The big IF thread (spoilers all around)

[jayson]

And how would he have been able to stand up? How would he have continued his life after that? Would he have become a policeman who saves little kids from the same fate that killed his brother or how?

Not altogether sure he'd have turned things around to such an extent. I do believe that IF Henry died he might have been able to pull himself out of the whole drug/mafia scene. After that, I think he may have just tried to lead a "regular" life. Eddie was very intelligent and I could see him getting into the business world [making the kind of "kills" Elmer Chambers made]. Makes me wonder what Eddie Toren does for a living on his level of the Tower.

[Letti]

For my part somehow (I don't really know why) I can't imagine Eddie in an ordinary life.

[ManOfWesternesse]

& yet, without Roland's intervention (which was the original question), I think Eddie's life would have been reasonably 'ordinary'.
If he had beaten the drugs scene - could he even have pulled himself up to a reasonable level in society (ex-druggie / no decent job history etc...) it's possible yes - but not easy.
But what more than that (in this ordinary world) could he have aspired to?

[jayson]

For my part somehow (I don't really know why) I can't imagine Eddie in an ordinary life.

Possibly because you have seen the extraordinary things of which he is capable.

[hisDudeness]

What if Roland had lost to Cort and had been forced to go west?

[Jean]

!!!!!!!!! I have no thoughts at the moment (or rather have too many, all of which contradict one another), but it is a superb question!

[Letti]

Oh yes. It's a really good question indded. Thank you for it, hisDudeness.
I will think about it and I will come back later.

[jayson]

Superb question. My thoughts are that (a) ka would have found some other way for Roland to obtain his guns and become a defender of the White, or (b) had it been Roland's ka to lose to Cort, perhaps it was not his ka to seek the Tower. He'd have gone west and hopefully not turned into a bitter prick like Jonas.

[Letti]

I think he would have looked for the Tower the same way but I don't think he would have been able to reach it. His heart and spine would have been broken and he wouldn't have been able to be so strong (believe in ka and himself) all the time.

[timtempest6]

Eddie would have made the delivery then he and henry would have shot up all night henry would have died Eddie would blame himself and possibly kill his self right there on the spot or OD sometime later on himself.

[TerribleT]

Superb question. My thoughts are that (a) ka would have found some other way for Roland to obtain his guns and become a defender of the White, or (b) had it been Roland's ka to lose to Cort, perhaps it was not his ka to seek the Tower. He'd have gone west and hopefully not turned into a bitter prick like Jonas.

I tend to agree with B, except I think he probably would have turned into "a bitter prick, like Jonas"

[TerribleT]

I think I'm gonna change my nickname to that. lol