I had no clue what the Dark Tower books were about when I picked up the Gunslinger. I was oblivious enough to not realize that Roland was in the future for the first few pages. I truly thought I was reading a western type of book. I wasn't under this impression long, but I still laugh when I think back to that first read of The Gunslinger. I love the character SK shows us in Roland. Maybe because I also love Clint Eastwood? I know that I imagined Clint Eastwood from the very second that I pictured the character, Roland. I also now believe that when/if we ever see apocalyptic-type times in our world's future, that it our world will slowly regress just like the when the Gunslinger comes from, until it gets really primitive. I love the theme behind the DT Series, and these books are certainly my favorite set of books that I have ever read. I really regretted finishing that series, I wasn't ready for it to end.