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The Drawing of the Three
Now a major motion picture starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba
The second volume in Stephen King’s #1 bestselling Dark Tower Series, The Drawing of the Three is an “epic in the making” ( Kirkus Reviews ) about a savage struggle against underworld evil and otherworldly enemies.
“Stephen King is a master at creating living, breathing, believable characters,"" hails The Baltimore Sun . Beginning just less than seven hours after The Gunslinger ends, in the second installment to the thrilling Dark Tower Series, Roland encounters three mysterious doorways on a deserted beach along the Western Sea. Each one enters into a different person's life in New York--here, he joins forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean, and with the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes, to save the Dark Tower.
“This quest is one of King's bestit communicates on a genuine, human levelbut is rich in symbolism and allegory"" ( Columbus Sunday Dispatch ). It is a science fiction odyssey that is unlike any tale that Stephen King has ever written.
The second volume in Stephen King’s #1 bestselling Dark Tower Series, The Drawing of the Three is an “epic in the making” ( Kirkus Reviews ) about a savage struggle against underworld evil and otherworldly enemies.
“Stephen King is a master at creating living, breathing, believable characters,"" hails The Baltimore Sun . Beginning just less than seven hours after The Gunslinger ends, in the second installment to the thrilling Dark Tower Series, Roland encounters three mysterious doorways on a deserted beach along the Western Sea. Each one enters into a different person's life in New York--here, he joins forces with the defiant young Eddie Dean, and with the beautiful, brilliant, and brave Odetta Holmes, to save the Dark Tower.
“This quest is one of King's bestit communicates on a genuine, human levelbut is rich in symbolism and allegory"" ( Columbus Sunday Dispatch ). It is a science fiction odyssey that is unlike any tale that Stephen King has ever written.
1 pages, audioCD
Published October 22, 2019
7 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Stephen King
2,408 books888k followersStephen Edwin King was born the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his father left them when Stephen was two, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of them. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.
He met Tabitha Spruce in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University, where they both worked as students; they married in January of 1971. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.
Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many were gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.
In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching English at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 7, 2026
Very fascinating read!!!
July 6, 2025
As I was reading it, I was shocked at the difference in tone from the first book in the series.
Although it starts with some great fantasy imagery reminiscent of something from The Chronicles of Narnia, the high tone sort of disintegrates when the story then plunges us - very jarringly - into present day NYC.
From this point on, reading - for me - started to feel like "homework". I didn't enjoy the new characters so much: Eddie and Odetta.
Although Eddie's backstory was compelling, I thought his whole persona was boring and cliche.
Odetta's split personality - I thought - could have been done better. Her alter-ego was so cliche'd as well: how many times do I have to read "honkey" and "grey meat" to understand that her "Detta" side is her Shadow self. She is clearly the tortured "Gollum" figure in this book.
What I did enjoy was the imagery, action-scenes, and flashbacks that helped to develop these characters.
It was the allegorical feel, great world-building, and fantasy/magickal elements that drew me to this series - so that's what I was hoping for when I picked up The Drawing of the Three.
Having so much of this book take place in "our" world was a bit of a turn-off for me! That being said, Stephen King is a great writer, and I know that this is a "me" issue, as so many seem to adore this book (even more than the first book, HOW).
Continuing with this series because I'm now overly invested! TO THE DARK TOWER!
PS: The first book was perfectly suited to my tastes - I have it 5 stars - it spoke to me profoundly; the fact that so many people prefer the second book really strikes me. Not sure what this says about me - but it's slightly concerning.
Although it starts with some great fantasy imagery reminiscent of something from The Chronicles of Narnia, the high tone sort of disintegrates when the story then plunges us - very jarringly - into present day NYC.
From this point on, reading - for me - started to feel like "homework". I didn't enjoy the new characters so much: Eddie and Odetta.
Although Eddie's backstory was compelling, I thought his whole persona was boring and cliche.
Odetta's split personality - I thought - could have been done better. Her alter-ego was so cliche'd as well: how many times do I have to read "honkey" and "grey meat" to understand that her "Detta" side is her Shadow self. She is clearly the tortured "Gollum" figure in this book.
What I did enjoy was the imagery, action-scenes, and flashbacks that helped to develop these characters.
It was the allegorical feel, great world-building, and fantasy/magickal elements that drew me to this series - so that's what I was hoping for when I picked up The Drawing of the Three.
Having so much of this book take place in "our" world was a bit of a turn-off for me! That being said, Stephen King is a great writer, and I know that this is a "me" issue, as so many seem to adore this book (even more than the first book, HOW).
Continuing with this series because I'm now overly invested! TO THE DARK TOWER!
PS: The first book was perfectly suited to my tastes - I have it 5 stars - it spoke to me profoundly; the fact that so many people prefer the second book really strikes me. Not sure what this says about me - but it's slightly concerning.
March 9, 2025
Could not put this one down! Book one of this series is so strange, and you find out so little of the backstory, that I had no idea where we were going or who was taking us there. This book opens up the story and allows you to immerse yourself in the strange meta-world / worlds that The Dark Tower opens up. Meet Eddie, one of your new favorite characters, and Odetta, who is much more complicated than she first appears. Walking through the doors almost mirrors the way you feel when reading this book, as if you were entering some strange other world through the eyes of a character living inside it. Except of course, for the added ability of taking over that person and pulling things from that world to your own. Although sometimes, it is almost as if Roland hears your very thoughts, and answers them... Can't wait to start reading book three. My boyfriend says its the best of the series, but it will be hard to top this one.
July 26, 2023
What am I even reading? I don't know, but I love it. This is my introduction to King and gosh darn can he write. I get it now. He's one of the most celebrated authors in the world for a reason. I love the supremely weird circles that this book takes you through. I legitimately did not see The Pusher coming.
I'm sure that I don't get it yet. I will certainly be reading this again.
Half point taken away for Eddie instantly falling in love with Odetta. It's kind of like the death of Jake in #1. It happens abruptly while I'm not sure what's happening or why. It seemed like the death and romance make no difference to the story except to show that Roland will sacrifice anything, and I guess maybe that's the only point.
And nobody knows what the Dark Tower is, but they're going for it because--?
What a freaking journey that has truly only just begun.
I'm sure that I don't get it yet. I will certainly be reading this again.
Half point taken away for Eddie instantly falling in love with Odetta. It's kind of like the death of Jake in #1. It happens abruptly while I'm not sure what's happening or why. It seemed like the death and romance make no difference to the story except to show that Roland will sacrifice anything, and I guess maybe that's the only point.
And nobody knows what the Dark Tower is, but they're going for it because--?
What a freaking journey that has truly only just begun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2026
lots of new characters introduced. liked the flow of this one better than the first book in series. while the first book seemed to drag on, this one pulled me into this multi- world story. jumping thru time and world can get confusing but this story has an easy flow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2020
My favorite one of the series.
October 18, 2022
An improvement from the first book! Writing was much easier to follow.
May 23, 2024
Much improved second volume in King's Dark Tower series
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews