Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came

I'm currently in the middle of Stephen King's The Dark Tower books, a kinda western story set in another world that was inspired by a narrative poem of Robert Browning. I closed Book 5 last month and am suffering withdrawal at present because Book 6 is only available in hardbound locally = Php 1430 (Bummer!) Even if I purchase it within the month, Book 7 is sold out until further notice. Maybe I just need to check out other bookstores around the city. I must admit that I admire Stephen King's character development. Someone may be a child or a young professional in one story then come out as an older man or a prominent community official in another. I also have a new found respect for his play with pop culture. Here are some cooky excerpts from Book 5 that take things up a notch...

"Roland Deschain and his ka-tet are bearing southeast through the forests of Mid-World on their quest for the Dark Tower. Their path takes them to the outskirts of Calla Bryn Sturgis. But beyond the tranquil farm town, the ground rises to the hulking darkness of Thunderclap, the source of a terrible affliction that is stealing the town's soul. The wolves of the Thunderclap and their unspeakable depredation are coming. To resist them is to risk all, but these are odds the gunslingers are used to. Their guns, however, will not be enough..."

"...The two Wolves on the end have light-sticks. They raise them. The two in the middle draw back their fists, which are clad in green gloves, to throw something. Sneetches...Eamon strikes the neck of the horse on the far left. The beast gives a crazy whinnying cry and staggers just as the Wolves begin to close the final forty yards of distance. It crashes into its neighbor horse just as that second horse's rider throws the thing in his hand. It is indeed one of the sneetches, but it sails off course and none of its guidance systems can lock onto anything...The other sneetch flies true, striking Eamon Doolin square in the face. His head explodes in a spray of blood and bone and mealy gray stuff..."

"Into Jake's hand Eddie dropped a couple of balls about three inches in diameter. The surfaces looked like steel, but when Jake squeezed, he felt some give--it was like squeezing a child's toy made of hard, hard rubber. A small plate on the side read

'SNEETCH'
HARRY POTTER MODEL
Serial # 465-11-AA HPJKR
CAUTION
EXPLOSIVE

To the left of the plate was a button. A distant part of Jake's mind wondered who Harry Potter was. The sneetch's inventor, more than likely."