The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass

Published: 1997

Wizard and Glass (1997), the fourth volume in King's Dark Tower series, primarily unfolds as an extended flashback to Roland Deschain's youth, revealing the formative experiences that shaped the last gunslinger. After escaping the homicidal monorail Blaine, Roland and his ka-tet find themselves in a version of Topeka, Kansas devastated by the superflu from The Stand. There, around a campfire, Roland tells the tale of his first love Susan Delgado and his early mission to the Barony of Mejis with friends Cuthbert and Alain. In Mejis, teenage Roland becomes entangled in a doomed romance with Susan while uncovering a conspiracy involving the Crimson King's agents. The narrative explores the tragic events that hardened Roland, sacrificing love for his quest for the Tower. Published six years after The Waste Lands, Wizard and Glass marked King's return to the series after his recovery from addiction, showing a more mature and controlled narrative approach. Critics generally praised the novel, particularly its self-contained western romance, though some fans found the extended flashback structure frustrating after the cliffhanger ending of the previous volume. The book expanded the Dark Tower mythology by introducing the Crimson King as the series' ultimate antagonist and strengthening connections to King's broader fictional universe. King has cited this volume as one of his personal favorites in the series, particularly for its exploration of Roland's character and its western-romance elements. For readers, Wizard and Glass provides crucial background on Roland's character while expanding the series' scope beyond the immediate quest narrative. The novel is especially notable for its emotional depth—Roland's doomed relationship with Susan represents one of King's most fully realized romances, while his complex friendships with Cuthbert and Alain add dimension to the gunslinger's previously solitary characterization.

Themes

• First love
• Coming of age
• Destiny
• Sacrifice
• Betrayal

Adaptations

Collector Notes

Published six years after the previous Dark Tower volume, continuing the series after a long hiatus. Contains significant connections to The Stand through its post-apocalyptic Topeka setting.