Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: I noticed that several reviewers here object to the third person plural narration used in parts of this story. Unusual, but I liked it. It reminded me of the camera effects in some films. It gives an overview of events that even the main principles in the story are unaware of. It gave me a feeling of "being in the know". This is not one of SK or PS's kinder, gentler stories. There is enough gruesome gore to give the reader nightmares for several nights. So, this book might not be for everyone, but there is enough 'normalcy' to save it from being unpalatable. The main characters are extremely appealing. Jack Sawyer is especially winning. I read the Talisman many years ago and considered rereading it before starting this book, but I didn't. I found The Black House stands on it's own. There are enough clues and references to the former story to make the connections. My only complaint is the use of the silly German accent (which really isn't German) of a few of the characters. Trying to interpret what is being said slowed the flow of the story. But that complaint is a small one and I found this story well worth the time it took to read...no small thing at 600 plus pages.
Rating: 
Summary: Very entertaining.
Review: I found this novel, though it seems a little experimental, to be a very good read. It kept me glued and is the best thing I've read all year besides "a.k.a. Dorothy Drab" by Bert Rinehart. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: I am a huge fan of Stephen King and I have been reading him for years. Like many of his fans, I believe his best book was the Talisman. This was my first book I ever read by him and I was truely excited to see this book billed as a sequel to the Talisman. I don't know that I felt it to be a true sequel. This book actually stands on its own with a few references to both the Talisman and the Dark Tower series. If you are a true King fan, you will enjoy the book and understand the subtle references to some old characters (or other elements) from other books. As with other King books, I could not put the book down at times. However, there is less fantasy and more disturbing horror in this tale. The ending was a surprise and I can't wait to see what Mr King has in store for his fans or Jack.I have never been disappointed by this author and neither will you. This book is not the Talisman but it is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Turn Your Lights On
Review: This is the scariest book I have ever read. Make sure you have something to cover your nose. A cross between Lovecraft and Poe. I live in the Coulee Region. Maybe it would be better if you had something to cover ALL of your senses, yes even your tatse buds. Whatever you see, you'll wish you never did. And a major problem we have here is the "river fog". Heck, you can't see two feet ahead of you, and weirdos have taken advantage of this natural mystery. How are you gonna see who does what in fog that thick. And man, its like "painting your windows white". Its is a great story, and it should be called a novel. Beware of the FOG.
Rating: 
Summary: I still love King, but this....
Review: I am giving this 3 stars because it actually starts off really strong (very different writing style, but very strong writing). It's interesting, because Dreamcatcher also started off strong and gave into...hmm...slippage? Yes, there was a lot of slippage in Black House...I still have about 100 pages to go, but have no desire to finish reading them. This is in complete contradiction to the King stories that I loved; such as IT, the Talisman, Insomnia, Hearts in Atlantis, etc. I feel bad being critical of King - so much of what he has done is wonderful - and can only hope that he takes his time on the next novel. I couldn't care less what happens to Roland at this point; give us another IT, and I think we'd all be happy.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a good addition to the Dark Tower series
Review: I ordered this book the instant it was available because on Stephen King's web site it says: "For those of you who are Dark Tower fans, Black House will answer many questions you may have about the Crimson King, who/what are Breakers, how does Ted Brautigan fit in, etc. It will be the closest thing to a DT novel you'll see before the fall of the Year Three ('03)." Hopefully Black House is the farthest thing from the Dark Tower novels I hope to see in 2003. Of the 640 pages about 5 of them related to the Dark Tower series. After the literary triumph that was Wizard and Glass, Black House falls short of what you would expect from Stephen King. Let us do remember that this book was co-authored by Peter Straub, who will hopefully play no part in the Dark Tower books to come. Independent of my Dark Tower expectations this book would have gotten three stars from me as there were some entertaining elements but it moved too slowly to rate any higher.
Rating:
Summary: Feel's like I've been down this road before.
Review: Having been a long time fan of King's work (since 1975), I found 'Black House' to be predictable. It took me a while to warm up to it. Although it doesn't make the top ten of my favorite King books, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I still feel that 'The Talisman' was a better overall book. This story was more representative of the Dark Tower series than it was the Talisman, and it even had a Tolkeinish feeling to it towards the end. If you are a true King fan you will enjoy the book. But, if you are just getting started with King I think that 'The Stand' and 'It' are a better bang for the buck.
Rating:
Summary: Feels like I've been down this road before...
Review: Having been a big fan of King's work since 1975, I found 'Black House' to be predictable. It took me a while to warm up to it. Although it doesn't make the top ten of my favorite King books, I enjoyed it nonetheless. I still feel that 'The Talisman' was a better overall book. This story was more representative of the Dark Tower series than it was the Talisman, and it even had a Tolkeinish feeling to it towards the end. If you are a true King fan you will enjoy the book. But, if you are just getting started with King I think that 'The Stand' and 'It' are a better bang for the buck.
Rating:
Summary: A So-So Solution
Review: It seems as if Stephen King and Peter Straub wrote different chapters of this book and placed them together without reading them. I have seen commentary on the book that stated the first novel (The Talisman) was written in King style and I would wholeheartedly agree. Having collected and read King aggressively for 20 years, I can never say I am disappointed by one of his offerings (OK, so the Tommyknockers was a stretch), but I was not thrilled to the heights I normally get to while reading this book. It was definately appeasing to those of us who are salivating for the next Dark Tower Book, but as straight King, you may be disappointed. The POV of the book was somewhat confusing as well, until you because used to it. The characters of Doc and Beezer were wonderful as was Sophie, whom I hope to see in DTV when it is realeased. hopefully this was helpful to you and you still give this book a shot!
Rating: 
Summary: Black House
Review: I just finished reading the book Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Now I have to say that I am a long time fan of both writers. I have almost all of Stephen King's books. (IN HARDBACK) But I have to say that the best book I think he ever wrote (although it was co-written) was The Talisman, with The Stand coming in a very close second, and with Carrie being one of the most uniquely written books I've ever read.
I can not stress enough that both of these men have written enough to be proclaimed giants in the world of writers and publishers alike, and in that arena gain my utmost respect.
Having completed Black House I really have to say though, that their swollen noggins have crowded their expertise in the writing field. I was greatly agitated by the writers addressing the reader throughout this book. It was awful the way they would just break in the middle of a transition and address the reader directly...this bloated and self-indulgent aspect of talking to us and taking us on this Peter Pan flight across the "scene" was almost unbearable to endure and nearly caused me to put the book down more than once and not pick it up again. But partly because of my love for The Talisman (which I've read three times) and in another part due to the fact I was reading the book out loud for both myself and my husband's entertainment...I continued.
I thought it was a disgrace that we were over four-hundred pages into the book before Jack actually flips over to the territories for any length of time and actually comes in contact with any other individual. Only twice did he flip prior to this point in the book and both of those times only being for a few seconds. I felt like that aspect alone proves that the writers did not only not give their best to this sequel, but also cheated their loyal readers out of what should have been a more in depth look at what the territories were all about. Instead I'm of the impression this was a hype to sell books that only in name could directly be linked to the first book, The Talisman.
In stead of filling the pages with much welcomed information regarding the territories and the subsequent new adventure of Jack Sawyer, we got fluff and filler at Ed's Eats taking three different views of the same situation and Jack Sawyer's in depth perspective of love at first sight, not to mention, inept cops begging for a famed protector. It was sad people! .... I'd say lets take this project back to the drawing board folks.
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