Stephen King’s risky ending to The Dark Tower the series proved to be a deeply satisfying conclusion. The first Dark Tower book, The Gunslingerwas published in 1982, combining several short stories King had previously written. The subsequent Dark Tower books would be published over more than two decadeswith the last book in the series, The Dark Towerreleased in 2004. An eighth book, The wind through the keyholewhich takes place between the fourth and fifth installments, was later published in 2012.
After seven novels published over 22 years and a multiverse that connects to many Stephen King books outside The Dark Tower series, ending in a cohesive and satisfying way seemed like an almost impossible challenge. Roland Deschain finally reaching the titular Dark Tower after his long and arduous journey seemed like an inevitability, but that alone wouldn’t make the end of such a complex series feel rewarding. Despite these challenges, King made The Dark TowerThe ending is more convincing than anyone could have imagined.
The Dark Tower’s risky ending ended up being Stephen King’s best conclusion yet
Appropriately concluded the story he had been telling for years
Roland realizing he’s trapped in a quest for the Dark Tower is Stephen King’s best ending. Since the Battle of Tull and the sacrifice of young Jake Chambers’ life in The Gunslingerit was clear that Roland was no hero, and It wouldn’t make sense for his story to simply end with him saving the Dark Tower and therefore the entire multiverse. This was never the story King was telling and ending on such a victorious note would have felt contrived.
Instead of, The Black TowelIt was a tragic story of a man so determined to complete his mission that he was willing to sacrifice those closest to him.while being punished in an endless cycle. The Dark Tower is a multi-genre series, but the genre King excels at most is horror, and that ending is appropriately one of the most terrifying moments in Stephen King’s book. It’s the true existential horror that has been hinted at and gradually built over the long series into an ending that is equal parts twisted, shocking, and also makes perfect sense with Roland’s character.
Why The Dark Tower’s End Was Such A Risky Choice For The Fantasy Series
It was a non-traditional and difficult ending
Even though King is a master of horror, The Dark Tower was largely a fantasy series about the last gunslinger trying to save the multiverse. This naturally created an expectation of a more traditional fantasy happy ending where the protagonist and his allies save everyone. King also went down a dark path with the rest of Roland’s ka-tet, with Jake dying once again, along with Eddie Dean and the lovable bumbler Oy dying as well. The entire purpose of the series may also seem questionable, since the Dark Tower never needed saving in the first place.
Roland has made his fair share of cruel and violent choices, many of them in the name of reaching the Dark Tower, but this eternal cycle can be seen as too difficult even for him.
Many of the characters’ sacrifices seem to have been in vain and the journey undoubtedly loses some of its weight when you realize that this is just one of the countless times that Roland has been on this quest. Roland has made his fair share of cruel and violent choicesmany of them in the name of reaching the Dark Tower, but this eternal cycle can be seen as too harsh even for him. The Crimson King, one of Stephen King’s best villains, being defeated by Patrick Danville by erasing a drawing could also be considered anticlimactic.
Stephen King’s conclusion may not be satisfying, but it’s perfect for the series
No other ending would have worked better
The Dark TowerThe ending may not be satisfying in the traditional sense, but it aligns perfectly with the series’ themes. Ka, the force of destiny, being a wheel, is present in many of King’s books, including The position. There’s no better way to show this than to have the protagonist start the story where it began, like The Dark Tower ends with The Gunslingerthe iconic first line, “The man in black fled across the desert and the gunman followed.” Furthermore, there is nothing Roland could have discovered at the top of the Dark Tower that would have been more satisfying.
|
Book/story title |
Year of publication |
|---|---|
|
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger |
1982 |
|
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three |
1987 |
|
The Dark Tower III: The Wastelands |
1991 |
|
The Dark Tower IV: Sorcerer and Glass |
1997 |
|
“The Little Sisters of Eluria” |
1998 |
|
The Dark Tower V: Calla Wolves |
2003 |
|
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah |
2004 |
|
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower |
2004 |
|
The wind through the keyhole |
2012 |
As cruel as the ending may seem, it is not without hope. Susannah reunites with alternate versions of Eddie and Jake in an alternate version of 1980s New York City. This time, Roland begins his search for the Dark Tower with the Horn of Eld, which he didn’t have last time. Susannah, Eddie and Jake’s lives will definitely be different in their alternate universe, and the Horn of Eld suggests that perhaps Roland’s journey will end differently this time. Any other ending for The Dark Tower the series wouldn’t have been as rewarding.