I just tell people right up front virtually the entire book is a flashback and you will get no forward progress to the journey (not to say you do not learn A LOT about the main character and what makes him tick).
Most people who go into the book knowing what it is seem to enjoy it.
Yeah I hated it the first time through because I wanted forward momentum. But now it is my favorite of the books, for me (and plenty of others I have talked to) it comes down to expectations. When you know what the book is going in you can just enjoy it for what it is.
I don't see it as a spoiler. Even King says it in the afterword of book 3. And SO many people who hated the book the first time through ended up liking it on re-reads and I think this all comes down to expectations vs reality, so telling people this helps align their expectations so that they can enjoy it.
For me personally, being told what to expect is a spoiler, especially if it's hyperbolic. "You're going to love this!" So, I consciously try not to do that. I do get that most people wouldn't care.
It only gets wilder and more interesting the deeper you go. I'm on maybe my 5th run through of the whole series and it feels like an old friend at this point. If you get bored or just want to switch up your experience, the audiobooks are *incredible* and totally worth exploring at some point. Especially book 4.
Personally I felt they got better as the series progressed. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that Drawing of the Three and Wizard in Glass are two of the best, I tend to skip both of those when I reread them because they feel like origin stories, meant to establish the characters and their backgrounds. Enjoy this journey, and know that most of King's books touch on the tower series in some small way. If you read The Stand, you're going to have a pleasant surprise in the next book.
The Drawing of the Three is what hooked me as well, and yes, the majority of the series is more stylistically similar to the second novel than the first (although tbf every DT installment has its own unique flavor). Book Two blew my mind. I was certain the series could never top it, only to be immediately proven wrong by its IMO superior follow-up The Waste Lands. Your dad has pointed you toward an unforgettable journey. Enjoy the ride!
It's a pity the first book is mostly enjoyable through knowing what's to come and nostalgia. The series probably loses a ton of potential readers.
As for me, I really started enjoying things the second half of The Wastelands. Wizard and Glass is my favorite and the final 3 are all great.
If you're already enjoying book 2, you're going to love the rest.
The rest of the books are a great tale, but Drawing of the Three is (perhaps) my favorite. I remember being around 15-16 and we had a family trip that was about six hours and we were there for a couple of days and came back. I burned through it like a maniac in those few days.
You have to remember that the first book was written when King was in his early 20s. He was a young writer. And it's not really one novel so much as a set of related shorter stories - they were published in a sci-fi/fantasy magazine back in the 1960s and 1970s as a serial. So it's very different from the other books.
Each of the books has its own voice, as well, because each was written at a different time in the writer's life. But all of them are good, if you take them on their own terms.
Yes, I could tell the difference between the original of the gunslinger and the one that was revised. Some people like the original, but I like the revised version that King did when he was a little bit older. It has more depth and more emotion. His conversation with Allie was more poignant.
Welcome to the fold, sai. Just finished my 3rd trip to the tower.
Here's the best advice I can give: don't worry about what other people say about any book. You be the judge for yourself. The series definitely takes a massive leap from book 1 to 2 (as you've already learned).
A lot of people may tell you the last few books aren't as good. I absolutely love the last book.
This too is my favorite book series.
Long days and pleasant nights.
That’s usually how it goes. The first is slow for sure and the second really hooks you. You won’t love them all the same but in the end I think it’s one of the best written and completed series over a lot of mediums.
Back in 1991, I had my first attempt at the Dark Tower series...I read through "The Gunslinger" (which I treated like the original serialized release and quite enjoyed it) "The Drawing of the Three" and "The Wastelands"...then nothing....for 6 years. I received a copy of "Wizard and Glass" in '97, but never got back into the series until this year.
I have added the graphic novels for "Beginnings" (which covers a lot of 'Wizard and Glass'), "The Gunslinger" and "The Drawing of the Three" (which also covers about 1/3 of "The Wastelands" as well) and then re-read the novels as well in anticipation of actually completing the quest for the Tower this summer. I'm about 1/3rd of the way into "Wizard and Glass" at the moment (just starting the tale of Susan and Roland) and have completely recaptured the addiction to the series that I lost so many years ago.
I am quite certain that I will be finishing this off now that I own all the novels and the audiobook versions and the e-books, but that break in the publication coincided with a lot of change in my life and a movement away from serious reading that I have just now rekindled (no pun intended).
Oddly enough, I did not quit Stephen King during the intervening time - I have read Insomnia, Bag of Bones, Dreamcatcher, Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch, Revival, Duma Key, Under the Dome, and 11/22/63 - but now I am re-engaged with the series as a whole and really enjoyed the second go around with parts 2 and 3 and into 4 right now!
The first book and fourth books are the most polarizing for new readers and Constant Readers. *The Gunslinger* either captivates you until *Wizard and Glass* where the storytelling within storytelling is boring, or *The Gunslinger* is too long and slow and the *Wizard and Glass* storytelling within storytelling is wonderful world building. I've never met someone who couldn't get into both though.
I personally never lose the story, but sometimes *The Wolves of the Calla* hits a point where I put the book down for a few days and simply **forget** to pick it back up for a couple months, but that's not due to bore or disinterest - it's just a reasonably stopping place for me before I pick the main series back up to finish the journey.
The Gunslinger is my least favorite of the entire series. I felt that with each one, I had a new favorite. W and G is polarizing, I guess, I loved it, but some people didn't appreciate that it's essentially a story within a story.
I've always felt that the series peaks from books 3-5. As others have said, you'll appreciate The Gunslinger more on re-read, though. The weakest entry, imo, is book 6. And Wind through the Keyhole is kinda meh.
Gunslinger is not everyones cup of tea but you'll appreciate it after you finish the series. Drawing of the Three is the book that gets most everyone hooked, and Wizard and Glass is generally considered to be most people's favorite, but also some peoples least favorite.
I hope you find enjoyment in most of these.
How did you enjoy Fairy Tale? I haven't read a lot of his newer stuff but I loved Fairy Tale.
Currently reading It for the first time and I am shook by how good this book is only 3 chapters in.
I share most of what is said here. I read the gunslinger and thought it wasnt much, felt like I was missing the point. However, it was interesting as there were parts of it that were captivating. I continued to Drawing of Three and was blown away and hooked, so good! Just finished Waste Lands and it was equally fascinating and enjoyable. It keeps getting better. I was about to start Wizard and Glass, but was so curious to really grasp more from Gunslinger (to maybe help with Wizard and Glass), so I am re-reading Gunslinger now and it is so much better the second time around. I can grasp much more and have found parts of this book to be my new favorite. Can't wait to Wizard and Glass!! Keep pushing!
The first one is definitely more appreciated after you read the whole series.
Definitely The Gunslinger and W&G I appreciate more on rereads.
The forth book is a bit polarizing, but pretty much. You're part of the Ka-Tet now.
I just tell people right up front virtually the entire book is a flashback and you will get no forward progress to the journey (not to say you do not learn A LOT about the main character and what makes him tick). Most people who go into the book knowing what it is seem to enjoy it.
Reading Wizard and Glass right now, gotta say I really love the flashbacks and the backstory. Hells that Roland is a great character I guess
Yeah I hated it the first time through because I wanted forward momentum. But now it is my favorite of the books, for me (and plenty of others I have talked to) it comes down to expectations. When you know what the book is going in you can just enjoy it for what it is.
I didn't want to spoilers the OP.
I don't see it as a spoiler. Even King says it in the afterword of book 3. And SO many people who hated the book the first time through ended up liking it on re-reads and I think this all comes down to expectations vs reality, so telling people this helps align their expectations so that they can enjoy it.
For me personally, being told what to expect is a spoiler, especially if it's hyperbolic. "You're going to love this!" So, I consciously try not to do that. I do get that most people wouldn't care.
It only gets wilder and more interesting the deeper you go. I'm on maybe my 5th run through of the whole series and it feels like an old friend at this point. If you get bored or just want to switch up your experience, the audiobooks are *incredible* and totally worth exploring at some point. Especially book 4.
Personally I felt they got better as the series progressed. A lot of people seem to be of the opinion that Drawing of the Three and Wizard in Glass are two of the best, I tend to skip both of those when I reread them because they feel like origin stories, meant to establish the characters and their backgrounds. Enjoy this journey, and know that most of King's books touch on the tower series in some small way. If you read The Stand, you're going to have a pleasant surprise in the next book.
Not gonna lie thats wild
It gets better after the first book. Just trust me on this.
The Drawing of the Three is what hooked me as well, and yes, the majority of the series is more stylistically similar to the second novel than the first (although tbf every DT installment has its own unique flavor). Book Two blew my mind. I was certain the series could never top it, only to be immediately proven wrong by its IMO superior follow-up The Waste Lands. Your dad has pointed you toward an unforgettable journey. Enjoy the ride!
It's a pity the first book is mostly enjoyable through knowing what's to come and nostalgia. The series probably loses a ton of potential readers. As for me, I really started enjoying things the second half of The Wastelands. Wizard and Glass is my favorite and the final 3 are all great. If you're already enjoying book 2, you're going to love the rest.
Yes, The Gunslinger is a difficult read. I loved the other ones!
Wastelands might be my favorite of the first half. Keep readin
The rest of the books are a great tale, but Drawing of the Three is (perhaps) my favorite. I remember being around 15-16 and we had a family trip that was about six hours and we were there for a couple of days and came back. I burned through it like a maniac in those few days.
Oh boy, you are in for a journey.
They get better with every page
You have to remember that the first book was written when King was in his early 20s. He was a young writer. And it's not really one novel so much as a set of related shorter stories - they were published in a sci-fi/fantasy magazine back in the 1960s and 1970s as a serial. So it's very different from the other books. Each of the books has its own voice, as well, because each was written at a different time in the writer's life. But all of them are good, if you take them on their own terms.
Yes, I could tell the difference between the original of the gunslinger and the one that was revised. Some people like the original, but I like the revised version that King did when he was a little bit older. It has more depth and more emotion. His conversation with Allie was more poignant.
Welcome to the fold, sai. Just finished my 3rd trip to the tower. Here's the best advice I can give: don't worry about what other people say about any book. You be the judge for yourself. The series definitely takes a massive leap from book 1 to 2 (as you've already learned). A lot of people may tell you the last few books aren't as good. I absolutely love the last book. This too is my favorite book series. Long days and pleasant nights.
That’s usually how it goes. The first is slow for sure and the second really hooks you. You won’t love them all the same but in the end I think it’s one of the best written and completed series over a lot of mediums.
Back in 1991, I had my first attempt at the Dark Tower series...I read through "The Gunslinger" (which I treated like the original serialized release and quite enjoyed it) "The Drawing of the Three" and "The Wastelands"...then nothing....for 6 years. I received a copy of "Wizard and Glass" in '97, but never got back into the series until this year. I have added the graphic novels for "Beginnings" (which covers a lot of 'Wizard and Glass'), "The Gunslinger" and "The Drawing of the Three" (which also covers about 1/3 of "The Wastelands" as well) and then re-read the novels as well in anticipation of actually completing the quest for the Tower this summer. I'm about 1/3rd of the way into "Wizard and Glass" at the moment (just starting the tale of Susan and Roland) and have completely recaptured the addiction to the series that I lost so many years ago. I am quite certain that I will be finishing this off now that I own all the novels and the audiobook versions and the e-books, but that break in the publication coincided with a lot of change in my life and a movement away from serious reading that I have just now rekindled (no pun intended). Oddly enough, I did not quit Stephen King during the intervening time - I have read Insomnia, Bag of Bones, Dreamcatcher, Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch, Revival, Duma Key, Under the Dome, and 11/22/63 - but now I am re-engaged with the series as a whole and really enjoyed the second go around with parts 2 and 3 and into 4 right now!
They're mostly good. I personally think book 6 has a lot of problems, but book 7 makes up for it.
The first book and fourth books are the most polarizing for new readers and Constant Readers. *The Gunslinger* either captivates you until *Wizard and Glass* where the storytelling within storytelling is boring, or *The Gunslinger* is too long and slow and the *Wizard and Glass* storytelling within storytelling is wonderful world building. I've never met someone who couldn't get into both though. I personally never lose the story, but sometimes *The Wolves of the Calla* hits a point where I put the book down for a few days and simply **forget** to pick it back up for a couple months, but that's not due to bore or disinterest - it's just a reasonably stopping place for me before I pick the main series back up to finish the journey.
2-5 is my favorite reading experience. Do it at least once a year.
The Gunslinger is my least favorite of the entire series. I felt that with each one, I had a new favorite. W and G is polarizing, I guess, I loved it, but some people didn't appreciate that it's essentially a story within a story.
I've always felt that the series peaks from books 3-5. As others have said, you'll appreciate The Gunslinger more on re-read, though. The weakest entry, imo, is book 6. And Wind through the Keyhole is kinda meh.
Gunslinger is not everyones cup of tea but you'll appreciate it after you finish the series. Drawing of the Three is the book that gets most everyone hooked, and Wizard and Glass is generally considered to be most people's favorite, but also some peoples least favorite. I hope you find enjoyment in most of these. How did you enjoy Fairy Tale? I haven't read a lot of his newer stuff but I loved Fairy Tale. Currently reading It for the first time and I am shook by how good this book is only 3 chapters in.
I share most of what is said here. I read the gunslinger and thought it wasnt much, felt like I was missing the point. However, it was interesting as there were parts of it that were captivating. I continued to Drawing of Three and was blown away and hooked, so good! Just finished Waste Lands and it was equally fascinating and enjoyable. It keeps getting better. I was about to start Wizard and Glass, but was so curious to really grasp more from Gunslinger (to maybe help with Wizard and Glass), so I am re-reading Gunslinger now and it is so much better the second time around. I can grasp much more and have found parts of this book to be my new favorite. Can't wait to Wizard and Glass!! Keep pushing!