Working On It

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kylallie

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2012
123
186
New Zealand
Once you've read a few more DT books you'll understand ;) - I slogged through the gunslinger, wasn't a fan of it at all, then after I started the second one I couldn't stop. I re read the Gunslinger after I read Wolves of the Calla and it was 1000 times easier to read!!! And actually quite enjoyable!
 

The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
I think the main reason it appears to be a hard one for many to get into is because you find out so much about events leading upto "the gunslinger" in the next books, that it makes gunslinger seem almost in the wrong place. It is pretty much dropping you smack bang in the middle of a foreign land without much explanation.

I actually did enjoy the gunslinger when I read it, mine is the revised version though, maybe that had something to do with it.
 

WesleyGman

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2013
57
207
34
KY, deep in the country
I had no clue what the Dark Tower books were about when I picked up the Gunslinger. I was oblivious enough to not realize that Roland was in the future for the first few pages. I truly thought I was reading a western type of book. I wasn't under this impression long, but I still laugh when I think back to that first read of The Gunslinger. I love the character SK shows us in Roland. Maybe because I also love Clint Eastwood? I know that I imagined Clint Eastwood from the very second that I pictured the character, Roland. I also now believe that when/if we ever see apocalyptic-type times in our world's future, that it our world will slowly regress just like the when the Gunslinger comes from, until it gets really primitive. I love the theme behind the DT Series, and these books are certainly my favorite set of books that I have ever read. I really regretted finishing that series, I wasn't ready for it to end.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I had no clue what the Dark Tower books were about when I picked up the Gunslinger. I was oblivious enough to not realize that Roland was in the future for the first few pages. I truly thought I was reading a western type of book. I wasn't under this impression long, but I still laugh when I think back to that first read of The Gunslinger. I love the character SK shows us in Roland. Maybe because I also love Clint Eastwood? I know that I imagined Clint Eastwood from the very second that I pictured the character, Roland. I also now believe that when/if we ever see apocalyptic-type times in our world's future, that it our world will slowly regress just like the when the Gunslinger comes from, until it gets really primitive. I love the theme behind the DT Series, and these books are certainly my favorite set of books that I have ever read. I really regretted finishing that series, I wasn't ready for it to end.
Hi Wesley - welcome to the SKMB!
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
I also now believe that when/if we ever see apocalyptic-type times in our world's future, that it our world will slowly regress just like the when the Gunslinger comes from, until it gets really primitive.

Like FIREFLY! That show felt like it was heavily influenced by both the DT series and Star Wars (which is just an outerspace Western, itself)
 

The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
I I love the character SK shows us in Roland. Maybe because I also love Clint Eastwood? I know that I imagined Clint Eastwood from the very second that I pictured the character, Roland.
Welcome Wes, I don't know if they're all the same, but my DT books have an introduction by Stephen in which he says he wanted to make his own epic, influenced by Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Leone's Good, bad and ugly, and that Roland was indeed influenced by Clint Eastwood. Funny thing is though, I started reading the DT's not long after I had finished playing the video game Red Dead Redemption, so I have always pictured Roland as John Marston

EDIT* Erm, mods - I can't seem to make the text not be a link (don't even know how I made it a link), can you help me out?
 
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Profesrebel

Member
Jan 29, 2014
8
41
72
Fresno, CA
I am working on it. Just having a hard time figuring out what dimension it is. They go from singing "Hey Jude" to him putting down gold. To the women flipping burgers. It's starting to get interesting though.
Yes indeed stay with it. Try not to figure out which dimension it is -- its simply a dimension where "Hey Jude" exists, you plunk down gold, and some women flip burgers. I came to view the first book as more of an outline or a foundation for what would be explained and fleshed in many years later by SK.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I am working on it. Just having a hard time figuring out what dimension it is. They go from singing "Hey Jude" to him putting down gold. To the women flipping burgers. It's starting to get interesting though.
Me, too - the Gunslinger was so different from what I got used to in his other books. Near the end I kind of got one of those 'aha' moments.
 

WesleyGman

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2013
57
207
34
KY, deep in the country
I have struggled myself with the Gunslinger. I picked it up twice in the past 6 years but never managed to even get halfway. I'll try again, I hate not knowing the Dark Tower just because I can't get past the 1st one. And I'm the same, I've got to start by the beginning, can't just skip.
You are missing out on the greatest set of books ever. Try reading the Gunslinger and then read The Drawing of the Three, then go back and maybe re-read the Gunslinger and it may make more sense? I loved the DT from the first line of the first book. I would dream about those books, think about those books throughout the day, and worry that I may die going to work before I could finish the last book and thus die never knowing the end of the tale. I want the DT to hit the big screen something awful.
 
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notebookgirl

Well-Known Member
Oct 8, 2013
858
4,940
Somewhere over the Rainbow
Oh man, it hurts my heart to hear that folks didn't like The Gunslinger. I loved it! And the series as a whole. I would say my least favorite of the series was Drawing of the Three, but I liked it too. The whole thing is just awesome.

I did love the Gunslinger and I loved the Drawing of Three. I am working on the third book now. Roland is fascinating. I see him in different images though. Sometimes I imagine him younger and smooth and then other times in the book he seems older, worn and dusty.
 

prufrock21

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2011
2,956
12,657
The Caribbean
If this were labeled sci fi or fantasy nobody would find it strange or different or impossible.
However, since it's Stephen King you might expect--dare I say it?--horror. But it's all of these and more. It's Stephen King writing in a more literary mode (he used to teach English, lest we forget), and this is what makes The Gunslinger so compelling. So just roll with it and enjoy.
 

weezergirl

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2011
96
187
I had no clue what the Dark Tower books were about when I picked up the Gunslinger. I was oblivious enough to not realize that Roland was in the future for the first few pages. I truly thought I was reading a western type of book. I wasn't under this impression long, but I still laugh when I think back to that first read of The Gunslinger. I love the character SK shows us in Roland. Maybe because I also love Clint Eastwood? I know that I imagined Clint Eastwood from the very second that I pictured the character, Roland. I also now believe that when/if we ever see apocalyptic-type times in our world's future, that it our world will slowly regress just like the when the Gunslinger comes from, until it gets really primitive. I love the theme behind the DT Series, and these books are certainly my favorite set of books that I have ever read. I really regretted finishing that series, I wasn't ready for it to end.
I pictured Clint Eastwood immediately too, and since I really have zero interest in Westerns and have never watched a Clint Eastwood film every time I see him I'm like "aww there's Roland" hee hee. With that said, how can I have zero interest in Westerns while the Dark Tower series are my favorite books and I love Firefly?? Who knows.....
 
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weezergirl

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2011
96
187
Like FIREFLY! That show felt like it was heavily influenced by both the DT series and Star Wars (which is just an outerspace Western, itself)
Ha ha! You read my mind...and I love Star Wars more than life itself so there's that.
 
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weezergirl

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2011
96
187
I did love the Gunslinger and I loved the Drawing of Three. I am working on the third book now. Roland is fascinating. I see him in different images though. Sometimes I imagine him younger and smooth and then other times in the book he seems older, worn and dusty.
The third book (The Wastelands) will always be my favorite of the whole series!
 

WesleyGman

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2013
57
207
34
KY, deep in the country
I pictured Clint Eastwood immediately too, and since I really have zero interest in Westerns and have never watched a Clint Eastwood film every time I see him I'm like "aww there's Roland" hee hee. With that said, how can I have zero interest in Westerns while the Dark Tower series are my favorite books and I love Firefly?? Who knows.....
The books are just capturing. I literally thought about those books before I went to sleep, as I worked, and while I ate. I worried that I might die and not know the end if I did not hurry. I started reading IT but maybe I will revisit the Tower after that; I miss the gang.
 
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