John Farson

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John Farson, "The Good Man", was a leader of a revolution in the land of Gilead from Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. Farson appealed to the common people, wanting to end the training of Gunslingers and re-distribute the power.

During a mission, Roland Deschain and his friends, Cuthbert Allgood and Alain Johns were on in the outer barony of Mejis, they uncovered a plot by the local Cattlemen to supply oil to Farson. If Farson could refine that oil, he could use it to power ancient machines of war to wipe out the Gunslingers. Luckily, the three were able to burn the oil and keep it from getting to Farson. Unfortunately, they were only to postpone the fall of Gilead.

Little is known about the battle or battles in which John Farson brought down the gunslingers. The last battle was the battle of Jericho Hill. This was the battle when the rest of Roland's old friends died, with him barely escaping with his life. According to the Wolves of the Calla, the army Roland and his friends faced on Jericho Hill was a 'savage remnant of John Farson's army', which means that either Farson himself is dead or his revolution quickly fell apart after the fall of Gilead, with "The Good Man" losing control of his armies.

It is expected that the forthcoming comic book miniseries will elaborate on these events. According to the website announcing the launch the series will delve into the trials a young Roland had to go through and certainly the conflict with John Farson would fit this statement very well.

[edit] Connections between Walter and John Farson

King reveals in the foreword to Book V, Wolves of the Calla, that John Farson is another of the identities of Walter o'Dim, Roland's nemesis. Specifically, he writes:

"With the Tick-Tock dead, the real Wizard steps forward. It's Roland's ancient nemesis, Marten Broadcloak, known in some worlds as Randall Flagg, in others as Richard Fannin, in others as John Farson (the Good Man)."

There is no other evidence in the story to suggest that the two men are, in fact, one, except that both use the same sigil -- the unblinking eye, which is actually the symbol of the Crimson King. In fact, a line in Book VII, The Dark Tower, suggests that they are two different people.

He [Flagg] had done his service to Farson.

This would fit more in line with Walter's usual M.O. of using a figurehead to rule behind the scenes himself.

Issue #3 of The Gunslinger Born clarified this issue by revealing John Farson and Walter O'Dim are in fact different persons.