The Talisman, written by Stephen King and Peter Straub, is a dark fantasy novel that explores the themes of good versus evil, parallel universes, and the power of love and loyalty. The story follows Jack Sawyer, a twelve-year-old boy with extraordinary abilities, as he embarks on a perilous journey to save his dying mother. Set in both Jack's world, known as the "real world," and a parallel universe known as the Territories, the novel creates a rich and complex narrative. Jack learns that his mother's illness is connected to her otherworldly nature, called being a "Twinner," which means she has a counterpart in the Territories. To save his mother, Jack must find a powerful talisman, the "crimson king's bone," which is located in the enemy territory known as the "Black Hotel." Throughout his journey, Jack encounters various creatures and characters from both worlds, including werewolves, ghosts, and the enigmatic Queen Laura.
A Illinois. Jack meets up with his friend Richard here. The school is shifted into another plane by Morgan, where wolves and gargoyle-like creatures try to seize Jack.
When Jack and Wolf are accused of mischievous hitchhiking and trouble-making by a highway police officer, they are sent by the court to a camp school for troubled youths run by Thayer School. Accompanied by Wolf and later by his childhood friend Richard, Jack must retrieve the Talisman before it falls into the hands of evil schemer Morgan Sloat, Richard s father, who, we later learn, was Jack s father s business partner before arranging to have the latter murdered.
" Throughout his journey, Jack encounters various creatures and characters from both worlds, including werewolves, ghosts, and the enigmatic Queen Laura. He also becomes entangled in a centuries-long conflict between the forces of good, represented by the White and the Territories' inhabitants, and the forces of evil, represented by the Crimson King and his followers. The Talisman explores the concept of duality and the interconnectedness of different dimensions.
The talisman oeber straub
Possible spoilers below.
On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America--and into another realm.
One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written, The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save his mother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredible truths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more. Let the quest begin. . . .
CHARACTER LISTING
Jack Sawyer: Jack is a twelve-year-old boy who has moved from the warm beaches of California to the brisk region of the Atlantic Ocean, clear across the ocean. While there, on the run from his �uncle�, Jack soon discovers a downward spiral of his mother�s health. At an amusement park near his a hotel called the Alhambra Inn, Jack is soon sent on a mission to find a talisman that will ultimately save his mother�s life.
Lily Cavanaugh Sawyer: Lily was once a thriving actress out in Hollywood, but after her husband died she quit. Moving from the west, she and her son live in an Arcadia Beach hotel, where she is slowly but surely on her way to death by cancer that is flooding her lungs.
Speedy Parker: Speedy is a black man who becomes good friends with Jack. He tells Jack about the Territories and �Twinners�, having been there himself. Speedy also gives him some �magic juice� that allows Jack to switch from world to world by having only a simple sip of it. Speedy acts as a guide for Jack along his dangerous trek across a nightmare America.
Robert "Sunlight" Gardner: Gardener is a man who owns a reform school for boys called the Sunlight Home, where Jack and Wolf become imprisoned, and soon discover its horrid truths. Gardener is an accomplice to Morgan Sloat, and shares some of his tactics on Jack to slow him down.
Morgan Sloat: Morgan was once a good friend of Jack�s father and Lily�s dead husband. The two became lawyers and finally created the Sawyer & Sloat law office. Now, Sloat is after Jack in both this world and the world known as the Territories, to stop him from claiming the Talisman, which he wants to use to claim the worlds.
Richard Sloat: Richard is one of Jack�s best friends and son to the malevolent Morgan Sloat. Rich is a very smart boy who goes to a private school. Although he is at first dubious of the truth of the Territories, he is forced into the destination after an onslaught when the two worlds collide at his school.
Philip Sawyer: Jack's deceased father, who we learn travelled with old time, manipulative buddy Morgan Sloat. He was killed, and his killer is not revealed until the end of the novel.
Elroy: Elroy is a creature in disguised as a man who Jack discovers in the Oatly Tap. Elroy is a basically a weregoat of some sort, as his hands are cloven. He sits at table each day, keeping a close eye on Jack.
Smokey Updike: Smokey is a bar owner in a dysfunctional town in New York called Oatly. He owns a bar called the Oatly Tap. Jack worked in the bar for a while, rolling kegs to the bar and cleaning up certain spills in the bathrooms. Smokey is a very brutal man, who pushes you to try him, and when you do, you receive a fist sandwich.
THE TERRITORIES
Queen Laura DeLoessian: The Queen is dying, and the Territories are beginning to fall out of order. She is Jack�s mother�s Twinner, and he will save her as well once Jack claims the Talisman.
Captain Farren: A scar-faced man whom Speedy informed Jack to locate once he crossed over. He acted as though he were Jack�s father and took him inside the Queen�s palace so Jack could see his mother�s Twinner.
Osmond:Osmond is a very brutal man, who punishes those who cross him with a snap of his leather whip. Osmond also happens to be the Twinner of Sunlight Gardener, and orchestrates his own type of hell for certain people in the Territories.
Orris: Orris is Morgan Sloat�s Twinner, and is in one with Sloat. The two plan to snatch the Talisman as their own and become ruler of all the worlds once the Queen is eliminated.
Wolf: Wolf becomes very good friends with Jack, and crosses over onto American soil as an angry Morgan Sloat got through the barriers of the Territories to snatch Jack in the woods. Wolf has the ability to transform into a savage wolf during the three days of the full moon.
Anders: Anders is an old man in middle of the Territories world, just a hair from the heart of the Blasted Lands. He is the keeper of a certain train, which is used by Jack and Richard to get to California to conclude their journey.
Five out of five.
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The Talisman � 1984 - Stephen King & Peter Straub. Summary taken from Amazon.com.
Jack's ability, called "flashing," allows him to travel between the real world and the Territories, making him a key player in the battle between good and evil. The novel also delves into the deep bonds of love and friendship, as Jack is assisted by his loyal allies, including the wolf Oy and Speedy Parker, a blind disc jockey from the Territories. As Jack's quest becomes increasingly dangerous, he must overcome his fears and tap into his inner strength to achieve his goal. The story culminates in a climactic showdown at the Black Hotel, where Jack confronts the Crimson King and retrieves the talisman. Through sacrifice and determination, Jack manages to save not only his mother but also the fate of both worlds. The Talisman is a tale of epic proportions, blending elements of horror, fantasy, and adventure. Stephen King and Peter Straub masterfully weave together intricate plotlines and memorable characters that captivate readers from beginning to end. With its engaging storytelling and thought-provoking themes, The Talisman continues to be a beloved novel in the genre of dark fantasy..
Reviews for "The Symbolic Value of the Talisman in Peter Straub's Exploration of Good vs. Evil"
1. John Doe - 2 out of 5 stars
I found "The Talisman" by Peter Straub to be quite disappointing. The plot was convoluted and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow and engage with the story. The characters felt underdeveloped and lacked depth, which made it hard to empathize with them or care about their journey. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long stretches of monotony followed by rushed and confusing action sequences. Overall, I felt disconnected from the narrative and it failed to hold my attention.
2. Sarah Smith - 1 out of 5 stars
"The Talisman" was a complete letdown for me. The writing style was overly descriptive, bogging down the story with unnecessary details and slowing down the pacing. The constant shift in perspectives and timelines made it difficult to keep track of what was happening, leaving me feeling frustrated and confused. Furthermore, the supernatural elements introduced in the book felt forced and unoriginal, lacking any true sense of novelty or intrigue. Overall, I found "The Talisman" to be a tedious and uninspiring read that failed to deliver on its promising premise.
3. Robert Johnson - 2 out of 5 stars
Peter Straub's "The Talisman" was a disappointment in terms of character development. The protagonist, Jack Sawyer, felt like a generic and cliché hero, lacking any distinctive qualities or real growth throughout the story. The secondary characters were equally unmemorable, with their actions and motivations often feeling arbitrary and inconsistent. The plot itself seemed overly complicated and disjointed, further hindering any emotional investment in the story. While I appreciate the collaboration between Peter Straub and Stephen King, I found "The Talisman" to be a lackluster and forgettable read.
4. Emily Anderson - 2 out of 5 stars
I had high expectations for "The Talisman" based on the praise it received, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The narrative was overly convoluted, filled with unnecessary subplots and confusing twists that added little to the overall story. The world-building, while intriguing in concept, felt underdeveloped and lacked the necessary depth to fully immerse the reader. Additionally, the writing style felt overly verbose and bloated, making the reading experience tedious and tiresome. Overall, "The Talisman" failed to capture my interest or deliver on its potential, leaving me disappointed and unfulfilled.