I'm on this Journey to the Dark Tower challenge this year and I am still recovering from the stark, surreal journey of The Gunslinger . I was told to Fear not—The Drawing of the Three, the second book in Stephen King’s magnum opus, is where the series truly clicks into place. I'm trying to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. This is the book that will either hook you for good or leave you utterly bewildered.
A Gunslinger Walks Through a Door… Into Our World
Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger of a fallen world, is battered, exhausted, and poisoned after his confrontation with the Man in Black. But his quest for the Dark Tower doesn’t allow for rest. Instead, he stumbles upon three mysterious doors on a desolate beach—each leading into the mind of a person from our world.
What follows is a brilliantly bizarre, action-packed, and darkly humorous odyssey. King blends fantasy, horror, and crime thriller elements as Roland "draws" his ka-tet (that’s Mid-World speak for his destined crew). There’s Eddie Dean, a heroin addict caught in a drug deal gone wrong; Odetta/Detta, a woman with a fractured psyche and a shocking secret; and Jack Mort, a vile predator whose role in Roland’s destiny is… complicated.
Why This Book Works (and Why It Freaking Frustrates Me)
If The Gunslinger was a cryptic, mythic prologue, The Drawing of the Three is where King cranks up the pacing and dives deep into character. Roland, who was almost an archetype in the first book, becomes far more compelling as he navigates the strangeness of 1980s America. His confusion over "astin" (aspirin) and his horrified reaction to a simple airplane are both hilarious and oddly poignant.
Eddie Dean is an instant standout—his struggle with addiction is raw and heartbreaking, and his dynamic with Roland is one of reluctant respect. Odetta/Detta, meanwhile, is one of King’s most complex characters, though her portrayal walks a fine line between psychological depth and controversy (more on that in a sec).
That said, this book is weird. If you’re not prepared for King’s brand of surrealism—body horror, shifting identities, and some truly grotesque moments (Roland losing fingers to a lobster monster in the first 30 pages sets the tone)—you might struggle. And Detta Walker’s characterization, while intentionally extreme, hasn’t aged perfectly in terms of sensitivity.
Final Verdict: A Wild, Unmissable Ride
The Drawing of the Three is where The Dark Tower stops feeling like a cryptic Western and becomes something wholly unique: a genre-blending epic that only King could write. It’s faster, funnier, and more emotionally engaging than The Gunslinger, even if it doubles down on the weirdness.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5) – A near-perfect blend of fantasy, horror, and heart.
Next up: The Waste Lands… if I’m brave enough.
A Gunslinger Walks Through a Door… Into Our World
Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger of a fallen world, is battered, exhausted, and poisoned after his confrontation with the Man in Black. But his quest for the Dark Tower doesn’t allow for rest. Instead, he stumbles upon three mysterious doors on a desolate beach—each leading into the mind of a person from our world.
What follows is a brilliantly bizarre, action-packed, and darkly humorous odyssey. King blends fantasy, horror, and crime thriller elements as Roland "draws" his ka-tet (that’s Mid-World speak for his destined crew). There’s Eddie Dean, a heroin addict caught in a drug deal gone wrong; Odetta/Detta, a woman with a fractured psyche and a shocking secret; and Jack Mort, a vile predator whose role in Roland’s destiny is… complicated.
Why This Book Works (and Why It Freaking Frustrates Me)
If The Gunslinger was a cryptic, mythic prologue, The Drawing of the Three is where King cranks up the pacing and dives deep into character. Roland, who was almost an archetype in the first book, becomes far more compelling as he navigates the strangeness of 1980s America. His confusion over "astin" (aspirin) and his horrified reaction to a simple airplane are both hilarious and oddly poignant.
Eddie Dean is an instant standout—his struggle with addiction is raw and heartbreaking, and his dynamic with Roland is one of reluctant respect. Odetta/Detta, meanwhile, is one of King’s most complex characters, though her portrayal walks a fine line between psychological depth and controversy (more on that in a sec).
That said, this book is weird. If you’re not prepared for King’s brand of surrealism—body horror, shifting identities, and some truly grotesque moments (Roland losing fingers to a lobster monster in the first 30 pages sets the tone)—you might struggle. And Detta Walker’s characterization, while intentionally extreme, hasn’t aged perfectly in terms of sensitivity.
Final Verdict: A Wild, Unmissable Ride
The Drawing of the Three is where The Dark Tower stops feeling like a cryptic Western and becomes something wholly unique: a genre-blending epic that only King could write. It’s faster, funnier, and more emotionally engaging than The Gunslinger, even if it doubles down on the weirdness.
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5) – A near-perfect blend of fantasy, horror, and heart.
Next up: The Waste Lands… if I’m brave enough.
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