The Dark Tower Gift Collection, Books 1-3: The Gunslinger, The Drawing of The Three, and The Waste Lands [BOX SET] (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Michael Whelan (Author), Phil Hale (Author), Ned Dameron (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Lots of Stephen King fans feel that his horror novels are dwarfed by what they consider his masterpiece, the genre-bending Dark Tower books. They're a little like the sprawling epics of J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, and George Lucas, but then again, they're really like nothing else in this world (or King's).

This set collects the first three. The Gunslinger introduces the hero Roland, who must reach the Dark Tower in order to save his universe, Mid-World. There are passageways between our world and Mid-World, and a New York City boy named Jake gets shoved in front of a car by Jack Mort ("death"), is killed, and finds himself alive in Roland's world. He becomes Roland's surrogate son.

In book 2, The Drawing of the Three, Roland is attacked by marvelous, poisonous "lobstrosities" and enters our world for help. He takes heroin addict Eddie Dean from 1987 New York and Odetta Holmes from 1964 New York as his team. In a powerful time-tripping scene, Roland confronts Jack Mort and actually changes Jake's Earth history, which has heady implications for Roland's world.

In The Waste Lands, book 3, Roland and company get ensnared in a civil war in the urban waste of Lud, acquire a delightful talking pet named Oy the Bumbler, and find themselves captives of a psychotic train called Blaine the Mono.

The plot is complex, yet weirdly logical. But take warning: this series is addictive, and you may need to also buy book 4, Wizard and Glass. Otherwise, you won't know what happened when Blaine went insane with Roland's gang onboard. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This trio, published in 1982, 1987, and 1991, respectively, make up the first three titles in King's ongoing Dark Tower series. Grant here reproduces the volumes in quality illustrated hardcover editions packaged in a slipcase. Since the first two are long out of print, libraries can now replenish their stock.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1132 pages
• Publisher: Fantasy Books; Limited edition (December 7, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880418401
• ISBN-13: 978-1880418406
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 7 x 4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (217 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,184,278 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wanna see the connections in his other books?, December 2, 1999

By	Scott S. (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Tower, Books 1-3: The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, and The Waste Lands (Paperback)

For those of you who have read this series, as well as all of King's other books, you know that there are links in some of his other books back to the Dark Tower series. For those of you who don't know, here it is. Go buy Insomnia, and Hearts In Atlantis. I think you'll find the connections to the Dark Tower series rather interesting. They are somewhat more subtle in Insomnia, but are quite obvious in Hearts In Atlantis. Hearts In Atlantis is a must read for those who are hooked on The Dark Tower. Personally, I think it reveals where King is going with the Tower and the characters linked to it by revealing some of the things going on in Roland's world. Oh, and another one to check out is a book called Legends Volume I. It includes a short story about Roland, placed sometime before the first book in the series. A definite must read.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great surreal fantasy, December 16, 1999

By	Scott Mcwhirter (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Tower, Books 1-3: The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, and The Waste Lands (Paperback)

I usually read sci-fi/fantasy, but Stephen King's Dark Tower series is by far the greatest set of books I've ever read. The characters are realistic, the plot pulls you in, and of course it is extremely well written. I can easily compare it to Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Herbert's Dune, and Asimov's Foundation series. If you're a Stephen King fan, get it; if you like sci-fi/fanasy, get it. Well worth your money.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the makings of a classic, January 1, 2001

By	"coloradoskier" (Englewood, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dark Tower, Books 1-3: The Gunslinger, The Drawing of the Three, and The Waste Lands (Paperback)

I've just finished re-reading the DARK TOWER series for the second time and I found it even more engrossing. the first time I read it I read it out of order and not in series. This time However I was able to sit down and read it in order the way it should be(I also have WIZARD AND GLASS). This epic adventure begins with the words "The man in black entered the desert and the gunslinger followed" and that sets the tone for the story. the first book THE GUNSLINGER introduces us to a world that is "moving on", and to our hero Roland.We glimpse bits and pieces of Rolands world and our own (which is somehow related to rolands). I don't like to tell the story you have to read it so let's Move on to book two. In THE DRAWING OF THE THREE Roland meets up with the members of his KA-TET With whom he will share many great adventures on the way to find THE DARK TOWER.The third book of the seriesTHE WASTE LANDSis non stop adventure for our hero and his group of friends. Let's just say it will change the way you look at train travel! This series is by far Stephen Kings best work and it delves into a realm of science fiction that isn't usually written about.What is the earth going to be like 8000-10000 years after we finish ruining it.(That is my personal opinion of the setting. The books never reveal the exact time relationship)This is a story that can be read over and over and will leave you waiting on the edge of your seat for the next volumne. Also the art work is wonderful, although I preffer the third books the best. If you don't have any of the books yet then this set is the way to go because it will allow you to read them in order and straight through. The way you will want to once you have been DRAWN into this strange and wonderful world.