Would King have ever finished the series without the accident? *spoilers*

[Letti]

Would King have ever finished the series without his accident?

How long would we have had to wair for?

[Wuducynn]

I don't know anyone by the name of Kind, but I think King would definitely have finished soon, not AS soon, but probably a year more than he did.

[jayson]

Would King have ever finished the series without his accident?

How long would we have had to wair for?

I used to think he wouldn't, or that he thought he couldn't. After Wizard & Glass whenever new King would come out I would have mixed feelings. I usually loved whatever new book I had just read, but also hated it because it was new King and it wasn't the Tower. I would have waited forever, but I am glad he finally chose to finish it [even if he had to almost die to get back on track].

[Jimmy]

Champ Kind would have done a hell of a job provided he didn't wake up in any Japanese family's houses where they wouldn't stop screaming.

WHAMMY!

[Storyslinger]

I agree, he would have finished it, but his brush with death helped speed the process along. I think he became inspired after Wizard and Glass, but was just sorting out ideas

[Wuducynn]

Champ Kind would have done a hell of a job provided he didn't wake up in any Japanese family's houses where they wouldn't stop screaming.

WHAMMY!

Bingo!

[Daghain]

I'm not sure he ever would have finished it without his "brush with death".

I think he intended to finish it, but, like most of us, he always thought there was plenty of time.

Then he had a little reality check and realized his own mortality in a big way, and I think that lit a fire under him. I think, after the accident, he was determined to finish it while he still could.

ETA: Great question, Letti.

[Letti]

I am not sure, either.
I am sure he might have given it a try... but I am not sure he would have finished it.

[Darkthoughts]

Just think how immensely different the story would have been, if he hadn't had the accident - but still written it!

[JasKo]

To put it this way: I'm glad I started reading the books after he had finished them all!

[Wuducynn]

To put it this way: I'm glad I started reading the books after he had finished them all!

Lucky bastard!

[jayson]

Just think how immensely different the story would have been, if he hadn't had the accident - but still written it!

For starters, he'd certainly have had to come up with something new for Jake.

[sarah]

I went to a reading in 1998 or 1999 when he was touring with Bag of Bones and he asked everyone who was a tower fan to raise their hand. Only a third or so of the 300 people raised their hands. He said that he would finish it someday but that he didn't know when he would get back to the tower. A few months later he was hit by the car. He said the biggest question people asked at the time was when are you going to finish the dark tower and that he knew he had to finsh it.

[Matt]

I truly believe that King believed he had to finish it. To save the Tower and that "forces" were trying to keep him from doing it even if it meant killing him.

[alinda]

yes, ka you know!

[Wuducynn]

I truly believe that King believed he had to finish it. To save the Tower and that "forces" were trying to keep him from doing it even if it meant killing him.

Yeah, theres always another day..

[Matt]

Your people missed man, its over.

[Jean]

I truly believe that King believed he had to finish it. To save the Tower and that "forces" were trying to keep him from doing it even if it meant killing him.

but that's true, isn't it? In the end, those forces always work against themselves. What was expected to kill him at last gave him a new inspiration... new experience... at last enabling him to finish what he had started.

[alinda]

" I feel most alive when the death bell rings?"




Hi Jean

[She-Oy]

I never thought he wouldn't finish it. He's touted all along that the series was to be his "magnum opus".

But just like Lisa said, imagine what the books would have been without his accident. I'm positive they would have been completely different.

For one, I don't think he would have written himself into them, but after the near death experience, he came out with a strange view of what "we" all are and what we are here for.

Are we puppetmasters or are we the ones on strings?

[MonteGss]

I agree with Daghain pretty much.

[NeedfulKings]

....he asked everyone who was a tower fan to raise their hand. Only a third or so of the 300 people raised their hands.

The other two thirds just hadn't read the books yet. 8)

I started the series right before 5, 6, and 7 were due to be released. It was just by chance...I was skimming my paperbacks and The Gunslinger "called" to me. I had tried reading it years before (as evident from the bookmark at page 50 or so).

As for King, I think he would have finished it, regardless. He would have done so by now, but it would have had a different feel. It would have still been good--and I think THE ending would have been the same.

[CyberGhostface]

He probably would have, it would have just taken longer. Barring any sudden developments (such as a fatal accident or illness) I couldn't see him not finishing it. I mean, he's 54 (I think?) now. I think he would have been able to finish before he reached his mid sixties or seventies, and I can see him living for quite a bit longer after that.

I'm of the party that thinks had he taken his time with the last three and written them over a span of a few years instead of writing them in one one period they would have been better.

[Daghain]

King was born in 1947. He turned 60 this year. Not old but old enough.

And this:

I agree with Daghain pretty much.

is why I know Monte is such a genius.

[MonteGss]

Damn you're super-smart.