superdefluxe - , reviewed on 9/23/2019 + 8 more book reviews

I must first express that The Gunslinger and its series, The Dark Tower, are excellent works of literature. As one would expect from King, it is a well written story with excellent world building, intriguing and disturbing concepts, and can really get under your skin. That being said, The Gunslinger and the books that follow, are not for me.

I'm not one for westerns and much of the series, despite being fantasy/sci-fi/horror, feel like a western. That was exactly what King was going for after being inspired by Lord of the Rings and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. He accomplishes it! It feels exactly what a fantasy epic would be if it was a space western.

What does make the series interesting is the connection to King's other works and that it is the glue that ties his multiverse together. You can tell how much he loves Roland, his companions, and this story. I am more interested in The Man in Black and his master than Roland's journey. I also realize that the Man in Black would have no purpose without him.

If you love the works of Stephen King, westerns, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and finding hidden references to his works, The Gunslinger is for you. You'll be launched on the adventure of a lifetime. If you're like me and only like part of those things, you're better off skipping this and sticking with King's other tales.

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