Which version of "the gunslinger" are you reading?
"King revised The Gunslinger in 2003. In his introduction to the new edition, King stated that he felt that the original version was 'dry' and difficult for new readers to access. He also made changes to make the storytelling more linear as well as making the plot of the book more consistent with the series' ending. The added material was over 9000 words (35 pages) in length."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dar...The_Gunslinger