The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger (Spoiler free review)

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥: (I get a commission when you use the links)

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[PaperbackJourneys]

Mate I felt pretty similar to you on this one. I got half way through and decided. “Okay this is intentionally like a fever dream and I’m going to have faith that there’s a reason it’s written this way.” I’m 5 books in. It gets better mate.

[bookloverlaura]

I’m a huge King fan, but I’m struggling with this one. Glad to know I’m not alone!

And thanks to everyone who responded saying it gets better. That’s the push I need to get through it!

[raswartz]

I must be weird because the first book is my favorite in the series.

How perfect is the opening sentence? "It is important, when crossing the desert, to ensure that you follow the man in sufficiently dark clothing." Chills. Absolutely perfect.

[mwont]

Same here. I read a number of Kings book, and liked them. But Gunslinger has been painful to go through. Almost DNFed it.

[andybarker]

The Gunslinger is a tough book, especially for non constant readers. It’s got no real thread or continuity. I remember reading this and thinking I can’t go on with this a year later I picked up the second book and enjoyed it so much. A prologue that’s 200 pages long is precisely what you just read.

[tropicaltuna]

Gunslinger is pure vibes. Book 2 has a story! Starting #3 soon.

[ogonzales]

Gunslinger was initially written as a serial in a magazine. So that’s why it may seem disconnecting. But it gets way better with Drawing of the Three and Wastelands.

[casualdragonslayer]

The Dark Tower is one of my favorite series of all time. I’m one of those people that likes the ending of the series and have gone back and re-read the books multiple times. With that being said, I think you have hit the nail square on the head here. I had the exact same reaction the first time I read the gunslinger. Every point you have made about this book is spot on end justified. Having finished the series, I now adore this book, it is genuinely incredible within the context of the dark tower as a whole. However, I think your rating is totally accurate and, I’d probably give The Gunslinger a 2 star as well. But I really hope you keep going, it really is worth it!

[seamusb]

I HATED Gunslinger! It was such a hard read. But do not give up on Dark Tower. The series gets so much better as you go and I love the other books in series.

[angiethebookaholic]

I do not like the series, but did like The Gunslinger. And Book 3 & 4 are my favourite of the series. I dndfed it at "Song of Susannah" because I started feeling bored and also the did the mistake of googling about the book and heard people complaining about the ending and was spoilt to an ending I wouldn't appreciate. But, I surely felt the world building was really good and I really can still remember some scenes so vividly. However, I agree that it does feel like a prologue, the first book and I too felt that there was so much unknown that it frustrated me too, even after reaching book 4!.
I don't like Stephen King for the precise reason you mentioned here, they start with so much promise and then become directionless and the ending is so blah.
Great review!

[eggbert]

It's a prologue. It's nothing like the rest of them. I don't think anyone who's read the series would say that this is the book that will draw you into the dark tower.

[TDarlantan]

Dark tower gets good at book 3, I actually started there and read the first two after whole thing

[justindavis]

You are def not alone. The first book of the Gunslinger is def super confusing. It's so off the wall it's hard to understand. I def hear you when you say that it's like a long prologue. That is def true. I've only read the first two books personally. Just couldn't get drawn in.

[modemuffel]

I think King is the opposite of Sanderson. King shines in his short stories and falls off the longer the books get.

[dermus]

You can try The Long Walk or Pet Sematary from King, his best work in my opinion.

[angelaholmes]

I absolutely enjoyed the gunslinger sorry you had a rough time with the book

[TBRKyle]

Both my partner and her dad struggled to get through this one, but I've been endlessly proselytizing just how good The Drawing of the Three is (genuinely one of King's best books), that it's worth it to just jump right into that one so the time on The Gunslinger feels more worthwhile.

I should also say this book was written in piecemeal fashion mostly when King was a very young man (around 19 or so), and wasn't too sure where he was going with this concept. He went back and edited it to align better with the rest of the series, but it's still kind of meandering. The next book was written at the peak of his powers, right around the same time as IT and Misery. You'll see the difference within a few pages.

[LuchoVega]

This book took me forever to read and at times it was torture for me. But I stuck with it and now I’ve started the second book . It’s too early for me to decide, so far it’s okay.

[angreehulk]

I picked this book up in when I was in high school and I did not know it was the first in a series at the time. I read it and felt basically the same way you do now. 2 or 3 years later I found out about the series and I read the second book (The Drawing of the Three) and I was in love. It's now one of my favorite series. If you read book 2 and don't like it then I may not be for you but I would recommend at least getting that far before you DNF the series. Thanks for the review!🤘

[Flamadin]

I'd try to track down a copy of the unrevised version. I found that Roland to be a more engaging and relatable character.