I am extremely happy that I read three books in the collection at once. Otherwise, it would all have ended with "The Gunslinger" and I would not have wanted to continue, but in this way I had no choice... I will warn you right away, there will be a lot of spoilers! Since I am writing as a reminder of the book for myself in the future, because I will definitely continue the cycle.
The thing is that the events in "The Gunslinger" are extremely unclear and I was reading and not understanding what it was all about. Some other world, in which one guy goes somewhere and is looking for some tower. Which is a bit like madness. But I never managed to understand why. Roland somewhat recalls his past, training and how he became a gunslinger. Sometimes he meets people (very strange people), but more often there are some strange creatures. Because of which Roland lost two fingers on his right hand. Later he took a boy named Jake into his company. How he got into Roland's world is not clear, but the ending with the boy was sad. In principle, I would not have continued my acquaintance with the cycle because of this.
But then "The Drawing of the Three" begins and it already becomes more interesting and dynamic. In Roland's world, doors sometimes open to our world and he can take someone with him by entering their body. First, it was Eddie, who was transporting drugs on a plane and Roland had to get the guy out at customs and then from the head of the gang. A little later, Roland takes a woman into his world who has no legs and moves around in a wheelchair. As it turns out, there are two different people living in her, nervous Detta, who steals valuables and the heiress of some company, Odetta. And the third person turned out to be exactly that maniac because of whom Odetta had her legs cut off and who wanted to push Jake under a car. To be honest, I still haven't decided on this extraction. Is it the extraction of 3 characters, Eddie, Odetta and that third one (I didn't even remember the name). Or the extraction of the third woman in Odetta's body. Or it was a hint for the future, about Jake. But this is already something that I am thinking about myself.
In "The Waste Lands" Roland's journey with Eddie and Susannah to the Dark Tower continues. On their way, they meet strange creatures and something similar to robots or cyborgs. In a dream, Eddie sees that he needs to create a key to take the boy back to Roland's world. We see how Jake himself wants to leave for Roland and give up everything, because he feels that he is not alive (after all, he was supposed to be hit by a car, but he was saved). And almost at the very end, we learn about these lands and it is something terrible.
How did he manage to connect all the stories of these characters into one, since Roland took them from different times and someone had crossed paths before.
Here I don't understand how, but King always manages to make me empathize with certain heroes. He took blatant outcasts of society and created such a storyline with them that I read and worry about them. Eddie is a drug addict and a drug transporter, Detta is a thief, at the same time a schizophrenic who sometimes turns into a very sweet woman...
These books and THE STAND are my favorite Stephen King books! Stephen King is a master of horror and suspense, and his works have captivated readers around the world. Each of his books offers a unique and thrilling experience. The stories are filled with complex characters, vivid descriptions, and unexpected twists. Whether it's a supernatural thriller or a psychological horror, King always manages to keep his readers on the edge of their seats. His writing style is engaging and accessible, making his books enjoyable for both casual readers and die-hard fans. I highly recommend these books to anyone who loves a good scare or a thought-provoking story. So, if you haven't already, pick up one of Stephen King's books and prepare to be entertained!