GOP Extremists Oust Lugar in Indiana

I’d like to start out with a word of warning to those of you who have not read Stephen King‘s “Dark Tower” series of books, but plan on doing so.  Don’t read any more of this post, since  some of the things I’m going to discuss will give away major elements of the plot.

Before I began the somewhat monumental task of tackling the 4,500 pages contained in the Dark Tower series, I had read a number of Stephen King’s other books.  Among them were Hearts in Atlantis, Insomnia, Salem’s Lot, and (of course) The Stand.  In some ways each of these books , although riveting, left me with a feeling of frustration; as if too many pivotal questions went left unanswered.  For example, in Hearts of Atlantis, King introduces us to Ted Braudigan, who is mysteriously kidnapped by “the low men” who work for The Crimson King.   The purpose of these mysterious figures is never explained.  In Insomnia, King introduces the character of a young boy named Patrick Danville, who is destined to change the course of history.  Again, references are made to the Dark Tower and the Crimson King.  Once again, the book ends with the reader left to wonder just what Patrick Danville was destined to save, and who in the world is this Crimson King.  Finally, in “The Stand” King introduces us to the evil figure of Randal Flagg, who is a satanic figure out to subjugate a post-apocalyptic world.  In the end, Flagg proves to be indestructible, but the reader is still left to wonder where he came from and what comes next.

Fortunately for many of us (somewhat) frustrated Stephen King readers, the author tied together in the “Dark Tower” series many of the loose ends he left dangling in at least five of his earlier works.  Ted Braudigan turns out to be a man with extraordinarily powerful psychic powers, taken prisoner by the evil Crimson King and used to destroy the very fabric that holds the universe together.  Patrick Danville, also with powerful psychic powers, finds his destiny by being the only one capable of killing the Crimson King, and saving the fate of the universe.  Lastly, the evil and somewhat indestructible Randal Flagg is identified as an age-old antagonist, who has lived in many worlds under many different names.  He always represented the face of universal evil.  In the end, of course, Flagg is destroyed by the son the very same Crimson King he has paid homage to throughout time.

In the end of the Dark Tower series,  King provides the reader with a  surprise ending  (of course).  Although finally climbing to the top of the Dark Tower, the great heroic/tragic figure of Roland of Gilliad finds he is stuck in an endless cycle of  repeating history.

I’m sure I will continue reading Stephen King’s novels in future, but I’m not so sure I’ll ever find anything as compelling as the Dark Tower.  I would, however, like to hear if any of our readers feel the same way.

—rich