"The Talisman" is a fantasy novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. It follows the story of a young boy named Jack Sawyer who embarks on a perilous journey to save his mother. Throughout the novel, Jack discovers that he has the ability to "flip" between two parallel worlds, the America we know and a magical realm called the Territories. In the Territories, Jack must find a powerful artifact called the Talisman, which has the power to heal or destroy both worlds. Along the way, Jack encounters various allies and enemies, including a werewolf, a witch, and a ruthless businessman. These encounters test Jack's courage and determination as he continues his quest.
The Talisman is another book by Stephen King, a collaboration with fellow author Peter Straub. I picked it up out of impulse like a lot of Stephen King books. The book itself is unusual in that it isn’t a straight up horror but rather a work of fantasy with occasional horror elements in it. This is unusual fare for both King and Straub since both are horror writers. As a reader of fantasy novels this intrigued me a lot. The novel follows Jack Sawyer, a twelve year old boy who sets off on a quest to find the titular talisman, which has the power to save his mother from dying. The quest takes him in and out of a land known as the Territories, a land set in a universe parallel to America where everyone has a “twinner” a duplicate who is a parallel for somebody in our world. Throughout his journey his must deal with the villainous Morgan Sloat, a former business partner of his father’s, and his twinner Morgan of Orris.
Bound in cream cloth with gray pictorial endpapers; bright gilt lettering and ruled boxes, with blind-stamped decoration, to the spines and front boards; and a sepia-tone illustration mounted to each front board. Although by no means a major character, he had a standout charisma about him which made him a charismatic and strangely threatening villain throughout Jack s stay in Gardener s school.
These encounters test Jack's courage and determination as he continues his quest. The novel explores themes of identity, courage, and the power of love. As Jack travels through both worlds, he learns more about himself and his connection to the Talisman.
Stephen King, Peter Straub "The Talisman" Deluxe Limited First Edition of 1,200 Slipcased [Very Fine]
Presenting two beautiful volumes for the collector of uniquely crafted books.
Donald M. Grant Publishers 1984. "The Talisman" Stephen King and Peter Straub. Deluxe trade limited edition of 1,200 copies bound in grey cloth in slipcase. This edition is not signed. A rare book for the Stephen King collector. Illustrated throughout with 11 full-color plates, including 4 two-page spreads (all present and intact, featuring work by Jeffrey Jones, Rowena Morrill, Thomas Canty, Berni Wrightson, Don Maitz, Stephen Gervais, Ned Dameron, Richard Berry, Phil Hale, and R. J. Krupowicz).
Deluxe Edition -- issued after the trade edition by Viking Press. Bound in cream cloth with gray pictorial endpapers; bright gilt lettering and ruled boxes, with blind-stamped decoration, to the spines and front boards; and a sepia-tone illustration mounted to each front board.
The Talisman
Original issue price in 1984 was $120. This book charts the adventure of a twelve year old boy named Jack Sawyer. The young hero sets out from Arcadia Beach, New Hampshire in a bid to save his mother, who is dying from cancer, by finding an artifact called "the Talisman." The premise of the novel involves the existence of a parallel world to Earth, called "the Territories" (a strange fantasy world with ties to King's "The Dark Tower"). Individuals in the Territories have "twinners," or parallel individuals, in our world. Twinners' births, deaths, and (it is intimated) other major life events are usually paralleled.
The Talisman first took form when Stephen King moved with his family to London in early 1977. It was there he met Peter and Susan Straub, along with their children, and the two writers became friends, both being fans of each other's work. After a short friendship, King and his family left after only three months back to the United States. Straub and King had talked multiple times before about collaborating to write a book, but nothing ever surfaced until ten years after King moved back, when the Straubs moved to the United States as well. According to King, after Straub moved, "the talk got serious," and they began writing. Their literary friendship did not end after the publication of The Talisman. In 1999 they began working on a sequel to The Talisman, dealing with Jack Sawyer as an adult. It was published in 2001, entitled Black House.
Features
Bound in cream cloth with gray pictorial endpapers; bright gilt lettering and ruled boxes, with blind-stamped decoration, to the spines and front boards; and a sepia-tone illustration mounted to each front board.
About The Author
Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction and fantasy. His books have sold more than 350 million copies, many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books. King has published 58 novels, including seven under the pen name Richard Bachman, and six non-fiction books. He has written around 200 short stories, most of which have been published in book collections.
Peter Straub is the author of seventeen novels, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. He lives in New York City with his wife, Susan, director of the Read to Me program.
VERY FINE for both volumes in a Near Fine+ slipcase. Each edition is a wonderful bright clean copy free of any markings, writings, or stamps. Unread book with sharp corners that are not bumped. Tight and square spine. No attached bookplates or indication of any removed, and free of tobacco odors. The condition is of the highest quality without any discernible flaws. The slipcase has a couple surface marks as shown in the photos.
Publisher: Donald M. Grant Publishers 1984 Edition: Deluxe Limited Edition of 1,200 Binding: Cloth Hardcover Author: Stephen King Author: Peter Straub
The Talisman first took form when Stephen King moved with his family to London in early 1977. It was there he met Peter and Susan Straub, along with their children, and the two writers became friends, both being fans of each other's work. After a short friendship, King and his family left after only three months back to the United States. Straub and King had talked multiple times before about collaborating to write a book, but nothing ever surfaced until ten years after King moved back, when the Straubs moved to the United States as well. According to King, after Straub moved, "the talk got serious," and they began writing. Their literary friendship did not end after the publication of The Talisman. In 1999 they began working on a sequel to The Talisman, dealing with Jack Sawyer as an adult. It was published in 2001, entitled Black House.
He also experiences the hardships and sacrifices necessary to fulfill his mission. Peter Straub's writing in "The Talisman" adds a layer of depth and complexity to the narrative. His collaboration with Stephen King creates a unique blend of horror and fantasy elements. Straub's descriptive prose and attention to detail immerse readers in the vivid worlds of the story. "The Talisman" has been widely praised for its storytelling and character development. Jack Sawyer's journey, filled with danger and suspense, keeps readers engaged from start to finish. The novel also delves into the emotional aspects of Jack's quest, making it a compelling read for fans of both fantasy and horror genres. Overall, "The Talisman" by Peter Straub and Stephen King is an intriguing and captivating novel that takes readers on a thrilling adventure between two worlds. Its exploration of themes and unique blend of genres make it a beloved work among fans of both authors..
Reviews for "The Symbolic Meaning of 'The Talisman' by Pete Straub"
1. Sara - 2 stars -
I was really disappointed with "The Talisman" by Pete Straub. It had such a promising premise but the execution fell flat for me. The story felt slow and dragged on, with many unnecessary detours and subplots that didn't add much to the overall narrative. The characters lacked depth and I found it hard to connect with any of them. Overall, I found the book to be tedious and unfulfilling.
2. John - 2 stars -
I had high expectations for "The Talisman" but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The writing style was confusing and convoluted, making it hard to follow the story or get invested in the characters. There were also several instances of unnecessary violence and gore that seemed gratuitous and didn't contribute much to the plot. The ending was anticlimactic and left me feeling unsatisfied. I wouldn't recommend this book to others.
3. Emily - 1 star -
I absolutely hated "The Talisman" by Pete Straub. The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious, and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be literary. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to stay engaged. The characters were flat and lacked development, and I didn't care about any of them. Overall, this book was a complete waste of time for me and I regret reading it.
4. Mark - 2 stars -
"The Talisman" by Pete Straub didn't live up to the hype for me. The pacing was slow, with long stretches of unnecessary exposition that made the story feel tedious. The world-building was also lacking, and I had a hard time visualizing the different settings. The plot was disjointed and didn't flow well, which made it hard to stay engaged. While the concept was interesting, the execution left much to be desired.