The Gunslinger

By Stephen King

The first book of Stephen King’s magnum opus focuses on Roland Deschain, as he tracks down the infamous “Man in Black.” This books serves as our first introduction to Roland and his World. We learn how Roland became a gunslinger, what he is pursuing (the Dark Tower), and the author starts introducing the important themes of the series.

The book begins with Roland pursuing the “Man in Black” across a vast desert. It is yet another example of one of the author’s favorite themes: walking. As he tracks the villain, he meets a few people in the desert. Through flashback, we also get to hear a little about Roland’s past and some of the supernatural encounters in the previous town of Tull. There is also a great deal of foreshadowing in this book, preparing the reader for what is going to happen in the remaining six books as he continues to pursue the “Dark Tower”.

Overall, I liked this book a great deal. It is full of action, and does a great job of building the story and making you want more. As always, Stephen King does a great job at developing his characters while leaving out enough information to keep you wondering.

This book is a terrific read, not only because the series is great, but also because it opens the door for further understanding of his other novels. (The Dark Tower, and the Crimson King are overarching themes of many of his books). I would definitely recommend this book for someone looking for a science fiction novel with a great deal of action.

Rating: 4.5/5 Bunsen Burners

Up Next: Gerald’s Game by Stephen King