The Gunslinger is the first in the Dark Tower series, set in an alternate reality that is something close to a wild west setting. The story is that of a gunslinger, seeking a man in black who he has been following for many years. As the chase proceeds, much of the gunslinger's history is told through his interaction with the people he meets.
The book is written in a very atmospheric style, with a lot left unknown, such as where the gunslinger is and what the man in black really is. This is definitely part of the charm of this book; it really does give over a feeling that the gunslinger is in some sort of hell, following an eternal struggle that he never quite copes with. I also liked the fact that the hero is a deep character, suffering from all sorts of worries and regrets. I felt by the end of the book I did want to know more.
The book itself is described as a fantasy, but it is far from that in my mind, more of a cross between an adventure story and a thriller. It is not as scary or violent as some of his other work, which to me is a good thing, but might not be the best thing for these who are more familiar with Stephen King's other work.
Usually at this point in a review I try to pick some bad points, but in this case it's quite hard to criticise this book. Sure, it's a bit derivative and it's not to everyone's taste, but this is a well written book and tells a very interesting story. So I should simply say that this is a decent book, I enjoyed it, and I'd happily recommend it.
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