DT1: Gunslinger
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- Zarathustra
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DT1: Gunslinger
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.
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.
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- Menolly
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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.
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
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"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
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"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
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"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
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"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
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- Zarathustra
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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.)
(I still have those original F&SF issues somewhere with my parents stuff.)
- Zarathustra
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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 ...
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.
I have a bad feeling about this ...
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.
- Zarathustra
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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:
I never did notice the connection between this one and Bag of Bones, as Avatar's chart indicated.
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.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.
I never did notice the connection between this one and Bag of Bones, as Avatar's chart indicated.
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- deer of the dawn
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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.
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ahhhh... if only all our creativity in wickedness could be fixed by "Corrupt a Wish." - Linna Heartlistener
ahhhh... if only all our creativity in wickedness could be fixed by "Corrupt a Wish." - Linna Heartlistener
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