Well, my husband always picks up King’s books the day they are released.
God, I hope he doesn’t forget.
That’s funny, [bMunch**! I also looked on his website for his birthdate, and didn’t find it. Good job! 
I got my trade edition last Friday, but it’ll probably be a while before I get my limited from Grant. (sorry, had to rub it in.)
My copy is on a UPS truck approximately 10 miles away.
C’MON, DUDE! People’s medications and shit can wait. We’re talking about The Dark Tower here!
Should have it in another couple of hours at the most.
I actually picked it up yesterday - at the grocery store, of all places - and my heart skipped a beat, because I had been planning on picking it up today. :eek:
Read six straight hours last night and finished off the second half today. I will admit - I teared up in a few spots. Things I knew must be coming still hit me hard.
As for the ending… I was (and still partially am) in a daze. I think a good portion of that is the result of what others have already mentioned - I’ve been waiting over twenty years for this book! I would have been shellshocked no matter how King finished it off. But what he did choose to do was…well, it boggled my mind.
Is it too late to turn this into a spoiler/Q&A thread? If so, mods, feel free to snip my post and I’ll start a new thread. Hopefully I won’t be too long in waiting for fellow Dopers to finish the book and join the conversation… 
[SPOILER]
So, Roland has been condemned to repeat his quest over and over again, for the crime of sacrificing everything for the Tower. [/SPOILER]
OK, I can dig that. The blow is softened a little by the author’s implication that
This is the last time through for Roland - the journey of the last 7 books, the one us Constant Readers were privy to, is the one where he finally got the picture and put his friends, and humanity, before his quest. He is given the horn this last time out, back in the desert, and when he sounds it at the end of this last loop at the foot of the Tower, he will finally be redeemed.
For a lot of reasons, I can handle this ending. There’s more than a little touch of the writer’s cop out, but I can’t blame King on that one. But here’s the first question that came to my mind:
Its all well and good that Roland is condemned to repeat his journey. That’s his punishment. But what about Jake, Eddie and Susannah? Have they been getting dragged into Roland’s world over and over again? Sure, I imagine each time is a little different, and from the end of the book I gather there are plenty of versions of all three characters in many other worlds so maybe he’s pulling new versions each time, but…it just doesn’t seem right.
That’s the last spoilerizing I want to do until others finish up and can join in the speculation. Overall I have to say that I am 98% satisfied and more than a little sad the ride is over. 
I’m about halfway through Part II, and I think I’m going to stop for the night. I don’t want to rush it just to get to the end, although the temptation is there.
I will say I’m happier than hell that
Dinky Earnshaw’s totally eventual ass showed up. I loved him in Everything’s Eventual. I expected Ted to be there, but it was great to see him, as well. I gasped when Ted said “Bobby… Bobby Garfield?” when first laying eyes on Jake. I never thought to connect those two in any way. I’m still not sure if they are the same person, but I guess I’ll see as I read on!
Also…
Sheemie! Eee! I loved Sheemie bigbig. This gives me hope that Susan Delgado is waiting for Roland somewhere down the line…
I did take pause when Mia’s chap…
…turned into a spider. When the “thing” in It was revealed to be a big ass spider, I was a little nonplussed. However, King had already said that It would be playing a role in TDT series, so it’s all good. I just hope our good friend Pennywise makes an appearance. …or maybe not. I still hate clowns because of that fucker.
Gotta admit, I was shocked that…
…Walter was killed so early in the book. I was sure we’d be seeing The Man In Black at the very end, possibly still laughing at Roland.
One last thing… I would advise that you guys NOT read the names of the chapers/sections in the table of contents before starting the book. I did, and I’m thinking I spoiled myself in a pretty significant way. Of course, I haven’t finished the book so I’m not positive, but I wish I hadn’t skimmed the ToC first. It may mean nothing, but the name of the (I think, I’m not checking again!) last chapter is…
…Susannah In New York. Grrr, why did I feel the need to read the ToC?
The World’s Deadliest…, I intended this to be a spoiler/question/discussion thread, so feel free! I haven’t read your spoilers yet because I haven’t finished it, but I will first thing.
So far, I’m absolutely spellbound.
And I can’t believe it, but I actually restrained myself from peeking at the spoilers! My copy was ordered from amazon.com but with several other books & some cds and taking advantage of the “free” shipping, it’s not going to be shipped until sometime next week. (My birthday presents to myself. :p). I can just barely wait, so I’m also going to have to stay -out- of this thread until I’ve gotten the book and had a chance to read at least a bit of it. I did read a review in the Wash. Post Sunday Bookworld (no spoilers in there) which made it sound very good indeed.
Gah, I almost wish I’d sprung for the extra shipping! :smack:
Another thank you for the spoiler boxes. I purposely avoided reading the thread notification e-mails because the spoiler boxes don’t work there, but I couldn’t make myself stay out of the thread.
Let’s make an official discussion thread with no spoiler boxes. I think there’s going to be a lot to talk about, and I don’t fancy reading hundreds of spoiler boxes.
Good call. I’m going to report my earlier message in a new thread so those excited about getting the book can post seperately from those wanting to dish about the ending, and not worry about getting spoiled in the process.
My advice to those who have yet to read the book - TAKE IT SLOWLY!!! I rushed through because I was so excited and now there will never be anything new from Mid-World for me to look forward to. Stretch it out, enjoy every word!
I definitely second this. I also haven’t reached that chapter yet, but its title does seem to be a spoiler.
My book was shipped from Lexington KY last night … should be here in a day or so. I’m excited, but still staying -away- from spoilers! Thanks for the tips, too.
I’ll head on over to the other thread as soon as I finish it. Plowed through the rest of Part II and Part III tonight. ITA on going slowly and relishing the details. My original plan was to tear through it in a couple of nights, but I’m going to stretch it out to three.
And yeah, there were definitely some tears…
…when I had to say goodbye to Eddie and then to Jake (again), say true and say thankya. Also, I found it interesting that the Breakers were portrayed in such an unsympathetic light. In Hearts In Atlantis, I assumed the Breakers were all like Ted – there under force and extreme distress. I was shocked when Ted explained how basically selfish and self-serving the Breakers were… though his explanation of “everyone wants to be wanted” rung true and clear. On a different note, it’s funny that Insomnia was the book King singled out as the one with closest ties to TDT. I need to give that one a reread. Also, John Collum… did he appear in Firestarter? I don’t have my copy handy, but his name rings a bell with me.
I’m going to be so sad at the end of The Dark Tower and Roland’s quest, but I can’t wait, either.
I picked it up on my way home from work this morning, and just finished it.
I agree that this last time through pays for all. Roland has learned what he needed to learn. And, somehow, I think that maybe this time the tet won’t be broken.
I found this thread yesterday and stopped by Barnes & Noble last night. I only had a chance to read the first few pages, but tonight I will read for quite a while! It’s so easy to fall back into that world. I want a billy-bumbler like Oy so bad.
Isn’t it sorta strange how we can love these characters so much? They are so real to me.
I’ll be over to the spoiler thread in a day or two as well. I just finished chapter 6 or 7 last night.
What a read so far! I’m really enjoying this.
2/3 of the way thru!
Holy Moly.
Take your time! Relish every word!
<detta walker>
…'sho! Then get 'cho ass over to that Spoiler thread, honeychile.
</detta walker>
Dammit. Dammit, dammit, dammit. The book finally comes out, and I’m in China. Well, I’ll be scouring the shelves and doing my best to stay out of spoiler boxes, until I can get my hands on a copy (Hopefully not too long. Maybe one of the bigger stores has a copy in their English language section?). After waiting this long (I picked up the Wastelands in third grade, I think), I think I can deal with not learning what happens until I actually have the book in front of me.
Maybe.
Hopefully.
Dammit.
bamf
Dude, I will ship you a copy. If you’re interested, drop me an email and we’ll work something out. I would curl up and die if I were in your situation.