A 12-year-old boy is faced with an arduous task. He must traverse the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast in the hope of saving his dying mother's life. He has two options: the conventional route or the alternate world of the American Territories(!). Not only does he have to find the Talisman to save her, but also to subvert an emerging and growing evil. As you can see from the book blurb, it's a captivating story.

This is more of a fantasy story than a horror tale, but I'll call it supernatural horror. It's a typical King (and Straub) venture with numerous sub-arcs and interesting characters that kept me engaged for over 700 pages. However, on this third reread, towards the end, I didn't care as much about what happened. Maybe it's one of those books that can only be truly enjoyed on the first reading, which I did enjoy a lot. I give it 7 out of 12 for still being all about the adventure! Originally, I gave this 9 out of 12 on my first read.

The images add a nice touch to the review, but they don't really enhance the overall content. The story itself is full of excitement and mystery, and it's a great read for fans of supernatural and adventure stories. While my interest may have waned a bit on subsequent reads, it's still a book that I would recommend to others.

Richard was irritating as hell.

Every time I had to read about him, I struggled.

His actions and behavior were often frustrating and made it difficult for me to engage with his part of the story.

However, Wolf was an entirely different matter.

He was one of my favourite characters of any novel I've ever read.

His strength, courage, and loyalty were truly inspiring.

The pacing of the story was quite slow at times, which could be a bit of a drawback.

But ultimately, I really enjoyed following Jack on his quest.

The journey was filled with excitement, danger, and unexpected twists and turns.

I'm looking forward to reading the sequel and seeing what adventures lie ahead for Jack and his companions.

Overall, despite its flaws, this novel was a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good adventure story.

3.75

Este es uno de los libros más difíciles de conseguir de King. Sólo se consigue usado, y aún así es complicado hacerse con él.

Fortunadamente, llegó a mis manos su más valuada edición: en tapa dura, editorial Plaza y Janés. Es uno de mis libros más importantes.

Sí, quería presumir.

—¿No piensas a veces que en la vida hay algo más, aparte del orden? —Miró la cara de Richard, inocente y escéptica—. ¿No te gustaría un poco de magia, Richard?

Es una novela de la cual esperaba mucho. Había leído muchas críticas excelentes, sin embargo, me decepcionó un poco. Pero sólo un poco. Ya que fue mi culpa, porque mis expectativas eran muy altas.

El inicio es bastante lento, hasta en partes inverosímil. Luego la historia se vuelve muy buena y sumamente adictiva; empieza la acción.

Con respecto al final, es la conclusión que tenía que ser, la esperada; no podía terminar de manera diferente, así que bien.

El libro me gustó muchísimo. Me encanta la aventura y la fantasía, y King, junto con su amigo Straub, lo trataron con soberbia. Una trama muy original y atrayente. Hay partes que se me quedaron en la memoria como si las hubiera leído ayer.

Es un libro hermoso, que trata sobre sacrificarse por el otro, sobre la amistad y el amor; sobre hasta qué punto puede llegar la codicia. Tiene fragmentos que son muy tristes, y en esos mismos el estilo de narración sello King fue extraordinario; imposible no sentir la aflicción de los protagonistas.

En fin, una novela maravillosa, recomendable para todo quien le guste la aventura y la fantasía. Que te va a dejar una marca profunda en tu corazón. Un libro inolvidable.

For approximately a three-month period, we accompany a twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer on a remarkable journey. This journey not only takes him across the country but also transports him to other unknown worlds. Jack Sawyer has led a life distinct from most kids his age. His wisdom, determination, and overall awesomeness throughout the entire novel prove that even a twelve-year-old boy should not be underestimated.

I believe one of the aspects I liked most about The Talisman was indeed Jack Sawyer. He is the kind of character you can't help but adore. Not only because of the qualities I previously mentioned about his character, but also because he is so strong, innocent, and the type of kid we all aspired to be at that age. He reminds me a great deal of Jake from the Dark Tower series, yet I find Jack to be even stronger, and I grew to love his character deeply.

The journey itself was also incredibly interesting on its own. Not every journey in a person's life is going to be easy. In fact, it may turn out to be even more challenging than initially anticipated. Jack's journey is filled with hardships and pain, but the rewards he reaps during and at the end of his journey are well worth it. I often felt as if, while reading, I was experiencing the same trials as Jack. Every time he suffered, I felt a pang of pain, or at least my heart suffered along with him. Jack is such a genuine character, not forced, and written with great skill.

Even though this was a collaboration between King and Straub, I felt that this was an exceptionally well-written novel. The writing was superb, and I also felt that loose ends were neatly tied up, my questions were answered, and I felt as if I was accompanying Jack on his journey. I sometimes think that all of these elements are difficult to achieve in a novel. But once again, King (and Straub) demonstrates why he is a master author. The descriptions of scenery, emotions, people, and everything else made me feel as if I was a part of these pages myself.

The only "problem" I had with this book was the character Wolf. At first, I found him to be irritating...extremely irritating. However, because I loved Jack so much and wanted to see where this journey would lead him, I decided to tolerate Wolf. As I continued reading, I actually grew to like him. I don't think he detracts from the story at all, as he endures a great deal himself.

All in all, The Talisman is well worth the investment in reading. I am eagerly looking forward to Black House to discover where Jack travels next.

I truly relished reading this!

I considered it to be rather excellent.

It was my very first encounter with it, thus I had no inkling of what to anticipate.

Essentially, it is the tale of Jack, who is 12 years old.

He has to embark on an epic quest across the country in an attempt to save his mom from succumbing to cancer.

I have always believed that King writes from the perspective of children extremely well.

This story is no different.

Although there are a few horror elements present, I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a horror story.

I would rather label it as more of an adventure/fantasy/sci-fi story.

I desired to read this due to the Dark Tower connections.

I thought the connections were subtle yet they were indeed there.

I eagerly look forward to reading Black House at some point in the future.

I wish there was a means to distinguish which parts King penned from the parts Peter Straub wrote.

Overall, I thought this was a great story about a heroic quest.

I would highly recommend it to anyone in search of a good fantasy story.

2018 Subjects Specific Reading Challenge
I have 30 books with specific subjects that I need to read. Book 16 is a book by two or more authors, namely Stephen King and Peter Straub. It's a magical adventure titled "The Talisman". The first sentence is: "On September 15th, 1981, a boy named Jack Sawyer stood where the water and land come together, hands in the pockets of his jeans, looking out at the steady Atlantic." Having recently read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", it's easy to see what inspired the idea of "Jack Sawyer" in King and Straub's minds. "The Talisman" combines the original "Tom Sawyer Adventure" and the well-known "King Horror". I haven't read any books by Straub yet, but I plan to soon. Although this book felt a bit dragging in places and the pacing was odd, looking back, I can see how artful and masterful the story weaving was. The places it took me to and the emotions it awakened in me - it's the work of master storytellers! At first, I thought of going straight to the next book "Black House", but then I discovered there are graphic novels. So undoubtedly, I will be reading them first.

This has always been one of my all-time favorite Stephen King books, not just among his works but in general. It's a book that I've read countless times, so I was absolutely thrilled when the sequel, Black House, was chosen for the June 2010 group read in the Stephen King group here on Goodreads. It gave me the perfect excuse to reread this one, yet again.

I simply adore Jack. Love him to bits. He's so good, pure, honest, brave, and willing to do whatever it takes to do the right thing. I love how he starts out scared, unsure, and in need of a hand-hold, but within three months, he grows into a strong, confident, and heroic force to be reckoned with. But the thing I love most about Jack is that he's still human and still vulnerable. He's willing to give up everything to save his friend, this friend who is the son of the man who has caused all of Jack's misery and suffering. He truly understands the value of friendship, loyalty, and virtue, and nothing can sway him from that. I ♥ Jack Sawyer. I'm seriously thinking about getting a T-shirt made. ;)

There's a great deal of realistic darkness and grittiness in this book, but also a lot of magic and light. Oatley and the Sunshine Home for Wayward Boys are two of the most awful places I've ever read about in a YA book (and I do consider this to be one). What makes it even worse is that, aside from the magic, they could both really exist. Especially with the Sunshine Home, as my area just had a huge scandal with a Cash-For-Kids program, where a local judge was taking bribes to send kids to correctional facilities to pad their numbers for more state funding, etc. It's really crappy stuff, but it happens every day. I love that sense of realism, even though it's clearly a work of fantasy. Sometimes I wish I had my own version of the Territories that I could escape to from time to time.

I've always regarded this book as a Stephen King book, not a collaboration with Peter Straub. I'd read a lot of King's works before, but nothing of Straub's until recently when I attempted to read a short story collection of his. I say "attempted" because I didn't care for it and didn't finish it. But I bring this up because this time, whether it's because I've been on GR talking to friends from the UK and noticed some of their wording and phraseology, or because I read a couple of Straub's short stories, or a combination of both, I feel like I could see some of Straub's contributions here. Simple things like using "outsize" instead of "oversized", for example. I also felt that some of the more quirky-weird elements were probably Straub's - not that King lacks in that department, but it was just the impression I got. One only has to read the first story in "Magic Terror" to understand why. The Territories trees, for instance (A BOY! OUR BOY??), but there were a few other things that I felt had the Straub stamp on them.

Yet King's influence is clearly all over this book, mainly in the characterizations, as usual. To this day, I'm still in awe of his ability to make me know and understand a character in just a few lines. For example, when Richard is describing Reuel Gardener (whose name is just a typo away from "cruel"), he mentions that he "Sometimes heard really peculiar noises coming from out of Reuel's room, and once saw a dead cat on the garbage thing out in back that didn't have any eyes or ears. When you saw him, you'd think he was the kind of person who might torture a cat." (Pg. 443) You can take this line as it is or leave it, but as the human pet of two beautiful cats myself, I shudder to think of the kind of person who could torture a cat like that. My imagination runs wild (unfortunately), and I think about how it would be done and the cruelty involved, and it makes me sick to my stomach. All from a throwaway passage about a throwaway character. But that's what makes King my favorite. He makes it all seem so real, effortlessly.

This book does require a fair amount of suspension of belief. The main point that sticks out for me is that Speedy mentions to Jack in the beginning that there are far fewer people in the Territories than in our world, so not everyone has a Twinner. Yet almost everyone in the book has or had a Twinner - even the thugs from Richard's school. The odds of that are just too high, so you really just have to accept it and move on. And then there's the case of Morgan's train, which exists in both the Territories and America. If Jack boards the train in the Territories in the Outposts (corresponding to the Midwest) and exits the train in America in California, did the American version of the train start running its course all on its own? It's just something to think about...

And finally, here are some odd little tidbits I noticed.

- The Black Hotel has a kind of consciousness or life, and uses it in a manner similar to the Overlook from The Shining (which was only written a few years before this was published). The two hotels are not alike in any other way, but I thought it was an interesting parallel.

- George Hatfield, another reference to The Shining, shows up here as a student at Thayer School (where Richard attends), who is in the process of being expelled for cheating. You'll remember him as the stuttering debater who ended Jack Torrance's teaching career in Vermont from The Shining.

- The Quonset hut next to the train tracks outside of the Blasted Lands is reminiscent of the Quonset hut in Thunderclap from Wolves of the Calla...

- Time zones are mentioned backwards here (there's a mention of Morgan being woken up at 2am California time, which is midnight Springfield, IL time), which could indicate a link to the Dark Tower series, as directions shift... Either that or someone just got really confused. :P

Anyway... I really love this story, and I think it will remain a favorite of mine for years to come. :)

The Talisman is truly an epic work that may not be suitable for the casual Stephen King fan.

If you attempt to make this your very first King book, there's a chance you might not want to explore his works further, and you might even struggle to finish this one. However, if you have already delved into several of his "shorter" books, dabbled in some of his more substantial offerings like The Stand and IT, and perhaps even read a Dark Tower book or two, I believe you will be prepared to graduate to The Talisman.

Interestingly, it doesn't entirely feel like a typical King book. This is understandable given his collaboration with Straub. But I can't quite put my finger on what exactly gives that non-King feel. I can only say that I can sense it's not solely King's work. It does contain many elements commonly found in King's writings, such as horrifying monsters and children engaged in battles with the supernatural. Yet, if I were asked to distinguish which parts were King's and which were Straub's, I wouldn't be able to do so.

Some people mention the slow start in their reviews, and this is very much the case. That's precisely why I think you shouldn't begin with this one. If you're already enthusiastic about King, I know you'll have the patience for the slow beginning of this book because you'll be eager to anticipate reaching the more engaging parts - and it definitely gets quite intense!

Once it gets going, it becomes a thrilling coaster ride of fantasy, horror, the supernatural, and post-apocalyptic chaos, with a series of episodic adventures across America and multiple planes of existence. Along the way, you'll encounter numerous characters who will stay with you for a long time, including one who might be the most endearing of any character in any King book.

So, if you're well-versed in your King readings and haven't yet tried this one, I declare you ready to embark on your pursuit of The Talisman!

This is one of his places. No Wolf should ever be in...

It's truly remarkable how on certain occasions, one can perceive the filaments of connection among extremely diverse stories. Even when those stories are not (or are purportedly not) linked.

I vividly recall that when I read this, my mind immediately drifted to Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. Especially in the interactions between Jack (George) and Wolf (Lennie).

The relationship between George and Lennie in the novel is complex and touching. Lennie, with his childlike innocence and strength, often gets into trouble, and it is George who has to clean up the mess. Similarly, in this situation, Wolf seems to be in a place where he perhaps doesn't belong, and Jack may have to deal with the consequences.

The parallel between the two sets of characters adds an interesting layer to the story. It makes one wonder if there are deeper themes at play, such as loyalty, friendship, and the responsibility we have for those we care about.

Overall, this connection between the two stories serves as a reminder that literature has the power to touch our hearts and make us think about the human condition in ways we might not have expected.

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub is a captivating and ambitious novel that takes readers on an epic journey. The story follows young Jack Sawyer as he traverses between our world and an alternate universe in search of the talisman to save both. The plot is a masterful blend of horror and fantasy, with complex characters and a web of relationships.

Jack's companions, Wolf and Richard, add depth and heart to the story. Their friendship with Jack is a central theme, teaching him about love, loyalty, and the importance of protecting those you care about. The novel's scope is vast, covering days, weeks, and months of Jack's arduous journey.

The ending of The Talisman is both satisfying and bittersweet. Jack's task is completed, and he returns home safely, but not without having undergone significant personal growth. The novel ends with a quote from Mark Twain, highlighting the coming-of-age nature of the story. Overall, The Talisman is a must-read for fans of King and Straub, as well as anyone who enjoys a thrilling and thought-provoking adventure.

“You don’t own a thing unless you can give it up, what does it profit a man, it profits him nothing, it profits him zilch, and you don’t learn that in school, you learn it on the road, you learn it from Ferd Janklow, and Wolf, and Richard going head-first into the rocks like a Titan II that didn’t fire off right.”
The Talisman ~~ Stephen King


Believe it or not, THE TALISMAN is the first Stephen King novel I have read. I wish I hadn't put reading King off for so long. I would have loved him in my teens. This was a fantastic read.

Together, King & Straub have written one of the greatest coming of age novels ever written. THE TALISMAN belongs to the ranks of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN, DAVID COPPERFIELD & DANDELION WINE. Isn't it interesting that King & Straub chose \\"SAWYER\\" for Jack's last name ...

Yes, I know, I'm gushing over a book again. Ok, let me do a proper review for you.



THE TALISMAN is a brilliantly plotted novel ~~ one that balances both horror and fantasy taking place in both our world and in an alternate-universe. In this world our hero, Jack, is on an epic journey to find the talisman, and save the worlds ~~ plural. King & Straub traverse multiple places in these two worlds with all paths leading to the Black Hotel. A place where there is an epic battle between goodness and darkness ~~ moon and sun.

Our young hero, Jack Sawyer, “twelve years old and tall for his age,” is an amazing protagonist to lead us on this journey. What Jack experiences test his emotional, physical and mental endurance as he travels west to the Black Hotel ~~ his journey strengthens and hardens him. The plot is complex as characters pass back and forth between worlds and dimensions. It is a necessary for Jack to take for we learn that he is the key to preventing disaster on all worlds.



Joining Jack on this journey are Wolf and Richard, who play Jim and Tom respectively to Jack's Huck. In addition to serving as Jack's traveling companions they are Jack's greatest teachers as he learns of love, friendship, loyalty, and protecting your herd. In fact, I would say the major theme of THE TALISMAN is love.

In relation to Wolf
\\n  \\"Wolf smiled so openly?and yet so wistfully that Jack was moved to take his hand. It was something he never could have done in his old life, no matter what the circumstances, but that now seemed like his loss. He was glad to take Wolf's warm, strong hand.\\"
\\"'I love you, Jacky.'
'I love you, too, Wolf,' Jack said, 'Right here and now.'\\"\\n

In relation to Richard
\\n  \\"Jack reached for Richard. Richard tried to push him away. Jack was having none of that. He held Richard. The two of them stood that way in the middle of the deserted railroad bed for awhile. Richard's head on Jack's shoulder ... Then Richard fell on his knees with his hair in his tired face, and Jack got down there with him, and I can bear to tell you no more only that they comforted each other as well as they could.\\"\\n

Jack's affection for his friends is, indeed, pure, unconditional love. He loves them openly and purely, without reservation.



Jack's quest is a long one, covering days and weeks and months; our hero travels tens of thousands of miles through psychically and physically draining landscapes. At the completion of his mission, Jack returns home in a matter of days ~~ chauffeured by Wolf's brother. THE TALISMAN is ambitious in scope.

THE TALISMAN ends in light with the redemption and healing of Jack's cancer-ridden mother and her twinner, Queen Laura DeLoessian. And finally the Talisman is transformed from a thing, to symbol, to nothingness. At the end of The Talisman, Jack's task is completed and he is safe ~~ for now ~~ for Travellin' Jack will make at least two more appearances in King's Universe. But ~~ for the time being ~~ Jack is back in his world on the verge of manhood and new adventures.

King & Straub end their tale as they began it, with a quote from MARK TWAIN: \\"\\n  So endeth this chronicle. It being strictly the history of a boy, it must stop here; the story could not go much further without becoming the history of a man. When one writes a novel about grown people, he knows exactly where to stop—that is, with a marriage; but when he writes of juveniles, he must stop where he best can.\\n

Recently, a great GR friend and I reached an agreement that the word'magical' is an excellent way to describe The Talisman. In turn, she shared a wonderful quote by Markus Zusak:

“Sometimes you read a book so special that you want to carry it around with you for months after you've finished just to stay near it.”

Now, I not only fully concur but also deeply appreciate the sentiment behind Zusak's words. Although it's unclear if he was specifically referring to this novel, it's incredibly profound and perfectly describes my feelings towards The Talisman. (Thank you again, Michelle.)

However, there's more to this story than just magical elements. Much more. At the heart of it is 12-year-old Jack Sawyer, whose sole purpose seems to be saving his ailing mother. To achieve this, he must embark on a journey east... and beyond.

In the days leading up to his departure, Jack meets the truly invaluable "Speedy" Parker. Through this encounter, King & Straub expertly introduce the Constant Reader to him as well. The duo transports you right there with them. They are indeed long-lost friends!

This being my 3rd reading, they took me on a thrilling roller-coaster journey that exceeded my already high expectations. With this admission, I have another confession: I tend to be a very analytical reader, especially compared to my previous experiences with the book.

One scene, in particular, stands out as slightly unrealistic: our protagonist's leave-taking. I seriously don't recall having this reaction before. Perhaps with age and maturity, our perception of things changes, leading to different reactions. I really don't know...

Part II: The Road of Trials, is easily one of my favorite sections. As the title implies, it chronicles the beginning of Jack's epic journey. It's life-altering as his adventures help shape the man he will become. This is precisely why I love this section so much.

The words used to describe the bleak beauty of Oatley are simply amazing and awe-inspiring, as evident in the previous passage.

The character of Wolf is very memorable (I haven't forgotten him since my first reading in 1999). He's beloved and so masterfully crafted that you can't help but want to run towards him with a warm embrace. In times of sorrow, joy, or imminent danger, your heart goes out to him. It really breaks your heart. Well, it did mine anyway.

As the journey progresses, the reader is treated to an attribute rarely found in the works of today's so-called "latest and greatest" writers. In Jack, for example, we learn a great deal about his personal character (as opposed to the superficial), to the point that it almost feels like an invasion of his privacy. King & Straub delve deep, exposing cherished memories, childhood fears, and the like. Most interestingly, they explore the mindset of the characters.

The juxtaposition between Jack and Richard Sloat still amazes me. One thought that plagued me relentlessly is, how is it possible for two individuals who are polar opposites to be so incredibly close? It hardly seems plausible, even now, yet it's true. Brilliant work, King and Straub!

I'd never had this experience before, but at a certain point, I had a genuine Eureka! moment. I realized that this duo was clearly influenced by C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia and, to some extent, Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.

By the fourth and final section, aptly titled The Talisman, I absolutely loved every word. I thought it couldn't possibly get any better, but I was mistaken... by a long shot.

From the Blasted Lands to the very end of their adventures, and almost everything in between, this one has it all. Excluding the spectacular conclusion, I really enjoyed and have a great deal of respect for the chapter centered around Richard's past and, ultimately, how he deals with it.

On a side note, Jack's mother, Lily Cavanaugh, felt very distant throughout most of the novel. I had the impression that she was, in a way, detached from reality. And aside from her debilitating illness, I barely felt anything for her at all. That is, until the end. This development had a significant impact on me!

If I had one critique to offer, it would be regarding the novel's wordiness. It can be a bit long-winded in places, but its inherent visual enhancements make them almost necessary. Hardly a critique at all, right?

Up next is Black House. I haven't read it since its initial HC publication around 2001. I remember practically nothing of the text, so as you can probably imagine, I'm very much looking forward to this one!

Full video review here: https://youtu.be/Ej2e5vMJmI0

DEATH TO RICHARD.

This statement seems rather extreme and perhaps lacking in context. It's important to note that such a phrase can be quite inflammatory. Without knowing the specific reasons behind it, it's difficult to fully understand the sentiment.

Maybe Richard has done something that has deeply offended or wronged the person making this statement. However, simply wishing death upon someone is not a productive or healthy way to address the situation.

Rather than resorting to such harsh language, it might be more beneficial to have an open and honest dialogue to try and resolve any issues or misunderstandings.

Alternatively, if the situation is truly serious, there are appropriate channels and methods that can be used to seek justice or redress.

In conclusion, while the statement "DEATH TO RICHARD" may express a strong emotion, it's important to approach such situations with rationality and respect for the rights and dignity of others.