It’s hard to talk about this series without spoilers, now that it’s done. It’s been a long time coming and many hours of reading, but overall, I’d have to say I’m satisfied with the way it turns out. I didn’t say happy about it, mind you, but I’m not incensed.
I can understand the rumours of Steve’s retirement after finishing the Dark Tower. I mean, really, how can he EVER top this work? Just about everything he’s ever written has threads into the Dark Tower! He did a nice job of tying up loose ends with many characters and it really felt like he was done with this type of writing for now, anyway. He talks about this in the notes at the end of DT 7.
Of course I would be heartbroken if he never wrote again, but I really don’t think that’s a possibility. It’s his life. His essence. His purpose on this Earth.