The Drawing of the Three by by Stephen King

A Ka-Tet Begins., December 13, 2003

"The Drawing of the Three" is the second book in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, and it triumphs over the first novel, "The Gunslinger," in every way. The writing is more sharp and pronounced, the characters are more likeable, and the dire straits seem more powerful. King is a great author, and his experience and confidence can be felt throughout this book.

In "Drawing," we join Roland Deschain of Gilead, the Last Gunslinger, on his quest to find and remedy the illness that has struck the Dark Tower, the complete nexus of time and space. When "Gunslinger" ended, Roland had finally caught up with the Man in Black, who revealed a strange vision to Roland.

A couple of pivotal characters are introduced who are both unique and still strong enough in their own right (without using their unique qualities as a sort of crutch). But more importantly, they're enjoyable. You'll feel for these people, root for them (maybe even aloud), and grow to hold them in the same regard you do as your other favorite, dearest literary characters.

This book definitely delivers on everyone's expectations and wants for it. If "Gunslinger" had your jaw slack in entertainment, you'll love "Drawing" even more. But even if the first Dark Tower novel didn't impress you, the second will still change your mind about not finishing the series.

Regardless of your opinions on "The Gunslinger," this is one story you need to pick up. Don't be left in the dark to this series' greatness; get yourself a copy of "The Drawing of the Three" and see for yourself why it's so critically acclaimed. Donnie Van from Dark Door

The Dark Tower Edges Closer, September 29, 2003

In "The Gunslinger" we were introduced to Roland and his search for The Dark Tower where, he believed, he would find the answers to why his world had moved on. The Gunslinger's landscape was stark and so were the words. In "The Drawing of the Three" we spend much of the novel back in "our world" (at least we spend it in 20th century New York) and the bleakness of the words is gone - replaced with a much warmer, easier to read, tone. Yet behind this we get the feeling of the bleakness of modern life too in the three (four?!) characters we see Roland tracking down.

To some extent "The Gunslinger" is really a prologue and "The Drawing of the Three" is where the epic adventure really begins. Like all good quests our hero must first get his faithful warriors together and, at the end of "The Gunslinger", some cryptic clues have been revealed for the three in the shape of Tarot cards. As Roland slogs through the bleak landscape, he becomes almost fatally wounded by the local beachlife - huge Lobstrosities that become his (and his new friends') main source of fear and of food.

Just as Roland has almost given up, he spies the glimmer of what turns out to be the first of three doors into our world. Where he emerges is into the body of someone specific - someone who must be brought back to help ... though, without giving any spoilers away, that view becomes murky with the third.

Needless to say Roland is not plunged into the bodies of ready-made heroes. Instead we find Eddie, the adict - making his first drug run into the US; we find Odetta and Detta, two woman sharing, or perhaps co-habiting, the same body after suffering terrible abuses; we find Jack Mort (e.g. death), a psychopath who finds pleasure in the anonymous killing of others. Of course we find links between all of these characters - not only connections but traits of abuse, of addiction and of crushing loneliness.

King does a masterful job of setting these characters in a 20th century fictional world - references to both his works and to others such as The Terminator abound. These constant anchors to a fictional world provide this wonderfully grounded yet still free experience as we read the stories.

Within the book, we really see the three tales of Roland inhabiting (and sometimes coming through himself) these characters in our world, with the backdrop of his illness back in his world and the interaction between the characters he has already brought through.

These tales really are marvelous mini-stories in their own right. King keeps the tension high - particularly with the first and the third as we really aren't sure how he is going to get back to his world in one piece. The second tale is almost a battle of inner conflict as he fights the twisted but very strong persona of Detta Walker who is living in the body of the lovely but rather weak character of Odetta Holmes - a conflict that doesn't get resolved until the end.

And by the end of the book the three have been drawn and set off on their quest for The Dark Tower. It's a fractured friendship at best with Eddie particularly concerned that Roland's total desire for The Dark Tower will end in his sacrifice. And we too wonder whether Roland can hold it together on his journey.

This is superb storytelling, wonderful writing and a classic tale that I can see being read and re-read. Read "The Gunslinger" first but realize it's just a prologue and a little different from the bulk of the series which really starts with this book. Andrew J Platt from Arlington, VA United States