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Dandelo is an emotional vampire encountered by Roland, Susannah, and Oy in the eponymous final Dark Tower book. Disguised as Joe Collins, a charismatic comedian, he wields humor as a deadly tool, able to feed off the life force of his victims through their laughter and other emotions. Beneath the charm lies an emotional vampire, thriving on manipulation and cruelty.
Dandelo’s background is unknown — his claim to have been a stand-up comedian before arriving in All-World is almost certainly false. Some fans have speculated that Dandelo could have been born of the eggs that the monster from the novel IT lays in Derry; both monsters can make a house appear different than it is, and feed on emotions.
At some point after arriving in All-World, Dandelo took up residence at a cottage on Odd Lane, in the White Lands of Empathica (though he denies knowing what “Empathica” is). It was there that Patrick Danville, an artist crucial to Roland’s quest, became his prisoner. To ensure Patrick could not resist or alert others, Dandelo removed his tongue, leaving him unable to speak.
Before encountering Roland, Susannah, and Oy, Dandelo also made several trips to the Dark Tower itself, which is only a few days from his hut. While there, he took at least one Polaroid photo that he tacked to his wall. Six months prior to his meeting with the group, he also weathered a storm that was conjured up as the Crimson King passed through the town, a fact he lies about.
Dandelo appears as an older man with a modest, well-groomed look that gives no hint of his true nature. Nearly everything about his appearance is carefully cultivated to seem unremarkable and genuine. His lined face carries a softness, with silver hair neatly combed back and a trimmed beard framing his jaw. His eyes, crinkled at the corners, are deceptively “warm,” and his calm, measured movements reinforce his approachable demeanor. A soothing voice, often paired with a chuckle or smile, adds to his unassuming charm. Dressed in simple, tidy clothing, he exudes a quiet familiarity, as though he belongs wherever he happens to be.
Of course, this is all a charade, manufactured to allow Dandelo to pass himself off as ex-comedian Joe Collins. He manages to fool Susannah and Roland for some time, indicating that his deception is quite deft. However, the illusion is not perfect, and keen perception can pierce through it. It is specifically noted that Eddie would have been able to see through Dandelo’s illusions and personality with ease if he were present, and Susannah detects something “off-key” about Joe Collins almost immediately.
After Dandelo’s death, his true form is revealed to be bug-like and misshapen, with a chitinous shell, described as “worse than Mordred.”
A master of deception, Dandelo is a cunning and manipulative predator whose affable facade makes him appear trustworthy. As a kind of psychic vampire, he feeds on the emotions of his victims.
Beneath the surface, Dandelo’s cruelty is chilling and deliberate, and prone to lying. His lies are often ornate, and sometimes without obvious purpose, as he demonstrates when he recounts his supposed history in the American Midwest. Though he lies often, his penchant for detail makes his lies seem true (fully convincing Roland and leaving Susannah only somewhat uneasy).
This meticulous attention to detail extends to his surroundings, which others perceive as welcoming and ordinary, further reinforcing his mask of normalcy. Behind the unassuming persona, though, lies a ruthless, sadistic force, reveling in the suffering he inflicts. For Dandelo, causing suffering is more than just a matter of survival — though he does need it to survive — it is also enjoyable.
Many of Dandelo’s abilities center around using manipulation and deception in order to feed off of the emotions of his victims. His most notable power, that of illusion or “glammer,” allows him to alter reality as perceived by his victims, creating an environment that feels safe and inviting. He makes his run-down house appear spotless, concealing wear, stains, and the stifling heat his species seems to prefer. Even Patrick Danville’s screams are masked as the sound of wind, ensuring his presence remains hidden. These illusions extend to himself, as he uses them to appear younger, healthier, and even more personable, tailoring his appearance to suit the expectations of his prey.
Emotion manipulation is Dandelo’s primary weapon. He uses telepathic abilities to draw laughter from his victims, even forcing Roland to laugh at jokes requiring knowledge he couldn’t possibly have. Dandelo’s humor isn’t mere performance — it’s a predatory act, allowing him to feed on his victims’ life force while they are distracted by his charm. The word “Bing!” often punctuates his jokes, possibly as a trigger for his power. This emotional feeding visibly rejuvenates him, making him appear decades younger after even brief encounters.
Despite his strengths, Dandelo’s abilities come with limitations. His illusions follow specific rules — he cannot conceal truths he does not know, as shown when Susannah discovers a note from Stephen King hidden in the bathroom. Similarly, his own identity leaks through in subtle ways, such as the anagram “Odd Lane” revealing his name. These weaknesses, combined with his vulnerability to conventional weapons, ultimately lead to his demise at Susannah’s hands.
Dandelo’s most significant relationship is with Patrick Danville, an artist of great importance to Roland’s quest. Captured and held prisoner in Dandelo’s cottage, Patrick became a steady source of sustenance for the psychic vampire. To ensure Patrick’s compliance and silence, Dandelo removed his tongue. This captivity demonstrated the full extent of Dandelo’s sadism, as he sustained himself by emotionally and physically tormenting Patrick. Dandelo clearly understood Patrick’s abilities, as all of the eraser’s had been removed from the pencils Patrick had in the basement.
Dandelo also had a close relationship with the horse Lippy, a loyal and grotesque companion. Lippy was part of Dandelo’s illusions, and while Lippy’s true nature is never revealed, it is likely that she was dangerous in some way: Roland does make sure to kill her when she reappears after Dandelo’s death, and her meat poisons Mordred.
Dandelo’s connection to the Crimson King is tenuous and hinted at through a story he tells about a violent storm that once swept through his home, forcing him to take shelter in the basement and cower. Dandelo pretended to not be aware that the storm was caused by the Crimson King, but Susannah can tell immediately that he is lying, leaving the possibility of a more meaningful encounter. That said, Dandelo does seem to operate more as an isolated predator, with no clear allegiance beyond his own survival, and so likely isn’t a direct minion to the Crimson King.
Dandelo serves as one of the final obstacles on Roland Deschain’s journey to the Dark Tower, appearing late in The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower. His benign hospitality, disarming humor, and inviting home create a facade of safety, concealing the predator who drains life from his victims through laughter. This encounter emphasizes the idea that threats in Roland’s world often come disguised in the most unassuming forms, making vigilance and insight critical to survival.
Dandelo’s role also underscores the perilous state of the ka-tet, particularly in the absence of Eddie Dean. While Susannah Dean does (with help from Stephen King) see through Dandelo’s illusions and defeat him, the encounter highlights just how vulnerable the group has become. Eddie, with his sharp instincts and natural skepticism, would likely have seen through Dandelo’s lies immediately, sparing them from much of the danger. This vulnerability shows that, despite Susannah’s individual growth, the ka-tet is broken, leaving Susannah, Roland, and Oy at greater risk. Dandelo, then, is not just a test of their cunning, but also a grim reminder of how much they’ve lost, and how precarious their journey has become.
Susannah’s eventual realization of Dandelo’s true nature also highlights the unique and layered role an author has. The note she finds in Dandelo’s bathroom, left by author Stephen King himself as a token of gratitude for saving his life, serves as more than a simple clue — it’s a tangible manifestation of King’s influence over his own fictional universe. By intervening directly in the narrative (even referring to himself as a “Deus Ex Machina”), King reinforces the notion that the world of the Dark Tower is both constructed and malleable, subject to the whims of its creator while still being bound to the necessities of the plot.
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