What is the dark tower?

Answer 1

The Dark Tower is a series of novels by Stephen King that follow the quest of Roland Deschain, a gunslinger, as he journeys towards a dark tower in a world that is falling apart. The series is a mix of fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, and Western genres.

Answer 2

Many things. Most obviously, it is the title of a series of novels by Stephen King, as well as the title of the final novel in that series and a physical structure central to the series' narrative.

More generally, it is the lynchpin of all existence, the center of not just our world, but all worlds. It exists in all worlds, but may take almost any form (the examples given in the series include a rose, an immortal tiger, and "the ur-dog Rover"). In our world, it is a rose growing near the corner of 46th St and 2nd Ave in Manhattan; in it's actual world and it's actual form, it is a massive dark stone tower set in a field of roses.

The world can be viewed as a wooden wagon-wheel, with 6 "beams" for spokes; these beams are both literal and figurative, both real and magic. The beams support the tower, which in turn supports the world(s). Where the 6 beams meet at the center of the wheel, serving as the hub, is the Dark Tower. The tower is said to hold up all the universes like a stack of sequins on an upright needle. If the Tower falls - in any of it's forms, in any world - all of existence will be undone. The universes will collapse and all will be lost.

The Dark Tower series chronicles Roland, the last Gunslinger (think Jedi Knights mixed with Wild West lawmen) on his quest to reach, enter, and climb the Tower. He is a man obsessed, and while his mission eventually expands to include actually saving the Tower from destruction by the evil Crimson King, he only wishes to save the Tower because he can't reach it if it is destroyed, as existence itself will follow.

Answer 3

addiction in all forms. roland's addiction to the dark tower, eddie's addiction to heroin, susannah's addiction to madness, blane's addiction to riddles, father callahan's addiction to alcohol, mia's addiction to her chap, jakes addiction to roland. love is an addiction. drugs are an addiction. saving the tower is an addiction. the sacrifice of love for addiction. bad choices because of addiction.