Roland is a remarkable character. He's the last of his kind in a world no longer his own; civilization all but completely spent in any capacity. His life but a single purpose, pursue the Dark Tower. His path: the Man in Black. In the end, he faces this foe and must sacrifice for the sake of his quest. Without his quest, his purpose, Roland's life is without meaning; so he sacrifices the last of his hmanity.

This is certainly the firs book in a series and sets up the primary character nicely. How far Roland will go to pursue the Dark Tower is unquestionable, but is it? As with many beginnings, is is but a setup in it's purpose, but it achieves that purpose well, while still leaving you wondering about the main character.