Best Dark Tower book

[Tito_Villa]

Also but

Spoiler!

I'm sure roland doesn't have any idea that he has completed the journey to save the tower many times before, or does he?

[srboone]

Yeah,

Spoiler!

but..

Spoiler!

He realized it just before he got sucked through the doorway. At that moment, he may have entertained the thought that he didn't want to go through it again--but he never got the chance.There was no moral choice for him. I felt cheated in the end.

[jhanic]

I picked Wizard and Glass. I loved the adventures of the young Roland and his ka-tet.

John

[the_last_gunslinger]

In regards to the ending, I prefer to think that...

Spoiler!

he never really finishes his quest. The Tower is an eternal structure, forever in danger of succumbing to an equally eternal threat. Thus, it reasons that the Dark Tower requires an eternal champion to preserve it.

[srboone]

In regards to the ending, I prefer to think that...

Spoiler!

he never really finishes his quest. The Tower is an eternal structure, forever in danger of succumbing to an equally eternal threat. Thus, it reasons that the Dark Tower requires an eternal champion to preserve it.

I can't buy that, because...

Spoiler!

if that were the case, the fact the Roland has the Horn of Eld with him after he returns would be of little significance. There is some magic involved in Roland's perpetual journey. The fate of Mid-world is tied to the humanity that the Line of Arthur Eld has lost. Roland, as the last of the line, is slowly regaining his humanity. If Roland is unable to regain the secret of Eld (whatever it is), then Mid-World is certainly doomed.

I love the idea of an eternal chamnpion (I'm a Moorcock fan), but I don't think that Roland's quest qualifies. It is certainly a race to stave of the tides of entropy, but how long does Roland have to do so? Whatever, happens, I don't think Roalnd's quest this time around is going to be the same...and it will eventually have an endgame.

The secret of King Arthur's hold on the land was that while KA was health physically, emotionally and spiritually, Britiania flourished. Mid-World, which once flourished, has passed on. Roland's quest in TDot3 leads him to three that exemplfy the health trinity: Eddie-physically sick from the drugs he abuses; Odetta Holmes-spiritually sick from the degredations of other; and Jake Chambers-emotionally sick from the lack of supportive upbrining that a child should have. At then end of the DT cycle, he has learned to love those qualities in other people, even love the people involved, but he hasn't learned to love those qualities in himself, but he's making progress.

Will he rediscover what was lost in time, before the magic that keeps Mid-World (and the entire multiverse) from falling into chaos runs it course?

Better start chasing that man in black...again...and again...and again...

And that's why one of the reasons I find The Drawing of the Three to be the best of the sereis.

Dry thoughts of a dry brain in a dry month...

[srboone]

Talking in spoilers must be frustrating to the casual reader of this thread.

[the_last_gunslinger]

I liked your response, srboone, and it may prove to be a wrinkle in my theory, but possibly not.

Spoiler!

We still don't know what significance the horn of Eld holds. All that is certain is that in this cycle, Roland decided to take it with him. I still haven't come up with a good way that the horn could actually aid him in his quest. As it stands now, I see it only as a way of illustrating that each trip is wholly unique. Does that mean that his quest has a finite ending? I don't think it has to. It just means he must meet a different set of circumstances each time. Maybe the danger to the tower alters as well with each successive cycle, and maybe that is why Roland's quest is never the same; his circumstances change with the unpredictable tide of Evil, and Ka just allows him to approach this new threat more prepared than he was last time.

I could be completely wrong here, and I wouldn't be surprised if I am, but I feel that this is one of many possibilities.

[MrRoland]

I voted Drawing if the Three, because of the different eras that are beloved characters are pulled from and the introduction of the characters themselves, Eddie, Odetta, Detta and finally Susannah. Even Mort was a twisted little piece of mania. And the scenes with Roland experiencing our world(?) through the eyes of junkie Eddie Dean.

[srboone]

I liked your response, srboone, and it may prove to be a wrinkle in my theory, but possibly not.

I could be completely wrong here, and I wouldn't be surprised if I am, but I feel that this is one of many possibilities.

Good points all; and writing them down in posts like these helps refine them for all involved. Here's my take on the HoE:

Spoiler!

I look at the HoE as the Holy Grail--an outward manifestation of the relationship of the Line of Eld to Mid-World (and the many worlds). The fact that Roland now has it on his latest journey should give the Constant Reader hope that an endgame is eventually coming. How Roland will be able to use the HoE and what exactly is it's power remains to be seen. But I like to think that Roland will be able to call a new ka-tet with it, one that builds upon the lessons he learned form his previous one. Whatever happens, keeping the HoE safe until he can use it will become a priority for Roland--hopefully he won't have to sacrifice any members of his new ka-tet to do so--that would definitely be a backstep.

I'm getting the urge to take the DT journey again...

[jester05jk]

Talking in spoilers must be frustrating to the casual reader of this thread.

A little bit, but it also makes catching up go a lot faster too.

[theenormityofitall]

I think it is just perfect the way that it is, and wouldn't have it any other way, especially the ending which so many (including my girlfriend) seem to hate so much

Do you think it'd be better to read just this one HC, or start at book one? I'll have to look again at that on Amazon because I'm not sure it contains the entire 7 books. How could it? I finally finished FDNS, now I'm not sure what to do. Read Joyride by Ketchum, or start the DT series?? I really don't know if I could actually read such a huge amount of fiction. If I read one, I'd have to read the rest or I'd forget what's in the first book.

[RJK1981]

If you don't want to read that much fiction then I'd go with Joyride, which is a very good book as well.

[frik51]

Do you think it'd be better to read just this one HC, or start at book one? Read Joyride by Ketchum, or start the DT series?? I really don't know if I could actually read such a huge amount of fiction.

I'd go for Ketchum if I were you. If you want to read the DT series you should really be determined to do so - it's a loooooooong ride.
And of course you don't just read The dark Tower (I mean, the 7th book), do start at the beginning.

sk

[Tito_Villa]

Yes start with 'The Gunslinger' and you will be taken on a magical journey

[srboone]

When would you suggest reading The Little Sisters of Eluria?