Best Dark Tower book

[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...

[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.

[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.

[srboone]

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

[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...

[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.

[jhanic]

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

John

[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.

[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]

But...

Spoiler!

Roland had no choice in the matter. He was just sucked through the doorway. Maybe he was just so tired of the whole journey, he was willing to let the Tower fall just so he could finally rest.

That's what I didn't like about the ending. Something tells me that the Horn of Eld will make a difference, but he'll still be forced to go through the journey again.

[thelion]

I think the ending is great! Why?

Spoiler!

Because the next time around, Roland has the horn with him! Maybe for some of you he doesn't, but for me he does. That's why this ending is so great if you think about it. He takes another go at it and you, the reader can decide how you want the journey to the dark tower to really end. Maybe you want to have Roland suffer and work his ass off so you make him go for it a couple more times before he gets it right. I like to think, that the next time around he gets it all right.

I think you are exactly right.

Spoiler!

I think the journey we have read about in the novels is the penultimate journey, with Roland needing one more time to make it through correctly.

[cdfan]

+1 to the spoiler, that's what I like to think as well.

[peteOcha]

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

I think the ending is great! Why?

Spoiler!

Because the next time around, Roland has the horn with him! Maybe for some of you he doesn't, but for me he does. That's why this ending is so great if you think about it. He takes another go at it and you, the reader can decide how you want the journey to the dark tower to really end. Maybe you want to have Roland suffer and work his ass off so you make him go for it a couple more times before he gets it right. I like to think, that the next time around he gets it all right.

[Tito_Villa]

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

[frik51]

I don't know if King ruined it that way.
For some people he did, for others, he didn't.
Personally, I wish he hadn't put himself in this series.
I'm pretty sure if he hadn't had his accident, the final three volumes would have turned out much differently.

sk