The Gunslinger - Stephen King
Conclusions - Stephen is an brilliant writer...you really can't fault how he describes people, places, situations - i've liked him since i began reading his books when i was 14(i also read Rose Madder recently...again a good book).
Inspiration for this book - Stemmed from a poem by English author Robert Browning, entitled "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came." I say poem, but it is rather a long one so I'll post one verse.
"There they stood, ranged along the hill-sides, met
To view the last of me, a living frame
For one more picture! in a sheet of flame
I saw them and I knew them all. And yet
Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I set,
And blew. ``Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came.''
Now i just need to read the rest.