Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger

The whole series is a waste of time. Do not read this book because you will want to continue the series and it's not worth it. King gets lazy and gives up at the end. In other words, he bends you over without a reach around and makes exuses for not letting you finish. This series will make you not care to read any of King's other books or movies. Spoilers: it ends in a loop with only 1 difference. You might like some of it's cheap pop culture references but don't let that suck you in.

"Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came," wrote Robert Browning. "The man in black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed," wrote Stephen King, beginning an epic series worthy of Chauser or Shakespeare. Literally encompassing time, space, dimension, and love itself the seven volume tale took most of the author's life and invades most of his other works in some ways that show that Roland Deschain of Mid-World was never far from his mind, or maybe his subconscious. This volume begins with Roland Deschain, the last Gunslinger, chasing Walter the man dressed in black who had betrayed Roland's father's ka-tet, a group joined by destiny (called "ka") who were like knights of the round table with big pistols. Walter was Stephen Deschain's advisor but sold them out to an enemy. Roland wants answers. Why everyone was killed. He is the last survivor of Gilead and the one thing he has left to live for is catching up to Walter and getting answers.

My favorite book series! As a teenager I mistakenly started with book 4 (Wizards & Glass), I backtracked, read them all in order and fell in love with the series. My favorite books in the saga are Wizards and Glass, Song of Susannah, and Wolves of the Calla. You'll definitely need to delve into the saga to fully appreciate the world (and interconnectedness) that King has created. Many of his other books run parallel to this series.