DT1: Gunslinger

The Dark Tower and other works of Stephen King.

Moderator: lucimay

Post Reply
User avatar
Zarathustra
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 19621
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 am

DT1: Gunslinger

Post by Zarathustra »

So I've started my journey. I'm a little worried that I've got the "wrong" edition of Gunslinger. Cail mentioned that King updated the references and made it more consistent with later DT books. I'm worried because there are things that just don't make sense, and I imagine those were the things King 'corrected.'

For instance, in the town of Tull, the piano player is playing Hey Jude. But then when the Gunslinger meets the boy, Jake, who describes a modern American city while hypnotized, the Gunslinger thinks that no such city could have ever existed. How can he know pop culture references from a civilization that he doesn't believe ever existed?

He has to be on earth. He can see Polaris and Mars in the night sky! So what gives? Is this an alternate earth? Do pop songs cross the dimensions just like little boys?

If this is spoiler territory, don't tell me. But if these are mistakes that King later corrects, let me know if I need to get the updated version of DT1.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
User avatar
Menolly
A Lowly Harper
Posts: 24066
Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 12:29 am
Location: Harper Hall, Fort Hold, Northern Continent, Pern...
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 7 times
Contact:

Post by Menolly »

It's been awhile since I took my own journey, and I have not reread since then, but if I recall correctly I think the confusion you are experiencing is to be expected. I don't think I can say anymore without spoilering, but I am hopeful if I am wrong someone more familiar with the series will let you know.
Image
User avatar
Cail
Lord
Posts: 38981
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:36 am
Location: Hell of the Upside Down Sinners

Post by Cail »

Yup, just go with it.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

Yeah, that's not actually stuff he "corrected" anyway. Stick with that version and read it as written, not as ret-conned.

--A
User avatar
Zarathustra
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 19621
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 am

Post by Zarathustra »

Cool, thanks all.

I'm almost done. Such a short book. The story is so simple and the writing so restrained. This is very different for King.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
User avatar
Menolly
A Lowly Harper
Posts: 24066
Joined: Thu May 19, 2005 12:29 am
Location: Harper Hall, Fort Hold, Northern Continent, Pern...
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 7 times
Contact:

Post by Menolly »

Keep in mind that the first chapter was originally written as a novella for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and was published in 1978. Four other stories were also published in F&SF between then and November of 1981, but the novel itself wasn't finished and published until 1982. His writing has changed a lot since then, especially after his life-threatening accident.

(I still have those original F&SF issues somewhere with my parents stuff.)
Image
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

Zarathustra wrote:Cool, thanks all.

I'm almost done. Such a short book. The story is so simple and the writing so restrained. This is very different for King.
One of my favourites. I just love Roland.

--A
User avatar
sgt.null
Jack of Odd Trades, Master of Fun
Posts: 47250
Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:53 am
Location: Brazoria, Texas
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 6 times

Post by sgt.null »

someone from here sent me the entire collection. ashamed to say I do not remember who it was. take credit someone.

anyway Julie found a two set concordance to the Dark Tower at Half Price Books.

Image

invaluable resource.
Lenin, Marx
Marx, Lennon
Good Dog...
User avatar
Zarathustra
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 19621
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 am

Post by Zarathustra »

Well, it took longer than I expected. I got bored. This is a mediocre book with mediocre characters, almost nonexistent story, and an ending that's laugh-out-loud bad. It relies upon the ubiquitous King technique of telling you ahead of time the Big Moment, creating tension that otherwise wouldn't be there if he didn't give away his own story. [In this case, sacrificing the kid, Jake.]

I have a bad feeling about this ... :lol:

Anyway, I assume the other books are better, and I'm looking forward to seeing how all this connects. I realize this is just a short introduction, like
The Real Story. I do like its tone and weird mix of alien/familiar. It has its own stark beauty, in the contrasts between the desert and the mountains. One can certainly glimpse a grand scheme on the horizon.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
User avatar
Zarathustra
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 19621
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 am

Post by Zarathustra »

Now that I'm done with this one, I decided to look it up on Wikipedia. They had this (and much more) about the expanded/revised edition:
In general, the world the gunslinger walked through in the original text was a run-down version of our own - the text mentions England, the star Polaris, Mars, Jesus and other biblical figures, Easter, All-Saint's Eve (Halloween), and Greek and Egyptian Gods. In the revision, most of these references were removed to make Roland's world only vaguely like our own.
That would answer my question in the OP. I like that a lot better, actually. I think I'll try the expanded edition at some point.

I never did notice the connection between this one and Bag of Bones, as Avatar's chart indicated.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

Only read Bag of Bones once, and hated it, so can't remember if I ever picked up on what the connection was supposed to be.

--A
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

Hey, I forgot, DT1 was the first Stephen King book I ever read. :D

--A
User avatar
Zarathustra
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 19621
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 am

Post by Zarathustra »

I think it was my first King novel, too. 25 or 30 years ago.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

25 years ago for me. :D

--A
User avatar
deer of the dawn
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 6758
Joined: Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:48 pm
Location: Jos, Nigeria
Contact:

Post by deer of the dawn »

I read DT1 a couple of years ago, and had the same reaction as Zarathustra. I was surprised at how shallow and un-psychological it was. I have hemmed and hawed about continuing the series ever since. I prefer the King that wrote 11/22/63 or even The Stand, although I don't get the rapey stuff because it adds nothing to the story. Guess I'll check out the DT2 forum and see if it gets better.
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. -Philo of Alexandria

ahhhh... if only all our creativity in wickedness could be fixed by "Corrupt a Wish." - Linna Heartlistener
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

It's not shallow, it's epic. :D

--A
User avatar
Zarathustra
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 19621
Joined: Tue Jan 04, 2005 12:23 am

Post by Zarathustra »

I'd say the whole series is epic, but the very short first book doesn't qualify as epic just yet.
Joe Biden … putting the Dem in dementia since (at least) 2020.
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 61651
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Post by Avatar »

Well, fair enough on that score. But I found the first book very intriguing. For me it definitely hinted at the the size of the world behind it.

--A
Post Reply

Return to “Stephen King Forum”