Wizard's Rainbow
Encyclopedia
The Wizard's Rainbow are a group of magical objects that play an important role in the Dark Tower series
by Stephen King
. It is made up of 13 talisman
s (crystal ball
s), twelve representing the Twelve Guardians of the Beams, the last representing the Dark Tower. Some show Mid-World, some show All-World, and some have the power to transport.
They are also referred to as "Bends in the Rainbow" by Roland
's father. The Bends as a group are referenced at least twice in the series: first, when Roland is talking with his father just before leaving for Mejis and the Outer Arc; second, when the ka-tet are standing in front of the glass gate (in Wizard and Glass). Those identified are the Pink, Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow and Purple. Each Bend is associated with a terminus of one of the Beams, plus Black, which stands in the middle of the Rainbow for the Dark Tower.
According to The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 (March 7, 2007) the thirteen bends are: Crimson, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Dark Blue, Dark Green, Indigo, Lime, Azure, Violet, Brown, Pearl Grey, and Black.
It is also stated in the same issue that six of these Bends are in the possession of the Crimson King
. The only one mentioned by name in the issue is Black 13. The other five appear to be Blue, Lime, Yellow, Orange, and Purple. The Crimson King uses Black 13 to communicate with Walter O'Dim. These events occur around the same time that the Pink Bend is given to the witch Rhea of the Cöos
.
, the bastard son of Maerlyn, has an affair with the demon of the Pink Bend of the Rainbow.
, but was left with Rhea in Mejis when Roland and friends were sent there. Roland managed to take it home with him to his father, but it was stolen after the death of Gabrielle Deschain. Roland and his new ka-tet come across it in the Green Palace after a confrontation with the man in black at the end of Wizard and Glass.
The crystal acts like a conventional crystal ball within the scope of the written stories, although more diverse uses are implied. When looked upon, it can show a single person visions of current and future events elsewhere, presumably only in the same world. Like the monkey's paw, the visions can be back-handed, lying through reflection or other tricks to manipulate the viewer towards evil actions. By showing a vision cast in a mirror, the Pink Bend was able to confuse Roland into killing his mother. Additionally, the glass can entrance the viewer and cause a severe addiction to being viewed. A prime example of this was Rhea, and later Roland as well.
by the man in black
while Roland was chasing him. Callahan was transported to Calla Bryn Sturgis
by it, and subsequently hid it away after settling down in the Calla. When Roland's ka-tet arrived in Wolves of the Calla, he offers it to Roland as incentive for their aid.
Mia steals it after the showdown with the Wolves and uses it to escape to the New York
of 1999, where she planned to give birth to Mordred Deschain
. Jake Chambers
and Pére Callahan follow and retrieve Black Thirteen, then store it in a locker beneath the World Trade Center
. It is not known precisely what happened to it afterwards, though the implication is that on September 11, 2001
, the building it was stored in fell on top of it and destroyed it or that the tons of rubble and subsequent new building would have buried Black 13 underground, leaving it inaccessible forever.
and Dis respectively.
The Blue Bend was last seen with a band of slow mutant
s who called themselves "The Total Hogs"; however, they are said to have lost it.
In The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, Rando Thoughtful tells Roland that before killing himself, the Crimson King smashed the rest of the Bends in his possession - presumably so that no one else could have them, or out of thoughtless anger.
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
by Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
. It is made up of 13 talisman
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
s (crystal ball
Crystal ball
A crystal ball is a crystal or glass ball believed by some people to aid in the performance of clairvoyance. It is sometimes known as a shew stone...
s), twelve representing the Twelve Guardians of the Beams, the last representing the Dark Tower. Some show Mid-World, some show All-World, and some have the power to transport.
They are also referred to as "Bends in the Rainbow" by Roland
Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain of Gilead is a fictional character, the protagonist and antihero of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. He is the son of Steven and Gabrielle Deschain and is descended from a long line of "gunslingers", peacekeepers and diplomats of Roland's society...
's father. The Bends as a group are referenced at least twice in the series: first, when Roland is talking with his father just before leaving for Mejis and the Outer Arc; second, when the ka-tet are standing in front of the glass gate (in Wizard and Glass). Those identified are the Pink, Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Yellow and Purple. Each Bend is associated with a terminus of one of the Beams, plus Black, which stands in the middle of the Rainbow for the Dark Tower.
According to The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 (March 7, 2007) the thirteen bends are: Crimson, Orange, Yellow, Pink, Dark Blue, Dark Green, Indigo, Lime, Azure, Violet, Brown, Pearl Grey, and Black.
It is also stated in the same issue that six of these Bends are in the possession of the Crimson King
Crimson King
The Crimson King, also commonly known as Los', is a fictional character created by Stephen King. He is the antagonist in the novel Insomnia the main villain due to a plot twist in Black House and one of the main villains in the latter half of Stephen King's Dark Tower series.-Fictional...
. The only one mentioned by name in the issue is Black 13. The other five appear to be Blue, Lime, Yellow, Orange, and Purple. The Crimson King uses Black 13 to communicate with Walter O'Dim. These events occur around the same time that the Pink Bend is given to the witch Rhea of the Cöos
Rhea of the Cöos
Rhea Dubativo of the Cöos is a fictional character who appears in several novels by Stephen King, most notably his Dark Tower series, as well as the comic book spinoffs of that series. Rhea is a very stereotypical fairy tale witch in appearance, personality and abilities; she is old, ugly, rides a...
.
Origin
The sorcerer Maerlyn created the objects from "The magic of the Prim". He created them to bring chaos into the world, and he also created demons for every sphere, as seen in the comic "The Sorcerer". Randall FlaggRandall Flagg
Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by Stephen King. Flagg has appeared in seven novels by King, sometimes as the main antagonist and others in a brief cameo. He often appears under different names; most are abbreviated by the initials R.F. There are exceptions to this rule; in The Dark...
, the bastard son of Maerlyn, has an affair with the demon of the Pink Bend of the Rainbow.
The Pink Bend
Also known as Maerlyn's Grapefruit, was in the possession of John FarsonJohn Farson
John Farson is a fictional character from Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels and comic books. Known as "The Good Man", Farson is the leader of a revolution in In-World who appeals to the common people, wanting to end the training of Gunslingers and re-distribute power. His stated...
, but was left with Rhea in Mejis when Roland and friends were sent there. Roland managed to take it home with him to his father, but it was stolen after the death of Gabrielle Deschain. Roland and his new ka-tet come across it in the Green Palace after a confrontation with the man in black at the end of Wizard and Glass.
The crystal acts like a conventional crystal ball within the scope of the written stories, although more diverse uses are implied. When looked upon, it can show a single person visions of current and future events elsewhere, presumably only in the same world. Like the monkey's paw, the visions can be back-handed, lying through reflection or other tricks to manipulate the viewer towards evil actions. By showing a vision cast in a mirror, the Pink Bend was able to confuse Roland into killing his mother. Additionally, the glass can entrance the viewer and cause a severe addiction to being viewed. A prime example of this was Rhea, and later Roland as well.
The Black Bend (Black Thirteen)
Black Thirteen was given to Father CallahanFather Callahan
Father Donald Frank Callahan is a fictional character created by Stephen King. He originally appeared in Salem's Lot and later the Dark Tower, appearing in The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla, The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah and finally The Dark Tower...
by the man in black
Randall Flagg
Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by Stephen King. Flagg has appeared in seven novels by King, sometimes as the main antagonist and others in a brief cameo. He often appears under different names; most are abbreviated by the initials R.F. There are exceptions to this rule; in The Dark...
while Roland was chasing him. Callahan was transported to Calla Bryn Sturgis
Calla Bryn Sturgis
Calla Bryn Sturgis is the fictional locale of the first major battle that Roland Deschain's ka-tet faces on their journey to the Dark Tower, in Stephen King's epic series...
by it, and subsequently hid it away after settling down in the Calla. When Roland's ka-tet arrived in Wolves of the Calla, he offers it to Roland as incentive for their aid.
Mia steals it after the showdown with the Wolves and uses it to escape to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
of 1999, where she planned to give birth to Mordred Deschain
Mordred Deschain
Mordred Deschain of Discordia is a fictional character from Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels and comic books. He is one of the major antagonists of The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, seeking to destroy his father Roland and his ka-tet...
. Jake Chambers
Jake Chambers
John "Jake" Chambers is a fictional character in Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels. He first appeared in the short story "The Way Station" in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in April 1980, which was later compiled as one of the chapters of the first Dark Tower book, The...
and Pére Callahan follow and retrieve Black Thirteen, then store it in a locker beneath the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
. It is not known precisely what happened to it afterwards, though the implication is that on September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, the building it was stored in fell on top of it and destroyed it or that the tons of rubble and subsequent new building would have buried Black 13 underground, leaving it inaccessible forever.
Other bends
The Green and Orange Bends are reputed to be in LudLud (city)
Lud is a fictional city in Stephen King's Dark Tower series and is briefly mentioned in Rose Madder. In The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands, the book's protagonists, led by the gunslinger Roland, travel from Lud to an alternate reality version of Topeka, Kansas via a supersonic monorail called...
and Dis respectively.
The Blue Bend was last seen with a band of slow mutant
Slow mutant
Slow Mutants are a fictional offshoot of humanity in the post-apocalyptic world of Stephen King's Dark Tower series.Slow Mutants are the result of a long-passed nuclear war. They have luminous green skin, and a variety of twisted faces....
s who called themselves "The Total Hogs"; however, they are said to have lost it.
In The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower, Rando Thoughtful tells Roland that before killing himself, the Crimson King smashed the rest of the Bends in his possession - presumably so that no one else could have them, or out of thoughtless anger.