Black House question

[joshuahering]

I have a question maybe someone can answer about thew changing of the names of towns. What I would like to know is if it is an artistic reason or if the towns can actualy say no you can't use the name of this town in your book. I was under the impression that you can use the name of any city you want I didn't think towns were copyrighted. While LaRiviere [sic] is a more poetic name then LaCrosse I live in Wisconsin and have visited the worlds largest six pack and it was really cool for me to read a Stephen King book set in the state I live, and read things described that I have actualy seen! I was just wondering why King and Straub changed the names of all the towns. They didn't as for as I can tell change the names of the highways I think Wisconsin is the only state that uses letters for their county highways and the authors did that. Anyway fantastic book and thank you for it. I don't know how you did it Mr. King but when I finished the Dark Tower books a daunting task in itself I still wanted more, So thanks for this little nugget of travel back to the Calla.

[Moderator]

Peter Straub grew up in Wisconsin so was more familiar with the territory but I don't know whose decision it was to change the names. As a rule, though, it's much easier to use a fictional name even if some of the landmarks are real as it is less likely that anyone will come back to complain. So, yes, it's an artistic reason not a legality.

[Damaris]

I think Wisconsin is the only state that uses letters for their county highways and the authors did that.

It's not terribly common but Missouri and either Kansas or Nebraska also use letters on county roads, possibly other states as well (those are just the first to come to mind). In case anyone else should like to know.

[LittleRedKing]

I was just wondering why King and Straub changed the names of all the towns. They didn't as for as I can tell change the names of the highways I think Wisconsin is the only state that uses letters for their county highways and the authors did that. Anyway fantastic book and thank you for it. I don't know how you did it Mr. King but when I finished the Dark Tower books a daunting task in itself I still wanted more, So thanks for this little nugget of travel back to the Calla.

That's a good point; why change the names of towns but not the highways, and he even mentioned Miller Park, the Brewers, Milwaukee...

I live near Milwaukee myself so it was pretty fun to see things I am familiar with woven into the story.

[Stranger]

i believe that SK does the same thing with all things related to Derry Maine. I am pretty sure that Derry itself does not exist but Bangor, where he lives/lived, is real and most of the landmarks mentioned in stories about Derry are actually in Bangor in reality.

[thymeoperator]

yeah i'd wondered if derry was real, and thought i sure hope not because if it were and i lived in derry i'd think wow this guy REALLY thinks we're all crazy

[Srbo]

I have a Q as well:

Throughout the entire book, someone who is reffering to himself in the third person is describing everything that`s happening to the reader.

Who or what is that " we " ?

If it`s explained in the DT series, than just tell me so, I`ll find it once I read the series...if not, I wouldn`t mind an answer.

Thanks.

[jchanic]

To me, it's a "bird"--maybe a crow.

John

[Srbo]

To me, it's a "bird"--maybe a crow.

John

A crow that can slide under doors and fly through key holes ?

[wally wonder]

not to mention pass through the screen on the window. the changing persona of that tour guide is interesting. at one moment, the persona takes us in to see a nasty sight in the old defunct restaurant, but gets the jitters about watching a wedded couple doing (or about to do) what wedded (and those shacking up) couples do.

don't believe there is an actual answer, nor am i aware of one in the dt series, serbo. but yeah, good question, and it'd be worth reading bh again for another take on that guide...a shape changer?