Of course all of Stephen King's books are connected to the Dark Tower. What the Dark Tower IS is a metaphor for life, specifically the life of Stephen King. Just like life, the Tower and all the worlds sprang forth without explanation from the magic of the prim. Originally, the tower was supported by magic, but eventually as the magic faded, it was propped up by reason and science. In childhood, everything is magic and the world is full of wonder. As we grow this worldview is replaced by a reasoned replacement. Science and knowledge replaces faith and superstition. The beams are created. Roland clearly represents the stoic, persistence of faith in things working out as they should. The Crimson King clearly represents the mad, self-destructive side of King's personality. The breakers represent many things that are trying to bring the tower down; substance abuse, age, sickness, injury, etc.....There is no illusion in the story that the Tower is not teetering and eventually it will fall, as each of us must eventually come to the clearing at the end of the path. However, the journey of the Ka-Tet represents the quest to find God, to have answers, to achieve a degree of immortality. And by capturing the tale in the symbolic, intriguing, and exciting way that Stephen King has, he has preserved this view of the multiverse for his constant readers, thus achieving a sort of quasi immortality. Or maybe I'm wrong.....what do you think?