The Gunslinger (edit title)

• Rated 2 stars

“This was an okay read. I wanted more. I wanted American Gods and I got something else. I cannot imagine that Stephen King actually had to write seven volumes of this narrative. A good editor would have cut it down to three. It was irritaing that he described a falcon and then after the first reference, called it a hawk. They are two different birds and for those of us who appreciate and value the art of falconry, such a mistake is simply wrong. Some editor should have caught that. For me, such limited attention to detail is grounds for not continuing with that author. It has happened before, and now has happened again. Fie. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“The best of the Dark Tower books.....”

• Rated 0 stars

“Review By: Sean 1st hour

This book will grab your attention and leave you wanting more; it is a real page turner. The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I, the first book of the Dark Tower series, was a great book by Stephen King from beginning to end. This book is set in a mysterious world that mirrors our own. The reader is introduced to Roland, the last gunslinger, who pursues The Man in Black. The gunslinger’s main goal is getting to the Dark Tower which is the place where all universes meet. The opening of the book captures the reader’s interest. “The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” Probably one of the best openers ever in any book, filled with action and suspense. Stephen King incorporates well developed realistic characters in this novel from the gunslinger and The Man in Black to Alice and Jake. The gunslinger is the main character as he pursues The Man in Black. Alice is a woman he encounters on his way to the Dark Tower as well as Jake, a kid he begins a friendship with. Overall this book kept my interest due to its action filled scenes and organization. The uses of flashbacks at some points were annoying because the reader just wanted to know what was going to happen next in the present time of the story. Stephen King’s use of flashbacks did draw the past with the present in the storyline allowing the reader to become more drawn to the gunslinger.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action, excitement, and mystifying concepts. People should read this book because it grabs the reader’s attention; I started reading it and finished in a day. It is overall an easy read and is not that long of a read either. I do not think this is a novel that should be used by teachers with students due to the sexual scenes that involve Roland and Alice. The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I; is a book that I enjoyed and I give it two thumbs up.
”

• Rated 5 stars

“very intense not for young readers”

• Rated 5 stars

“My favorite series by King.”

• Rated 5 stars

“The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed.... The best opening line to a book I have ever read. The Gunslinger is the first book in the Dark Tower series. A series that follows a man, Roland and tells of his story before and up to the dark tower. This book is the beginning of an epic story that is up to par with The Lord of the Rings. One of my favorites that is written with much excitement and the feel is something more than just a story. A book that ties the past, future and present all in one time line. Anyone who enjoys an epic story of life, death, love, laughter and sometimes mysterious things all set in different time periods it is a must read. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“This is/was my first Stephen King book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself digesting it in large portions readily over a week. Unlike some other people (you know who you are), I can really like it when genres are mixed with other types, at least when done competently (counter example: Stephen Sommers' Van Helsing). Certainly it's been done more poorly many, many times before.

Sometimes I was annoyed by the flashbacks but eventually you get as drawn into the Gunslinger's past as you are in the present. There's a great post-apocalyptic feel to the desert and its inhabitants (not to mention the Slow Mutants). I was fascinated by the boy Jake and how he came to cross paths with the titular character (prediction: these words will be uttered in the forthcoming movie adaption: "You're more than just some kind of gun-slinger, ain't ya?").

The ending is definitely not what I expected and I usually find sort of thing (don't want to offer more details and spoil it) in media to be dull at best and a moronic chore at worst. This one, however, is intriguing and I definitely want to know what's in that damn Tower now. I think Mr. King is treading on some very dangerous territory here (the land of Ridiculousness) with the multiple worlds and time traveling (oops, may have ruined that for you), but he's doing a good job of it thus far.

”

• Rated 5 stars

“If you only read one series in your life please, please read this series. It is the most beautiful set of books I have ever read in my entire life. I wish I could live in these books.”

• Rated 5 stars

“I've yet to read the entire dark tower series but of the first 4 books this is definitely my favourite. I've already read this book twice and plan on reading it again.”

• Rated 5 stars

“The beginning of Stephen King's best work. Meeting Roland Deschain and the Man in Black will hook you immediately. It also combines fantasy, horror, and westerns in ways you never thought were possibly.”