Review (Novel): The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger by Stephen King


Stephen King's magnum opus, The Dark Tower, begins with a gripping, if somewhat narratively bare, prologue in the form of The Gunslinger.

The Dark Tower I: The Gunlinger is a fine introduction to the realm of All-World, the titular Roland Deschain and his decades, maybe centuries-long quest to reach the eponymous Dark Tower. As the very fabric of reality begins to break down, Roland decides to venture towards the dark tower, a monolithic structure that serves as a pillar of reality. As the dark tower begins to collapse, reality itself begins to unravel. The laws of time and size begin to bend seemingly at random, and the rising and setting of the sun is inconsistent, ever-changing.

During this first instalment of the series, we learn of the backstory of Roland Deschain, and how the arrival of a young boy by the name of Jake begins to unravel the world around him. The history of All-World, and the gunslinger himself, is excellently weaved, create a fantasy world quite unlike any other.

The main issue, sadly, is the main plot of the novel. The plot point that drives the narrative forward is Roland Deschain's pursuit of the man in black, a man whom is revealed to be from Roland's past. This plot is rather weak. If it was not for the continuous flashbacks to important moments in Roland's history, and the excellent worldbuilding, this novel would be sub-par. However, Stephen King's excellent prose, character establishment and setting establishment more than compensates for this issue.

Overall, this is an excellent introduction to The Dark Tower series, and can also serve as a great starting point from which to begin reading Stephen King's work.

4/5

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