The Drawing of the Three by Stephen King Changes All You Thought You Knew About The Dark Tower

Mike continues making his way through Stephen King's Multiverse by putting on the boots and walking the path of the Beam for the second Dark Tower adventure, 1987's The Drawing of the Three.
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0:00 Intro & Excerpt Reading
1:51 Background Info
4:18 What Is It About?
5:03 What Makes It Good or Bad?
15:02 Why You Should Read It
17:14 Final Thoughts
18:58 Multiverse Connections
Purchase The Drawing of the Three Here: amzn.to/3aMzXXx (physical) amzn.to/3p3Ujkf (digital) amzn.to/3q6SCUy (audio)
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Excerpt music provided by Ross Budgen
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Music used: Adventure Western Music - The Wild West (Copyright and Royalty Free)
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Music used: Epic (No Copyright Music)
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Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0(CC BY 3.0)
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#MikesBookReviews #StephenKing #DarkTower

[@jimmyallen8210]

Roland’s sincere confusion about what “Honky Mahfahs” means is hilarious.

[@brycemoose7026]

That had me dying omg lol😭😂

[@timkirsten6184]

I loved how crazy this book was when I first read it. Also love the beach setting.

[@turtleanton6539]

Lobrostities

[@nathantowns2043]

I love this book so much. The concept of telling a portal fantasy from the POV of the more fantastical side of the portal is such a simple inversion of the typical trope and yet it provides so many cool moments. Also the portals themselves are unique and just so cool

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

I’m still not sure why this bizarre, genre-defying story works, but it really does. Like you said, it feels like string theory. Also, you’re absolutely right about how the introduction of Eddie and Odetta brings out more in Roland. I’m looking forward to The Waste Lands, which I’ll be reading soon. Thanks for this fantastic review!

[@mikesbookreviews]

I love your take on this series so I can’t wait.

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

@Tommy Taylor It looks like a very thick book too! I usually read several series at a time so I don’t get burned out on one - I don’t know if switching gears would help.

[@pugshorty9852]

My favorite thing about this book is how Roland reacts to New York City.

[@ethansteen8880]

I love when he try’s Pepsi and a hot dog in a cave while he’s dying of an infection

[@zenna4474]

@@ethansteen8880 He's just so shocked about the bullet and pill counts🤣🤣

[@christofro661]

He loved that tooter fish and astin

[@youtubeaddict487]

him calling cops fat slow old gunslingers is hilarious

[@bridleybateson5622]

Waste Lands is my favourite in the series. Followed closely by this one, then Wizard and Glass. Fantastic book. 👍

[@mixedbooktape]

I haven't read any of the Dark Tower books yet, but I have read Rose Madder multiple times. So when you were talking about the doorways in this I immediately thought of Rosie's painting in Rose Madder. Also Ka mention quite a bit in Rose Madder too. I really enjoy these Into the Multiverse videos even if I haven't read the books mentioned in them.

[@kaylaqueen6640]

I loved Drawing of the Three when I first read it over 10 years ago. I only got through up to Wizard and Glass, so I’m starting a reread of those first books this month with the Gunslinger, so I can finish the series.

[@farhad_s]

This series just keeps getting better and better. I'm 2/3 into Wizard and Glass, and each book seems to be unique in its own way

[@jimstyx]

Honestly seeing Roland open up and smile with Eddie made drawing of the three the book that made it a must finish series for me. Also the audio book lobstrosities didachik pronunciations are hilarious. Hearing the gun store scene in audio book was fantastic also

[@stevenstewart782]

Yeah I really was thrown off when he voiced the lubricity It was kind of hilarious

[@bazilpuppy]

I have to admit, reading drawing of the three for the first time. I was laughing everytime “tooter fish” sandwich came up

[@one_of_the_masses]

Looks like I got to start the Dark Tower now. Thank god I found your channel. Keep up the good work!

[@youtubeaddict487]

“how good was the coke you were doing at the time steve” 😂😂😂

[@1987JVA]

My favorite book series! Great video!

[@velse9869]

My favorite book of the series. The imagery I have of those last 20 pages...what an experience. I’m about to finish Song of Susannah and then one last book..The Dark Tower. Kinda sad and excited..but what a journey.

[@readingreignbro5680]

Another great video, Mike. I Never made it through any farther than this in the series. Must've got distracted with another book. I used to have the collection with the full color artwork ever chapter or so..now I must collect them all once more.

[@calista3371]

I was the same way. I read this and became a tower junkie. I love how different this was. I read this about 1995ish and again when the last 3 books came out. I want to do an expanded read of the tower with the 20 books connected to the story some day.

[@danecobain]

The Drawing of the Three was my favourite of the series, but I think that's quite common!

[@Earnest_Jones]

Love love love this book

[@magickology]

The intro with the lobstrosity questions was fab!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha thanks. I say it to my kids sometimes.

[@turtleanton6539]

✌love this series.

[@jasonvizcarra709]

Just finished this book and couldn’t agree more. This and 11/22/63 are now tied as my 2 favorite king books.

[@skywalker80316]

Great video! I just finished The Drawing of The Three and I absolutely loved it! King totally subverted my expectations in the best way possible. One of the best reading experiences I’ve ever had! I can’t wait to continue the series. I agree with you that Eddie Dean is a great character. Also, the Jack Mort storyline blew me away.

[@knittymama570]

I read this in 1988. I was 16. To this day, I won't eat lobster. The lobstrosoties very much wigged me out. Odetta was so interesting to me. Drawing of the Three is still my favorite of the series. So many things that were new or crazy to me, and yet it never felt over the top. I hadn't read much fantasy besides LOTR at that point. I was super excited reading this one. I think Jake was mentioned in Insomnia. I really loved that one. It seems to fit with DT so well.

[@alynam82]

Definitely a good one 👍 I first read about same time you did, back in 97 (maybe 98?) and found it mind blowing. Re-read a couple years ago and still had a blast, having forgotten all that happened (like on the plane!! That scene was crazy) I read and enjoyed all DT books (yes, I enjoyed Song of Susannah, come at me bro!!!) But I still have yet to finish off with the last entry, The Dark Tower. I've been savoring the time between, like a delayed gratification

[@Ink129]

I remember either this one or the Wolves of Calla being my favorites, but I read them about 15 years ago so I may feel different today. Gotta re-read this series again soon - actually never read the last of the books - probably because I found Song of Susannah to be pretty rough. Loved all the other books though. Good review!

[@volfglazer2948]

Have you seen the Kingslingers podcast. It's a well done deep dive that breaks down every section of each book. Fun to listen to while reading each book

[@rusak44]

Omg just have to read 40 pages to finish my german dark tower book here :D And then you upload this... I was so motivated because of the quality of the story but after this video ill be motivated even more :D Thanks for your beautiful work u put in

[@thejohnsanger]

I read Dark Tower like three years ago and never had anyone to discuss it with. Wizard & Glass was my favorite so I’m interested to hear a review of that when you get to that one. Drawing of the Three was in my top 3 though.

[@nathantowns2043]

That's my favorite as well.

[@TheBookCure]

2&4 have been my longtime Dark Tower favourites. I agree that this is where DT is elevated into something more. I love book 1, but book 2 transforms the entire series. And Eddie really just is the best - well, maybe after Oy ;) Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on the rest of the series!

[@sarahellis347]

I’ve read the first four books so far. Oy is still my favorite character in the series lol

[@mikesbookreviews]

He’s the bestest boy.

[@Slayereyez]

My cats name is Oy my wife and I rescued him from the outdoors. He had a broken tail and it caused his tail to curl up like a cinnamon roll. I had to name him Oy. Hes a Russia Blue bread so hes grey with golden eyes. I love oy as well. Such a great character and companion to Jake and a champion of the ka-tet

[@magickology]

Oy is amazing

[@Link-we8so]

My favorite intro so far 😂

[@Juanpa_SC]

You were the reason y gave The Gunslinger a second chance... and I loved it! Now, you are the reason I won´t wait any longer to continue with the books!!

[@antony9384]

I just cannot get through the gunslinger 😢

[@mikesamp11]

I’ve read the first five books along with wind through the keyhole. This is my second favorite so far, The Wastelands is by far my favorite at this point.

[@Thecatladybooknook_PennyD]

I read The Gunslinger a week ago and while as a whole is was 🧐, I loved Jake so much. I also feel like it ends on a huge cliffhanger and I wanted to pick up the 2nd book right then but I'm waiting on my friend to read it next month. It will be my first book in March tho!!

[@zkinak2107]

Never have I been so enthralled about people killing and cooking crab in a novel😂

[@simonedwards9450]

Love this review. It is a mind bending book and I feel like you get more out of this when you do a re-read. The order for me is Wolves of Calla The drawing of the three Wizard and glass The waste lands The gunslinger Song of susannah The dark tower The wind through the keyhole

[@cmeflowf]

My fave book in the series. I love Dark Tower

[@LesMartin]

I HAD a set of these books... I didn't get them back after my last time to lend them several years ago. I was surprised, though, of multiple lends to friends that most of the time they couldn't get past The Wasteland. Was always hard for me to understand.

[@turtleanton6539]

Agreed! The intro is great. And going to the real world. Eddie and Sussanah and Jake.

[@danielvanrooyen9602]

Finished the series last month, man what a ride. Looking forward on your thoughts when you get to DT 6 and 7 on a reread.

[@Slayereyez]

I love Eddie Dean. "Let's just fukin see." He plays such a good character for building Roland and roland is so significant in building Eddie as well. Also when he goes through jack morts door. "Roland didnt know who magda was or what she might have seen." Lol

[@charlesburge2564]

Wow you touched on the instalove issue. It's actually what pulled me out of immersion and kind of killed my momentum for III. Still haven't read it due to that lack of momentum. I'll give it another try

[@stevenstewart782]

I knew this series as going to be good as soon as the lobstrosities did their thing. King wasn't going to hold back.

[@akellerhouse83]

I'm gonna have to reread this series. I read it about 17 years ago and I barely remember anything. I remember how the series ends. I remember liking Eddie as a character. And I do remember the 1st book, but that's about it.

[@loudoesreviews]

My fav Dark Tower book. This is the book that creates the emotional binds through the new Ka-tet to the mythology of the series.

[@marcusporras9571]

This is my favorite book as well in the series. Along with the wastelands

[@lolglolblol]

Honestly, I can excuse the insta-love. Eddie had at that point spent weeks suffering from withdrawal and now, at his lowest point, he meets this beatiful, kind woman. It makes sense for him to latch onto her. I can also excuse the way Detta speaks because King explicitly states that she acts like an over the top caricature on purpose

[@supernorry3847]

I have been waiting for this one :D lets go 3 views too :D

[@supernorry3847]

If i had to make a list from best to worst of the dark tower books, out of my head, i would go: 1: Wizard and Glass 2: The Waste lands 3: The Wolfs of The Calla 4: The Drawing of the Three 5: The Gunslinger 6: The Dark Tower 7: The Wind Through the Keyhole (yes i count the novella too :P) 8: Song of Susannah This list obviously could change on a reread :P (even tho i am prettttyyyy suuuurrre the top 3 will stay the same :P)

[@turtleanton6539]

Godlist

[@LPMagic341]

Alright, alright.... 1. Dark Tower 2. Wizard and Glass 3. Wolves of the Calla 4. Song of Susannah 5. The Waste Lands 6. The Gunslinger 7./8. Drawing of the Three / Winds Through the Keyhole So mines very different haha but I still like yours!

[@supernorry3847]

@@LPMagic341 You really like the last book the most? So you dont mind how it ended, that it was rushed and stuff?

[@LPMagic341]

@@supernorry3847 Ya know I get the sense that those who liked the earlier books generally don’t like the later books, but here’s the thing... vice versa too!! I wasn’t even expecting [MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS HERE DO NOT READ ON IF YOU HAVEN’T FINISHED] Roland to even reach the tower after reading so many disappointing SK endings. So my expectations were pretty low from that and from the hate it gets in general. The standoff with the Crimson King was a better stand than we got in The Stand, so even one page dedicated to a battle was more than I anticipated haha. And him walking up to the tower and shouting the names had me so hysterically crying that yes it’s my favorite and I love the whole series mostly because of book 7!

[@supernorry3847]

@@LPMagic341 Yes you are partly right MAJOR DARK TOWER SPOILERS AHEAD DONT READ IF YOU HAVENT READ AND DONT WANT TO BE SPOILED The first "final stand" was pretty good but the fact that the kid only had to draw him and then erase him was just stupid in my opinion :D. The fact that the whole story starts again is perfect tho, i couldnt have found a better way to end it :D

[@terrelljohnson5811]

I read the entire series years ago. I must say The Drawing of the Three and The wolves of Calla are my favorite out of the series Song of Susannah is good as well explaining a lot when it comes to Roland. I always told people this series has everything, sci fi, action, love, horror You are right Mike it has it all. I think that is why I was so drawn to it after I read the first book layers and layers. King did an excellent job but that ending of the series for everyone that has read it. I realize it either sticks for some and for others it misses. For me I am in the latter of the group but overall still in my top 3 book series of all time.

[@peteharper2687]

Eddie mentions something about Odetta's alter ego's saying that they seem more like caricatures, overblown and unreal.

[@brettskinner1416]

This is my 1st time through the series I just finished the drawing of the three and I had think the 1st 2 books are great but I just, realize that they are all connected

[@QuirkyQuillify]

I remember my favorite being The Wastelands, but I need to reread The Drawing of the Three to decide. I also love Larry and Eddie, both of whom has to battle their self destructive tendencies. I wonder what that says about me, haha.

[@BobBob73271]

I started reading the Dark tower 1 month before I turned 19. I am still reading it and just finished Wizard and glass. I also don’t think it’s a coincidence. It’s Ka. Kaka😂

[@thesmuli83]

I think I'll read the series again in 2022👌

[@KellyTheFallen]

Is this the book where Roland learns about Aspin aka Aspirin lol Roland's pronunciation of key world words is hilarious

[@cynthiaholmes5124]

Are you going to do a video review of wizard and glass just finished the wasteland enjoyed it ☺️😚

[@zolyguy]

Gunslinger was the first book I've read, I thought it was weird and milquetoast, but then I just finished this book and it was so weird I ended up loving it.

[@aleidadiaz2261]

Such a great series. Love how king gives zero fucks, and that’s why it’s so fascinating. That rose in the alley...

[@turtleanton6539]

This is a 10/10 book

[@Apostateoftheunion]

Drawing of the Three and The Wastelands are, by far, my favorites in the series. And I typically count the first 100 pages of white knuckle inducing madness that is Wizard and Glass. The complete absurdity of the changing settings accessed by the doors is modern fantasy at his best. King excels at placing normal, yet flawed, people into abnormal circumstances. He is a master at making the most unlikely events seem totally lackadaisical and utterly mundane, while at the same time making us believe the characters are real people; sympathetic and deserving of our time and devotion, worthy of redemption. And as always, the real monsters are not the lobstrosities, vampires, or the Sneetch wielding robot Dr. Doom wolves; true evil lies within the hearts of each and every one of us, the only difference between us and Randall Flagg or the Crimson King is where we draw the line.

[@jimave]

I loved this book! I didn’t like the gunslinger that much, but this story is awesome. I live the audiobook because the narrator did such a great job representing the characters.

[@UptownHorrorReviews]

Best book in the series 🔥

[@KakashiHatake-ou7mp]

Offtopic- Mike I just finished Dune..what an experience!! Just fantastic!! And the deluxe edition was well worth the investment!

[@thomasbaxter1371]

In The Gunslinger Roland was Clint Eastwood's man with no name in my imagination. By book II Roland had turned into Crocodile Dundee and the New York scenario felt so typically 1980s....really put me off and I couldn't finish it. But, I will give these books a re-read at some point.

[@robrains7279]

The Dark Tower should be a franchise on film I hope one day we will get a reboot of a faithful adaptation of the series

[@jesusreyes8154]

I’ve always appreciated the the Gunslinger but to me the series actually starts with this book.

[@harrypothead42024]

I can't understand skipping the Gunslinger but I could understand recommending somebody read the second book first and then the Gunslinger and then go into wastelands. But personally I think the Gunslinger is such a fun and quick read that, it's a good thing to start with.

[@johnd.3652]

I've read the dark tower 6 times since 2011, I found book 7 at the library for $1

[@shawngillogly6873]

Absolutely agree that it was the genre bending that sold me in the series. And that you see it strongly here. Arthur meets LotR meets The Man with No Name. And then we get horror on top. Maybe I'm the weird one. But Wolves is my favorite of the series. Because you see all the Ka-Tet get their moment in a true Magnificent Seven shootout. But I agree on the last 2 books. They really should've been one. And the dissolution of the party seemed...forced. But do we read King for endings?

[@owensaenz1065]

Enjoyed this one much more than the gunslinger

[@Roger-kg2js]

Where the Doctor Who books always next to Malice in your shelf

[@williamjones3534]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug!😁 I was 19 as well when I read this book. How odd...🤔 I loved me some Eddie but for me it was Detta/Odetta. I liked the concept So much that when I was playing vampire the masquerade I made a Malcavian based off of her. I have to ask you something Mike. Did drawing of the 3 specifically Odetta/Detta Trigger you? I remember when Brian Greene 1st read this Ceres and he got to drawing of the 3 and he was absolutely put off because he thought it was a very antiquated and racist trope that king used with that character. Now as an African American man I wasn't offended but I thought it was cute that he was.

[@chrislawson1988]

Loved the first one shot through that the second took a while there was extra stuff I was like why? Then near end i was like omg when you saw connections between Eddie Jake and odetta. Noooooooo dint skip first one. That's what the first dark tower movie should have been even though i like the dark tower movie as is . The others get better and weirder and has plenty of omg moments and connections to other king stuff lol.

[@ChunzBunz]

I just finished the Waste Lands but a friend of mine told me not to read on from there or it will ruin my enjoyment of reading other king books. Whats your opinion on that?

[@CrapSandviche]

My man...... saw you drinking a Pale Ale without..... HOW DARE YOU....

[@Themaninblack19]

I just finished this book and i have to say , i loved it 👍 and its up there with one of my favorite SK books

[@andrewmartinelli6092]

I just started reading this novel and I’m already missing MidWorld. I do like Eddie however

[@danielvanrooyen9602]

I imagined Klaus (Robert Sheehan)from Umbrella Academy as Eddy the entire series, not sure why.

[@Hairspraygoblin]

The drug abuse?

[@BeatsLyrics]

i think it was my favorite book too, but each book in the series is not complete without the others

[@mikewiza1509]

That pistol is pretty cool, where did you get it?

[@chadum96]

I really like King as a person and enjoy listening to him speak, but man I have yet to find a book of his that I love. I didn't like The Gunslinger or The Outsider, I thought the Institute was just okay, Needful Things dragged on way too long. Closest was Pet Semetary, but I thought it ended too much in a rush.

[@sarahmcdonald9624]

Hear me out here: Odetta is Gollum/Smeagol, Eddie is Sam, and Roland is Frodo. Change my mind.

[@bertfechner417]

Not my favorite but definitely the one that hooked me. Put my proverbial finger in my cheek, hooked it and pulled til my head hit the ground. That first book was a slog and I hate telling people this but yeah, if you're not into it by the end of this book then I'd drop it. The first book isnt a good starter.

[@LPMagic341]

Not gonna lie, I didn’t fall in love with Eddie until book 7 lol

[@adeeb0704]

Really? I started the wastelands today and I think eddie is quite relatable given the situation he’s in

[@LPMagic341]

@@adeeb0704 Yea I mean I liked him and the rest of the gang, but I wasn’t in love with them ya know?

[@LPMagic341]

.... until book 7 😏...

[@adeeb0704]

@@LPMagic341 yeah I get what you mean, I already like him so I’m really excited to see whats in store in book 7!

[@LPMagic341]

@@adeeb0704 just keep your expectations tempered. A lot of people don’t like the ending of the series. I’m lucky enough to have loved it, but I think that’s BECAUSE I knew everyone hated it ya know?

[@mathieuleader8601]

a fish out of water story

[@warrengilson1835]

Just finished The Drawing of the Three for the first time. (I have read Gunslinger 3x trying to get into this series, but really disliked it) Enjoyed this much more although the prologue surprised me a LOT. This read much more like the Stephen King I know. There were a couple of times where there were mistakes in the internal logic which I don't often see in King, but I wont criticize until I've had a hundred stories published. Not sure whether to move on to volume 3 now or read The Stand next. PS Came to your review because you obviously think deeply about your reading and your comments are therefore of value

[@eliasisthegreatest]

Just finished this book and loved it. It’s now my second favorite Stephen King book. I don’t know if anything is going to surpass Salem’s Lot but this came extremely close.

[@owensaenz1065]

Aspin

[@LesMartin]

Ka is a wheel.

[@CustomElephant]

Eddie Dean is Jessie pinkman don’t @ me

[@moondodger5952]

I just finished reading and this is probably one of my favorite King books now. My favorite moment’s relatively minute compared to all the big events that happen, but it’s when Eddie’s singing Hey Jude while taking care of Roland and Roland being surprised by it. My other favorite moment is when you put two and two together and realize that Roland was gonna kill Jack.

[@ObiWann90]

Funny story, Gunslinger is the ONLY Stephen King book I've read, and I've read it twice and I LOVED it. I started this book and it was completely different and i DNF'd almost immediately lol. I'll have to give it another try, maybe once I read some King classics first.

[@mikesbookreviews]

No one thing is for everyone, I figure.

[@s.p.8508]

Yeah, after this book I quit the series. King is just not my taste. I just started Lightbringer (loving it!) while I’m stuck on WoT book 9. Was gonna start Malazan but I decided I wasn’t gonna start that until I finished WoT

[@bdre5555]

So basically monsters.inc stole the floating doorways from this haha

[@williamaddison-atkinson8244]

This is one of my favorite books of all time. But hated the way the series finished. Gutted.

[@jorijansen5285]

Oi

[@domagojradnic5837]

Anybody else had feeling sai King was on some good shit writing this ? I know i know he was mostly wasted throught the best period of his writing so we are pretty lucky we dont have story Jesus riding a unicorn blazing from uzi's and dosen't take it from nobody this time ,im talking about "good" drugs,you know "doors of perception" and that kind of magic ,maybe it's just me but i couldn't help not to hear "is everybody in ? The ceremony is about to begin "

[@drakomus7409]

CLICK CLICK.. DAMN.. WET SHELLS