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Summary: So Bring On the next Dark Tower book
Review: Ok, it does start a bit slow, as several reviewers complain, but it's a beautiful book, full of wonder and triumph, horror and creeps. It refers back often to The Talisman, which I enjoyed very much, but I did not have to re-read The Talisman to enjoy this book. Though I had forgotten much about Talisman, remembering only the broad outlines, Black House jogged my memory and seemed to flow very well from it. The best part of Black House is its connection to the Dark Tower series, and maybe this means that Stephen King will finally bring that series to a conclusion. Or at least write the next chapter. For someone as prolific as King, the delays between books are surprising. And confusing--who can remember what's happened years before? Come on, already, Stephen. But read Black House--who cares if everything isn't explained? That's the point of fantasy and wonder.
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Summary: Starts Slowly, But Ominous Effect Pays Off
Review: Yes, it does start slow. But the voice of the book, a fourth person fly on the wall type of tone, works, but takes time to get used to. I could not put down the book, and I fell in love with all the characters (as I usually do with King). Straub's literary flow comes through too, making it a very deep story (hence why some people found it un-King-like). There were many Dark Tower references, and I loved that, but I thought it was a very Talisman book, only it moved on from that--instead of being just a sequel, it was a foreshadowing book, a book that could also hold on its own, and give you so much about the Dark Tower series, The Talisman, and the work of horror/science fiction. I loved it. I thought it the best King book in a few years. I recommend it holeheartedly.
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Summary: Praise from the Coulee REGION
Review: As a native of the Coulee Region, in fact of the town that the writers have called Great Bluff (I think), and a frequent visitor of what they call La Riviere, I would like to thank them for telling a story that is Wisconsin in more than just setting. I don't know which of them, if either, has lived in the area, but they have nevertheless captured the philosophy of the place in their narrative. The book's verisimilitude is the result of the story not being told so much as witnessed by King, Straub, the reader, and the bird whose body all three inhabit. The reason for the book's style and form, and its lack of resemblance to The Talisman, has much to do with the its chronological and physical setting, and the authors' realization that the demands of telling literary truth in this age invite something different than you might be used to. That said, this book owes as much to Dickensian tradition as it does to post-modern narrative.
Is it a sequel to The Talisman? No, but I don't think that Mr. King writes sequels because pretty much all of his writing is one vast story with many territories in it, so none of the books exist in a linear 'sequence' except that some do happen after others.
The readers who have rejected its lack of formula are right to turn their backs on it if that is what they expect from a book, but if you want invention and a literary voice that is absolutely compelling, as well as an unexpectedly hypnotic tour of Western Wisconsin, go where these two want to take you.
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Summary: Hello, my name is TreeRider and I'm a Stephen King-aholic.
Review: If you're a casual Stephen King (or Peter Straub) reader, or just a fan, this book may disappoint you. Likewise if you're expecting further adventures of Jack Sawyer in the Territories. Jack spends very little time in the Territories in Black House, and most of that comes near the end of the book. I prepped myself for Black House by rereading The Talisman. If you're planning on doing this, too, I won't tell you to reconsider, because it's a very entertaining way to spend your time. And it can help you to understand the authors' otherwise obscure references to events of twenty years ago and their use of seemingly odd phrases like "right here and now" that appeared in the first book. But most folks can get their money's worth from Black House without spending a week (more or less) reading the 700+ page prequel to this novel. And if you're a hardcore horror nut, neither Talisman nor House is up your alley anyway.Another caveat: King experiments here with a different style of writing that may be off-putting to many readers. (It may not seem so different to Straub fans. I don't know; having read only The Talisman and Koko, I don't consider myself an authority on his works, but I can say I sensed more of his presence in House than I did in Talisman.) The authors use the simple present tense throughout Black House, and yet refer to past events in the past perfect tense, whereas simple past seems more correct to some of us English teachers. (King himself taught English before making a name for himself as a writer, so not all academicians will agree with me on this admittedly minor point.) And I found that their constant use of the first person plural, far from getting me personally involved, kept me from losing myself in the story. Reminded me of King's derogatory remarks about Harold Lauder's writing (second person present tense) in The Stand. Technical matters and other sniveling complaints aside, Black House is a great read. If you read King for his humor, as I do, you won't be disappointed here. His wry wit comes through on every page. And those of you who, like me, are bizarrely fascinated by his knack for the gross-out also will not feel left out. This story revolves around Jack's attempts to track down the serial killer of children in a small Wisconsin community who eats parts of his victims' bodies and then leaves notes to their parents describing the joy he had in consuming them. The Fisherman is one of Stephen King's sickest creations to date. For those of you die-hard King addicts (we know who we are) who are going through withdrawal while waiting so impatiently for your next fix of Dark Tower, wait no longer! See your local "dealer" (i.e., bookstore proprietor) today and shoot up with House. Not an official installment of his Dark Tower series, Black House is nonetheless a vehicle for King to give us some background info on gunslingers and the Crimson King. If you were secretly pleased (as I was) when King left horror behind in the late '80s to write modern-day myths, you will love this book. Don't imagine that his letting Mr. Straub into his private Dark Tower world is a sacrilege. The two together have some intriguing philosophical things to say about the metaphysics of that world-indeed, about all worlds. (And in a nod to the late great mythologist Joseph Campbell, their suggestion that a minor character is using alcoholism to "follow her bliss" is a hoot!) The best reason I can give you for buying Black House is that no one in their right minds would loan it to you. We know we'd never get it back!
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Summary: Dark Tower conenctions everywhere!
Review: Another Dark Tower series tie-in. Find out more about the Breakers, the Beams, the Tower, the Crimson King, and TED BRAUTIGAN! Aside from that, it's a great story anyway, but it's HEAVILY Dark Tower-related. Go get it!
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Summary: D'yamba, This is a Good Book
Review: "D'yamba", you say? Well, you'll just have to read this latest opus from the collective pens of Messrs. Stephen King and Peter Straub to understand. Is it better than the book, "The Talisman", which it is a sequel to? Maybe so, maybe so. By now most folks know the basic plot. Jacky Sawyer, the 12-year old of "Talisman" fame is grown now and has "retired" from the LAPD to rural Wisconsin. However, recent events in French Landing, Wisconsin, aren't about to let him stay retired. A serial killer of children, the "Fisherman", whose M.O. parallels one Albert Fish of New York for shear diabolic terror, has put all of Coulee County on edge. Jack's new found friend from a previous case, Sheriff Dale Gilbertson, has asked - no begged - Jack to assist him in this investigation. While the Fisherman kidnaps children and also enjoys a piece of each as an hoer douerve, it is the disppearance of young Ty Marshall that gets Jack into the case. Ty is being held prisoner in that alternate reality known as "The Territories", where Jack, as a 12 year old, had to venture to save his mother's life. So, Jack and Dale, who are then joined by a handful of motorcycle-riding warrior poets, begin the quest for the Fisherman in earnest. A secondary character, Henry, who is Dale's uncle and Jack's neighbor, serves as a blind DJ and radio personality (the best at baseball and swing music), and actually IDs the Fisherman. While over 90% of this book take places in Wisconsin, the "flipping" to the Territories is handled in a such a smooth way it is almost like osmosis. For those who cannot suspend their belief that one could be lying on the grass in one insatnce and merely get up in the Territories, King and Straub interject some characters and items from real life. For example, Richie Sexson really does play for Milwaukee's "Brew Crew" and the Brewer's outfielder-first baseman really does hit home runs. For those who get their news and commentary on the internet, they will recognize the Drudge Report towards the end of the book. I liked this book because it is reminiscent of two other classics of this genre, "The Stand" and "It". In both, a small group of people battle the demons in their own den of inequity. Jack and the "Sawyer gang", indeed, have to go to the Territories to fight the bad guys and save the world. The ties to King's series "The Dark Tower" are there and, if one is real careful, you can find, in one sentence, a reference to Brautigan, who was the hero of book one in "Hearts in Atlantis". Finally, the ending has a unique twist. "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" was never completed by Charles Dickens. When that book was made into a Broadway play - a musical, no less - the audience was given an opportunity to chose the ending from a couple of options. King and Straub do the same here. After some 640 pages or so, they tell you you can stop with the happy ending. If, however, you choose to go on and finish the last dozen or so pages, you will wind up with an ending that's, maybe, not so happy. No matter which path you choose, if you ever read "Bleak House" by Dickens you'll never look at that classic in quite the same way. Enjoy, for these two fellows did a really good job.
Rating: 
Summary: What a disappointment
Review: This book is a pretty poor effort for King (and Straub, I guess). It has very little to do with The Talisman, and for some reason more to do with Dark Tower, despite the fact that it was marketed as a Talisman sequel.
The story & storytelling are both pretty weak here. Stephen King readers will recognize in this book the following story devices that King uses time and TIME again:
* Inanimate objects that gain magical qualities
* Psychic connections between distant characters
* Strange, yet helpful, behavior from animals
As always, none of these things are ever explained. I for one am getting very tired of these ridiculous plot devices. The fact that King uses them so much suggests that his imagination has peaked.
The first 70 pages or so are very boring prose that could (and should) have been condensed. The story is very slow to reach the climax, which itself is disappointing. Along the way are a lot of ridiculous occurances that make you want to laugh, even though the writing wasn't intended to be comical. Oddly enough, several book critics gave Black House good reviews, when they probably should have ripped it to shreds.
My advice - wait for the paperback. If you haven't read The Talisman, read it before Black House because it, conversely, is a very good book.
Rating: 
Summary: Ouch what a stinker!
Review: If you want a realy great book read the Talisman or reread it but don't waste your time or money on Black House. I was amazed that the same authors wrote this book. The plot staggered along and one of the best characters from the Talisman "Parkus" now becomes just another gunslinger character from the Dark Tower series. I was sooooo disapointed in this book!
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Summary: Black House
Review: For the longest time reading this book, I was enthralled. Of all the Stephen King I've read (and I can count on one hand the number I haven't) this was the hardest to put down.
I knew going in that this was a sequel to the Talisman. And I'm accustomed to King throwing in references to his other works, but I was blindsided by his bringing in the Dark Tower story into this story.
I confess I haven't finished the book yet but there's something vaguely disappointing in this technicque. Almost like plagiarizing from yourself (an oxymoron if I've ever heard one).
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Summary: SO DISAPPOINTING
Review: The Talisman is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time. I was so jazzed to hear the sequel was coming out. What a piece of drek. This book had absolutely nothing to do with the Talisman. I didn't even finish it actually, before I gave it away. I never would have thought that Straub and King needed money so desperately; to publish something like this.
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