I’ve never read any of them and am looking at ordering. Any opinions?
Are you talking about Stephen King’s Dark Tower series? The first book is called The Gunslinger, and oddly I am re-listening to the audio book of it right now. I think it takes a bit of getting used to. It is a bit slow at the beginning. King has a way of starting the story out in a way that assumes a lot of past history in the characters. Ultimately you learn about them as you go, but sometimes it is slower than you would like.
SOme people are almost cultlike in their devotion to the series.
Bernie
King considers the Dark Tower series to be his masterpiece, and there are a lot of his other books that somehow tie into the series. It is a long series, but if you like King in general, you will like the Dark Tower.
I have been a King fan for a long time and have read many of his novels and short stories. The Gunslinger series finally got into my reading library.
It has been mixed bag of nuts for me on this one. There have been times in which I could not put the book down, and other times weeks between readings. Right now I’m on Book 5. Don’t really know how to explain the reason, good thing I never belonged to a book club, but it does take some really strange directions throughout the books. Some grab me, others don’t. Maybe the character development just hasn’t been the best in my opinion. Other than the Roland, just don’t have much interest in the other characters or yet see their role in his quest (again, I’m on Book 5). This has been unique to this series for me. I am back to reading a chapter/night.
Chris
I just finished book 7 (the final book in the series) about 2 weeks ago. I am a big King fan. One of the fun things about the Dark Tower series is that a lot of his other books tie in or at least give little glimpses of the dark tower series some characters from other books eventually show up in the dark tower series.
I didnt feel that the Dark tower series was "traditional" Steven King in the sense of horror writing, although there are definitely some flashes in the novels of his more traditional horror writings. You can tell (and King openly admits it) that the series is part sci-fi, part Tolkien, and part spaghetti western. As I mentioned it isnt his traditional horror story, but in true King fashion he tells a hell of a tale.
Although overall I really loved the series I did feel that some of the novels were a little weak, while other novels had some weak parts, however, some of them were completely enthralling. One of the benifits for you is that the series is done so you can read one after the other with no interlude. He wrote the series over a span of close to 20 years with a lot of other books (movies, short stories) in between each volume.
He recently optioned the Dark Tower for a film (which I posted about, ignore that thread as I put some spoilers in it).
So, go for the series but buy paperback? That’s what I seem to be hearing.
Yep. I’m not sure why anyone would buy hardcover unless you’re looking to make it a collection. It’s the same words in a much cheaper package.
Book 5 is, in my opinion, the worst in te series. That’s the make or break point for a lot of people. But stick with it–#7 is worth it 
Shouldn’t you be reading Pottery Barn catalogs?
I got through #4 when it came out, plan on finishing the series this winter. Sometimes it gets weird- I read the 1st book when I had my wisdom teeth removed in HS- seems even weirder on codeine… Its a pretty cool series, honestly.
Love them. Fabulous series. There are parts where it can get frustrating, but the payout is worth it. If you buy them, do NOT buy the pocket paperbacks–get the illustrated ones. The art in them is one of the highlights of the series, for sure.
It’s not an easy read, and King has a tendency to indulge his own whims–in this series more than any of his other books, especially. But the characters stick with you, and if you are a King fan in general, I think it’s a must read. It’s one of those exercises where you get to peek inside the mind of the writer…the DT series is the bedrock for everything King has done, really.
So yes, totally worth it. Buy the illustrated versions.
Shouldn’t you be reading Pottery Barn catalogs?
I got through #4 when it came out, plan on finishing the series this winter. Sometimes it gets weird- I read the 1st book when I had my wisdom teeth removed in HS- seems even weirder on codeine… Its a pretty cool series, honestly.
I have Pottery Barn AND PB Kids. My house looks like a damned Pottery Barn. That’s why I need to read a lot of books. To escape my homoginized house.
I have Pottery Barn AND PB Kids. My house looks like a damned Pottery Barn. That’s why I need to read a lot of books. To escape my homoginized house.
emphasis on the “homo” in homogenized…
I know how you feel. My wife can’t deal with having a blank wall- something purchased from that goddamned Kirkland’s store must be hung in every space (that store is the pit of hell). Plus, her whole family went nuts with those fat italian chefs all over the kitchen- whats wrong with some empty counter space? Like I want a bunch of fat ass figurines all over the place…
You race much this year?