The Dark Tower Ending - I HATED IT! **SPOILERS**

[duf70]

Well, Stephen warned us before getting into the ending, after Susannah was reunited with Eddie and Jake he said it was just as it should end, but since he was sure we wanted to see what was at the top of the Tower....he let us have it.
When I read the ending at 2:00 in the morning I couldn't breathe at first, trying to comprehend the magnificence of what really meant to start over again. After a while I realized that there was no other way and I started to accept it. The Horn of Eld would do the trick this next time.
I only regret that he didn't write more about the gaps that now are being filled in the Marvel comics, such as the Jericho Hill battle.

[tempest]

Well, I just finished DT a week ago so it is very fresh in my mind. I read the part where Stephen King writes you do not need to read any further if you like this ending. (New York only). I did like the almost ending (NY), but I had to read on to the end.

The ending was uniquely Stephen King, and for that I loved it. It was unexpected which is why it was so perfect.

From a philosophical point of the view, at the end, I thought of the "Hindu Theory of World Cycles". Not even sure if it applies..Saṃsāra or something like that--not something I believe in personally, but an interesting idea.

[devious1]

I hated it at first, like many, but now I find it perfect.

This is how I see it:
Each time Roland encounters his quest he becomes more man than beast. The journey we read about was like reaching the top of a mountain. After all of his travails he finally reached the top and learned to love. Love is redemption. Getting to the top of a mountain is only half the battle though. The descent is after Roland has found redemption for his sins for the first time, and for his troubles to get to the top and how he learned to love he is rewarded with the Horn of Eld from Gan. The way down the mountain may be one more journey, or multiple, or many, but the one we encountered was the most significant because Roland encountered love and redemption for the first time.

that is a great theory, i never really thought of it that way, but it makes perfect sense and fits with the theme of redemption.

another way you can look at is that Ka is a wheel, and what is a wheel? a circle. so the story comes full circle and you end up right back where you started. maybe it will be different this time, with the Horn Of Eld, but maybe it never will be different because Ka is a wheel that always comes full circle.

[IfSoGirl]

i loved it. i don't think it could've ended any other way.

[Laretius]

I think it was the only possible/sensible ending. If the book had ended in some cheesy "happily ever after" -bit, I'd have vomited. It did leave me feeling a bit empty and dissatisfied, but Roland going to heaven or something would have felt wrong. These kind of endings are bittersweet.
And it is true that they are kind of a trade mark to SK, as are things like "and they never saw each other again" in the beginning of the book. But that's a huge part of why we love his books, right?!

[La Belladonna]

I enjoyed all the action, falling in love with Eddie Dean and the gang, I was sad over what happened to Susan Delgado. And all of this...just to find out that everyone's work in helping Roland find the Tower lead to him just repeating everything from the desert all over again.

I actually like the ending. It made sense with the rest of the story and the other worlds than these and all the world/time jumping.

None of their actions were wasted or in vain. How do you/we know that this trip was Roland's first cycle to reach the Dark Tower? This may have been his second, third, tenth, etc.... Maybe in his prior cycle Susanah died or they didn't save King from getting killed by the drunk driver. All types of little yet vital things could have changed. And in his next cycle we know that Roland has the Horn of Eld. That may make a huge difference in the outcome.

I agree with others who said that King showed us that the journey is as important if not more important than the journey's end.

You know, SK warned the reader that they may not like the ending and that they could stop reading at that point where he made the warning in DT7.

I actually liked the ending. It made sense with the rest of the story and the other worlds than these and all the world/time jumping. How else could it have ended? If you want happily-ever-after and we all skipped home story endings then maybe you should start reading a different author or type of book. But again - to each his own.

[Romeo]

what's the dark tower about??!!

[Moderator]

For more information, visit The Dark Tower portion of the site.

[JohnDalglish]

what's the dark tower about??!!

Hi,

It's about seven books, and much recommmended.

Long days and pleasant nights

[M.O.DENGLER]

what's the dark tower about??!!

LOL..Give it a read mate..