The unanswered riddle in the waste lands

[Kiki Weideman]

Hi Kiki Weideman here. Was reviewing and rereading the dark towers and saw a thing that puzzled me. In the waste lands, Roland poses a riddle to Blaine when he first meets him, which is never answered. (What is better than all the gods and worse than old man split foot...) Am I missing some obvious fact or is this a genuine oversight? Because, surely this should be the riddle which defeats Blaine as he never answers, little Blaine just warns Roland to be careful.

The page reference in the paper back I'm reading is 523.

[Bryan James]

I don't have the book within reach (or even in my house), but I dig riddles, so I can't adequately answer your postulation of the book's version...and maybe if it wasn't answered it was one of those things the Reader was supposed to fill in.

I think that "answer" could most correctly be given by absolute silence.

That is 'nothing.'

Just a thought, sorry I don't have the book to review.


If the unanswered question was "nothing" (the gods are the best and the bad devil is the worst), then a semi-sentient being/Mono (one track thought) without a soul would get really wierd(er). Especially as he knew he was winding down for good while achieving consciousness.

I need to go read that one again, but Blaine remains a pain in my brain.

What's left of it.

BJS

[rose key]

Hi Kiki, and welcome!

I'm at work, so I can't look at the book, but I do know the answer to that riddle. It's an old one that's oft told.

What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it,
The rich don't need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?

Answer:
The answer to the riddle is "nothing."
Nothing is greater than God.
Nothing is more evil than the Devil.
The poor have nothing.
The rich need nothing.
And if you eat nothing, you'll die.