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machiavelli_311's review against another edition
2.0
When I picked up The Gunslinger I was excited to try my first Stephen King , had heard so much good about the Dark Tower series… so many people listed it as one of their favorites… so had high expectations going in…. Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. You follow The Gunslinger (surprised right?) as he progresses, and it wasn’t enough for a DNF for me but it also doesn’t make me want to continue with the series.
Again, for me the story was pretty flat… wasn’t very interesting and didn’t pull me in… there was a little bit with Jake that started to get me interested, but it didn’t continue and again, not enough. Even the same with The Man In Black, and the climax… really not trying to beat up on the book, but again for me it was just a “who cares.”
I know there is a big group of fans that love this series, so you may like it too, but this wasn’t my jam…
2.5 stars
Again, for me the story was pretty flat… wasn’t very interesting and didn’t pull me in… there was a little bit with Jake that started to get me interested, but it didn’t continue and again, not enough. Even the same with The Man In Black, and the climax… really not trying to beat up on the book, but again for me it was just a “who cares.”
I know there is a big group of fans that love this series, so you may like it too, but this wasn’t my jam…
2.5 stars
amyschmelzer's review against another edition
3.0
The book exists and it was okay but not my thing. I don’t feel the need to find out where the rest of the series takes Roland. My favorite part is his coming of age story. That section was a page turner.
abernathy_33's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
spenser44's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
trashchameleon's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
b3by's review against another edition
4.0
Note to self (for whenever I'll pick up the second book): this guy is the last of the gunslingers because all of his friends died in a war. He's looking for the man in black, and in the process a lot of people die, including Jack, a boy that apparently comes from our universe. The gunslinger wants to get to this dark tower, which is something like... a portal? a collector of universes? Quite hard to tell, as the English of this book was also a bit convoluted.
Looking forward to the second one!
Looking forward to the second one!
mialicia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed stepping back into this world. It's been around 15 years since I last read The Dark Tower series and I'm so excited to get back into it and read it in a new light. This book is super peculiar, because it introduces so many things at once, and is so *short*. It's almost like half a story, though SK does say each book is one part of a whole to be taken together, not separately. I'm curious to see how it flows into the next one.
rwilhoyte's review against another edition
3.0
A reread of the entire series. I remember the first time this being something I had trouble getting into, and it's still not my favorite. I think last time I may have read the revised and extended edition because I remember this story flowing better. The first couple sections of this book almost feel like interconnected short stories rather than chapters which can be a bit awkward. I think my biggest problem with the book is I find Roland unlikeable and a lot of it is just him. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
mooseabs's review against another edition
3.0
After a brief hiatus to explore other areas of the fiction genre, I'm back to the familiar and much loved land of high fantasy. Dark Tower has been on my list for far too long, and with the cinematic adaptation set to hit the big screen in a couple of months, I couldn't resist grabbing the first book at a local book fair.
The Gunslinger doesn't spend much time in world-building, in fact, it barely spends any. The novel is set in a land which is eerily similar to our own, albeit with all the post apocalyptic attributes. Water and paper are scarce resources, food is lacking in quality, and wealth is a rarity. The protagonist is set on a hunt for his nemesis, wherein the nature of the enmity and the reasons for it are not very clear. Magic does exists, though it doesn't seem common at this point, and is mostly the arsenal of The Man in Black, the aforementioned antagonist.
The characters' backstories are told in disjointed flashbacks, which works in some places, and feels forced in others. We don't really get to know much about their personalities, but considering that it is a seven-book series, I'm pretty sure we'll have a lot of time to deal with that. The most interesting part of the story is the premise of The Dark Tower itself, which serves as a nexus of all realities and universes. King broaches the idea of multiple universes based on time and size, the latter of which is quite unique in its regard.
Most of the problems of the book might pertain to its debutante status, and very few could make it work like Stephen King. It is enough to generate intrigue and curiosity for the subsequent novels.
The Gunslinger doesn't spend much time in world-building, in fact, it barely spends any. The novel is set in a land which is eerily similar to our own, albeit with all the post apocalyptic attributes. Water and paper are scarce resources, food is lacking in quality, and wealth is a rarity. The protagonist is set on a hunt for his nemesis, wherein the nature of the enmity and the reasons for it are not very clear. Magic does exists, though it doesn't seem common at this point, and is mostly the arsenal of The Man in Black, the aforementioned antagonist.
The characters' backstories are told in disjointed flashbacks, which works in some places, and feels forced in others. We don't really get to know much about their personalities, but considering that it is a seven-book series, I'm pretty sure we'll have a lot of time to deal with that. The most interesting part of the story is the premise of The Dark Tower itself, which serves as a nexus of all realities and universes. King broaches the idea of multiple universes based on time and size, the latter of which is quite unique in its regard.
Most of the problems of the book might pertain to its debutante status, and very few could make it work like Stephen King. It is enough to generate intrigue and curiosity for the subsequent novels.