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[alyson]

This is the beginning of what is intended, if King doesn't die first, to be a major saga. In it we are introduced to the gunslinger, who when we meet him is struggling slowly across an immense desert, seemingly eternally chasing after the Man in Black.

We learn some of his past through stories he tells others, and we learn some of what his future may be, but we are left with plenty of questions at the end--as intended. The major theme of this book is the establishment of the gunslinger's character, and he is interesting enough that, knowing there's more to come, I'm satisfied.

I liked the afterward, in which King indicates that this book was written more with the head than the gut. If you like his writing generally, then that should provide insight to his style in this book.

I look forward to reading whatever comes next.
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Eschew obfuscation.

[jeffp]

As it happens, the index pages can help you with what comes next....

• Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger
  
• Dark Tower 2: The Drawing of the Three
  
• Dark Tower 3: The Waste Lands
  
• Dark Tower 4: Wizard and Glass
  
• Dark Tower 5: Wolves of the Calla
  
• Dark Tower 6: Song of Susannah
  
• Dark Tower 7: The Dark Tower

And there you have it. A lot of reading for you to undertake.

[Bea]

Ok - so I've been through the whole series. I got hooked on the first few books while I was recovering from knee surgery and couldn't walk for long streaches of time (I think?).

Anyway - you're in for a real treat if you stick with it. Some parts in the middle positively frightened me - which is saying something - I've read enough King that he has to work a bit to frighten me, but when he does...oh boy does he. I had a particularly haunting jingle about a train stuck in my head for a few nights while I would try to kick it out so I could go to sleep.

For me though, the really neet thing is that he kept writing them (the dark tower books) throughout his career. The one you read was written at roughly the same time as carrie. Given that -you can see him expanding on an idea - a set of characters - and all kinds of cool stuff.....and the writting gets better. You get to see him developing his craft from a novice to someone with some real skill. Also - as he is want to do - he weaves in all kinds of characters/places and events from his other novels into the methos of the dark tower. I must admit I went back and re-read some books looking for more dark tower references in those older ones after finnishing the series.

I hope I didn't spoil anything for you - carry on and enjoy!
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I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.