Randall Flagg - discussion of the character and his many guises

[grobblewobble]

In this book I became rather confused about identities. We have:

Randall Flag
Maerlyn
The Crimson King
Marten
Walter
The Ageless Stranger
Sayre
John Farson
The Wizard of Oz

And there have been many statements like "bad guy X is in fact the same as bad guy Y". The problem is, there have been so many of this type of statement that I lost track. Are any two names in the above list definitely *not* the same guy?

[RolandLover]

The Wizard of Oz and John Farson aren't the same guy. Maerlyn/Crimson King aren't either I don't think. Randall Flag/Marten/Walter did confuse me in the book but they are the same.

[Merlin1958]

Just a suggestion, but Robin Furth's "The Dark Tower: A Complete Concordance" is an excellent reference for the books. She was King's Administrative assistant specifically for the Dark Tower novels. Great stuff and well organized.

[grobblewobble]

Thanks. I will buy that compendium at some point, it sounds like a great reference.

Also, I did some research (google, wiki, official site) to find out more about it. Interestingly, on the official site it is stated that:

AGELESS STRANGER: Another name for the great sorcerer Maerlyn. Roland will have to slay him in order to reach the Tower.

And from other sources, the Ageless Stranger is identified as Marten / Walter / Flagg.

So now we have:

Bad guy #1:
Walter = Marten = Flagg = Wizard of Oz = Ageless Stranger = Maerlyn

(This bad guy reminds me of a forum troll, with an endless supply of duplicate accounts. )

Bad guy #2:
The Crimson King, chief bad guy

Bad guy #3:
Sayre, who seems to be just a particularly high ranked low man.

Bad guy #4:
John Farson, who is identified as another troll account name for Walter at one point, but from a number of other sources clearly seems to be someone else, as Walter is said to have served under him.

PS: if Walter is indeed Maerlyn, that also explains why Black Thirteen was in his possession.

[Jean]

Walter = Marten = Flagg = Wizard of Oz = Ageless Stranger = Maerlyn

(This bad guy reminds me of a forum troll, with an endless supply of duplicate accounts. )

[Brainslinger]

Bad guy #1:
Walter = Marten = Flagg = Wizard of Oz = Ageless Stranger = Maerlyn
.....

PS: if Walter is indeed Maerlyn, that also explains why Black Thirteen was in his possession.

To be even more confusing, he states to the Tick Tock man in The Waste Lands "I was never that one." (You can add Richard Fannin to Walter's aliases too.)

Spoiler:

They may be related though. If you read the comic One Shot The Sorceror you will find out in what way. It was written by Robin Furth, but based on information she gleaned from King. Not everyone is happy with that story's version though for reasons that may become apparent as you read on through the novels, but I liked it. I thought it added to the Man in Black's mystique.

[pathoftheturtle]

Spoiler:

... but I liked it. I thought it added to the Man in Black's mystique.

Well, you can never have too much mystique, right?

[Merlin1958]

Spoiler:

... but I liked it. I thought it added to the Man in Black's mystique.

Well, you can never have too much mystique, right?

Actually, its "Aura & Mystique" and most of it resides at Yankee Stadium. According to Curt Schilling!!!

[Brainslinger]

Actually, its "Aura & Mystique" and most of it resides at Yankee Stadium. According to Curt Schilling!!!

Heh. Silly Englishman that I am, that gag went right over my noggin*.

*translation: The large melon shaped object on top of my neck that rattles when I shake it.

[Brainslinger]

Spoiler:

... but I liked it. I thought it added to the Man in Black's mystique.

Well, you can never have too much mystique, right?

Reading my post back, I wish I'd used a different word than 'mystique'. It strikes me as corny. Heh.

Spoiler:

What I meant was that the sense of ambiguity resulting from the different origin stories* isn't out of place with a character like Walter. And it's quite possible he lied in The Sorcerer, to increase his sense of importance. He is narrator after all.

*I actually don't think they're a contradiction. They can fit together well enough, it just requires a bit of reinterpretation.

I probably didn't need to spoilerify that as I don't give anything away but anyway...

And yeah... she's a looker.