How did Roland get Horn of Eld?

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BrooklynDave

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Aug 3, 2017
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Hi everyone. Just a question. It's been years since I finished reading the series so forgive me if this is a dumb question. I'm reading a lot about Roland "getting it right" the next time around -after the books- because he now has the Horn of Eld. My question is how did he get the horn? When book 7 ended Roland ended up in the beginning of book 1-"The man in black fled across the desert..." The battle of Jericho Hill, where Roland left the horn, took place BEFORE this time. Before Book 1. So, how and when did he get the horn "the next cycle around" if the next cycle begins after the Battle of Jericho Hill? Shouldn't he have started the cycle at Jericho Hill for him to grab the horn? Again, it's been years since I finished the series so am I forgetting something?
Thanks in advance!
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
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This is a theory I read on another site (seems many ask the same question concerning the Horn)

The tower (and Gan) has complete control over all of reality. It places Roland back into the story where the first book began, but it has also changed his history. Roland, in the reality at the end of the book, did NOT forget the horn at Jericho Hill.

There are heavy suggestions that Gan works through the writing of the story, so if you think of Roland's history as happening when it was 'written', then we read about jericho hill after Roland pursues Walter across the desert. Thus, Roland's history was written (happened) after that. In this cycle, Roland's history will be written (occur) so that he never dropped the horn.
 

BrooklynDave

Member
Aug 3, 2017
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Also, how do we even know he has the horn this time around? Wasn't it something like -Roland reached and opened for the door at the top of the tower and...the man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed"
The End. Nothing about him having the horn. Again, it's been a long time and I apologize if I'm way off here.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
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Also, how do we even know he has the horn this time around? Wasn't it something like -Roland reached and opened for the door at the top of the tower and...the man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed"
The End. Nothing about him having the horn. Again, it's been a long time and I apologize if I'm way off here.
Nope, I remember him having it at the end, but it's been so long since I read it that I can't remember if he picked it up in the tower or if he realized he had it as he followed Walter across the desert again. I'll pull out my copy in the morning and take a gander :)
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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Nope, I remember him having it at the end, but it's been so long since I read it that I can't remember if he picked it up in the tower or if he realized he had it as he followed Walter across the desert again. I'll pull out my copy in the morning and take a gander :)
have-a-gander.jpg
....this should help......you're welcome......
 

skimom2

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Oct 9, 2013
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Bev Vincent

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Apr 11, 2006
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Hi everyone. Just a question. It's been years since I finished reading the series so forgive me if this is a dumb question. I'm reading a lot about Roland "getting it right" the next time around -after the books- because he now has the Horn of Eld. My question is how did he get the horn? When book 7 ended Roland ended up in the beginning of book 1-"The man in black fled across the desert..." The battle of Jericho Hill, where Roland left the horn, took place BEFORE this time. Before Book 1. So, how and when did he get the horn "the next cycle around" if the next cycle begins after the Battle of Jericho Hill? Shouldn't he have started the cycle at Jericho Hill for him to grab the horn? Again, it's been years since I finished the series so am I forgetting something?
Thanks in advance!

My theory is that Roland "steps into" himself at a certain point in his next cycle, but that Roland's history is different than the Roland we know through the books thus far. This is Roland 2.0 (or 19.0, if you like)--a somewhat better Roland than Roland version 1.0 (or 18). New Roland was able to lower his eyes from the prize long enough to pick up the horn. So, New Roland is already slightly better armed to handle things from this point forward, and his journey will undoubtedly be different. Slightly, at least. Does that make sense?
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
46,336
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Just north of Duma Key
My theory is that Roland "steps into" himself at a certain point in his next cycle, but that Roland's history is different than the Roland we know through the books thus far. This is Roland 2.0 (or 19.0, if you like)--a somewhat better Roland than Roland version 1.0 (or 18). New Roland was able to lower his eyes from the prize long enough to pick up the horn. So, New Roland is already slightly better armed to handle things from this point forward, and his journey will undoubtedly be different. Slightly, at least. Does that make sense?
YES indeed!!
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Nope, I remember him having it at the end, but it's been so long since I read it that I can't remember if he picked it up in the tower or if he realized he had it as he followed Walter across the desert again. I'll pull out my copy in the morning and take a gander :)
Finally got to my book tonight :) Okay, so I was right on the last bit: when Roland stepped out into the desert for what we hope is the last spin of Ka's wheel he has the horn with him, in his gunna. He reflects that he picked it up after Jericho Hill. So things have changed at this spin.