Rating: 
Summary: More than a mere snack for Dark Tower fans...
Review: I had every intention of buying this book as soon as it came out in hardback, but since I'm in the military, things got pretty weird for me due to current events. I decided to go with the audiobook (thanks to audible) out of convenience and to help kill time while waiting in long lines almost everywhere I went. Instead of carying around a big bulky hardback, I was able to slip my MP3 player in my pocket and listen on the road, in the car, on my bike... etc. First off, a tip of hat to Frank Muller, who did an excellent job in reading the book. I'm not familiar with his work up until now, or maybe I've just overlooked him, but he was definitely the man for the job. His vocal range and the way he breathed life and indiviuality into every character made it seem more like a drama with an entire cast, rather than one guy in a sound room reading a book. The story itself is not what I expected. Of course, it's being hailed as the sequal to Talisman, but it's so different that at times that it seems more like a distant cousin. While Talisman was a fantastic plane-jumping, coming of age story, Black House is slower, more mature (complete with adult Jack Sawyer) and very much grounded in the "real" world, at least for the first two thirds of the book. This is probably my biggest complaint. I expected to visit Jack Sawyer's Territories far more than I did, and while the mystery of the Fisherman was an interesting one, it wasn't really what I wanted to hear about. It's this aspect that makes Black House so different from Talisman. While they're obviously related, Black House is only a sequel in the broadest sense. Of course, the the Dark Tower series also sits very high on the family tree which seems to strike some as odd considering Peter Straub's involvement. In fact, Black House reveals more about the Tower itself, and the mysterious Crimson King, than any of the books in the Dark Tower so far. We discover how they're related and the purpose of Rolands adventure and the stakes at play. I think it's important to note that almost all of King's books could be considered Dark Tower books and he wants it that way. Roland and his crew even make a detour through the world of the Stand in the fourth installment "Wizard and Glass." I actually read the "Talisman" after reading "Wastelands" and noted the similarities almost immediately. The book fits seemlessly with the Dark Tower mythos. While the book didn't spend as much time in the Territories as I'd liked, it was still a great story. The cast, most notably the Thunder Five, a group of over-educated bikers, Henry Laden, a blind disk jokey with a number of manufactored personalities, and of course the Fisherman himself; are as colorful, interesting and as likeable (or detestable) as I've come to expect from the duo. The prose may strike some as flowery or pretentious, especially the narration which makes the reader a part of the story rather than a distant observer, but I thought it showed the maturing skill of a pair of veteran authors. The voice is neither King nor Straub, but a amalgamation of the two and almost reads like a third being: "Our Friend the Narrator". While some of their stories in the last decade have been hit or miss, there's no question that their command of language has only gotten better and better, and will probably continue to do so. Bottom line, this book is definitely worth your while. It may try to be too much at time with it's huge cast and numerous ideas, it is still provides a good read. Fans of the Dark Tower series should continue kicking themselves up until the minute they buy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: An Effort to Read
Review: I have avoided King's books for many years after being repeatedly disappointed that they were not up to his earlier work. I caved in this time and was sorry I did. The book was an effort to get through. I ended up skimming towards the end just to get it over with. Did not care about the characters, the plot (I think it had one), and was ticked off I wasted money once again. It will not happen again.
Rating:
Summary: A Different Adventure....
Review: Although I did not get the same feeling from reading Black House as I did The Talisman, I think most of it has to do with the fact that I'm 34 now instead of 19. Granted Black House does not have the same sense of 12 year old boy adventure as The Talisman, but it does have a more mature theme of a man struggling with ghosts in his past and how he deals with them in the same vain as Hearts In Atlantis. So, enough with the blah, blah, blah, psycho bable. This book freaked me out from page 1. The narrative flew me over the scene of the crime, and then slammed me into the meat of cannibal murders from the territories. Come on! What more do you want. The characters where great, especially the bikers, and the cross-book references made me crazy for the new Dark Tower book. Jack as a gunslinger! When I read SK I look for great characters that force me to keep reading, and whom I miss when I'm done. Henry, Jack's blind friend is a perfect example. This book delivers. I hear over and over from other reviewers that SK should stick to horror. Here's my two cents; a true fan is someone who is willing to let the author take us on a journey, something SK always makes a point of. You may not always like where he goes, but if you're family you let them go. They may not be back the way you like, but they will be back, and that's what's great about having such a prolific writer as King. I've always been willing to take that journey, to follow along with my friend ( how many of you have been reading SK sense you where a kid?). Take the journey, follow along.
Rating:
Summary: HIGHLY WORTHY sequel to The Talisman
Review: I'm a pretty major King fan, having read just about everything that he's published (the two exceptions are "Roadwork" by Bachman and "Secret Windows" which I have on my bookshelf waiting for a free weekend). The Talisman is my all time favorite King book, bar none. Yes, I know Peter Straub worked with King, but let's face it, it's a King book first. Few people were looking forward to Black House more than Yours Truly. I'll note up front -- despite being a fan -- I'm very quick to poopoo a bad King book. I thought The Stand was full of hot air, The Tommyknockers should be banned it's so bad, and Dreamcatcher was a disappointing return to writing that I have forgiven King for publishing (he was recovering from a near death experience for cryin' out loud). As much as I love King books, if they bite, they bite. That said, I think Black House is a fantastic sequel to The Talisman. Not only that, but it has set up a number of issues that I'm sure will be dealt with in the next Dark Tower book. Sure, there wasn't very much Territories stuff going on, but I'm looking at Black House as a "glue" book that ties The Talisman with DT. My only real complaint (other than the lack of time spent in the Territories) is a scene near the end of the book where a secondary character performs some unexplainable magic with a ring. I confess to rolling my eyes a bit on that one. Other than that, though, I was happy with this book. It left me sad that it was over, and that's always a good sign. I'm sure the reviews will all be torn on this one. The anticipation was high, which historically means people with excessive expectations will be disappointed in one way or another. I had high expectations, yet for some reason I was pleased. And now I can't wait until the next DT book!
Rating: 
Summary: Enough, dammit. It's a good book.
Review: Everyone is whining that this is more of a Dark Tower book than a sequel to the Talisman, and they are right. The Tower is a significant part of this story. Look back, though, and so was the Talisman. So was Hearts in Atlantis. In ways, Black House is the lynchpin of the entire King universe, because it takes a stab at explaining all of the strange things about which he has been writing. It's all about the Tower, and it's all about slippage. People say they crave the simplicity of storyline found in Insomnia and the like, but the events and characters in those also have ties to the Tower and the Crimson King. The Stand, Hearts in Atlantis, The Shining, Carrie, Eyes of the Dragon--the events in these books are tracable to slippage and the teritories. Perhaps the reason that people love or harte this book so passionately is because it is the nexus, the center of a storyline that goes beyond all of King's books. the thing's MASSIVE, and it is hard to grasp, even in small doses. Buy this book if you want to be able to red King's next ten books and not feel cheated and lost.
Rating: 
Summary: Hmmmm....
Review: I am having a lot of difficulty typing this review. I am having the same difficulty trying to really like this book. I have been a fan of Stephen King's for 24 years and have read every one of his books. This is not one of his better ones. First of all, this is not the Talisman, it is after the fact and as fans, we do not want to believe that life goes on and changes. Well, guess what? it does and there are some things that us, as readers, are just not going to like in this book, but. . . Anyways, you've gotta read the Talisman first (GREAT book) and then you can read this. Also, reading the Gunslinger series is a recommendation because they are ALL tied in which is a nice thing. They will eventually make this a mini-series as I hear they are doing with Talisman. I just hope they get a great actor for Wolf.
Rating:
Summary: Lack of Pace and Flavor
Review: I reread the Talisman prior to purchasing Black House. I wanted to recapture the flavor of the writing and carry that with me into the sequel. I needn't have bothered. Whereas I usually jump right into a King or Straub novel and take off at a gentle trot through the lines of text, I waded through the first 40 to 50 pages of Black House. The slant of the all-seeing, traveling "we" vantagepoint presents a lagging sort of distraction throughout most of the novel. Finally after the initial 40 or so pages, the pace did pick up. The book never did get off to a good, exhilarating run, but did make it to a slow, pleasant jog. The flavor of the book was not truly reflective of the Talisman, nor the Dark Tower, nor Hearts of Atlantis, nor did it actually establish a truly memorable flavor of its own. All in all, Black House was a disappointment and did not live up to my expectations. Next time, I think I'll at least hold off for the paperback release and save myself the extra expense.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book. Did any of these other reviewers get it?
Review: First off, I must admit I had trouble getting through the Talisman. I tried numerous times to read that book and just couldn't get through it. Once I heard Black House was coming out, I knew I had to give it another effort. I am so glad I did. Once I got on the coaster, I couldn't help but roll with it. I think Black house was a much easier read. I identified with the people, places, and events so much better this time around. The twists and turns had me going from the first word. This book has adventure, horror, friendship, love, romance, honor,........I could go on and on. I especially love the mention of Big Mac (I live in St. Louis), Roland, the beams, and the Dark Tower (as I am eagerly awaiting the next in the Dark Tower Series!) In the Talisman, Jack was just a small boy. In Black House I found myslef falling in love with his loyalty and heroism while visiting places he just did not want to revisit, just as I have done with Roland in the Dark Tower Series. Stephen King and Peter Straub make a wonderful pair. Both their styles shine through. If you have not read the Talisman, start there. Then move on to all of their respective novels. You will not be disappointed. And if you have only seen the movie(s) made from their book(s), go on and read the book(s). The movies limit their creative geniuses. For example: you know what the dog (Cujo) is thinking as he goes rabid in Cujo, not just what we can imagine while viewing. This makes for a terrific read. As a rule, I never see the movie. Ignore some of these bad reviews and taste it for yourself. You will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Annoying
Review: That "voice over" that seems to be in the book is just plain out annoying. I couldn't get past the first quarter of the book. Sad, very sad...
Rating:
Summary: Black House..
Review: An outstanding follow up to the Talisman. King does it again and again. Will keep you turning the pages till the end. As with all his books, I hated to get to the end. I just want them to keep going...
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