gunslinger -- safe thread for first time readers. safe and spoiler-free!

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

I don't have anything to say about The Gunslinger right now, but it occurs to me that there's a need for threads that first time Dark Tower readers can go to to talk about what they've read so far without being exposed to information about the later books in the series. Maybe these could be stickied...

New readers: discuss your story.

Old readers: be on your very best behavior and don't don't don't ever address things that come later in the series -- don't "spoil" the journey for your fellow-travelers.

We all float down here.

[GNTLGNT]

You mean tyhe part in Book 6 where Roland takes a cream cheese bath with OY? OOOPPS!!!:oops:

[Spideyman]

Savor, enjoy, be one with each character- you are about to experience the journey of a lifetime:wink2:

[JohnDalglish]

Savor, enjoy, be one with each character- you are about to experience the journey of a lifetime:wink2:

Hi,

AWSS (And What Spidey Said).

Great idea, Lencho.

Long days and pleasant nights

[doc_hall81]

I like to push the DT series to everyone i meet :D just lent out my copy of The Gunslinger out for like the 5th time :D

[CCAL]

Terrific idea--and I'll be watching to see how others feel about each step along the way...its a journey!

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

You mean tyhe part in Book 6 where Roland takes a cream cheese bath with OY? OOOPPS!!!:oops:

Yeah, and then the scene in the next book where Oy has to decide whether to follow Susannah or stay behind and protect the tub of creamcheese... Wrong move on Oy's part, big OOPS again. Actions have consequences... even if you're a bumbler.

We all float down here.

[Alaska Munchkin]

I just can't get into this whole DT lovefest. It seems like a lot of fantesy stuff to me -- I won't read anything about Harry Potter either. And...I don't wear fairy wings for Halloween. Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing special. Convience me that a looksee is warranted.

[J.T. Adams]

I just can't get into this whole DT lovefest. It seems like a lot of fantesy stuff to me -- I won't read anything about Harry Potter either. And...I don't wear fairy wings for Halloween. Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing special. Convience me that a looksee is warranted.

Well how much have you read? You need to read more than the first book to get a feel for what this whole thing is really about, and all I can tell you is you HAVE NO IDEA what your missin out on.

[JohnDalglish]

I just can't get into this whole DT lovefest. It seems like a lot of fantesy stuff to me -- I won't read anything about Harry Potter either. And...I don't wear fairy wings for Halloween. Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing special. Convience me that a looksee is warranted.

Hi,

Try skipping The Gunslinger and moving on to The Drawing of the Three (DT2).

Some seem to get bogged down with The Gunslinger (not me!) but DotT starts like a train IMO.

Honest, it's REALLY worth it!

Long days and pleasant nights

[Robert Gray]

I just can't get into this whole DT lovefest. It seems like a lot of fantesy stuff to me -- I won't read anything about Harry Potter either. And...I don't wear fairy wings for Halloween. Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing special. Convience me that a looksee is warranted.

Heh. Why should we try to convince you of anything? It suffices to say that the entire series is full of that "fantasy stuff" and if anything beyond the realm of your immediate senses doesn't appeal, I can't say they are the books for you. I won't try to convince you to read or not to read anything. I am content to let you wallow in your own choices.

[The Nameless]

Day one, so far I know what Roland wears (even though I am not meant to know his name is Roland) and that he is thirsty. I had to go out after reading the intro and forword (revised and expanded version) so that's all I got up to. This is my first journey and I know nothing about the series except his name and the turtle is in it. I feel I am in for a long old slog.

[Evil Queen]

Hi! I just finished The Gunslinger last week, & I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. At first, I was thinking-What in the world is all this stuff King is writing about?...& it was kind of confusing...but I just kept reading, & when I got to the end, I was like-Wow!..that's pretty cool! It was a fast read for me, even though I was not reading it fast. I can't believe some people couldn't even finish it, it's not that hard of a read. My book was an old one, not a revised one, so I think that's better. So I have to get me DT2 to find out what's next. :)

[Beep-Beep]

So I have to get me DT2 to find out what's next. :)

Careful now - draws you in real quick

[Evil Queen]

Careful now - draws you in real quick

Really?...So I hear....Now I'm excited! :)

[not_nadine]

I am on The Waste Lands now and absoluty loving it. I must say I was daunted to start this series. I did not think I would "get' it.
But after Gunslinger it is pure SK at his finest. (and funny as hell in parts too!)

[Beep-Beep]

Finding Wizard and Glass is a bit of a change in pace, but no less gripping (and very interesting in terms of setting!)

[Kurtman518]

Finding Wizard and Glass is a bit of a change in pace, but no less gripping (and very interesting in terms of setting!)

I agree completely. Wizard and Glass is easily my favorite of the seven (eight now) books. I really enjoyed reading some of Roland's back story, and it left me craving more (*cough* Jericho Hill).

Like many other readers have mentioned, I didn't think the series would appeal to me as I thought it would be a western. About 15 years ago I broke down and picked up copies of the first three books at a church book sale for about 50 cents a piece, and the rest is history :biggrin2:

[Matt Murdock]

Just finished "The Gunslinger". Im a long time SK fan but always avoided getting started on this until I was sure that I would get a good run at the series. For me the conversation at the end between the Man in Black and Roland was fascinating. The nature of infinity and size is something that has always fascinated and scared me in equal measures and I think King really touches a nerve with this. I have already started "the drawing of the three" and am really enjoying the journey

[purpleandgreen1983]

First post! I finished The Gunslinger last night. I think two words will sum up what I thought: weird and cool. Since I read a little bit about people having a hard time getting through it I decided to think of each chapter as a short story. It was a pretty effective way of reading the book, actually. Although I hardly needed to because I was into the story enough to keep going. However, that helped me question the disjointed-ness less. It really felt like I was reading a dream, which was so strange, but so cool. Or I felt like I was reading a novelization of a graphic novel...I can see that this series is very well suited to a visual format and I will probably try to get my hands on the graphic novels at some point. After I'm finished the whole series. Don't want to taint my imagination with someone else's pictures like I did with The Stand miniseries.

So here are some parts that stood out to me. The slow mutants...gross. David and Cort fighting....gross. Jake...I want to know more. How exactly did he end up wherever the Gunslinger is? Does what happened to him happen to others? And speaking of questions....where exactly is this book set? Hahaha. Obviously, I don't actually want these questions answered here. I just can't wait to read and find some of them out on my own.

[Evil Queen]

It really felt like I was reading a dream, which was so strange, but so cool.

That's how I felt too. I really did like it! :)

[JordyVerrill]

So after having read about 12 of King's books I decided I should read the Dark Tower series, since so many of his other books tie into it. I picked up The Gunslinger from my local bookstore and started reading. I got about 30 pages in (10%... I'll give any book 10% before giving up) and decided this just wasn't for me, so I read 11/23/63 instead. Fast forward about 6 months, and the copy of It from the library that I'm reading (my local bookstore had no copies in stock) is due and has holds on it, so I can't renew it, so back to the library it goes and onto the wait list my name goes. So there I was, about 400 pages into It and not wanting to get into aanything too heavy before I get a chance to pick It back up, and I see the Gunslinger on my bookshelf and decide to give it another go.

That was a week ago. I struggled through the first 150 pages, which I found quite dry and honestly I had no idea what was going on. Then the next 140 or so pages were much better, and I got through them pretty easily. The last 10 pages blew my mind and now I can't wait to get to the bookstore and pick up volume 2. But I just got a notice that It is available for me again at the library. So now I'm exactly where I didn't want to be; several hundred pages (I have no problem considering the entire Dark Tower series as one giant book) in to epic novels with an urge to read both. I think I'm going to try to power through It real fast (if powering through a 1000+ page novel is even possible for me) so I can get back to the Dark Tower. Those last 10 pages hooked me.

[Vose]

I dunno . . . Gunslinger had me at "The man in black fled across the desert." I'm wary that you didn't really enjoy until that deep in to it, but now that you're hooked you'll probably stay hooked. I haven't read as much King as I'd like, but these are among my very favorite books of all time.

[Winter]

I just can't get into this whole DT lovefest. It seems like a lot of fantesy stuff to me -- I won't read anything about Harry Potter either. And...I don't wear fairy wings for Halloween. Seems like a lot of hoopla over nothing special. Convience me that a looksee is warranted.

Ok, I wouldn't have put it like that but its a similar sentiment to why I have never started them...am I wrong?

[FlakeNoir]

Ok, I wouldn't have put it like that but its a similar sentiment to why I have never started them...am I wrong?

The Dark Tower series spans several different genre, personally it's in my top 5 of Stephen's works... and yes, I think you're missing out by not at least giving it a go. :smile2:

[Walter Oobleck]

Almost like saying I'll never eat anything w/a green skin unless someone peels it for me first. If the cook prepares a feast and you have enjoyed everything you've placed on your plate & having read the dietary description for the remainder of the meal, why wouldn't you want to taste everything laid out on the table?

[Winter]

Ok too many people love them....one copy of The Gunslinger sitting here waiting for me to finish my current book. I'm sure it will be great...though I am yet to read a SK I didnt like!

[Winter]

And HOW long ago did I post that saying I would give it a go? Of course I hadnt...until yesterday. I havent got much of an opinion yet...but it has that unmistakable voice ​of SK that we all love...and the irresistible "what the?" factor. So here I go...no doubt I will be back along with opinions as I have 'em! xx

[nate_watkins]

Do it!!! I hope to start my re-read of the series soon.

[Spideyman]

Winter, enjoy the read. I try to take a re read of the entire journey each November.

[not_nadine]

Winter, just wait till you get to the next book. I was one of those who struggled with parts of it. Big-big. I tried so many times and gave up. I kick myself so much for that. Don't read any spoilers!!!! The fine folks and all the post convinced me that I was not "really" reading SK until I took the journey. So right.

I am ashamed to admit being happy when I heard years ago that a new Stephen King book was out!!! Then saw,, and thought, "ohh, it's one of those cowboy books. Too bad." I was wrong.


You are going to be dreaming of Roland before long. :love:

AKE!

[The Nameless]

Don't read any spoilers!!!!



That is a lot harder than it sounds. I am currently up to DT7 (havent started yet) and I know from non spoiler tagged text that (book 7 spoiler) Oy is going to die.

Even without going into the dark tower threads I had the whole plot of Wizard & Glass spoiled. That pissed me off big big, because I had struggled through wastelands, didn't like it that much, then got to the Susan story which I didn't want read - I wanted them to go on along the beam, not stop for a whole book, so when I finally thought "OK lets get on with it" I looked at the 'Novels' section of the forum and the post preview for W&G at the right hand side said Why did Susan and her child have to burn?. I was livid, not only was I faced with reading 600 pages of something I didn't really want to, I had to do it knowing the overall outcome. Anyway, I have already stated that I was a fool to worry, the Susan section was great.

Besides, Stephen is one of the worst for spoiling his own stories. I quote DT6 Song of Susannah: Eddie thought he would have to ask Roland about it at a better time, but before he would get the chance, death would come between them - Thanks Stephen, now I know Roland or Eddie dies

[Winter]

I live with a giant spoiler...you know the kind that thinks if he talks in 'code' he can discuss it without giving away anything. He has now been banned from discussing these books with me AT ALL until I am done! :P In saying that I am about 2/3s of the way through the 1st one and am well intrigued.....

[Winter]

Oooooo 1st book down, 2nd book half done and a trip into the book shop at the mall to get the 3rd and 4th so I dont get caught short over the weekend.

[FlakeNoir]

I live with a giant spoiler...you know the kind that thinks if he talks in 'code' he can discuss it without giving away anything. He has now been banned from discussing these books with me AT ALL until I am done! :P In saying that I am about 2/3s of the way through the 1st one and am well intrigued.....


Oooooo 1st book down, 2nd book half done and a trip into the book shop at the mall to get the 3rd and 4th so I dont get caught short over the weekend.

And she's..... hooked! :biggrin2:

[Winter]

And she's..... hooked! :biggrin2:

​Oh oh oh I totally am!