Taheen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Taheen are fictional creatures humanlike in proportion, but with animal characteristics. They are mostly mammals and birdlike creatures, and most are under control of the Crimson King. They are mentioned in Stephen King's Dark Tower series; most specifically, they are first hinted at in revised edition of "The Gunslinger". The Taheen are mentioned but not named when locals describe the kind of horrors that lie beyond Thunderclap. Finli O'Tego, first mentioned in book 5, is the best-known Taheen in the final Dark Tower book.

Taheen are long-lived and, allegedly, superior to humans physically and mentally. Most of them regard humans (or humes, negative-biased slang) as inferior, although some enjoy human arts, such as literature, and some human activities, such as basketball. They are not to be confused with the Can-toi (or low men) who are mostly rat-faced, wear human masks, and are admittedly inferior to humans. In Book VII "The Dark Tower" it is also hinted that they have a culture of their own (a name-change ritual is mentioned) and that their religious beliefs (if any) are quite different (praying seems to puzzle Finli O'Tego).

"Taheen" seems to be plural as well as singular. ("I saw a bird-faced taheen." "I saw some taheen playing basketball.")