Many of the novels and short stories written or co-written by Stephen King take place in a multiverse created by the author.

''Ka''

''Ka'' is a plot element in Stephen King's '' Dark Tower'' series. It is a word of the

fictional language Fictional languages are the subset of constructed languages (conlangs) that have been created as part of a fictional setting (e.g. for use in a book, movie, television show, or video game). Typically they are the creation of one individual, while ...

High Speech. In the books, it is a mysterious force that leads all living (and unliving) creatures. It is the will of

Gan The word Gan or the initials GAN may refer to: Places *Gan, a component of Hebrew placenames literally meaning "garden" China * Gan River (Jiangxi) * Gan River (Inner Mongolia), * Gan County, in Jiangxi province * Gansu, abbreviated ''Gā ...

, the approximate equivalent of

destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

fate Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

, in King's fictional language of High Speech. ''Ka'' can be considered to be a guide, a destination, but is certainly not a plan—at least, not one that is known to mortals. Ka is not necessarily a force of good or evil; it manipulates both sides, and seems to have no definite

morality Morality () is the differentiation of intentions, decisions and actions between those that are distinguished as proper (right) and those that are improper (wrong). Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of co ...

of its own.

Concepts involving ''ka''

Because of the importance of ''ka'' to the world of King's ''Dark Tower'', many phrases in the High Speech use the word ka, such as: *ka-babbies: young ka-tet members. *ka-tel: a class of apprentice gunslingers. *ka-mai: ka's fool. *ka-me: ka's wiseman; the opposite of ka-mai. *kas-ka: a prophet *ka-shume: a unique feeling that a ka-tet is destined to break soon. *te-ka: ka's friend. *Can'-Ka No Rey: the red fields of none, where the Dark Tower lies. *tet-ka can Gan: the

navel The navel (clinically known as the umbilicus, commonly known as the belly button or tummy button) is a protruding, flat, or hollowed area on the abdomen at the attachment site of the umbilical cord. All placental mammals have a navel, although ...

(specifically, the navel of

). *kas-ka Gan: singer of Gan's song/ prophet of Gan. *ves-ka Gan: the Song of the Turtle.

''Ka-tet''

A ''ka-tet'' is a group of beings brought together by ''ka''. "We are ''ka-tet''. We are one from many," says

Roland Deschain Roland Deschain of Gilead is a fictional character and the protagonist 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 ...

on the day before the Battle of Algul Siento.'' The Dark Tower VII'' ''Ka-tet'' is the belief that a group of people can be tied together by fate, or ''ka''. It is said that a group has shared "khef" or the water of life. Sometimes the symbol of water is used literally, as in a ritual Roland and his ''ka-tet'' performs the night before the battle of Algul Siento. In the seventh novel, Susannah Dean, who ends up understanding ka maybe more than Roland himself, comes to the understanding that in simple terms, "ka-tet" means family. Roland's ''ka-tet'' includes himself, Eddie Dean,

Susannah Dean ''The Dark Tower'' is a series of eight novels written by American author Stephen King, which incorporate multiple genres including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. Below are ''The Dark Tower'' characters that come into play as the ...

, Oy, and

Jake Chambers ''The Dark Tower'' is a series of eight novels written by American author Stephen King, which incorporate multiple genres including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. Below are ''The Dark Tower'' characters that come into play as the ...

. Roland's previous ''ka-tet'' included himself, Cuthbert Allgood, Jamie De Curry, and Alain Johns.

References in other works by King

''Ka'' is mentioned in some of King's other books, including '' Hearts in Atlantis'', '' Desperation'' and ''

Insomnia Insomnia, also known as sleeplessness, is a sleep disorder in which people have trouble sleeping. They may have difficulty falling asleep, or staying asleep as long as desired. Insomnia is typically followed by daytime sleepiness, low energy, ...

''. The characters James Eric Gardener in ''

The Tommyknockers ''The Tommyknockers'' is a 1987 science fiction novel by Stephen King. While maintaining a horror style, the novel is an excursion into the realm of science fiction for King, as the residents of the Maine town of Haven gradually fall under the i ...

'' and Rosie McClendon in '' Rose Madder'' also ponder ''ka''. It is mentioned in ''

The Stand ''The Stand'' is a post-apocalyptic dark fantasy novel written by American author Stephen King and first published in 1978 by Doubleday. The plot centers on a deadly pandemic of weaponized influenza and its aftermath, in which the few survivin ...

'' by Judge Farris when he observes a crow outside his window that he believes is

Randall Flagg Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by American author Stephen King, who has appeared in at least nine of his novels. Described as "an accomplished sorcerer and a devoted servant of the Outer Dark", he has supernatural abilities involv ...

shortly before he is killed by Flagg's men. The ''ka-tet'' concept has been frequently used by King, even in books that do not use the terms ''ka'' or ''ka-tet'', such as '' It'', ''

'', '' Desperation'', ''

'', ''

Dreamcatcher In some Native American and First Nations cultures, a dreamcatcher ( oj, asabikeshiinh, the inanimate form of the word for 'spider') is a handmade willow hoop, on which is woven a net or web. It may also be decorated with sacred items such as ...

'', and ''

Duma Key ''Duma Key'' is a novel by American writer Stephen King published on January 22, 2008, by Scribner. The book reached No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. It is King's first novel to be set in Florida, as well as the first to be set in Mi ...

''.

The Purpose and the Random

The Purpose and the Random are concepts elaborating the "grammar" of All-World introduced in ''

''. The Purpose and the Random are driving forces on the different levels (worlds or realities) the Dark Tower connects. There are even stronger forces, like the Higher Purpose and the Higher Random. It is not totally clear whether these higher forms are multiple individual beings sharing a common aim, or if they are underlying forces not bound to personal forms. Both the Purpose and the Random have so-called agents, middlemen between ordinary human beings ("Short-Timers") and the god-like All-Timers. Clotho and Lachesis are agents of the Purpose, while Atropos is an agent of the Random. Central is the idea that the Purpose and the Random need to be in balance.

The Higher Purpose and the Higher Random

For each field exist higher beings which seem to be god-like. While arguably Gan or Maturin would belong to the Higher Purpose, the Crimson King or It are beings of the Higher Random.

List of worlds and universes

References

External links

''The Dark Tower'' – Connections
{{The Stand Fictional populated places created by Stephen King The Dark Tower (series) Continuity (fiction) Fictional universes The Stand