The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (4) by Stephen King

“The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass” delves into Roland Deschain’s past while continuing his quest for the Dark Tower with his ka-tet—Eddie Dean, Susannah Dean, Jake Chambers, and Oy the billy-bumbler. After narrowly escaping death on the sentient train Blaine the Mono, the group finds themselves in a version of Kansas eerily similar to the one from “The Stand.”

The main part of the novel, however, is a flashback to Roland’s youth, recounting his first love and the tragic events that shaped him into the hardened gunslinger he has become. Roland tells the story of how he and his friends, Alain and Cuthbert, were sent to the Barony of Mejis, where they encountered a powerful conspiracy involving a mystical glass ball, known as Maerlyn’s Grapefruit. Roland’s love affair with Susan Delgado and the treachery that followed led to devastating consequences, leaving him emotionally scarred.

The novel blends dark fantasy, romance, and tragedy, offering readers a deeper understanding of Roland’s character and the motivations driving his relentless pursuit of the Dark Tower.