A gunslinger's first love, a witch's pink glass, and the doom they share.
Who drives the story
The gunslinger, fourteen in the flashback, weathered in the present. He wins his guns through his hawk's death, loses Susan to the fire, and takes up the Tower obsession the glass plants in him.
A beautiful girl promised as Mayor Thorin's concubine on Reaping Day. She loves Roland, breaks the gunslingers out of jail, and is burned at the stake as a harvest sacrifice.
The junkie-turned-gunslinger who defeats Blaine the Mono with childish jokes. He refuses to abandon Roland after seeing his worst sin.
The boy whose Ruger Roland borrows when his own guns are bewitched. He sees Roland kill his mother and stays anyway.
Former Odetta Holmes, riddler and gunslinger in the ka-tet. She witnesses Roland's tragedy through the glass and chooses to stay.
Roland's best friend, quick with an insult that starts the bar fight with the Big Coffin Hunters. He fights at the oil plant and the canyon.
The steady third of the young trio, sent east with Roland and Cuthbert. He bears the rift Roland's love affair nearly causes.
The court wizard who seduced Gabrielle, and the man in the emerald palace. He bewitches Roland's guns, escapes, and leaves the Wizard's Glass behind.
The hideous witch entrusted with Maerlyn's Grapefruit. Obsessed with the glass, she exposes the affair and points Reynolds to Susan.
A failed gunslinger with a limp, leader of the Big Coffin Hunters working for Farson. He is killed at the Citgo plant, and the glass passes from his body to Roland.
Jonas's fellow Hunters. Depape murders Mayor Thorin; Reynolds kills Chancellor Rimer, later kills Olive and recaptures Susan. Depape dies at the oil plant.
The rebel whose plot the boys investigate, using the Citgo oil tankers to fuel his war machines against Gilead.
Hambry's officials, secretly working with Farson. Thorin is murdered by Depape, Rimer by Reynolds, and the boys are framed for both.
Roland's mother and father. Gabrielle's affair with Marten drives the boy to his guns; Steven already knew, and sends his son east.
Also in the story
The billy-bumbler, the ka-tet's small loyal companion, riding Blaine and camping at the thinny with the rest.
A mentally disabled but loyal tavern boy who breaks the gunslingers out of jail and rescues Susan from Thorin's house.
The half-dead puppet Flagg rescued from Lud, voicing the demand to renounce the Tower. The ka-tet quickly disposes of him.
One of Farson's employees, tricked into chasing the boys into Eyebolt Canyon and the thinny.
Thorin's widow, sympathetic to Susan while guarding her. She helps Sheemie's rescue and is killed by Reynolds.
Roland's mentor, challenged in the castle yard, and the hawk Roland uses as his weapon. David sacrifices himself for Roland's guns.
How they are connected
He wins his guns through his hawk's death, loses Susan to the fire, and takes up the Tower obsession the glass plants in him.
Susan DelgadoMayor Thorin and Chancellor Rimer
A beautiful girl promised as Mayor Thorin's concubine on Reaping Day.
He refuses to abandon Roland after seeing his worst sin.
The boy whose Ruger Roland borrows when his own guns are bewitched.
She witnesses Roland's tragedy through the glass and chooses to stay.
Cuthbert AllgoodRoland Deschain
Roland's best friend, quick with an insult that starts the bar fight with the Big Coffin Hunters.
The steady third of the young trio, sent east with Roland and Cuthbert.
The steady third of the young trio, sent east with Roland and Cuthbert.
Marten Broadcloak / Randall FlaggGabrielle and Steven Deschain
The court wizard who seduced Gabrielle, and the man in the emerald palace.
Marten Broadcloak / Randall FlaggRoland Deschain
He bewitches Roland's guns, escapes, and leaves the Wizard's Glass behind.
Obsessed with the glass, she exposes the affair and points Reynolds to Susan.
Rhea of the CöosRoy Depape and Clay Reynolds
Obsessed with the glass, she exposes the affair and points Reynolds to Susan.
Go deeper
First love as origin wound · Obsession against duty · The thinny: reality worn thin · Ka and chosen family
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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