Stephen King's risky ending to The first Dark Tower book, The Gunslinger, was published in 1982, combining several short stories that King previously wrote. The subsequent Dark Tower books would be published over the span of more than two decades, with the final book in the series, The Dark Tower, released in 2004. An eighth book, The Wind Through the Keyhole, which takes place between the fourth and fifth installments, was later published in 2012.

After seven novels that were published over 22 years, and a multiverse that connects to many Stephen King books outside The Dark Tower series, ending cohesively and satisfyingly felt like a nearly impossible challenge. Roland Deschain ultimately reaching the titular Dark Tower after his long and arduous journey felt like an inevitability, but that alone would not make the ending to such an intricate series feel rewarding. Despite these challenges, King made The Dark Tower's ending more compelling than anyone could have imagined.

The Dark Tower's Risky Ending Turned Out To Be Stephen King's Best Conclusion Yet

It Fittingly Completed The Story He Had Been Telling For Years

Roland realizing that he is stuck in a loop of searching for the Dark Tower is Stephen King's best ending. Ever since the Battle of Tull and sacrificing the life of young Jake Chambers in The Gunslinger, it was clear that Roland was no hero, and it would not have made sense for his story to simply end with him saving the Dark Tower and thereby the entire multiverse. That was never the story that King was telling and ending on such a victorious note would have felt contrived.

Instead, The Dark Tower was a tragic tale of a man so hellbent on completing his quest that he was willing to sacrifice those closest to him, all while being punished in an endless cycle. The Dark Tower is a multi-genre series, but the genre King excels at the most is horror, and this ending is appropriately one of Stephen King's most terrifying book moments. It is true existential horror that was hinted at and gradually built up throughout the long-running series in an ending that is equally twisted, shocking, and also makes perfect sense with Roland's character.

Why The Dark Tower's Ending Was Such A Risky Choice For The Fantasy Series

It Was A Nontraditional And Harsh Ending

Even though King is a master of horror, The Dark Tower was largely a fantasy series about the last gunslinger trying to save the multiverse. This naturally created an expectation of a more traditional fantasy happy ending where the protagonist and his allies save everyone. King also went down a dark route with the rest of Roland's ka-tet, with Jake dying yet again, along with Eddie Dean and the lovable billy-bumbler Oy dying as well. The whole purpose of the series can also seem questionable since the Dark Tower was never in need of saving in the first place.

Roland made his fair share of ruthless and violent choices, many of them in the name of reaching the Dark Tower, but this eternal loop can be seen as too harsh even for him.

Many of the characters' sacrifices feel like they were in vain and the journey arguably loses some of its weight when realizing this is only one of innumerable times that Roland has been on this quest. Roland made his fair share of ruthless and violent choices, many of them in the name of reaching the Dark Tower, but this eternal loop can be seen as too harsh even for him. The Crimson King, one of Stephen King's best villains, being defeated by Patrick Danville erasing a drawing can also be considered anticlimactic.

Stephen King's Conclusion Might Not Be Satisfying, But It's Perfect For The Series

No Other Ending Would Have Worked Better

The Dark Tower's ending may not be satisfying in a traditional sense, but it aligns perfectly with the series' themes. Ka, the force of fate, being a wheel, is present in many of King's books, including The Stand. There is no better way to show this than to have the protagonist begin the story where it started, as The Dark Tower ends with The Gunslinger's iconic first line, "The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." Moreover, there is nothing Roland could have discovered at the top of the Dark Tower that would have been more satisfying.

As cruel as the ending may feel, it is not devoid of hope. Susannah reunites with alternate versions of Eddie and Jake in an alternate version of 1980s New York City. This time, Roland begins his quest for the Dark Tower with the Horn of Eld, which he did not have last time. Susannah, Eddie, and Jake's lives will definitely be different in their alternate universe, and the Horn of Eld suggests that perhaps Roland's journey will end differently this time. Any other ending to The Dark Tower series would not have been as rewarding.