Rating: 
Summary: I Must Be One of the Minority...
Review: Based on other reviews and people I've talked to, I must be one of the few who didn't really enjoy this book. As others have said it does start out kind of slow, then some seemed to find it picked up after Jack got into the territories, which I did, but then I found it kind of did a yo-yo between interesting and boring. I sat there going "Finally! Now it gets good!" And for awhile it did, but some parts are rather pointless (the Oakley Tap was pretty lame for example). Usually Stephen King makes interesting, complex characters which Jack started out to be--and maybe it was Peter Straub's influence--but he started to seem not so real for me. The action was too slow for my taste and all in all I just didn't really care what happened to any of the characters. I'm sure others disagree with me, sorry, but that's my two cents. Two stars for good description and because I didn't actually have to pay for the book, someone gave it to me when we were camping one time;)
Rating:
Summary: Two many cooks (pun intended) spoiled the book
Review: It may have sounded like a good idea to have Stephen King and Peter Straub collaborate on a horror book, but the idea doesn't pan out in reality. The book leapfrogs back and forth without rhyme or reason; we don't really get into the plot; and the really interesting character, Wolf, not the book's pedestrian protagonist Jack Sawyer, doesn't remain in the story long enough to satisfy us. The real problem with "The Talisman", though, is that the writers' styles don't mesh; they clash instead of complimenting each other and it gives the book a stilted and uncomfortable tone. King and Straub are each fine writers on their own, but this book is ample testimony to the fact that two good writers don't necessarily add up to one good book.
Rating: 
Summary: A good book from a good collection
Review: I first read this book and then I followed up by listening to the novel on audio book. The error I made initially was to read Black House before this book. But by making this error, as I am sure that many others have, is that it prepared me for the great adventures that would involve the books main character, Jack Sawyer. This book has many highs and lows, but overall it is a good book. There was a point in the book, when it enters the "Wolf" chapters that I was scratching my head as to whether continue reading or not. (I prefer a serious believable plot vs fantasy). I convinced myself to continue reading, which I knew I would do anyways, and found this segment of the book to be the best and most heart chasing portion. This book offers great battles, failures and victories. There is nothing better in my opinion than entering into a SAGA with a great book like this that prepares you for many books to come. This book is the first of a SAGA, but in many ways, it is not. This novel proceeds "Black House" and prepares you for the "Dark Tower Series I, II, III, IV, & the soon to be released V", but actually was released after most of the above referenced novels. As you will read, this novel is maybe more of a Side Step in Time. For reasons like these, most of us Stephen King readers and fans understand that when Stephen King writes one book, it surely will have future or past consequences in another novel written by him. Final word to you, if you are wondering whether to make the leap into the "Territories" is this, the book is great, the upcoming novels, the side step novels and everything to do with the "Dark Tower Series" are great, but be prepared, there is much confusion, and many challenges, and there are great mysteries involved. Many readers may give up too quickly, but I assure you, if you like a good book/SAGA, this is a good book and a good starting point.
Rating: 
Summary: Jack and the wolf
Review: The second time I read this book it was much much better (the first time I was quite young). Jack is one of the strongest characters S.K. has developed. However, you seem to be able to tell where Stephens influences were and where they were not. The wolf storyline could have been scaled back somewhat and the Sunshine School and Oatley Tap could have stood some cutting down as well. After all, we were on a journey across the country. Over-all, I rate this book a three (the second time around) because it gives us a character we really care about and is definitely an interesting part of THE GUNSLINGER.
Rating:
Summary: Just a Darker Harry Potter??
Review: Well, first I must admit that I am a little biased. I jumped into this book without the knowledge that it was a fantasy tale.
I've always enjoyed King as a horror/suspense writer and I, quite frankly, was not prepared for a "make-believe" novel.
Even after realizing that this was no ordinary King work, I was still very disappointed with the premise and the scope of the journey. As far as I'm concerned, this book did nothing out of the ordinary. In no way did I find it inventive, groundbreaking or even thought-provoking.
What I will say, though, is while I felt that there was alot more room for suspense and twists, the overall story doesn't drag. It's well written, fairly robust and it moves along pretty well.
As for the title of this review: Yes, I am aware that this novel pre-dates JK Rowling by several years and perhaps I am being unfair. It may be like comparing apples to oranges, per se.
On the other hand, while I've never read any of the Potter series', I understand them to be gloomy, suspenseful and most of all, fun. The Talisman, in my eyes, only acclomplished the former.
In summary, I'm still a huge Stephen King fan and I will not be easily dissuaded from picking up any other of his works. The man's brilliance and imagination are unquestionable but this book just falls far shorter than what he's capable of.
Perhaps, if you're a Fantasy Buff (obviously unlike myself), you'll appreciate these 735 pages more than I.
Rating: 
Summary: Old King, Good King
Review: I never picked this one up back in the 80's when it came out, but since the sequel has hit, I felt compelled to read it. Not
bad, don't know how I missed it the first time. The sequel,
Black House is surely to please fans as well.
Rating:
Summary: Jack Lights Out
Review: This is my favorite novel of all time. I first read this epic adventure as a teenager. Since then I've read it at least 6 times, but I've pretty much lost count.
Rating:
Summary: (The Stand) x 2
Review: I really enjoyed The Talisman, but it did take me a few weeks to finish (I generally read books in 2-3 days - this one took at least 3 weeks). The writing in this book is almost mythological in character, definitely following The Stand's evil-vs-good story. The story is about 12-year old Jack's journey from New Hampshire to California in search of the Talisman. Once he finds the Talisman, his mother's lengthy cancerous illness will be gone, and she will live. The journey is at times bizarre, but never your typical gorey Stephen King. I recommend this book for newbies to King who aren't as interested in the disgusting factor. Bewarned, this book will take a long time to read though.
Rating:
Summary: King And Straub's Homage To Twain And Tolkien
Review: I don't suppose this would be the novel that would convert those who are not already fans of Stephen King or Peter Straub's work to either writer, but it's a pretty fine piece of work nonetheless. The first thing I should point out about The Talisman is that it IS a slow starter - probably more so than any of King's other work, with the possible exception of The Gunslinger, the first book in his Dark Tower series (it took me three tries to get past page 200, but it was worth the effort). This has a lot to do with the scope of the story King and Straub are telling - they're creating a whole new world here, which requires quite a bit of exposition. The Talisman is intented, I think, as an homage to several great English-language authors. Tolkien is the most obvious influence here (his Lord Of The Rings is name-checked about half a dozen times), though the works of Mark Twain hold an equally pervasive sway (two quotations from Huck Finn serve as the opening epigraphs for the novel, and it concludes with a quote from Tom Sawyer). Less readily apparent but still important influences include Kerouac's On The Road (with its theme of cross-country travel as a means of self-discovery) and Stephen R. Donaldson's Thomas Covenant novels (of which King is a fan). In conclusion, although The Talisman is hardly a perfect novel, it is certainly an engaging, and often powerful, piece of work. Highly recommended to fans of epic fantasy and those who are interested in seeing two of our finest horror writers try something a little bit different.
Rating:
Summary: Rarely has King or Straub been in finer form....5 Stars.
Review: When I heard that Peter Straub and Stephen King were writing a book together I thought what an unlikely paring of styles... Did these two authors prove me wrong!!! You are caught up in the story almost from the second page. Jack Sawyer is one of both Straub's and King's memorable characters. The kid goes through it all and by the end of the story we are sad to part company with this amazing kid. Along the way we get to meet Speedy Parker mysterious blues man, seer, advisor. Wolf an unlikely hero, but as memorable as Jack Saywer. A host of other interesting character as well as some truly monstrously evil ones. The story is filled with some vivid images of both idyllic scenes, as well as the bleak and downright terrifying. Tense, suspenseful, touching, tender, uplifting and heartbreaking.
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