"The Talisman" is a fantasy novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Published in 1984, the book follows the story of a twelve-year-old boy named Jack Sawyer. The novel is set in two parallel universes, known as the Territories and America. In the Territories, Jack embarks on a perilous journey to find a powerful talisman that can save his mother's life. The story begins in the fictional town of Alhambra, California, where Jack lives. He discovers that his mother, Lily, is dying of cancer and that her only hope lies in a mysterious object known as the Talisman.
I was also thinking about this afterwards and I started to notice some similarities between The Talisman and King’s Dark Tower series. There weren’t necessarily outright references that linked the two of them together, but you could argue that there’s a Ka-tet of sorts and both books basically deal with a long journey towards some some mysterious object, whether that’s The Talisman or whether it’s The Dark Tower itself. Both of them involve people hopping between two different worlds, too.
It was, as jsatellite told me, something of a game for the two writers, imitating each other s style to produce something which felt like a single author s work. The book also presents the most unoriginal version of the magical Negro character that King has yet rolled out, and considering the regularity of the character archetype s appearance The Shining , The Stand , The Green Mile that s saying something.
He discovers that his mother, Lily, is dying of cancer and that her only hope lies in a mysterious object known as the Talisman. The Talisman has the power to heal and protect its owner. Jack learns that he must find the Talisman and bring it to his mother before it's too late.
Stephen King and Peter Straub – The Talisman | Review
When I picked this up, one of my friends said that this was one of King’s best, but I disagree. It’s pretty good though, and while it might not make it into my ranking of his top ten, it would make it into my top twenty. Still, I’m glad that I picked it up, and it was especially cool because I blazed through it in three days when I was on holiday in Berlin.
Still, it was a pretty good read, and I was surprised by how seamless it was in terms of having two authors but feeling like it only had one. In fact, it just felt like a Stephen King book, so I’m not too sure what role Peter Straub played in its creation. I’ve never read any of his stuff before, but I’m tempted to, especially after reading this.
The Talisman is basically a dimension-hopping road trip novel in which a young boy must make his way across America in search of a mysterious object that has the power to cure his mother’s cancer. I guess because of the age of the protagonist, it’s basically a YA book from a time before YA really existed, which is interesting. I still feel like it’s aimed more at adults than at children, though.
It’s worth noting that I picked up on a few things that my editor would have flagged if I’d written this. For example, there were a couple of places where there was a perspective shift and we hopped from one character’s head to another. I also found a few places where speech marks or full stops were missing, and there were a bunch of layout fails where certain pages were printed so close to the margin that they were almost cut off the end. It also ended two separate scenes at different points with “all hell broke loose”, which is something that I did in one of my short stories. Pam Elise Harris, my editor, told me to show and not tell, and she had a point.
Still, it was a decent read, just a pretty good adventure novel, and I’m actually looking forward to reading Black House, which is some sort of sequel. I actually picked that one up first and then realised that The Talisman came first, but most people on Goodreads seemed to think that Black House was nowhere near as good. I’ll probably save it until I go 0n another holiday.
All in all though, I thought it was a pretty good book. It wasn’t perfect, but it was good, and it’s definitely one to look out for if you’re a fan of either of the authors. For me, it’s also been a nice way to sort of cross-pollinate my reading tastes and to ease myself into Peter Straub’s work. I’ve heard quite a lot of good stuff about Straub and I’ve always suspected that I’d like his writing, and after this I kind of want to pick up one of his books to see if I can identify which parts of The Talisman came from him.
Stephen King Quote
I was also thinking about this afterwards and I started to notice some similarities between The Talisman and King’s Dark Tower series. There weren’t necessarily outright references that linked the two of them together, but you could argue that there’s a Ka-tet of sorts and both books basically deal with a long journey towards some some mysterious object, whether that’s The Talisman or whether it’s The Dark Tower itself. Both of them involve people hopping between two different worlds, too.
I also thought that the pacing was good, especially when you consider that it was over seven hundred pages with pretty small print. It maybe got a little faster at the end, but not to such an extent that it made the rest of the book feel slow, and it was interesting to see how the two worlds – and people’s Twinners – came together. If you’ve read King before then you’re probably familiar with how well-thought out his books are, and this is the perfect example. Everything is connected and nothing happens without a reason.
So if you’re wondering whether to read this or not, the answer is, “Yes, you should totally read it.” It’s a great little book and it’s a lot of fun, with elements of everything from horror to a classic adventure story thrown in there. It might not be King’s best, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. It’s definitely worth a read.
The book itself is the story of Jack Sawyer, a 12-year-old boy whose mother is dying from cancer. So he heads off on a "fetch quest", to find something that can save her. He meets a handyman named Lester "Speedy" Parker who teaches him all about the other world that we can't see: a parallel version of our own, known as the Territories. The physical rules in the Territories are curious: time and distance have different meanings (with the alternate world being more akin to a compressed version of the United States), and everybody from one world has "twinner" in the other: sharing some of each other's physical traits, life events and character. Everybody has one, apart from Jack: his twinner, Jason, died when it was a baby, nearly taking Jack with it. (And Jason's name lives on in the Territories, used as a blasphemy, their own proxy for Jesus.) And, surprise surprise, his dying mother has a twinner of her own: Queen Laura DeLoessian (who is loved and adored by everybody, and has fallen into a deep sleep she cannot be roused from). Speedy's twinner, a gunslinger named Parkus, tells Jack all about a Talisman that can heal his mother, and so begins a fantasy novel fetch quest.
The real twist in the story is that Jack can travel between the two universes. He starts his journey in America, where he encounters various obstacles and dangers. Along the way, Jack discovers that there are others who are also after the Talisman, including his own father, who is an evil figure in the Territories. As Jack travels through the Territories, he encounters fantastical creatures, magical beings, and surreal landscapes. With the help of his childhood friend, Richard Sloat, Jack navigates through this unfamiliar realm, facing challenges and uncovering secrets. Throughout the novel, Straub skillfully incorporates themes of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice. Jack's determination to save his mother drives him to overcome all odds, and he learns valuable lessons about courage and the power of love. "The Talisman" is praised for its vivid storytelling and imaginative world-building. King and Straub's collaboration creates a seamless blend of horror, fantasy, and adventure. The novel's intricate plot and well-developed characters keep readers engaged from start to finish. In conclusion, "The Talisman" is a captivating fantasy novel that takes readers on a thrilling, epic journey. Peter Straub's contribution to this King classic brings depth and richness to the story. With its intricate plot and memorable characters, this novel continues to captivate audiences years after its initial release..
Reviews for "The Disturbing Imagery in Peter Straub's "The Talisman"
1. Jane Doe - 2 stars:
I found "The Talisman" by Peter Straub to be an underwhelming read. While the premise seemed promising, the execution fell flat. The plot lacked depth and failed to captivate me from the beginning. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked the development needed to make them relatable. Additionally, the pacing was slow, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. John Smith - 1 star:
"The Talisman" by Peter Straub was a complete letdown for me. The story felt disjointed and filled with unnecessary subplots that took away from the main narrative. The writing style was convoluted and made it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story. Furthermore, the characters lacked depth, and I struggled to care about their journeys. I found myself constantly questioning the choices made by the author, and it greatly impacted my overall enjoyment of the book. I would not recommend this read to others.
3. Emily Thompson - 2 stars:
I had high hopes for "The Talisman" by Peter Straub, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The story felt too predictable, and I never felt a sense of surprise or unpredictability. The dialogue was often clunky and unrealistic, which made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. Additionally, the pacing was uneven, with certain sections dragging on and others feeling rushed. While the concept was interesting, the execution fell short for me. I wouldn't recommend this book to those looking for a thrilling and immersive read.
4. Michael Johnson - 2 stars:
"The Talisman" by Peter Straub left me feeling underwhelmed. The plot had potential but failed to deliver on its promises. The story was convoluted and difficult to follow, with unnecessary complexities added that muddied the overall narrative. The writing style was not engaging, and I found it hard to stay invested in the characters and their motivations. While there were some intriguing ideas, they were overshadowed by the book's flaws. Overall, I was disappointed with this read.