Anything I should know before starting this? My second King read! (After 11/22/63)

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ThinBlueSmoke

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Jul 22, 2019
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I'm asking the question in the title of thread, because I just finished up 11/22/63, which is my first ever Stephen King book, and I just ordered The Dark Tower (yes, the revised version!) off of Ebay. Impatiently waiting for it to arrive so I can tear into it. Think this was a good choice to follow up 11/22/63 with? I was conflicted between The Dark Tower, IT, The Stand, The Shining and Pet Sematary, but went with TDT.
 

Spideyman

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Jul 10, 2006
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Just north of Duma Key
I'm asking the question in the title of thread, because I just finished up 11/22/63, which is my first ever Stephen King book, and I just ordered The Dark Tower (yes, the revised version!) off of Ebay. Impatiently waiting for it to arrive so I can tear into it. Think this was a good choice to follow up 11/22/63 with? I was conflicted between The Dark Tower, IT, The Stand, The Shining and Pet Sematary, but went with TDT.
Agree completely with FlakeNoir 's post. Enjoy this life changing journey.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Cambridge, Ohio
I'm asking the question in the title of thread, because I just finished up 11/22/63, which is my first ever Stephen King book, and I just ordered The Dark Tower (yes, the revised version!) off of Ebay. Impatiently waiting for it to arrive so I can tear into it. Think this was a good choice to follow up 11/22/63 with? I was conflicted between The Dark Tower, IT, The Stand, The Shining and Pet Sematary, but went with TDT.
....give the first book a real chance...others have found it off-putting because it's such a different flavor than Steve's usual recipes....this will be a hell of a journey for you and I envy your first trip across the Mohaine sands.....
 

ThinBlueSmoke

Member
Jul 22, 2019
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I appreciate the replies, everyone. One of the reasons I asked the question is due to that The Dark Tower series seems polarizing among many readers. I've found both extreme love and disdain in their collective, respective opinions. I'm going in full force, largely blind of what I'm getting myself into. I'm excited nonetheless.

....give the first book a real chance...others have found it off-putting because it's such a different flavor than Steve's usual recipes....this will be a hell of a journey for you and I envy your first trip across the Mohaine sands.....
What do you mean by that, in regards to others finding it off-putting with it being different vs. Stephen's other works? "11/22/63" was my first King read, which is apparently different from the rest of his works as well, so I haven't adapted to his style just yet.

I'm so excited (don't mind my repetitiveness). Just reading your thoughts about it being a hell of a journey has me on pins and needles waiting for it to come in, in the mail.
 

Notaro

Stark Raving Normal
Mar 23, 2007
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Prepare for a rollercoaster journey, Flake describes the experience perfectly, it's definitely one you'll remember for many years to come. What way will you approach The Wind Through The Keyhole? It's the 8th book published but story wise it's set between books 4 and 5.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I appreciate the replies, everyone. One of the reasons I asked the question is due to that The Dark Tower series seems polarizing among many readers. I've found both extreme love and disdain in their collective, respective opinions. I'm going in full force, largely blind of what I'm getting myself into. I'm excited nonetheless.


What do you mean by that, in regards to others finding it off-putting with it being different vs. Stephen's other works? "11/22/63" was my first King read, which is apparently different from the rest of his works as well, so I haven't adapted to his style just yet.

I'm so excited (don't mind my repetitiveness). Just reading your thoughts about it being a hell of a journey has me on pins and needles waiting for it to come in, in the mail.
....for me when I say that-is the fact that the style is so much different from what people had come to expect from King.....some have complained that they had to plod through the first book, but then everything flew by in subsequent novels......even though the book has been revised, one must remember the gist of it was penned by a very young man who was still finding his "voice".....
 

Doc Creed

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Nov 18, 2015
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"I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself the king of infinite space." That's how I felt reading The Gunslinger; an unequaled experience. And that's saying something, in light of the mind-bending books which follow it. To me, the first one is like being in a dark egg or womb. The reader thinks in terms of a western but quickly realizes things are not as they seem. That's probably all you need to know.
The next book is like breaking out of the egg/womb and the whole world opens up.
 

Notaro

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Mar 23, 2007
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Should I read it after the fourth book of the series?
You could if you wished though it's not really necessary to do so, from the story point of view it's a separate entity which has all the main characters but is not really connected to the main Dark Tower tale. I just wondered as some folks like to read in order of publication and others prefer to read in chronological order.
 

wolfphoenix

She-Wolf finally Risen and Strapping On.
Apr 24, 2019
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Agree completely with FlakeNoir 's post. Enjoy this life changing journey.
Whenever I think of the Gunslinger and his world(s), I can't help but always remember good King Stephen writing about his inspirations:

Robert Brownings poem....
".....to the dark tower, childe Roland came..."

and

Sitting in the theater, seeing Clint Eastwood, up on the big screen in Sergio Leones westerns.
The striking closeups, his head just filling up the screen.
......and the somewhat surrealish landscapes too.

I think I recall that correctly.
 

Edward John

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Aug 15, 2019
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Having read the series as published, I read it afterwards. If you do it that way-- think of it as a family reunion around a campfire/ BBQ- old friends, good tales. It is a stand alone book.

You should maybe even try reading The Wind Through the Keyhole if you want to get a better understanding of the Tower.