The Drawing of the Three

The second book in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. The series was inspired by Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning.

This story is the continuation of The Gunslinger and chronicles Roland of Gilead's journey towards the dark tower and past three doors. Each door is a link to another world, our world. Through these doors Roland is able to pull companions into his world.

At the end of the novel Roland has two additional companions: Eddie Dean and Odetta Holmes. The finaly door doesn't hold a companion but instead allows Roland to relive the death of Jake which troubles him greatly. Once the three are assembled it completes their ka-tet and they continue their journey towards The Dark Tower.

I believe The Drawing of the Three is based on two lines of the poem, XI #5-6:

           'Tis the Last Judgement's fire must cure this place 
           'Calcine its clods and set my prisoners free.'