The End. (spoilers)

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The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
My journey is done, I reached the end and I was a bit unsure for a few minutes as to whether or not I liked the ending, then I realised - yes, I do. Susannah's story was nicely wrapped up - I was very pleased to see Eddie and Jake again in yet another version of the Universe. Roland's, despite being a loop, you know he has the chance of finaly breaking it this time.

I completely did not expect the final line - very good writing from Stephen.

I do wonder if anyone actually stopped at the Coda like the writer offered?
 
Dec 4, 2013
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I really liked the ending of the book, and what awaited Roland at the top of the Dark Tower, however I had other issues with this book that really bothered me.
Flagg's end was incredibly anti-climatic and did not do one of King's most notorious characters justice. Also, The Crimson King's showdown with Roland echoed Flagg's end. Anti-climatic and disappointing. Sneeches?? Really?? For the being responsible for nearly all the evil in Stephen King's universe, he was a joke.
 
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The Nameless

M-O-O-N - That spells Nameless
Jul 10, 2011
2,080
8,261
42
The Darkside of the Moon (England really)
I really liked the ending of the book, and what awaited Roland at the top of the Dark Tower, however I had other issues with this book that really bothered me.
Flagg's end was incredibly anti-climatic and did not do one of King's most notorious characters justice. Also, The Crimson King's showdown with Roland echoed Flagg's end. Anti-climatic and disappointing. Sneeches?? Really?? For the being responsible for nearly all the evil in Stephen King's universe, he was a joke.

YES, that was my main gripe too,
I remember thinking "really? All that work and dominance over hoards of people in the stand, one of King's main villians and he was tricked by Mordred within a few minutes?" I know the idea was to show that Mordred is one of his most powerful bad guys he has ever created, but that was too feeble for Flagg.

The Crimson King also used sound shockwaves and amplified the Towers calling song, and he was trapped by his own insanity at the end, but yes, I thought he would do a bit more than he did to be honest.
 
Dec 4, 2013
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Something else that I can't help but wonder is if we will see the characters of Flagg or the Crimson King in another book or two in the future? Many of King's books have had Flagg, I'd like to read a book revisiting these characters if possible. I also thought the Crimson King was such an intriguing character, and there isn't too much about him as far as his history/back story and such.
 

OKKingFan

Well-Known Member
Jun 15, 2013
138
371
Oklahoma
I had mixed feelings as well. I also thought that
was a quick and seemingly easy way to kill Flagg/Walter, not to mention the Crimson King.
I didn't hate the ending, but it's not bad. I also wonder if King was trying to say something with the ending, either about as humans, or his own obsession with the Dark Tower. I have a lot of thoughts and questions, but I'm still reading "Wind Through the Keyhole," and plan on reading some of the Dark Tower guides to get a few things answered before I post my full "review", such as it will be. In short, though, it wasn't my favorite King story, but certainly not my least favorite, and there were moments of pure genuis/magic.
 
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91rewoT

Backwards Sister Member
Oct 20, 2009
3,039
2,743
Southern Wisconsin
Having read the books as they were published, I felt that some of the references (sneetches, not a fan of those) made the story feel too "present day", if you know what I mean. In 10 years, it won't have that feel, I'm sure. I was really mad about the ending at first. Did a bit of ranting and raving, as I recall Then I let it digest...and came to the obvious conclusion that it was the right ending, the only ending, the perfect ending...
 

Phantomking

Well-Known Member
Mar 26, 2008
122
117
Northeast USA
If you actually pay attention the entire series, you'll realize this is the only ending. Ka is a wheel that turns and always comes back to the same place. This concept is mentioned many times. Roland has simply not earned his happy ending....yet.

I mean, honestly, what would have been a better ending?
He gets to the top and stops all the ills of the world and Susan is resurrected and he lives happily ever after in Gilead again?
To me, that's just not a fitting ending at all. The one he wrote, however, was.

But, SK was crazy if he actually expected people not to read the coda!
 
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Dec 4, 2013
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If you actually pay attention the entire series, you'll realize this is the only ending. Ka is a wheel that turns and always comes back to the same place. This concept is mentioned many times. Roland has simply not earned his happy ending....yet.

I mean, honestly, what would have been a better ending?
He gets to the top and stops all the ills of the world and Susan is resurrected and he lives happily ever after in Gilead again?
To me, that's just not a fitting ending at all. The one he wrote, however, was.

But, SK was crazy if he actually expected people not to read the coda!
I definitely liked the ending to the series as far as what you were talking about. I agree there was no better possible ending. My gripe with the book was the way in which the two main villains were extinguished. Just expected a little more I guess.
 

kylallie

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2012
123
186
New Zealand
I really liked the ending of the book, and what awaited Roland at the top of the Dark Tower, however I had other issues with this book that really bothered me.
Flagg's end was incredibly anti-climatic and did not do one of King's most notorious characters justice. Also, The Crimson King's showdown with Roland echoed Flagg's end. Anti-climatic and disappointing. Sneeches?? Really?? For the being responsible for nearly all the evil in Stephen King's universe, he was a joke.

I have to agree - I found Flagg's ending very anti-climatic as well...... he's such an ultimate evil character on so many levels in the SK world, it would have been good to see his ending as a real mind-kicker.... never mind, he was always a bit of a pain :confused:
 

weezergirl

Well-Known Member
May 13, 2011
96
187
Having read the books as they were published, I felt that some of the references (sneetches, not a fan of those) made the story feel too "present day", if you know what I mean. In 10 years, it won't have that feel, I'm sure. I was really mad about the ending at first. Did a bit of ranting and raving, as I recall Then I let it digest...and came to the obvious conclusion that it was the right ending, the only ending, the perfect ending...
I actually threw the book across the room at a wall in anger. :) I vowed then and there to never read anther Stephen King book again for the rest of my life and then I sat there and cried because I was so mad. Like chest heaving, sobbing, how-the-hell-could-you-do-this-to-me crying. And I'm not a crier (books, movies, anything).

After a about a week or so to simmer down (I seriously left that damn book where it landed) I began to realize two things. A. if it got me THAT riled up, the man is a genius! and B. it really was the best way it could end. Mr. King, I'm sorry for that week that I didn't love you anymore. I didn't cheat and read other stuff tho I just drank beer and played video games.
 

taylor29

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2014
103
391
Spoiler
My biggest issue in terms of foes being defeated was the Red King. Did King write himself into a corner with no way to get rid of the guy? The Red King,he one who represents world-wrecking evil, such dark thoughts and Roland's endless suffering? He was just...erased? Now that was a huge let down. I expected something epic.

I thought Flagg's ending was killer. He ripped out his own tongue and popped his eyeballs out all while this weird spider-boy was in his head making the whole thing almost pleasant. I even liked that Roland didn't end him. It WAS done with quickly and almost dismissively if you consider how big a part of the series Flagg is, but I also think it's fitting that such a pompous egotistical character is finally someone else's afterthought, that he's left in someone else's dust.
 

HollyGolightly

Well-Known Member
Sep 6, 2013
9,660
74,320
54
Heart of the South
I finally finished this one - it took me ages. I just got stuck. But I loved, loved the ending - very gratifying, I thought. Ka is a wheel. "The raft is the shore". I didn't have a problem with the Sneetches - I thought it lent a real connection between worlds. I loved the wrap up of Susannah and Eddie and Jake and the possibility of Oy. I love the message:
one 3 second act can change everything. He had the Horn of Eld in the end, didn't he?
. I'll be weeks mulling this over in my heart and my mind, but Thankee Sai King for this beautiful epic. I loved them all.
 

EMARX

Well-Known Member
Feb 27, 2009
2,970
15,757
I finally finished this one - it took me ages. I just got stuck. But I loved, loved the ending - very gratifying, I thought. Ka is a wheel. "The raft is the shore". I didn't have a problem with the Sneetches - I thought it lent a real connection between worlds. I loved the wrap up of Susannah and Eddie and Jake and the possibility of Oy. I love the message:
one 3 second act can change everything. He had the Horn of Eld in the end, didn't he?
. I'll be weeks mulling this over in my heart and my mind, but Thankee Sai King for this beautiful epic. I loved them all.
Woo Hoo Holly!! Your comments make me want to start all over again. I had read up WandG and started all over again when it was clear he was going to finish it. So it's been many years for me. And the ending was as it should be.