I have conflicting feelings about WIZARD AND GLASS. On the one hand, my favorite parts of The Dark Tower series so far have been those most "fantasy western". The Gunslinger (book one) I preferred to the following two for that very reason (though Lud had its moments). And WIZARD AND GLASS here was 95% "fantasy western".

On the other hand, I don't see how this side-step into Roland's past does much to further our journey to the Dark Tower. It's like George R.R. Martin's taking pages to describe Westeros delicacies or the rows of banners and pennants we'll never see again, except here King as written an entire book of such supplementary material. It's like feasting on after-dinner mints when we're hungry for steak.

That said, I enjoyed the book. I'd gladly read more about young Roland or thriving Gilead or the Blue Coffin Hunters after Roland, Jake, Eddie and Susana finish their story.