Review "The Gunslinger" By Stephen King

The only Stephen King book I had ever read before this was "The Stand." After I a finished with the Dark Tower series I doubt I will read another one. He is an excellent writer, but I am not big into the horror stuff.

"The Gunslinger" is an interesting book - it is a combination of fantasy / sci-fi /western that leaves you wondering what is going on and where did these people come from? Some future post-apocalyptic version of Earth? Parallel worlds? The character of the Gunslinger (Roland) is a brilliant creation. He is a hero on a quest to find the Dark Tower, and perseveres where others would give up or change course.

The book is ambiguous enough and leaves so many questions unanswered that you feel the need to read the next one quickly.

This book was also strange and disturbing in parts. King has an excellent way of getting under a reader's skin and making you feel uncomfortable (I remember it well from the parts of the Stand involving Randall Flagg.)

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was different, and I have heard from others that the later books are much better, so I look forward to them.