If you have can you PLEASE explain the first book to me? I am 1/2 way through The Gunslinger and I dont know what is going on. Have I missed a book? Where is the Gunslinger from? What era? Who is Jake and how come he died but he is with the gunslinger now? Please help! I am confused and seriously thinking of giving up on it!! Thanks
2006-09-19 09:48:00 · 11 answers · asked by Dingle-Dongle 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You have to read the whole series of 7 books for it all to slot into place. Try to persevere, the first book is the worst one IMO and I was very close to giving up on the series after that one. I read the second one though and was hooked, they're now my favourite books.
Just to get you started here are a few details:
The Gunslinger (Roland) is in a different world to ours. We are to assume that this world runs parralel to ours and it is possible to cross over between the 2. The way these worlds are connected is explained further in later books.
All you need to know when you are reading the first book is that the Gunslinger is chasing "the man in black" who you are to assume is a bad guy. The Gunslinger is trying to reach the Dark Tower and he thinks the Man in Black will help with that quest.
Jake is a boy from our world who dies in our world and wakes up in the world of the Gunslinger. He sticks with the Gunslinger but the gunslinger gets to a point where he has to face a choice - which is more important, getting to the Dark Tower, or saving Jake's life. His decision is very important.
It's not important that you know why he has to reach the dark tower, the first book is more just to get the know the character of Roland. In the second book you'll learn more about his quest and how people can cross over to his world to help him.
If you have any more questions, let me know!
Louise
2006-09-20 01:23:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most fantastic books ever, you have to keep reading them. The gunslingers a little weird but everything gets explained in later books. Basically The Gunslinger is in a parallel world which is probably a possible future, the different worlds are linked by doors (both metaphorical and actual). When Jake died that acted as a door for him into the Gunslingers world. The gunslingers past is explained most in book 4 but you gets bits of information throughout. It sounds strange but really makes sense when you read the books. Strangely it almost makes more sense when you read book 2 and 3 and then go back to book 1.
It is really worth sticking with this series, they are probably the best piece of fantasy fiction out there and are in my opinion the best thing Stephen King has written.
2006-09-20 02:55:46 · answer #2 · answered by Ellie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow you should probably read that book from the start, because I got it from the start. O.K. so the gunslinger is chasing a wizard and the wizard had killed this boy and brought him back to life. This boy is also Jake... so i think the era is in modern times but he has lived in a world where he is away from civilzation (the gunslinger). Kind of like Tarzan LoL. :D Hope that helps
I get it and I'm only 15
2006-09-19 09:54:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read 75% of Gunslinger before I gave it up...it was soooo boring. My advice is to just give up and get a better book. Avoid that series of Stephen King books and try something else he wrote. I liked "Necessary Things", "Delores Claiborne", "Gerald's Game", "Desperation" and "The Tommyknockers" much better.
2006-09-19 15:55:14 · answer #4 · answered by Dellajoy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was half way through the gunslinger and gave up. i was as confused as u.
2006-09-19 09:56:33 · answer #5 · answered by Barson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes Read Them But You Have To Read All Of Them For It To Make Sense
2006-09-19 10:03:31 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of your questions are answered in the later books. I made it to book 3 before I lost interest, but they were fun to read
2006-09-19 09:50:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't feel bad. King has had some serious problems in his later writings
2006-09-19 09:56:02 · answer #8 · answered by Traveler 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have the second book but cant get into it as i have not got the first, so i gave up, kinda in same position as you..
2006-09-19 09:56:19 · answer #9 · answered by dianafpacker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hubby has read them, i've been too busy studying - but he loved them!
2006-09-19 09:59:58 · answer #10 · answered by bambam 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋