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A review by joshkiba13
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-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
3.75
"Time's the thief of memory . . ."
And so begins my journey to the Dark Tower. I've been waiting to start this series for a looong time, so this was an exciting read accomplished in just a few sittings.
A lot of people aren't huge fans of this one, so it was nice having the advantage of knowing going in that it was mysterious and left a lot unexplained. Knowing that, I just buckled up and went along with the ride.
The Gunslinger is full of allusions both to Roland's past and his future. Stephen King explains in the foreword that he revised The Gunslinger in 2003 after completing the series so that the foreshadowing in the prophecies and visions would encompass where the series eventually led him---decades after starting it. So it was cool to get so many hints and seeds laid down, while simultaneously knowing that the bulk of what I read was written by a very young college-age Stephen King.
I found much of the prose alluring, and much of his figurative language unique. The style of narration and simplistic dialogue to be very reminiscent of works by Cormac McCarthy; King is a big fan of McCarthy so it is possible. And actually, though it was written many years later, if reminded me heavily of McCarthy's The Road; a gunslinging man trudging through a dying world with a young boy.
People say this series really kicks off in the next book, The Drawing of the Three, and the ending of this first book left me perfectly ready to continue. I'm excited to keep going, and I'm excited to return to The Gunslinger after completing The Dark Tower to see all of the foreshadowing anew.
And so begins my journey to the Dark Tower. I've been waiting to start this series for a looong time, so this was an exciting read accomplished in just a few sittings.
A lot of people aren't huge fans of this one, so it was nice having the advantage of knowing going in that it was mysterious and left a lot unexplained. Knowing that, I just buckled up and went along with the ride.
The Gunslinger is full of allusions both to Roland's past and his future. Stephen King explains in the foreword that he revised The Gunslinger in 2003 after completing the series so that the foreshadowing in the prophecies and visions would encompass where the series eventually led him---decades after starting it. So it was cool to get so many hints and seeds laid down, while simultaneously knowing that the bulk of what I read was written by a very young college-age Stephen King.
I found much of the prose alluring, and much of his figurative language unique. The style of narration and simplistic dialogue to be very reminiscent of works by Cormac McCarthy; King is a big fan of McCarthy so it is possible. And actually, though it was written many years later, if reminded me heavily of McCarthy's The Road; a gunslinging man trudging through a dying world with a young boy.
People say this series really kicks off in the next book, The Drawing of the Three, and the ending of this first book left me perfectly ready to continue. I'm excited to keep going, and I'm excited to return to The Gunslinger after completing The Dark Tower to see all of the foreshadowing anew.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence and Blood
Minor: Cursing and Sexual content