Hello all. I finished the series a few hours ago after starting it about 18 months ago (what an ending!!), and I have about a million thoughts and questions. Several of them came to mind immediately. MAJOR SPOILERS are ahead, so read on at your own risk if you haven't finished the series.

1. Very near the end, when Roland tells Patrick Danville to draw the Crimson King, Patrick says it will be difficult because, "He darkles, he tincts." Roland seems to slightly recall this phrase from earlier on, but doesn't have the time to consider it. I can't remember it at all, so when was it first said, and what does it mean?

2. After Oy's death, Roland remembers seeing an image of the scene of his death when looking into Maerlyn's Grapefruit, part of the Wizard's Rainbow. I somewhat remember this, but would like to read it again to refresh my memory. I thought it was in Wizard and Glass, but couldn't find it. Which book was it in and where?

3. So at the very end we basically learn that the story repeats itself. Are there any signs of this throughout the series?

4. Do you think it's possible that instead of the entire story repeating itself, the seven books were all just Roland's dream, and the real quest is about to begin at the very end? I really hope this isn't the case.

5. What are your thoughts on the ending? I can't say I like what happened (the repitition of everything is more than a little depressing to think about), but at the same time I thought it was a very entertaining and unique way to wrap it up. I thought it was very well done by Stephen King.

6. Do you think that Roland will meet all of the same people and have the same ka-tet (Susannah, Eddie, Jake, Callahan, Oy) when he repeats the journey? Or will he meet different people, or have no ka-tet at all? I really hope not. That would mean he would forget everyone in the ka-tet, which is extremely sad when you consider how much they meant to him. So basically, how similar or different to the previous journey will the quest be this time around?

7. Do you think Robert Browning's "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came" poem is the story of Roland's final journey, when he reaches the Tower and finally earns his salvation? The very end of the final book shows that Roland must go through his journey again, and then the text of Browning's poem is inserted into the book. So is that basically the outline of the next, and final, version of the quest? In the poem, Roland blows his horn as he reaches the Tower, and Roland does have the Horn of Eld with him at the start of the next version of the journey.

8. Is it possible that this whole story is a sort of purgatory for Roland? Maybe he has already died, and each time he goes through this quest it cleanses his sins and teaches him to be a better man. He clearly becomes much more emotional and attached to his ka-mates throughout the series. Maybe when he finally completes his journey and has cleansed his sins, he'll find the "Clearing at the end of the path" when he walks through the door at the top of the Dark Tower. Maybe his real life was similar to this journey, but he was forced to complete it again and again until he was ready to enter the clearing. Or maybe his real life was something completely different, and all of this was just his own afterlife.
(PS, This doesn't necessarily reflect my religious views. Just a theory).

Thanks for your help!