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I was completely satisfied with the ending. As King says in his Afterword, "It's about the journey, not the destination." I completely agree. In fact, I would have been satisfied if the book had finished with the door slamming behind him and never knowing what was in the Tower at all. His quest was always just to get to the tower. He never said what he needed to do inside (besides try to get to the top).
I do have some questions that occured to me though:
If the Tower is the center of all worlds, why is it at the edge of End-World in Roland's world? What is on the other side of the Tower? Seems strange that the center of the universe is on the very fringe of the world.
Where is Jack Sawyer? I was happy to see Ted Brautigan and Patrick Danville show up in the book, but I figured Sawyer would somehow make an appearance as well.
No references to the little doctors? Insomnia's take on the Tower (as a metaphorical structure representing different layers of reality) was never touched upon in the DT books. And was it actually the Crimson King who appears in Insomnia, or some being that he sent to do his dirty work (not Walter, but some other manifestation of evil)?
Besides the references to the Browning poem that they specifically point out at Dandelo's house, did any of the other stanza's influence the story? Seems like the greatest inspiration for King was the title!
I'm sure I'll think of more. I'm currently trying to figure out all the connections that King says are in his other books. I have just about all of them (Multiple SPOILERS to follow):
'Salem's Lot: Donald Callahan's battle against vampires (low men)
The Stand: Randall Flagg's first appearance. The survivors of an airborn disease all start dreaming of either an ancient old black woman, or of a man in black leather (Flagg)
The Talisman: 12 year old Jack Sawyer must save his mother's life by retrieving a Talisman from "The Territories", and alternate world where time and distance run faster than in his own world.
It: Some say Pennywise is the Crimson King. At any rate, the Turtle is the symbol of good.
The Eyes of the Dragon: Another Flagg story. This time, he's in the form of an evil wizard who tries to throw a kingdom into bloody chaos.
Insomnia: Two senior citizens are "chosen" to save a young boy (Patrick Danville), who is predestined to save Roland's life. Their lack of sleep allows them to see their world in different layers. The old man has a confrontation with the Crimson King himself.
Rose Madder: I haven't read this one.
Desperation: I read it, but can't remember. I think the can-toi make their debut here.
Bag of Bones: I haven't read this one.
Black House: Jack Sawyer as an adult, helping a small Wisconsin town's police force track down a serial killer. He comes to find that the murderer is actually harvesting young children as new Breakers for the Crimson King.
From a Buick 8: Loose ties here. Basically, the car (and it's driver) match the description of the taheen/can-toi who take Ted Brautigan back to End-World at the end of "Low Men in Yellow Coats" (Hearts in Atlantis). The description of the driver makes it seem like he has a human mask on....
The Regulators: Same as Desperation? They are companion novels...
Skeleton Crew: I've read it, but havent' re-read it to find which story relates
Hearts in Atlantis: First story, "Low Men in Yellow Coats", follows a young boy and Ted Brautigan, who moves in upstairs. Ted is the chief breaker, and is running from the Crimson King, but is eventually taken back by the taheen.
Everything's Eventual: haven't read this one.
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