The five stories that constitute the novel were originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction: "The Gunslinger" (October 1978) "The Way Station" (April 1980) "The Oracle and the Mountains" (February 1981) "The Slow Mutants" (July 1981) "The Gunslinger and the Dark Man" (November 1981) It took King twelve and a half years to finish the novel.
Cele cinci povestiri care formează acest roman au fost inițial publicate în The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction: "The Gunslinger" (octombrie 1978) "The Way Station" (aprilie 1980) "The Oracle and the Mountains" (februarie 1981) "The Slow Mutants" (iulie 1981) "The Gunslinger and the Dark Man" (noiembrie 1981) A fost nevoie de doisprezece ani și jumătate pentru ca autorul să termine romanul.