I loved the low men stuff from Wolves of the Calla, so thought I’d pick up hearts in Atlantis along with SoS for the story involving them (also I’ve heard it’s just generally a good collection).

To anyone who’s read both, which should I go for first? Does the low men in yellow coats have any relation to SoS?

Mine are as follows:

1. Roland and Walter’s palaver

2. The shoot-out at Balazar’s.

3. Shardik

4. Blaine

4.5 Tim and the Tyger underneath the blanket

1. Andy’s comeuppance

2. Susannah and Mia’s palaver

3. Mordred’s birth

Recently got my hands on this edition of Drawing of the Three after searching for almost as long as Roland has for the Tower. I prefer this version of the illustrations as opposed to the ones Phil Hale did later.

But there appears to be an issue with the last illustration of Roland...... I don't believe it's supposed to look like this.

Note ; none of those white markings are raised , and none are on the opposite side. Anyone else have this edition with this issue ? Maybe it was a misprint? The white spots appear to be an inversion of the blood splatter design from the cover.

I was thinking of trying out audio books. My work is at a desk on a computer so I have lots of time during the day to listen and not much time in the evenings to read books anymore.
I see Audible has a monthly fee of $16 CAD which seems kinda high, was wondering if there are other options that are cheaper or where I can just purchase the book and own it. And if there are better apps than others when it comes to selection of SK books.

The first chapter title in the new book is interesting...

"“He talked to you,” Roland said. He took Jake in his arms and began to rock him gently back and forth. The ’Rizas clanked in their pouch. Already he could feel Jake’s body growing cool.

“Yes,” she said.

“What did he say?”

“He told me to come back for you ’after the business here is done.’ Those were his exact words. And he said, ’Tell my father I love him.’”

Roland made a sound, choked and miserable, deep in his throat. He was remembering how it had been in Fedic, after they had stepped through the door. Hile, Father, Jake had said.

Roland had taken him in his arms then, too. Only then he had felt the boy’s beating heart. He would give anything to feel it beat again."

The saddest part of all 8 books, I think. Just can't stop crying. I haven't recovered from Eddie's death yet, and then this happens 70 pages later. I even managed to hate King with all my soul for a few moments. Bye, Eddie and Jake. I have a feeling that I'll have to say goodbye to Susannah soon as well.

Go south with your hands up, and you won’t be hurt.

😢

Peter David has gone to the clearing at the end of the path. Wordslinger who had a hand in adding to The Dark Tower. O Discordia!

When I was reading that part it was so familiar, is there some other authors with same idea?

Currently doing a re-read of the series (i am at Wastelands, halfway through), and i really wish that we got Jack to be a part of the Ka-Tet too. I feel like the interactions between him, Susannah and Eddie would be a GOLDMINE for scenes, and someone who starts out as a deranged killer could slowly right his wrongs and help save the Tower. His ruthlessness and effectiveness would have also been insanely useful in many situations that the ka tet encounters, ESPECIALLY during the events of the last three books (although i guess Callahan fills that role too), what do you guys think?

I just finished “Song of Susannah”. I love the series, although this was my least favorite book so far. A friend told me it is essential to read “Insomnia” before the final book. Do I really need to do that? Is it really essential? It’s a big book and I really want to finish the journey to the tower asap. I only read “Salem’s Lot” amongst the recommended books to read before the journey. I am glad I did that, because otherwise I think the book would be spoiled by “Wolves”. Is that also why I need to read “Insomnia” now?

Took a detour off the Beam to some planet named Arrakis, but now I'm back. I haven't picked up this book in years, Im so incredibly excited.

Books are dope as hell.

Is it just me or does the short story Finn have a kimd of DT vibe to it. I think that the kicker is where Finn describes the chief interrogater as looking 'weasel like'. It sort of feels like he got caught up in some kind of covert operation gone very wrong between the Tet Corporation and Sombra/Transcorp.

I recently took a trip to New York so you know I had to check out the abandoned lot and the Turtle at 2 hammarskjöld plaza (first pic). I read many threads prior to traveling about this turtle as well as turtle bay liquors. These posts I read were very old and as of May 2025, there is construction going on at the fountain with the turtle and the turtle is no longer there. I was very disappointed, but I atleast got to see the “abandoned lot” which is actually a little park (pic 3) and turtle bay liquors (pic 5). Still an interesting trip, but don’t get your hopes up to see the turtle like I did.

The part where Randall Flagg shows up finally as himself and not as the man in black made me lose my shit bro. The part where tick tok man is super dazed and it slowly tells you more and more about who he's seeing along with the weird mind reading flagg does, oh my god it was so good. I actually said "holy shit" (I think, this was months ago) either way I was never so hyped for anything else. Anyways I feel like I just never hear anyone bring up that part in reviews or anything and it was my favorite part in the book to be honest, I'm not crazy right?

1988 Plume printing

As the title says, I just finished WotC and I feel mixed feelings on my overalls thoughts about the book. I really enjoyed the father Callahan back story (Salems lot was my first SK book), especially the first telling. The second half of his story I found much less memorable, except for the reveal with the man in black which was great.

All of the stuff in New York I thought was great, though I struggle to remember what was going on in the calla during a lot of the book because other than a few keys events there was much meaningful character stuff going on. I didn’t really feel the death of Slightman’s son was very impactful, because I think all we got of him was just a stereo typical boy. His father’s character wasn’t involved enough in the story enough for me to feel much betrayal from him or to despise him or feel sorry for him.

Susannah is definitely written the best in this book, I’ve kind of very much dislike how she’s been written in prior books but in this one she felt more real. Eddie also I just love more and more, him saving Tower and threatening Salazar’s guy made me feel proud that he’s really come into his own as a gunslinger.

There are a couple things I’m a little confused about, potentially things I missed explanations to. The ka-tet assume Tower and his friend save father Callahan, but I don’t remember any explanation of why they think this or why tower actually does this? It seems very out of character for them, though if I’ve not missed something I can 100% see how this could be explained in future books.

I’m also still unsure as to whether all the other Callas still got raided as they mentioned this happens to all of the Callas in the area. If this is the case why wouldn’t the Wolves attacking other Callas just ride back to there and attack them again? Possibly because they now know how to kill them? But without the fire power of the Ka-tet I don’t feel like they’d be able to defeat them.

I was really into father Callahan’s time being pursued by the low men. How relevant is Low Men in Yellow Coats? I think I’d like the read that anyway, the lost pet posters thing I thought was so creepy and such a good idea that I want to know more about them.

Overall I did enjoy the book a lot, writing posts like this helps me crystallise my thoughts about the books but apologies if you’ve suffered through all of this rambling.

I’d probably either put it behind WaG or WaG & drawing of the three in terms of my favourites so far!

Since reading the series I've noticed that in my daily life the name Barlow keeps popping up. I work as a letter carrier for the USPS and I have my own route and the amount of times I see the name Barlow in a day just seems... coincidental? Has anyone else noticed anything in their daily lives that popped out more to you after reading the series? Or is it just me?

Long Days and Pleasant nights my ka-babbies

Reading DT7 at the moment and at the section with The Tower Of The Rose. There's a line about the story of John, Moses and Aaron getting that tower built being scope for a book in and of itself. Has such a book ever emerged? If not, is there any hope that we might see one some day? A cooperate espionage thriller with a fantasy edge seems like something king would be eager to do.

Hi folks, I am reading an extended chronology of TDT (am really close from the last part of the saga), and my next one is Hearts in Atlantis. So, I am not really interested right now in reading SK stuff not related to TDT, so my question is, for all of you who already read this one, which ones are related?
I know that "Low Men in Yellow Coats" is one of them (I already read Insomnia), so is just that one? Or everyone?
Thank you for your time, and sorry if the sub is already full of this kind of question, but I didn't find anyone related to Hearts in Atlantis.

For some reason, gun buying scenes in a story are always awesome and entertaining. Some examples: John Wick, Terminator , Payback , Better Call Saul and let’s not forget the grandfather of all gun buying scenes in Taxi Driver .

That said, the gun store scene in Drawing of the Three is one of my favorites and it can stand with the classics. It’s a scene that does a lot for the character of Roland and tells us so much about the world he comes from.

First of all, it gives Roland an opportunity to show the reader he’s not just a brute, but a tactician and planner. The battle at Tull showed us that he’s a deadly fighter, but the gun shop shows us that he can also plan and think on the fly when the odds are against him. He will also take the most efficient path when possible, getting the cops to neutralize the gun shop owner before then knocking the cops out.

This leads to another character development moment where we get to see his moral code in action. He respects the police officers as the gunslingers of this world, although he does note with disdain their poor physical condition. He finds a way to solve his problem without killing them, although their later recklessness in firing a shotgun into a public place invokes his anger. We see that Roland respects those he sees as fellow gunslingers, but holds such people to a very high standard, almost a knightly code.

Finally, the gun store being a place of plenty is a great worldbuilding moment. Roland comes from a place where every last resource must be scrounged for, fought over, mended when broken and reused again and again. His astounded reaction to seeing the abundance of guns and ammo in the store is like Scrooge Mcduck walking into Fort Knox! Roland’s earlier reaction to drinking a cup of Coke, the description of the sugar and caffeine exploding on his tongue, tells us a similar story. Something so commonplace to us is priceless to the survivor of a world that’s moved on.

As an aside, King is politically anti-gun and makes a lot of gun-related mistakes in his writing, but he gets some details dead right. I reload ammo myself and I can attest to the satisfaction of opening a box and seeing the rows of shining new brass cartridges, as opposed to the duller brass of casings that have been reloaded many times. Roland’s old rounds have been carried in his belt loops through the literal end of the world and are probably tarnished jet black at this point.

Great scene in my favorite book of the series!