Warning: This article includes spoilers for the Dark Tower series.
Summary
The Dark Tower, is a rich and complex journey through time, space, and reality that encompasses nearly the entireStephen King universe.The Dark Towerbook series centers on Roland Deschain, a mysterious gunslinger whose quest is to reach the titular Dark Tower. Of the many twists and turns of the series, one of the most profound revelations is the gunslinger’s fate.Roland’s never-ending loop to journey to the Dark Toweris subtly foreshadowed on the title page of therevised and expanded edition ofThe Gunslingerwith a single word: “RESUMPTION.”
On the cusp of a highly anticipatedadaptation by Mike Flanagan,The Dark Toweris a wild mix of Western, sci-fi, and horror — andjust about every piece of work that King has put out is tangled up inThe Dark Towerin some way. Yes, titles such asIt,The Stand, andThe Shiningcan all be considered part of King’s largerDark Toweruniverse. Newcomers to the story might not pick up on the hidden message, but for readers who have journeyed to the Dark Tower before, the word “resumption” sums up the essence of Roland’s existence.
Casting 6 Regular Mike Flanagan Actors For His Adaptation Of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower
Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Dark Tower book series could fill out its entire cast with actors he’s already worked with.
How “Resumption” Sums Up Roland’s Journey (& Foreshadows The Dark Tower Ending)
The Concept Of Ka On The Art Of Storytelling
Roland Deschain is a gunslinger from the warrior clan of Gilead, which has a not-so-subtle resemblance to King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. His world is an apocalyptic one beyond our time, where the world has “moved on” and digressed in terms of technology and modern societal structures.The series opens with Roland finding himself on a journey through the desert, chasing the mysterious Man in Black without knowing why or how. He just knows he has to reach him, and he has to reach the tower before he does.
Roland’s vague and instinctual urge to reach the tower suggests that his fate is not of his own will; rather, it is just the nature of his universe. Ka, or the wheel of reality, is a concept that Roland and others in this story almost refer to in a religious manner. It’s a concept that time is a wheel that rotates and ends up right back where it started. This echoes phrases like “history repeating itself” or “what goes around comes around.”
Every reader’s trip through the series acts like the existence of Ka itself, insisting that Roland’s reality only exists in the minds of those who read it.
The concept of Ka seems to be no more than a familiar philosophical metaphor being held dear by Roland until the very end of the series, whenRoland is brought right back to the beginning of his journeychasing the Man in Black through the desert. “Resumption” references the continuation of Roland’s journey and also the readers’. Every reader’s trip through the series acts like the existence of Ka itself, insisting that Roland’s reality only exists in the minds of those who read it.
Why Stephen King Decided To Revise & Expand The Gunslinger
How The Series' First Installment Was In Need Of An Update
King’s decision to revise and expandThe Gunslingeris his attempt to create a more cohesive foundation for the Dark Tower series.King began writing this story when he was 19, and the first publication ofThe Gunslingerwas in 1982. He expanded the series into seven more novels, the latest one being published in 2012, and has woven this narrative into just about every title in between.
The Dark Towerhas taken King so much time and experience to develop that the story has evolved alongside King’s evolution as an author. RevisitingThe Gunslingerallowed him to add elements that wouldseamlessly integrateThe Gunslingerinto the rest of the fully realized story. This also allowed him to build stronger groundwork for the overall themes of the series, makingThe Gunslingermore consistent with the other installments.
1982
1987
1991
Wizard and Glass
1997
Wolves of the Calla
2003
2004
The Wind Through the Keyhole
2012
The Dark Toweris a testament to King’s mastery as a storyteller. His choice to continue evolving his work shows his ability to reflect and improve, making his writing stand the test of time. The addition of“RESUMPTION”invokes a shared understanding for returning readers. It imposes an intriguing foretelling on the minds of newcomers and serves as a subtle nod to the encompassing force that is the nature of storytelling.
The Dark Tower
Cast
Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim, and Matthew McConaughey star in The Dark Tower, a Western Sci-Fi film directed by Nikolaj Arcel. Released in 2017, The Dark Tower follows a young boy with visions of an apocalyptic future in which a powerful man, dubbed The Man in Black, lays waste to the universe. The film is based on the Stephen King book series.
