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Another book in the Dark Tower series was released yesterday, for anyone who reads the series and hasn't heard yet

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I'm about halfway through it, and I'm not going to post any details about it yet (though the rest of the thread MAY contain spoilers, so be forewarned) other than to say that so far, its not going the way that I would have expected...

I read the first book in the series (Gunslinger I believe) and was way too confused by it. Does it get any better, or more of the same type of writing?

I can't say that it becomes <i>better</i>, but I can safely say that it becomes <i>different</i>. The tone and pacing of the second book (and beyond) is pretty much completely different from the first one. I should also mention that King has released a 'revised' version of The Gunslinger that's supposed to make it fit in better with the rest of the series. Whether or not you enjoy the rest of the novels basically comes down to whether you enjoy Stephen King stories. If so, yes, if not, welll, they're probably not going to change your mind.

Personally, I think that The Gunslinger (the original version, on its own, without the rest of the series) is without a doubt the best novel Stephen King has ever written, and arguably the best novel written in the 20th century. Books 2 and 3 are also excellent, though they don't manage to stand on their own as well as the first. Book 4 just didn't fit and could easily have been skipped. Book 5 was nearly back up to the standards of 2 & 3. So far, book 6 is... different. I'm not sure if I like where the story is going, but I don't think it could have gone anywhere else...

Well, I finished it tonight. There's kind of a lull in the middle of the book, but ultimately, it winds up ending brilliantly. Not that it really ends: its basically a major cliffhanger for book 7.

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*




Without a doubt, the strangest part of the book is when Roland meets Stephen King. Yes, you read that right: Roland and Eddie meet and have a conversation with Stephen King in 1977. Its probably the cheesiest thing I've ever read, and somehow it works. There's a whole lot of unanswered questions at the end. Can't... breath... Need... book 7...