Rating: Summary: Even Better Than The Last Review: Picking up exactly where "The Gunslinger" left off, Roland continues his quest towards the dark tower but elists the help of three very different and unlikely candidates. Eddie Dean, a drug running heroin addict, Odetta Holmes, a wealthy handicapped woman with a split personality, and Jack Mort, a nasty killer who is the final bridge between the three. Where "Gunslinger" was murky in what it revealed, this second installment is much more accessible and begins to let the reader in on how the stories tie together. I find it great fun to be in the hands of such a master storyteller as his plot slowly unfolds. King once again brings his vivid imagination to the story with some amazing visual images, the lobstrosities, and how Roland takes over of the other characters bodies among the best. More action packed than the first I thought this was great, and can't wait for the third.
Rating: Summary: "Three is the number of your fate." Review: I'm a huge fan of the Dark Tower series in general, but I have to say that this book is the best of the series so far."The Gunslinger" makes for a fine introduction to the world of Roland and his ongoing quest for the Dark Tower at the center, and the newly-revised version is definitely an improvement over the original. Even by King's own admission, however, the series doesn't start to really pick up steam until this book, "The Drawing of the Three." Without giving much away, I can say that the second book picks up very shortly after the first one left off, and right off the bat the reader gets a few surprises. Without sacrificing the essential nature of Roland as we have come to know him, King quickly begins to introduce elements of vulnerability and danger that were somewhat missing from the first installment. The gunslinger is just as powerful and skilled as ever, but we begin to get the sense now of the larger world around him, and the incalculable odds he faces in his quest. Roland's task in this book is represented by three doors. They are doors standing on a beach of the Western Sea, seeming at first to open on nothing, but they actually open on a different world -- our world. From each of these doors, Roland must draw someone or something. As he progresses, he is fighting for his own life even as he fights to continue in the path his search has laid for him. Most striking in this book is the theme that runs throughout of addiction. Each character in the book has their own addiction, something that gives them strength but also makes them weak, something they depend on perhaps a bit too much. The people he meets behind each of the three doors give us (and him, I suspect) further insight into the gunslinger's own addiction, his need to find the Tower, a need he will sacrifice anything to fulfill. It is a compelling thread in every part of the story, and there is a strong suggestion that for every addiction, there is someone there willing to feed that addiction for the person suffering it. For every addict, there is a pusher. The question remains, who is feeding Roland's addiction for the Tower? Is he feeding it to himself, or is it some other -- perhaps the Ageless Stranger mentioned in the first book? This remains unanswered as yet, though there are clues later in the series. The character development in this book is much stronger than in the first. There, King laid the foundation for his characters, rough but strong. Here, in this book, is where he begins to truly build upon it, giving his characters shape and texture and color. Roland comes into much sharper focus in this book, and the new characters he introduces are classic King; everyday people plucked out of their everyday lives and thrust into extraordinary circumstances. How they rise to the new challenges they are presented are just as telling as how Roland rises to his own new challenges. The end of this book is a solid conclusion to the story, but makes the reader hunger for the next chapter all the same. "We are going to fight," Roland tells his new companions. "We are going to be hurt. And in the end we will stand." This is an impressive chapter in the ongoing story of the Dark Tower, and serves as proof positive to me that the series is destined to become a classic dark fantasy epic.
Rating: Summary: More desperate and dark than the first Review: It goes without saying that the Dark Tower series by Stephen King is an amazing epic. The first book took readers through a desert and a wasteland, as well as dark memories, all to find the Man in Black. In this second novel, the story takes a different turn, and the Gunslinger is now in a very desperate situation. While fighting for his life, he is forced to enter the time periods of three other people, all of whom live very dark and awful lives. Ultimately, the gunslinger must make allies of these three and at the same time save his own life in his world. In the Gunslinger's quest for the Tower, the Gunslinger makes less progress here, but at the same time, he is faced with much more serious challanges. In the first book, readers were constantly left wondering if the Gunslinger will meet the Man in Black and if so, what will he do. In this book, the readers will be asking themselves time and again, how the Gunslinger will possibly navigate other time periods and keep himself alive at the same time. The ending of this book is really powerful and dramatic, and really brings the story together. While longer than the first book, readers will find themselves flying through page after page. This book really does credit to the Dark Tower series. In summary, like the first book, the Drawing of the Three is another powerful and very exciting chapter in this awesome epic. If you are new to Stephen King, then this series is an excellent series to start with. YOu will definitely not be dissappointed.
Rating: Summary: What do I say? Review: I have held off on writing a review for this one for so long, simply because I do not know how to describe it. I can tell you one thing. So far (that is the first four books) it is definitely the best in the series, and one of King's greatest books. The main reason that I would say this is the best of the Dark Tower books is that it is definitely its own seperate story. The others seem to have a few different parts of the journey, but this is its own tale. The characters start coming into the story at this point, and the true search for the tower is about to begin. The Gunslinger was more of a Preface. This is the real beginning of the journey, and the charaters are beginning to become real. I can only tell you not to stop after the first book. If you despise this one(which I don't see as possible) then you might have the option. However, until you read The Drawing of the Three, you have not started to read the real Dark Tower series.
Rating: Summary: Better than the first Review: Good Book, much more involving than the first in the series. Still this series is a chore to get into. I have started the third book though, and things definetly pick up. So if you are able to make it through the first two books move on to the third because that is where things really start to get interesting.
Rating: Summary: One of King's best works Review: The "confrontation' with the Man in Black finally occurred (see THE GUNSLINGER), but left Roland unfulfilled. Roland is on a beach assaulted by a sea monstrosity ripping off two fingers and a toe. After killing this creature, he begins the second part of his journey to the Dark Tower. Roland enters a door on the beach labeled "The Prisoner" and realizes he sees an eerie world through the eyes of Eddie Dean, American heroin addict flying to the USA with cocaine in 1987. Eddie's employer Balazar brings him to The Leaning Tower where a gunfight breaks out before the duo returns to Roland's realm. They reach beach door two and meet schizophrenic wheel chair bound Odetta Holmes and her darker half Detta Walker in 1964. Now Detta is a killing machine trying to get out who could easily end Roland's quest before he attains the third and final beach door of drug pusher of death Jack Mort if he is not careful. Roland has drawn the trio that is apparently his companions for this trek. Book Two of the Dark Tower is a great continuation of Stephen King's epic fantasy. The story line continues Roland's quest bit does not feel like a middle book filler tale. With the reprint of the entire series, fans will have quite a treat as these 1980s novels hold up quite nicely as some of Mr. King's best works, at least this one and the first tale that this reviewer recently re-read. This is Mr. King at his darkest and strongest yet seems to leave the audience with a flicker of hope. Harriet Klausner
Rating: Summary: And the saga continues Review: This is what we are expecting from this Saga, just another great book, instead of the first one, this is has a diferent turn, this book introduce the other great character of Saga, and it will give you a brief kind biography of each ones. read it to get in touch with the character, you must!!!
Rating: Summary: Good book, great series Review: This is the second book in the what to me is the best fantasy series I have read in along time. To be honest I don't think the book is quite worth 5 stars but it is better than 4 stars. Very good continuation of the gunslinger. Gets the overall story of the series moving well. A decent amount of suspense is thrown in too. Pretty sure after you read this book you won't look at lobster the same way again. This book basically introduces Rolands companions for his quest for the tower and the baggage they bring to the quest. Odetta is one of the better characters in King's universe. HIghly reccommend this series and book to everyone.
Rating: Summary: And what lies behind door number 1? Review: As the second book of the series, I found this one much easier to follow. Perhaps because a lot of it occurs in our world in our own times (or nearly so). The language is a little "rough" at times, but is entirely in context with the characters. In book 1, most of the events occur as Roland is traveling through his world on his quest, and deals with his background. In this one, it seems more centered on the events surrounding the acquistion of his traveling companions and their lives. I enjoyed this story and, having now ordered the next 2, look forward to their arrival.
Rating: Summary: In response to the reader from "Jackson hole" Review: Yes, I would strongly suggest reading them in order. Although they are fairly non-linear, consisting of several flash backs(especially the fourth installment), many characters are introduced early on in the series. Without prior knowledge of these characters and the roles they play within this epic series, you could become easily lost.
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