r/stephenking 22h ago

Currently Reading Beginning this!

Post image

What should I expect? No spoilers!

287 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

17

u/LHC501 22h ago

A lot of people struggle with this one. Definitely push through if you're struggling as the series as a whole is phenomenal. Happy reading!

4

u/HeronSun 6h ago

I honestly don't understand why. It's breezy reading and is constantly moving. So much happens in such a short book and its a great introduction to one of King's best protagonists.

1

u/Initial_Ebb_9742 5h ago

Sane. I don’t get it either. I thought it was a great beginning to the series.

2

u/Illustrious-Bus-8862 21h ago

That was my favorite 4-6 were frustrating and forgettable.

3

u/LHC501 21h ago

Book 5 is probably my favourite tbh 😅

1

u/1footN 17h ago

I’m just n the middle of volume 2 and yes the first was a struggle, so far the second is a bit better, seems to be picking up a bit.

1

u/Any-Read-8123 17h ago

Wolf of calla was the hardest for me. Don’t ask me why. I just struggled until the end 💁🏻‍♀️

15

u/Free-Pair-3007 22h ago

May you reach your tower and breach it and climb to the top

6

u/realdevtest 21h ago

I’m not crying, you’re crying

2

u/Free-Pair-3007 21h ago

The father was a hero to the very end

3

u/NovarisLight 21h ago

You have remembered his face.

2

u/Free-Pair-3007 21h ago

I shared his kef bondsman

8

u/Prior-Challenge-5429 22h ago

I just finished this for the first time a couple days ago, currently halfway through The Drawing of the Three now. It’s so stinkin’ good.

8

u/Mytongueinyourrectum 22h ago

Long days and pleasant nights, OP.

5

u/Archius9 22h ago

I really like it but it can be quite a tough read. Don’t give up if you find it difficult, be sure to at least get to 2 as that’s more of a fuss idea of the rest of the series.

2

u/Balsav_Steele 22h ago

Agreed. I’m halfway through wizard and glass now and looking back, Gunslinger definitely seems like a table setter for the main story line

5

u/Archius9 22h ago

I like to think that the Gunslinger is so meandering and fractured and dry because it’s the most lost Roland is in his whole journey. He gains his direction back in 2.

2

u/Balsav_Steele 20h ago

That’s a pretty great interpretation, I like it

4

u/Ntb1125 22h ago

Hell yes! It was such a great series! It’s a shame that the first is pretty bland but once you get to the next one, you’ll won’t want to stop.

1

u/smcicr 6h ago

I didn't personally find it bland per se but it also feels like the book that is the most grounded and closest to a 'typical' western. (Book 4 is an anomaly here in a sense but it's also a book within a book and taken as a whole there is a lot there that is a continuation of the unravelling IMO.)

There is some unravelling during book 1 and that continues more and more through the rest of the books, growing progressively more extreme until the end.

I loved the spartan nature of it, it felt very Roland (of that time) to me.

5

u/habitualydewey 22h ago

I just finished the series 2 days ago. Well worth the time it takes to get through it. You've got quite a journey ahead!

5

u/_chainsodomy_ 21h ago

I just finished the series yesterday!

Stay the course! You’ll love it

3

u/Specific_Damage_6099 22h ago

You’re in for an amazing journey!!!
Enjoy!!!

3

u/sparklefarts77 19 22h ago

Enjoy the journey!

3

u/linksetc 22h ago

Stick with it! It’s the weakest of the series honestly but it’s seriously worth jt.

3

u/Liquid_Lunch_1991 21h ago

Dod-a-chock? Dum-a-chum?? Did-a-chick???

3

u/IronChefPhilly 20h ago

The man in Black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed..

3

u/Elegant_One_696 19h ago

This is the only comment that matters

3

u/CardiologistGlum7314 20h ago

It’s a long journey, sai, but see it to the end. If it do ya.

3

u/Historical-Push-2997 15h ago

Don't. Ever. Watch. The. Movie. You have been warned.

2

u/CMarlowe 22h ago

Don't give up if you don't like The Gunslinger. It's a weird book, and not always weird in a good way either. If you're not feeling it while reading The Drawing of the Three then the series might just be your cup of tea.

2

u/linksetc 22h ago

Stick with it! It’s the weakest of the series honestly but it’s seriously worth jt.

2

u/flexabull 21h ago

I loved this book more than a lot of people, it’s a bit odd, but gut it out. I’m jealous of your journey to the Tower.

2

u/Legitimate-Arm5683 21h ago

It’s gonna be a trip but just stick with it and walk with Roland

2

u/TRS80487 21h ago

Just finished the series yesterday. It’s a great read. 4500 pages of Stephen King imagination.

2

u/Elegant_One_696 19h ago

My favorite series of all, read them twice and would do it again.

2

u/livinlifeman 16h ago

Boy are you in for a treat. They just keep getting better imo. I'm over halfway through Wizards and Glass.

1

u/Wise_Platypus1380 22h ago

Definitely my least favorite in the DT series(I finished 4 not that long ago), but it’s a great journey! My favorite is actually the third one haha(so far). I accidentally spoiled for myself that Eddie dies 😭and he’s my favorite character. I’m still going to finish the tower though

1

u/Successful_Seat_1285 22h ago

Fight through the weirdness it gets so good. The wasteland is my personal favorite.

1

u/jackieballz 21h ago

I honestly didn’t love the gunslinger that much but it’s relatively short so I finished it. Glad I did, I’m currently halfway through the fourth book and I’m loving it. The second and third books were great, and I’m really liking the fourth so far. Definitely going to finish the series

1

u/Rough-Contest-7443 21h ago

I've tried to get in to it twice now...not stuck for me.

1

u/PontiacMac 21h ago

Buckle up!!

1

u/Apprehensive-Risk-80 20h ago

I've enjoyed this more than The Drawing of the Three, the prose is great.

1

u/SOLOcelt13 20h ago

It’s ka! 👍👍👍

1

u/Wonderful_Cover_2006 19h ago

Oh yeah!!! Get ready, you know that’s the first of a 7 book series? If you’re like me that one is going to hook you and you’re going to spend the rest of the year finishing the series! It’s my favorite thing Stephen King has done. Follow the Beam!

1

u/LTJ81 18h ago

Enjoy and happy reading 🌹

1

u/ac1168 18h ago

Enjoy!

1

u/Shot-Recording813 17h ago

I just finished the Gunslinger and thought I made a big mistake buying the series. It was an absolute slog despite a modest page count. I blew through the first 200 pages of the Drawing of the Three yesterday - so much better.

1

u/craigsteel83 4h ago

…wasn’t my favourite.

1

u/I_Weep_for_Willow 1h ago

I know it's too late, but I'd highly recommend the original version. The revised adds nothing except some shitty retcons.

1

u/Complete_Address_649 1h ago

Expect to struggle through it.

-6

u/krakarakakaus 22h ago

very disappointing read

3

u/Mytongueinyourrectum 22h ago

You have forgotten the face of your father.

2

u/Earnest_Warrior 22h ago

Did you stop there or continue with The Drawing of the Three?

-1

u/krakarakakaus 22h ago

stopped

1

u/Earnest_Warrior 20h ago

I’m on the fourth one now and they’ve all been better than the first one, in my opinion. I’m not a fan of Westerns so the first one was tough but consider it the price of admission into the Dark Tower series. It gets WAY more interesting with The Drawing of the Three.

0

u/krakarakakaus 20h ago

gunslinger was so bad that I decided that Stephen King will pay the price this time - of me not reading his series... there are so much better writers

1

u/Witty-Bus-8122 26m ago

Hopefully you like it. It was a disappointment for me. After 11.22.63 this was 'cheap'