A Fresh Journey to the Tower

[Avatar]

Flatterer.

--A

[Menolly]

Could someone please answer my question about the River Crossing ka-tet? I'm still confused about that...

[A Gunslinger]

ka, khef, ka-tet...

I'm reading, but I'm still very confused. The River Crossing denizens are referred to as ka-tet at one point. Did that mean all thirty of them, or just the ones who remained for the palaver, which initially was four?

I intend to re-read the astelands SOON, Menolly, but given that a ka-tet is a close-knt group that shares khef...I'd suggest that the meaning may be the smaller group.

[lucimay]

Could someone please answer my question about the River Crossing ka-tet? I'm still confused about that...

well i'm sort of confused about what you're confused about.

[Menolly]

well i'm sort of confused about what you're confused about.

How intimate is ka-tet? Would the whole group of 30 or so, who seem very close to each other, be a ka-tet? Or only the four (five with Mercy, who was eavesdropping and then joines the palaver) be the ka-tet referred to later?

[lucimay]

the 30 may be ka-tet, as well as containing any number of smaller ka-tet's within.

[wayfriend]

Unfortunately, Menolly, I have not read this recently, and I'm not exactly sure about the passage you are referring to.

The way I think of it, ka-tet refers to those who are fated to be together for some ka-related purpose. (Ka, like the wind.) As the Gunslingers group travels from place to place, the members of their ka-tet can change.

However, unless I specifically read where it stated otherwise, I don't think that the people of the River Crossing were in the Gunslinger's ka-tet. It would be the smaller group, as others have said. Now, the people of the River Crossing may have comprised their OWN ka-tet - that's more likely.

But if the people of River Crossing were in the Gunslinger's ka-tet, then I think that they would have had to leave with the Gunslinger. It's usual that those of a ka-tet come together and go somewhere to do what needs to be done. At least, that's my impression. That's what being together seems to necessitate.

[lucimay]

OH. was she asking if the River Crossing people were in Roland's ka-tet?

i thought she was just asking about the River Crossing ka-tet.

see. i toldja i was confused.

[A Gunslinger]

The RC folk were their own ka-tet if anything. They were not part of our main ka-tet...unless they were using the term as a nice familiarism,... the way you might call friends "family"

[Menolly]

OH. was she asking if the River Crossing people were in Roland's ka-tet?

i thought she was just asking about the River Crossing ka-tet.

You had my question right, Luci. I am just trying to figure out if all of the River Crossing citizens are a ka-tet, or just the four (and five with Mercy) who joined Roland's quartet in the palaver are a ka-tet.

However, your answer stating it could be both is very interesting...

[lucimay]

OH. was she asking if the River Crossing people were in Roland's ka-tet?

i thought she was just asking about the River Crossing ka-tet.

You had my question right, Luci. I am just trying to figure out if all of the River Crossing citizens are a ka-tet, or just the four (and five with Mercy) who joined Roland's quartet in the palaver are a ka-tet.

However, your answer stating it could be both is very interesting...

well that's the way i understand ka at any rate.

like... for instance, all of the Watch could be considered a ka-tet.
we are all here and all drawn by the same forces,
however, there are a group of us who play pantheon,
and we could also be considered a ka-tet.
likewise, the Scrabblers, another smaller ka-tet.

[Avatar]

Agree with Luci. So in thise case, all 30 or so were ka-tet.

--A

[Menolly]

Thanks all!

[wayfriend]

I don't know ... ka-tet is more serious than playing scrabble. I think that you need to feel fate playing it's strong hand. And there would also be a strong, unusual sense of feeling right, feeling the connection.

[Avatar]

And you think that wasn't the case? Didn't Roland refer to all the gunslingers as his fathers ka-tet?

--A

[Menolly]

And you think that wasn't the case? Didn't Roland refer to all the gunslingers as his fathers ka-tet?

--A

Not sure I've read that description of ka-tet as of yet...

[lucimay]

I don't know ... ka-tet is more serious than playing scrabble.

oh i know that! i was simply trying to ILLUSTRATE the point.

And you think that wasn't the case? Didn't Roland refer to all the gunslingers as his fathers ka-tet?

--A

and yes, he did.

and Menolly, you're just not at that part yet. you get more backstory in Wizard and Glass.

[Menolly]

Well, Beorn has completed his journey. He chose to read past where King suggests possibly stopping. He loved everything and says I should go ahead and read the ending, as I would have a 'you decided to stop there?' feeling if I don't. And he says in his opinion, it's not really an ending at all. That's all he would tell me though.

Paul has picked up the series as well, and is already past me on Song of Susannah. No wonder his dissertation is taking forever...

[lucimay]

And he says in his opinion, it's not really an ending at all.

HA! brilliant child! that's a perfect assessment!! Right On, Beorn!!

The Dark Tower ends in the only way it could end. And bear in mind, King always knew the ending. no matter what happened while he was writing it (the accident) or how it affected him and the writing of the story, the ending was one hundred percent correct. (in my opinion)

Beorn one smart cookie!

[Warmark]

[quote="Lucimay And bear in mind, King always knew the ending. [/quote]

I'm not sure thats right.

In all my DT books there is a prologue from the author ; telling us the story of the man on death row writing to SK asking him the ending before he snuffs it.

SK replies however, that he cannot tell him the ending because he doesnt know it yet.