With only an hour left to go before I finish this audiobook, I am starting to question the hype surrounding this series. I hate to be negative because I am a very big Stephen King fan... but, so far, its a lot slower-paced than I expected. It seems like there was only two or three exciting parts in the entire audiobook... and even then, they weren't so great. The gunslinger blows away a bunch of people, but its over so quickly you don't really have a chance to appreciate it. However, I will continue on with the other audiobooks in the series because I hope it gets better. Given its success, I think it will. (Though I heard Wizard and Glass is boring.) In any case, its important to listen to this one (and that) so that you understand the ground work of the tale. Perhaps I'm being too harsh, but I don't think so. I feel like this one was over-rated. I mean, half the time you're listenting to nonesense babble with the occasional flashback while the Gunslinger smokes his cigarettes. I don't know what the big deal is about this series so far. I wish I had these six hours back though.