This is an excellent book for several reasons. Firstly it takes place in Derry, ME which is the same setting as It. (If staying alive were a priority in my life, I would take my chances in Compton, or the Gaza Strip before moving to Derry). I like Derry simply because it's the city of It. Secondly, it is the most closely interwoven with the Dark Tower of all of his books that aren't one of the seven in that series, yet it can still stand alone as a book, and doesn't require any knowledge of the Dark Tower series in order to be enjoyed. If I recall, I think I read this before reading that series. There are a few things that happen in this book that lose their significance if you haven't read the series, but they're not essential to the main plot of the story. Thirdly, it introduces some concepts of our link to the spirit world that I rather enjoy musing on. However, I'm not going to put any spoilers in here, and suggest that you check it out for yourself.