gets any better.

About the author

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes the short story collection You Like It Darker, Holly, Fairy Tale, Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, Doctor Sleep, and Firestarter are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.