The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 7 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Stephen King's epic fantasy series, The Dark Tower, is being made into a major movie starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Due in cinemas February 17, 2017 USA.

In this first novel in his epic fantasy masterpiece, Stephen King introduces listeners to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, the Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner, on a spellbinding journey into good and evil, in a desolate world which frighteningly echoes our own.

In his first step towards the powerful and mysterious Dark Tower, Roland encounters an alluring woman named Alice, begins a friendship with Jake, a kid from New York, and faces an agonising choice between damnation and salvation as he pursues the Man in Black.

Both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, The Gunslinger leaves listeners eagerly awaiting the next chapter.

And the Tower is closer....

©1982 Stephen King (P)2003 Penguin Audiobooks

Much awaited

I usually don’t enjoy audio books as I find most narration distracting and difficult to follow. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Have the next locked and loaded :)

Brilliant Narration to a brilliant book.

The narration Was excellent! Second
To none. The way the narrator was able to change voices to suit the multitude of characters was truly brilliant!

Very disappointed, yet brilliant performance.

Very disappointing story... Really looked forward to the series... Expected more, but a solid performance by narrator.

This really was not for me

After this I'm not sure I list Stephen King books anymore? I struggled with under the dome and this I found a real slog to get through and no point was I engaged with the story or it's characters. The It's very possible it was the western theme that runs through the book, the narrator was good, but I just could not get into it. I did however enjoy the film(which I held off watching because I disliked the book) so maybe it's just the books I struggle with. Either way I won't be picking up any more in the series

I must be missing something

Any additional comments?

I keep seeing five star reviews with a whole lot of gushing over this book, so I decided to try it, and I just don't get it, I was bored, seriously bored.
Not for me, I suppose.

not narrated well

What disappointed you about The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger?

Story was confusing. The narration was so poor I could not finish listening. Very disappointed.

What do you think your next listen will be?

orson scott card.books

Would you be willing to try another one of George Guidall’s performances?

no. never

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

boredom

Any additional comments?

nope

Surprised that I didn't like it

I was surprised to find I didn't enjoy this book. I found it boring and had difficulty paying attention. I've not read much Stephen King but I was eager to get into a popular story of his.

I'm sorry.

I have read every book by Stephen king since the age of fourteen and enjoyed them all. I have never been tempted by the Dark Towers. Don't know why really..... just never have. After listening to a lot of his older books that I read long ago and the recent excellence of Sleeping Beauties that in desperation for a king fix I downloaded The gunslinger. Why o why o why. I tried and tried to get through it but gave up with 2hrs remaining. Life's to short. I love your work Stephen but I'm sorry this isn't for me.

Worse than the movie!

Unfortunately the only words I can use to describe this book are "boring" and "garbage" . The story is uninteresting and somewhat pretentious, and after 6 hours of listening I don't really care where it goes. While the movie was also awful at least it was over in a shorter amount of time.