Well met.
In advance, sorry if my English is not 100% up to date. Carry on...
I have some questions i would like to get answered:
First: I haven't looked google, myself yet. But if anyone could provide links to the following i would be thankful. I would like links with detailed stories or descriptions.
Do anyone have links or references to where I can read about the fall of Gilead?
Links or references about the battle of Jerico Hill.
Links or references about Stephen Deschain.
Second: Can someone remember when Roland first discovers this? Is it in Algul Sient or Le Casse Roi Russe?
Third: Do anyone knows the best forums for Dark tower discussions?
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Everything I will describe in this post, will most likely be posted on several forums. This is more of a "get the books and ending out of the system" exercise, to me. And maybe get answers, to something this forum can't provide.
Brief introduction. I started reading the first book (The Gunslinger) three years ago, on a vacation. I myself liked to describe Roland as badass and hardcore. The thing that got me fully devoted to the story, was when Roland decided to let Jake die.
This was a man on a mission. It was his destiny (ka), to reach the tower no matter the cost.
Not much of a reader, I read the second book (The Drawing of the Three) a year later, again on a vacation. And again a year later, on vacation, i started on book three and after that, i spend the next four months reading all the books, including
The Wind Through the Keyhole.
That's how i got through the books, and after the many hours of reading, i finally finished the series today. These characters had been in my mind, for three years.
I have not yet seen the movie. It's going to happen tonight.
The ending
The last three years I can not count how many times Roland reached the dark tower, in my imagination, and what has happened in the tower. When I came upon the ending, and Roland started to walk up the steps of the tower, i was most excited. Roland sees his life from past to present. All of his hardships, would now in some way be instantly rewarded
I thought.
When we learn that Roland is back, where the story started in The Gunslinger, I though that "this is all there is". This is Roldand's story. This is hell on earth.
After reading that Roland had acquired the Horn of Eld I realized Roland was, and after the book still is, trapped in some kind of purgatory.
The story without The Horn of the Eld
From the first book, we learn about Roland's main quest. His one and only mission, is to reach the Dark Tower because the world has moved on. He needs to save the World, by preventing the tower from falling. It is Roland's destiny (ka) that he finds the Tower and prevents it from falling. Now fast forward A LOT.
After the battle at Algul Sient (Breakers base) lets stop and think about what has been learned and achieved. The Tower (All worlds) are kept alive, by the Beams. The last beam is saved, and is self-healing. Roland knew Walter was dead. There where only two enemies left, who could potentially start the whole "break the beams" wheel again. Mordred and the Crimson King.
Eddie dies, Jake dies by saving Stephen King, and at some point Roland learns the Crimson King has trapped himself in the tower (Can someone remember when Roland first discovers this? Is it in Algul Sient or Le Casse Roi Russe?). Now Roland, Susanna, Oy and (later) Patrick keeps moving forward towards the tower and here is when Susanna's purgatory ends. The Tower is saved, the world is saved. The last enemy, Mordred, would eventually die when he encounters Roland. Anyway, Susanna chooses love and friendship and is rejoined with Eddie, Jake and eventually Oy. As we know Roland continues towards the tower, BUT.....
What if he didn't? Let us fast forward til the end of book seven (start of book one) now in mind that Roland has accuired the Horn of the Eld. What would that mean?
The story with The Horn of the Eld
My version on how the "Happily ever after, version could be":
I think the Horn of the Eld is a symbol. In some weird way, it has the most powerful magic attached. What would Roland think about when he looks at the Horn? He is reminded of the old times. Susan, his father, his mom, Cuthbert, Alain, Jamie, Cort, Vannay. Like in the Harry Potter universe love and friendship is the strongest magic. Now fast forward to the end of book one (the new book one version with the horn). Imagine the scene, where Roland is to choose between Jake's life or catching Walter (the man in black). Jake says "There Are Other Worlds Than These" (famous last words) and Roland is about to drop him, BUT.....
In this Horn of the Eld version, Roland, doesn't drop Jake. He is about to, but looks at the Horn. He is reminded of what should be most important. He had lost so many loved ones throughout the years, now reminded by the horn Roland is choosing differently. He is not in such a hurry to reach the Tower, on the benefit of his loved ones. Not this time, not with the constant reminder of the Horn. Now lets say he takes his time to save Jake. Then reaches Walter, later, but still do. The drawing of Eddie and Susanna also happens (Maybe in the Horn of the Eld version they had not needed be a part of the story, but lets roll with it). Now every action Roland takes is affected by this mentality: Friends first, Tower second.
Fast "a lot" forward... to the last book, and right before the point where Eddie dies. It was Roland's destiny to lose his group (ka-tet) because he chose the tower first, friends second. Maybe in this new Horn of the Eld version they all could survive, because Roland's destiny (ka) has been changed by Roland himself, by choosing friends first, rather than the tower. And when Roland and the group ends the work of the beakers, the world is safe. The tower has been saved, all is good. Now there is still the Crimson King, who is a potential future threat. Maybe he could gather new breakers some day, so he has to be dealt with. Still in the Horn of the Eld version. Roland and the group eventually learns that the Crimson King has trapped himself, forever (Still, can someone remember when Roland first discovers this?). With the Crimson King out of the picture, the only potential threat is Mordred, but he is no match for Roland. Specially with the full group alive. Mordred eventually dies, by trying to kill his white father (Roland). With Mordred and the, trapped, Crimson King out of the picture, there is no enemy left. The beams are self-healing, the tower will stand. I don't think Stephen Kings dying was crucial for the beams survival. He was just a medium that god (gan) used. Roland just needed Stephen, to write the rest of the story and assist Roland in reaching the tower (especially getting through the empathica part).
Now..... Like Susanne in the first version (without the Horn of the Eld), just before reaching the tower, she choose love and friendship first, by walking through the door to New York, rejoined by Eddie and Jake.
Lets say Roland did the same, but different. After learning the world is saved, enemies have been dealt with, and the Tower will stand, Roland thinks of his friends. They are safe. Would he choose to endanger them by pulling them towards the tower, to potentially die? Why? In my mind, the story kind of ended there, when we learned the Crimson King, was trapped. Roland looks at the Horn of the Eld, and realizes that the Tower is not important any more. Would Roland like to see the top of the tower? Of course. As a reader I would. But would I potentially sacrifice my friends and loved ones trying? No. With this in mind, I imagine Roland and the ka-tet would find peace. And who knows, maybe they returned to Calla Bryn Sturgis or other Cities in Mid-world that, in time would bloom again. A new Mejis or even Gilead. Anyway. Fast forward they lived happily ever after, and Roland eventually dies and is met by old friends and loved ones in the clearing. This is how Roland escapes purgatory, and goes to "heaven".
The Horn of the Eld personal meaning
I am usually consumed by a lot by work. In periods of my life, work has been the number one priority. There is a task, there is a process. I go from start to finish, and gets the job done.
When my girlfriend, friends or family reaches out to me (invites me to parties or get-togethers) I often reject them, because of the focus of my goal (Work). Lets say that I some day would reach the end of my version of the tower (end of my life), my life could be reflected to me, as Roland's life was to him. The tower (Work) first, friends and loved ones second. Just as Roland have been given a second chance (or a thousand), then when I would be given a second chance at doing things differently, with a object similar to the Horn of the Eld to remind me what actually matters the most, then what would matter the most?
Is it the Tower (Work) or friends and loved ones?
This ending really ****ed me up, and got me started thinking about things like this. I can not express how many times I have neglected firends, family or my girlfriend because of work or other stuff not as important. As Roland might find redemption, by constantly repeating his life, so could I or all of us.
Walter, Mordred and Crimson Kings deaths.
Walter's death did not bother me that much. In the start of the seires, I actually though that he would be the ultimate enemy in the end. But he played his cards wrong. The search for the Tower was a dangerous quest, and he died in a horrible way. Very horror.. I liked it.
Mordred's death seemed logical to me. He was not the most important enemy, but I felt like he was there to create a "watch your back" feeling for the readers, towards Roland. His death was justified i think. He was to weak to do anything else, than charge Roland, Patrick and Oy when he did. Mordred played the last card, he had been dealt, but ended dying. He tried.
The Crimson King, in my point of view, was defeated when Roland and the group won the battle at Algul Sient and later learned that the Crimson King was trapped in the tower. His death was a bit of anti-climatic, but its cool. Sometimes killing should not be a 20 minutes long "Star Wars lightsaber, fight to the death" with cool effects. Most times killing is simple, and quick. I liked the way Patrick dealt with the Crimson King, but I understand if other readers expected a "lightsaber fight" or somekind of great shootout. Maybe a Mexican standoff, to find out who is the best and quickest. Though i liked the more simple way Stephen King/Roland dealt with the Crimson King.
Movie
As mentioned earlier, I am about to see the movie tonight. I read that it might continue whare book seven left. I will be watching for the Horn.
There is a lot of bad reviews on the internet about it. But maybe, the movie could make sense to the those who actually read the book.
OR
It could be a "money harvester" for Stephen King and Columbia Pictures. No hate. There is nothing wrong in making money.
Wish me luck one the movie... and if you are still reading, i say
thankee-sai.
Long days and pleasant nights.