The Gunslinger by Stephen King

This week for the Fiction Friday feature, I am reviewing the fantasy western novel, The Gunslinger by Stephen King. This book was originally published in 1982 by Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. This novel is the first book in the Dark Tower series. The audiobook is 7 hours & 20 minutes in length and read by George Gleiddall. The following overview is provided from Barnes & Noble: The Gunslinger introduces readers to one of Stephen King’s most powerful creations, Roland of Gilead: The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil, In his desolate world, which mirrors our own in frightening ways, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake.

I enjoyed this novel. I do not know what I was expecting but this was better. I think it might have been the genre category of Western attached to the book that made me think it would not be a book I enjoyed. Out of the 13 books of King that I have read this one ranks 10th. The reason was that it was the set-up book and there was a ton of information but not enough movement or action that compelled the story for me. The foundation for this series is well-laid with this novel, which I appreciate as someone who has attempted world-building. I have not stopped thinking about what happens next with the characters since I finished it. I rarely obsess over the what could come aspect of the series when I know next it is already published. Yet, here I am counting the months until I cover the next book. If you have seen the movie and you are wondering if the book is worth it, they are not the same story. Just like with The Shining, the movie is a cherry-picked version of the novel. I recommend the book over the movie because there is so much more in the books. Plus, some of the questions you have about Roland are answered in the book but never addressed in the movie. I have a ton of questions about The Man in Black, and I resisting the urge to google them. My favorite aspect of this novel is that characters are intertwined in the dance of fate, plus good and evil acknowledge each other outside of war. In most books the protagonist and antagonist always interact within conflict, that was not the case in this novel. This is probably one of the reasons, I want to know what happens to the character. The audiobook is well done, and I enjoyed George Guidall’s performance.

I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Sunday for the Spotcast Sunday feature, I am reviewing the pop culture podcast, Trashy Divorces. Next week for the Fiction Friday feature, I am reviewing the young adult fantasy novel, Destined by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast. Until then keep reading on; Nerd out!

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