The Talisman by Stephen King, Peter Straub Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Talisman
Book Review: A classic and unexpected story, Right Here and Now!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read about 25 Stephen King books and always new this one was out there but for for some reason I never picked it up, with the Black House now out I figured I should pick up the Talisman and I am glad I did. The story is full of fantasy, supsense, horror and wonderful imagery. I recommend it to all Stephen King and Peter Straub fans.Book Review: A dark, horrifying fantasy tale worthy of five screams
Summary: 5 Stars
Like every Stephen King's work, this book contains all your horrors, so masterly painted, that they almost go out of those pages, ready to catch your neck and take you with them to the maelstrom of darkness. But with the addition of Peter Straub, this terrifying cocktail can actually blow up your sanity. You're very welcome to join Jack Sawyer, a 13-year-old boy in the most amazing quest: Save his mother's life. To do so, Jack must travel across America in a frenzied search, trying to locate the sole thing capable to restore her health. But Jack is not alone, all through the journey he'll find both allies and foes, whiles he realizes that his quest not only affect him and his mother, but an entire different realm, closely connected to "his" reality.
What will he do, alone and frighten, fighting against an Evil worse than his deepest fears? Where will he find both the courage and the perseverance, to stay focus in his goal without losing his mind?
Like Jack, you'll realize that even "the smallest person can change the face of the future", and the path is as important as the goal itself.
Book Review: A definate page turner with a modest ending.
Summary: 4 Stars
The good thing about the Talisman, well one of them anyways, is that you can hardly tell when the authors' take turns. The flow is soothing and is hardly as visible as some readers have noted it to be. This is a journey, as so many have stated, but one in which you feel as though you, too are traveling. The depiction of such characters as Sunlight Gardener is astonishing. The journey will leave you gasping for breath.
Plot wise, you can't ask for a better story-line. A young boy, Jack Sawyer, must cross from one side of America to the other in order to save his mother's life. Of course, there is a Kingly twist to the plot and the boy makes his trip a bit quicker by moving in and out of another dimension known exclusively as 'The Territories.' Jack is aided briefly by an old black,enigmatic blues musician named Speedy Parker. Jack later encounters a score of good warewolves, bad warewolves, hooved fiends, and a number of other antagonists on both sides of the dimensional spectrum. He is a marked young man and both cosmic worlds seem desperately out to eliminate young Jack and prevent him from obtaining the mysitc Talisman - the one item that can save his mother, and, ultimately both worlds. One such fiend, a hooved creature named Elroy, is particularly well-crafted. Other villains include corrupt cops, preachers, not-to-be-trusted adults with evil and perverse intentions, and a number of just plain evil folk.
As for the famous ally of Jack's named Wolf, well, he will warm your heart and make you utterly root for him throughout his time on the journey with Jack. As well a crafted character as there has ever been from the mind of King.
A great read. Not scary, but very involving.
Book Review: A fantastic story
Summary: 5 Stars
At 14 years old, this was the first Stephen King novel I read, and it made me read everything else the man had written. 18 years later, I've read this book 4 or 5 times and plan to read it again. When I heard the sequel was coming out, I reread this yet again and then immediately got the sequel. This story is not your regular Stephen King horror story. It is an adventure story. It is one of the best books I have ever read.Book Review: A genuine page turner
Summary: 4 Stars
This novel is a wonderful mix of fantasy, horror and myth. The story is about a twelve-year-old boy who starts on a quest for The Talisman, which is the only thing that can save his mother from the grips of cancer and the slow poisoning of evil; but he soon discovers saving his mother is but a part of his destiny. By saving his mother and defeating the forces that want her dead, he will save a world, two worlds, and an infinite number of worlds, all linked together in a chain of destiny.
Drawing from stories like Huckleberry Finn, Pinocchio, The Lord Of The Rings, a score of myths and legends, and being strongly intermixed with Stephen King's own Dark Tower saga, `Talisman' has a complex plot filled with meticulous detail and rich imagination. Had I read this book at age twelve, this would have been one of my favourite and influential books. Now, aged twenty-four, I still loved it to death, but I've read too many other books now. The beehive of my imagination has been filled with the nectar of too many other works. (I did however, read Stephen King's `Eyes Of The Dragon' at about that age, and if you like 'Talisman' I recommend you get a copy of that book as well.) Are you twelve yourself, and are you not afraid of violent and sometimes horrifying scenes, then pick this novel up now or regret it later- just like I regret it now.
Jack finds many obstacles on his road, some in our world and some in the other. You'll find no obstacles trying to finish this book, unless you're talking about turning the last page. But don't worry, there's a sequel: `Black House.'
This one gets four stars.
Bram Janssen,
The Netherlands