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Summary: Window to two enchanting worlds.
Review: Jack Sawyer's mother is dying, and only he can find the magical cure to her terminal disease. It's a classic quest story, but King and Straub throw our hero plenty of curveballs. He has two worlds to contend with -- the world we know and The Colonies, a sort of parallel-dimension with an agrarian society and magic instead of technology. Monsters both human and inhuman want him stopped . . . fortunately, he's got at least one monster on his side.This is good old-fashioned epic storytelling, with plenty of human touches to keep it interesting. Jack's transformation from scared young boy to confident young man is believable and gradual over the course of his journey. Even at nearly 800 pages, the story never bogs down, and finished almost too soon for my tastes. Jack is such an intensely sympathetic character that I was sorry to leave him. The Colonies and the way they interweave with our recognizable world are fascinating. This fantasy world is as well realized as Terry Pratchett's Discworld, or even Tolkien's Middle Earth. A lot of modern fantasy is a blurry conglomeration of stock characters and situations. With The Talisman, King and Straub give an almost photographic account of their fantasy world, enough to make you feel you've been there, and make you want to go back (fortunately, King and Straub are discussing a sequel).
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Summary: :)
Review: This was one of my favorite Stephen King books along with It, The Shining, and the Stand. King writes kids a lot better than most and the character of the twelve year old boy adds a lot to the story. Also I think joining up with Peter Straub helped refresh the imagination that was put into the novel and helped open new roads throughout the plot. I've never read any of Straub's books but now I plan on checking them out. :) (If you weren't into the chronacles of narnia as a kid you might not want to bother)
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Summary: To the point...
Review: This book is not scary and isn't up to King's usual writing standards. I have never read anything by Straub, and having seen what the collaboration resulted in, I probably never will. This particular book is pretty easy to put down (and I love King and nearly all of his other novels). If you are looking for FANTASY, which is what this book is, then check out King's Dark Tower. If you ask me, I think this book got him started on all the Dark Tower stuff. For instance, it's fantasy, there are two diff. worlds, and what is at the end? In this book, the Black Hotel...as compared to the Dark Tower. Gimme a break. Simply put: the main character really isn't that interesting, the characters meant along the way are usually annoying, the main character's friend is really annoying, the "flip" world isn't all that spectacluar, villains are a yawn, and the book is too long. I heard there was going to be a sequel...I can only hope that it surpasses this effort. Skip it and read the Dark Tower series.
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Summary: A Tremendous Tale
Review: Those critics who label King as a Horror writer need only to read the Talsiman to fully understand what an abhorration that label is. This novel is a terrific fantasy story set in different dimensions and realms, and is very similar to Tolkien's The Hobbit and C.S Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The story is masterfully told, and is completely encompassing. Once this book begins, you yourself will feel you are on the journey for the Talisman, treking through worlds and situations you would have never dreamed. For those who are looking for a great fantsay yarn, read this novel.
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Summary: Magical
Review: This is one of the most heart stopping, magical books I have ever read. I feel in love with the hero and couldn't put it down. I have read it twice!!
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Summary: Bloated and Dull
Review: Whenever a Stephen King book approaches or surpasses the 1000 page mark, the reader should beware (the exception is the uncut version of "The Stand"). What you're in for is a lot of unnecessary bloat, and "The Talismen" is no exception. King's stories are better the closer to plausible reality he keeps them and this books best parts don't take place in the mythical otherworld created by King and Straub. Part of the problem here might be that each author may have been too polite to ask the other to trim his sections of the writing. The fate of the book resembles that of many rock'n'roll supergroups; a mediocre effort not worthy of the reputation of the participants.
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Summary: My favorite book
Review: Ever since I first read The Talisman when I was in grade school, I've read it at least once a year since, and that's been over 10 years. This book is a departure from King's horror genre and I don't think he'll ever come close to this quality again. The story is about Jack's journey to save his mother across the country and different worlds. I don't want to say too much, but this is the best effort of throwing fantasy into the present day world. King's descriptive writing hints at the genius of Tolkien, but is completely King. I become so immersed in this book every time I read it that I'm often up until 3 in the morning reading and my copy is all but destroyed from reading it so much. I cannot recommend this book enough. Even if you are not a fan of Steven King and his horror works, I suggest this book. There are only the slightest of hints of horror. The characters are extremely rich and you really care what happens to them.
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Summary: O MY GOD!
Review: EVERY DAY I GENUFLECT BEFORE MY STEPHEN KING IDOL! NOT ONE SINGLE DAY GOES BY THAT I DON'T! THIS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN! FORGET THAT IT'S AN OVERWROGHT, SUFFOCATING DISPLAY OF BRAND-NAME DRIVEL! I HAVE READ IT TWENTY TIMES! IT IS TOO COOL! STEPHEN KING IS, LITERALLY, MY IDOL!
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Summary: Read it , reread it, reread it......
Review: Like I said reread it a few times. Amazing book. Pure fantasy, but really convincing and humane. Peter Straub's touch dilutes Stephen King's descent into frightening horror. Read it while travelling in America (airport shopping)in 1985 for the first time and several times since then. Loved it and still do.
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Summary: Great I loved it!
Review: This book is amazing! Traveling Jack is the typical anti hero who overcomes great tribulation and triumphs. This story is highly imaginative and it is very difficult to tell just exactly who is writing what becuase they tried to mimic each others styles when they wrote it. When you get wrapped up in this story it becomes very difficult to function until you finish it. I highly recommend this book to any lover of horror or adventure stories.
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