Magic Carpet Gold Cost The cost of gold for a magic carpet varies depending on different factors. Magic carpets are known for their enchanting abilities to fly and move swiftly through the air. They have been a popular mode of transportation in many fictional tales and folklore. The material used to create the magic carpet and the craftsmanship involved play a significant role in determining its gold cost. Higher quality materials, such as silk or fine wool, tend to increase the price. Intricate designs and patterns woven into the carpet can also add to its value.
5. Insomnia — An elderly man who begins having visions after losing the ability to sleep comes to learn about a mystical tower that stands for all the levels of reality — and the agents of the Crimson King who wishes to tear it down. Before this 1994 novel, the Tower saga was separate from King’s other novels. “Insomnia was the first place where I really understood [the links] consciously and I started to work all this stuff in there,” the author says.
Director and co-writer Nikolaj Arcel said he wanted someone who was older than Jake, someone who had been enslaved by the Man in Black for a long time. But to reach his goal, Jack must make his way not only across the breadth of the United States, but through the wondrous and menacing Territories as well.
Intricate designs and patterns woven into the carpet can also add to its value. The size of the carpet is another influential factor. Larger magic carpets require more resources and labor to create, thus increasing the overall cost.
The Stephen King Project – The Talisman (1984)
About the project
I will be reading all of Stephen King’s books in order of publication (with the exception of The Dark Tower series which I will read together, at the end of this adventure) and writing a review of each. I’ll be looking at the recurring themes, the tricks he likes to use, the way he develops character and the way that his craft has evolved in the 44 years since Carrie was first published.
The Talisman is a dark fantasy story that Stephen King co-wrote with Peter Straub, another acclaimed horror writer. On paper, it should be a great book, and again, as someone who loves both fantasy and horror, I would have expected to love it.
The problem is, it’s just not that great.
I’m sure, by now, you understand just how hard it is for me to say that. I guess we all want our heroes to stay on their pedestals, and I love so many of his other books, but this one just left me feeling ‘meh’ – after both times I’ve read it.
The Talisman tells us the story of Jack Sawyer, a 12-year-old boy with a lot on his mind. His father was killed in a hunting accident a couple of years before the book begins and now his mother has cancer and is clearly dying. Add to that a predatory business partner of his father’s and it’s no wonder Jack is struggling. When he meets Lester ‘Speedy’ Parker and is told that he can go on a grand adventure to save his mother, it’s not really surprising that he jumps at the chance. What I did find surprising, to the point of being unbelievable, was how easily his mother agrees to let him set off on his own to an unknown location for an unknown amount of time…
When Jack was younger, he used to daydream about another place, a cleaner, nicer place. Speedy tells him that not only was this place real, but that he can visit again by ‘flipping’. The Territories, that other place, are a sort of twin to this world and many people from this world have ‘twinners’ over there – people just like them who share their lifeline and moments of import. The Queen, Laura De Loessian, is the twinner of Jack’s mum and she too is dying. Jack has to travel to a place on the other side of the US (and the territories) and retrieve a talisman, which will heal both women.
Sounds interesting, I hear you think. So, what was the problem?
Well, to begin with, I think this book falls down in the area that you can usually rely on King to be on top of his game. I don’t think Jack is a particularly interesting character. Now, we know that King can write great kids – Danny Torrance in The Shining, Tad Trenton in Cujo, the entire cast of IT – so I don’t think the problem is the protagonist’s age. Perhaps it was the cowriting that resulted in such a lacklustre main character, but whatever it was, he didn’t really capture me.
I also felt like this book kind of recycled some of King’s previous characters. Speedy Parker reminds me a lot of Dick Halloran in The Shining. Both of these characters are black, and I fear that King may be relying on stereotypes, however I leave that to someone with more knowledge to judge. Wolf (who is, in my view, the best character in The Talisman) is so much like Tom Cullen from The Stand that I kept expecting him to say ‘M-O-O-N, that spells …’ and Morgan Sloat came very much to remind me of Flagg as he appears in The Stand, especially when Morgan and Jack face off for the final time. I guess over time, it’s to be expected that some recycling of characters will occur, but in this context, it just feels lazy.
My other complaint about this book is the pacing. In my opinion, it is far longer than it had to be. Jack’s journey to the black hotel really drags along at times, with side stories that seem to have little or no bearing on the main plot. This is the first time that I’ve ever felt that the criticism toward King of writing bloated works or being too wordy was accurate. I think this book could have been half the length and carried the plot just as well, if not better. When I was about two-thirds of the way through this book, I received a review copy of Starsight by Brandon Sanderson; if I hadn’t been reading The Talisman for this project, I’m fairly sure I would have put it aside for Starsight since I was struggling.
It really pains me to write a review like this, where I can’t point to any particular thing and say, all that might have been a disappointment, but this bit was really good. It might seem like the problem must be the cowriting, but I have previously read Black House, a sequel to The Talisman, and I found it to be far better.
Have you read The Talisman? What did you think of it? Am I the only one who found it disappointing?
Tags Dark FantasyPeter StraubStephen KingThe TalismanShona Kinsella
Shona Kinsella is a Scottish fantasy author who lives on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond with her husband and three children. She is the author of Ashael Rising (Unbound, 2017), Petra McDonald and the Queen of the Fae (Fox Spirit, 2018) and Miranya’s Oath (an illustrated web serial). You can find out more about her work at www.shonakinsella.com and she loves talking to new people on Twitter www.twitter.com/shona_kinsella
3 comments
Shona 31 January, 2020 at 20:07 ReplyBob, I agree, Black House is far superior. I actually read that first, having not realised it was a sequel until I was a good chunk into it and when I finally got around to reading The Talisman, I was so disappointed because Black House had given me such high expectations. Sarah, I can understand the DNF. There are definitely elements in there that feel like King to me – Wolf for instance – but yeah, overall it doesn’t feel much like him
I remember reading The Talisman during my early King years, when I still felt he could do no wrong, and just feeling sort of ‘meh’ about it. Interesting story, and I love the mythology, but hardly a page-turner. Now, that said, I do think Black House was a far superior sequel and I’ll be first-in-line should they ever follow through on the 3rd book King has previously teased.
“You know, everything I’ve done kind of reflects back to The Dark Tower books,” King says, although that wasn’t exactly intentional.
Smaller carpets, on the other hand, may be more affordable for those seeking a more compact option. Additionally, the magic spells and enchantments imbued within the carpet can affect the cost. Some carpets may possess simple magical properties, allowing only basic flying abilities. Others may have more advanced powers, such as invisibility or the ability to grant wishes. Carpets with rare and powerful enchantments can command a higher gold price. Furthermore, the rarity of the magic carpet can significantly impact its cost. If a particular carpet design or style is in high demand but limited supply, the price may increase due to its exclusivity and uniqueness. Lastly, the reputation and prestige of the carpet maker or seller can also affect the gold cost. Established craftsmen known for their skill and expertise may charge higher prices for their creations. In conclusion, the gold cost of a magic carpet is influenced by factors such as the materials used, size, enchantments, rarity, and reputation of the maker. Buyers interested in acquiring a magic carpet should consider these aspects when determining their budget..
Reviews for "How the Cost of Magic Carpets Made of Gold Varies Across Different Cultures"
1. John - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the gold cost in Magic Carpet. It felt like the developers were just trying to squeeze as much money out of players as possible. The amount of gold needed to progress in the game was just ridiculous. It became more of a pay-to-win situation than a fun gaming experience. I ended up quitting the game because I refused to spend real money on virtual gold.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
The gold cost in Magic Carpet was a major turn-off for me. It was clear that the game was designed to encourage players to buy gold with real money, rather than earning it through gameplay. It felt like a cash grab rather than a genuine gaming experience. I understand that developers need to make money, but there should be a better balance between in-app purchases and earning gold through gameplay.
3. Mark - 1 star
Magic Carpet's gold cost was extortionate. It seemed like there was a constant need for gold to progress in the game, and it became frustratingly difficult to earn it without spending real money. The game was designed in such a way that it almost forced players to spend money to advance. I felt cheated and uninterested in playing anymore.
4. Emily - 3 stars
While I enjoyed the gameplay in Magic Carpet, I was put off by the high gold cost. It felt like a constant battle of earning and spending gold, which took away from the enjoyable aspects of the game. I wish the developers had found a better balance between the gold cost and the rewards earned through gameplay. It's a shame because the game itself was quite fun, but the gold cost just ruined the experience for me.
5. David - 2 stars
I have mixed feelings about Magic Carpet mainly because of the gold cost. It seemed like the game was intentionally designed to make it difficult for players to progress without spending real money on gold. This created a frustrating experience, and I lost interest in the game after a while. I would have enjoyed it more if the gold cost was more reasonable and didn't detract from the gameplay.