There is so much to love about this book.

As Roland and his ka-tet move on from their encounter with Walter in Oz’s castle, they encounter a quest. A small farming community is tormented by humanesque “wolves” who arrive on horseback every couple decades to steal one child from every twin born in the community. How do they know the wolves are coming? Andy the messenger robot of course. As we’ve seen en route to the tower, magic and technology overlap in uneasy ways.

This book should be read immediately after putting down The Wizard and Glass. Parallels between Roland’s experience in Mejis and the Calla abound. Bigger mysteries are also introduced and deepened. For example, why does everything total 19? (You’ll have to wait a couple more books to find out.)

Father Callahan, the priest-turned-alcoholic from Stephen King’s earlier novel, Salem’s Lot, features strongly in this book in an unexpected way. Rather that simply set Salem’s Lot and The Dark Tower in the same meta-narrative or cosmere, Stephen King brings himself into the mix which leads characters like Callahan to question their own reality. Imagine reading your life story while still living it!

The Dark Tower is a wild ride that keeps getting better.

My first thoughts on this book, cribbed from my handwritten book journal (August 17, 2005):

The series is better, every book. I love the way other books like Salem’s Lot and real life factor into this book. The juxtaposition of fantasy with technology is also well done. You never quite know what’s under the next robe.

King, Stephen. The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla. Narrated by George Guidall. Audiobook ed., unabridged, Simon and Schuster Audio, 2003.