12. "What about 'Black House'?"

        I get the feeling this is what most folks have been wanting me to talk about, "Oh, we've got him now, this is where he admits he's wrong and the Territories in the Talisman really ARE Roland's world after all!"

        Well, I hate to bring you all down, but it's just not going to happen. Not in this world at any rate, but there are (after all) other worlds than these... On page 438 of the hardcover edition it identifies the world as "The Borderlands", not Roland's "Mid-World." Again on page 588 it mentions that Roland's world is adjacent to the Territories but it's not "THE Territories".

        "Black House" is the sequel to the Talisman, but it never really scores with me on that level. It's more of a pinnacle of all the little loose ends that relate to the Dark Tower but are not Dark Tower books. After finishing it (about 30 minutes ago) I get the feeling that most of King's books for the last 10 years have been building to this one. It nicely finishes off "Insomnia", explains in greater detail what happened in "Hearts in Atlantis", pays tribute to "Desperation" and "The Little Sisters of Eluria" in addition to being a Talisman book and related to the Dark Tower.

        Pages 192, 194, and 441-443 explain it all. A manifestation of the Crimson King is trapped in a chamber at the top of the Dark Tower. If he can get enough breakers to shatter the beams that hold the tower it will collapse and he can walk free in the chaos which would ensue.

        There are 6 beams that hold the tower in place, two of them have been broken by the breakers. One died a natural death. Of the three that remain one is still strong and the other two are very weak, if the Crimson King can get enough breakers he will be able to bring the tower down.