Oh, now that's interesting. He's a perpetual force that needs to keep going forever to keep the beam in good working order.
Which now, to keep with this idea, it makes me wonder if there's someone serving each of the beams, keeping them intact. I was always a bit disappointed that we didn't learn a bit more about the other beams.
Yep, i agree. Maybe a spinoff can take care of this. We were never introduced to the Beams and only ever introduced to one of its keepers (Shardik) who was at the end of his path anyway, infected by parasites. Maturin finds his way into the storyline, but the rest are just mentioned and then ignored. I wouldn't have complained if SK would have gone into details about the Lion and the Wolf and the Eagle and the Rat, etc. instead of the drawing out of the whole Sussanah-Mia saga or lengthening the Calla Bryn Sturgis sub-plots.
As for the comment somewhere up there as to why Roland did not use the unfound door to directly access the tower, isn't it explained that beyond some point after CK's castle, ka's influence ends? How can they then reach someplace that is out of ka's reach. They would have gone todash, so to speak!
Also, there is a comment that says that Roland's lesson should have been to get involved with his ka-mates and remember the ka-tet that was. And to end the quest for the Tower once the Breakers were released. Well, for one, he remembers them all very well. Why else would be tell the story of Susan Delgado and the beginning of his quest for the tower before they entered the Wizard's glass castle? Why would he take it upon himself to rescue SK from the van in spite of his pain, instead of delegating it to Jake from the beginning? Or going after Sussanah in the Swamps during her feeding sessions as Mia to watch over her? I think he is the way he is with them because he remembers what the pink wizard's glass told him when it gave him the option between the tower and Susan...that he would lose everyone he was ever with in his quest; not necessarily because of his doing, but just because they were with him.
Second, if he would have ended his quest after releasing the breakers, there was still Mordred. The CK would have cajoled him to the tower, killed him and used his red heel in spider form (i forgot which part of his spider form the red heel was) to gain access to the tower. Nope, Roland's responsibility does not end after just freeing the beams.
Anyway, my two cents on the ending:
I had no problems with Walter going down the way he did. He had lived too long and done too much and had gone complacent. He thought a metal mesh hat would keep the son of the CK and the Last Gunslinger out of his head. Well, serves him right! I honestly couldn't see how a showdown b/w Walter and Roland would have gone. One dealt in magic, the other in lead. Nope, not compatible enough material for a showdown worth remembering.
I wasn't disappointed about CK either. Again, for me it was the ultimate defeat for CK. To be erased out of existence but for the eyes, that would haplessly witness his defeat as Roland fearlessly enters the tower bellowing his ka-mates' names.
I was disappointed with how Mordred goes though. It was like much ado about nothing, especially the fuss made about his birth in the whole Sussanah-Mia saga! Mordred is just reduced to an over-qualified and 'a-very hongry' tracker who just follows his hume father around and hates him for what again!??
A showdown between Roland and Mordred at CK's castle would have been great, with the father leaving the son in some trap and getting a head start (i ain't no SK but still...).
I was most pissed about SK inserting himself in the Dandelo sub-plot. And telling Roland that all debts were paid! How dare he!!? Did he have to see one of his kids die, and then keep his grief aside till he performs his duties towards saving Roland from Dandelo (by writing it in the story)?
As for the ending where Roland starts over again? For me this was the only way that made sense. And i liked that i was kept guessing about it till the end. In retrospect, anything else would have been a cliche ending.
By gods, what am i, writing a thesis!? "Blaine is a pain and that is the truth", that kinda stuff!!?