First-time Dark Tower reader

[deer of the dawn]

I got The Gunslinger for Christmas (Kindle version).

Enjoying so far. I actually got a real kick out of the Foreword to the revised edition.

I don't like creepy or meaningless eroticism, so I hope there isn't a lot of that. But so far, great characterizations-- and I'm a sucker for good characters.

As I said elsewhere, I don't think I've read King since high school (Carrie and 'Salem's Lot)!

[Menolly]

*moved discussion from Gen Disc*

Kindle books:

The Dark Tower 1: The Gunslinger by Stephen King

Have you read the series before, deer?

If not, feel free to do something similar to what I did with the A Fresh Journey to the Tower thread.

To be honest, I think the last King I read was Carrie or 'Salem's Lot when I was in high school!! So no, I haven't read the series, nor The Stand. I started reading it and am thoroughly enjoying.

OK, so in case you are not aware, King turned The Gunslinger series in to a way to tie many of his novels together. Av posted a reading order of what he feels are the most connected, which is the order I followed. There is a chart floating around somewhere that connects even more, but I thoroughly enjoyed Av's suggestions.

[deer of the dawn]

Oh, thank you for that, Menolly!!

I finished Gunslinger. I LOVED the writing. I didn't really get the point of the long journey through the tunnel, but that may become clear later, I suppose. The writing is good enough that I definitely want more.

Maybe I should loop back and read Eyes of the Dragon?

[Cail]

Oh, thank you for that, Menolly!!

I finished Gunslinger. I LOVED the writing. I didn't really get the point of the long journey through the tunnel, but that may become clear later, I suppose. The writing is good enough that I definitely want more.

Maybe I should loop back and read Eyes of the Dragon?

Unnecessary.

You may want to work The Stand and Insomnia into your read, but even if you don't, the DT books work on their own.

[Menolly]

Oh, thank you for that, Menolly!!

I finished Gunslinger. I LOVED the writing. I didn't really get the point of the long journey through the tunnel, but that may become clear later, I suppose. The writing is good enough that I definitely want more.

Maybe I should loop back and read Eyes of the Dragon?

Unnecessary.

You may want to work The Stand and Insomnia into your read, but even if you don't, the DT books work on their own.

If it has been as long as I assume it has been since you read 'Salem's Lot, I definitely suggest a reread of that in the suggested order as well.

And since Low Men is a short story (in Hearts in Atlantis, right? Although I do think there are other parts of Hearts which could be included as tie-ins), as well as Everything's Eventual and Little Sisters, they're not that difficult to work in.

...if one can get a hold of the books they're in.

But if not, Cail is right. The series can be enjoyed on its own. These additional works do flesh it out in a positive way though, in my opinion.

[Vraith]

But if not, Cail is right. The series can be enjoyed on its own. These additional works do flesh it out in a positive way though, in my opinion.

Agree in a general way.
Though my personal recommendation would be for the attached/overlap/shared ones read either before or after the series itself, but not during.
[for me, salem's lot and the 2 with straub...talisman and black house...were the only with significance much beyond "that's kinda nifty."]

[wayfriend]

... I would wait and do them on a re-read, personally.

[Cail]

... I would wait and do them on a re-read, personally.

This is probably the best advice. The DT story is self-contained, all the other books simply add texture.

[Menolly]

But if not, Cail is right. The series can be enjoyed on its own. These additional works do flesh it out in a positive way though, in my opinion.

Agree in a general way.
Though my personal recommendation would be for the attached/overlap/shared ones read either before or after the series itself, but not during.
[for me, salem's lot and the 2 with straub...talisman and black house...were the only with significance much beyond "that's kinda nifty."]

See?

Talisman and Black House aren't on Av's suggested reading order at all, so I haven't read them. Where would they fit in on a re-read?

[Vraith]

But if not, Cail is right. The series can be enjoyed on its own. These additional works do flesh it out in a positive way though, in my opinion.

Agree in a general way.
Though my personal recommendation would be for the attached/overlap/shared ones read either before or after the series itself, but not during.
[for me, salem's lot and the 2 with straub...talisman and black house...were the only with significance much beyond "that's kinda nifty."]

See?

Talisman and Black House aren't on Av's suggested reading order at all, so I haven't read them. Where would they fit in on a re-read?

hmmmm....it's been a long time, so I'm a little iffy. But most of the interplay is with Wolves and Dark Tower. So in the space between, after Song? [I don't remember if Talisman connects at all, actually...but House definitely does.]

[Avatar]

Talisman was never meant to be part of the DT, but there are a couple of hints that it occurs in Roland's world. Black House, written 15 years later, ret-cons things a little making the connection more obvious.

I thought Talisman was a good book. Didn't like Black House as much, although it appears more connected.

We might as well add Wind Through The Keyhole in between book 4 & 5 as well.

Have fun Deer...it's a hell of a ride. And some great characters, and no creepy eroticism really.

(FWIW, King revised the Gunslinger to better fit into the plan he later conceived of joining it all up. You'll have the revised version, but there is an original version too.)

--A

[Horrim Carabal]

The Talisman is one of the best books King ever (co)wrote, so there's that.

And why in the world would anyone advise someone to NOT read "Eyes of the Dragon"!!??

[Avatar]

Nah, he meant in terms of its importance to the DT series.

--A

[lucimay]

the only book outside the DT series i think is sort of necessary is Salem's Lot. for obvious reasons which i won't go into here since Deer hasn't gotten too far in yet.

everything else is more icing on the cake.

[Avatar]

It's not even that necessary, since DT5 tells you exactly what happened.

Me, I loved stumbling across tie-ins in both the DT and in other books. So all of them are important.

--A