I've never liked Stephen King as much as I think I should. He's obviously a master storyteller, but every time I read one of his novels I can't get past the constant awareness of him - as the author - controlling the story. (This critique does not apply to his short stories...)

... nor does it apply to the original versions of the first three Dark Tower novels! The Gunslinger was the first King novel I ever read in which I couldn't find the author in the story. It felt like the story wrote itself through him. I find that very compelling! ( )

The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, Book 1) by Stephen King (2003)

supposedly based on "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came"