The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark Tower series, which King considers to be his magnum opus. The story centers upon Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger who has been chasing after his adversary, "the man in black", for many years.
Stephen King continues the saga of Roland, the last Gunslinger, and his quest for the Dark Tower in a world unlike any ever imagined, yet horrifyingly similar to our own. This time, Roland and his companions venture on a new journey--into the Gunslinger's past. Roland unfolds a tale revealing the secrets of his youth--a story of friendship and war, loyalty and betrayal, and the tragic loss of his first beloved.