Those who have read Stephen King's Dark Tower series, does it get better after the first one?

[trmiv]

I wanted to start reading a nice epic saga, and Dark Tower sounded good. Anyway, I picked up the Gunslinger, but I'm having hard time with this book. I just about halfway through, but damn this is a hard read. The book is slow, plodding, and and written in a weird way. I'm forcing myself through this book, hoping it gets better.

So, is it just that this book is not that great, and it's going to get better? Because I'm really tempted to stop reading this thing.

 

[Starbuck1975]

The Dark Tower series is, IMOP, the best work Stephen King has written...the Gunslinger is a tough read because King wrote it years ago, stepped away from it, and only in recent years revisited his epic saga.

The first book sets the stage, and will leave you scratching your head on numerous plot threads...in subsequent books, as King ties off each of those loose ends, the payoff for the reader is incredible.

The Dark Tower series is probably my favorite work of fiction.

 

[trmiv]

Yea I've heard this series is great. I just hope I can get through this one, it makes we want to beat myself over the head with the book, not read it.

 

[mzkhadir]

I think its Stephen King not Steven King

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
The Dark Tower series is, IMOP, the best work Stephen King has written...the Gunslinger is a tough read because King wrote it years ago, stepped away from it, and only in recent years revisited his epic saga.

The first book sets the stage, and will leave you scratching your head on numerous plot threads...in subsequent books, as King ties off each of those loose ends, the payoff for the reader is incredible.

The Dark Tower series is probably my favorite work of fiction.

:thumbsup:

Hang with it, OP, it will be worth your while.

 

[meltdown75]

Drawing of the Three was great. I stopped half way through Wizard & Glass though - not because it was bad. I got sidetracked somehow. I think I have read enough King though, I need to read a few classics!

I don't read enough. Not even close!

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
The Dark Tower series is, IMOP, the best work Stephen King has written...the Gunslinger is a tough read because King wrote it years ago, stepped away from it, and only in recent years revisited his epic saga.

The first book sets the stage, and will leave you scratching your head on numerous plot threads...in subsequent books, as King ties off each of those loose ends, the payoff for the reader is incredible.

The Dark Tower series is probably my favorite work of fiction.

He said it all. But I may be a bit biased..

 

[mundane]

I actually thought the first in the series was one of the best.

 

[waggy]

i agree. i had a very hard time reading the first one.

 

[LeonarD26]

It's worth your time. Once you get started on the second book you'll be glad you did...

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
I actually thought the first in the series was one of the best.

In retrospect, it is. Starting it, it may seem weak, but after you read (and reread) the whole series through, you'll realize that The Gunslinger is the keystone of the series.

I tell you, though - I feel for the people who are only reading the series now. Nothing can compare to the feeling of finishing one book, then waiting for years until the story picks back up again. Instant gratification taints the experience slightly.

 

[toekramp]

i didn't like the first one either, but the next few made it very very worth while. I haven't been able to finish number 6 though... thought it was lame.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: diegoalcatraz
I actually thought the first in the series was one of the best.

In retrospect, it is. Starting it, it may seem weak, but after you read (and reread) the whole series through, you'll realize that The Gunslinger is the keystone of the series.

I tell you, though - I feel for the people who are only reading the series now. Nothing can compare to the feeling of finishing one book, then waiting for years until the story picks back up again. Instant gratification taints the experience slightly.

Don't worry about instant gratification. George RR Martin has been keeping me and a bunch of us in Limbo a few times for at least the past decade. 5 years a book is harsh

 

[doze]

Made it through book 4 but I think The Gunslinger was the best book of the series so far.

 

[Accipiter22]

I loooved the first 3, then never read the rst of em for some reason

 

[conjur]

I loved all of the first four. You might try the new abridged version that's been released of The Gunslinger.

I'm currently about 100 pages from the end of Wolves of the Calla. Pretty darn good so far!

 

[CKent]

I loved the first four, with the exception of 3 which I felt was meh. I didn't really like 5-6, and haven't yet read 7.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: RBachman
I loved the first four, with the exception of 3 which I felt was meh. I didn't really like 5-6, and haven't yet read 7.

Knew you'd be in here soon.

And, 5's not that bad. It's classic King: deep character development intertwined in a steadily progressing plot.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Very good read, yeah there are some slow parts but it's worth it to get through them. I thought the ending was very, very good for once, SK books usually have the weakest endings. No spoilers here, though.

 

[akenbennu]

I've read them all, and I'd encourage you to stick with it. Excellent series all around, though I wasn't overly happy with book 7.

 

[thraashman]

I'm halfway through Song of Susannah (book 6) and I think the series has made some good turns and changes of direction of plot while still keeping the central theme. Wizard and Glass (book 4) was by far my favorite of the series so far. And with how Song of Susannah is so far, I like it but don't see it passing Wizard and Glass. I hope there's a strong finish to the series. I figure I'm 3 weeks or so from finishing the series.

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: RBachman
I loved the first four, with the exception of 3 which I felt was meh. I didn't really like 5-6, and haven't yet read 7.

I can't belive you, of all people, haven't read them all. You are a disgrace to your username.

I have a hardback copy of Thinner, with a picture of 'the author' on the dustjacket.

 

[Shadowknight]

It was good until the last 3 books, which were horrible.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I bought my mom all the Dark Tower audio books 2 years ago for Christmas and she finished them recently. She said the story got better but the ending is a little undesirable.

 

[trmiv]

I've heard a few people say the ending isn't great. That doesn't make me want to go through 7 novels.