The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2)

Title: The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2)

Author: Stephen King

Published in: 1987

Date read: 21st July 2018

Score: 4/5

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Psychological, Thriller

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"The Drawing of the Three" by Stephen King, published in 1987, is the second novel in The Dark Tower series and marks a significant departure from the first, "The Gunslinger," by introducing new characters and expanding the narrative's scope into other worlds.

The story begins immediately after the events of "The Gunslinger." Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, finds himself on a desolate beach along the Western Sea of Mid-World. He is now alone, still relentlessly pursuing the Man in Black and the Dark Tower, but suffering from severe poisoning from the previous encounter, leaving him weak and in agonizing pain.

As he struggles for survival, Roland discovers three mysterious doorways embedded in the sand dunes. Each door opens into a different version of New York City in the 20th century. These are the portals through which Roland must "draw" the three companions prophesied to join his ka-tet (his destined fellowship) on his quest to the Tower.

Through the first door, Roland enters 1987 and encounters Eddie Dean, a heroin addict struggling to transport cocaine for a dangerous drug lord. Roland, despite his own deteriorating health, must manipulate events in Eddie's world to bring him through the door, hoping to find a cure for his poisoning and gain a valuable ally. Eddie is a complex character, witty but deeply flawed, who resents Roland's intrusion into his life.

The second door leads Roland to 1964 and introduces Odetta Holmes, a wealthy, physically disabled black woman who lost her legs in two separate, horrific accidents. However, Odetta harbours a terrifying secret: she has a violent, split personality named Detta Walker, a crude, manipulative, and dangerous individual who only emerges when Odetta is asleep or otherwise incapacitated. Roland must navigate this perilous duality to bring both aspects of Odetta through the portal.

The third door remains unexplored for much of the novel, building suspense for the final "drawing." As Roland attempts to integrate Eddie and Odetta/Detta into his Mid-World quest, he battles not only his worsening physical condition but also the volatile personalities and the psychological baggage his new companions bring. Their individual struggles with addiction, disability, and internal conflict become interwoven with the overarching quest for the Dark Tower.

"The Drawing of the Three" is a fast-paced, character-driven thriller that drastically broadens the scope of the Dark Tower universe. It explores themes of addiction, multiple personalities, destiny, and the challenging dynamics of forming a true fellowship, setting the stage for the epic journey to come.

Comments:
This is where the Dark Tower story really starts to get going. Although I didn't see it at the time, seeds are sewn and things set in motion from the very early stages to come to fruition a long way from now at the finale. These books have been planned beyond comprehension.

Books that we've read by Stephen King (68):
Carrie (1974), 'Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (The Shining, #1) (1977), The Stand (1978), Night Shift (1978), The Dead Zone (1979), Firestarter (1980), Cujo (1981), The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) (1982), Different Seasons (1982), Christine (1983), Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), Pet Sematary (1983), The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) (1984), Skeleton Crew (1985), It (1986), The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) (1987), The Eyes of the Dragon (1987), The Tommyknockers (1987), Misery (1987), The Dark Half (1989), Four Past Midnight (1990), The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3) (1991), Needful Things (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1992), Gerald's Game (1992), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Insomnia (1994), Rose Madder (1995), The Green Mile (1996), Desperation (1996), Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) (1997), Bag of Bones (1998), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), Black House (The Talisman, #2) (2001), Dreamcatcher (2001), Everything's Eventual (2002), From a Buick 8 (2002), Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) (2003), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, #6) (2004), The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7) (2004), The Colorado Kid (2005), Cell (2006), Lisey's Story (2006), Duma Key (2008), Just After Sunset (2008), Under the Dome (2009), 11/22/63 (2011), Full Dark, No Stars (2011), The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5) (2012), Dr. Sleep (The Shining, #2) (2013), Joyland (2013), Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) (2014), Revival (2014), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2) (2015), End of Watch (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #3) (2016), Elevation (2018), The Outsider (2018), The Institute (2019), If It Bleeds (2020), Billy Summers (2021), Later (2021), Fairy Tale (2022), Holly (2023), You Like It Darker (2024)