The talisman, Peter Strab, is a fantasy novel written by Stephen King. It was published in 1984 and co-authored by Peter Straub. The story revolves around a young boy named Jack Sawyer, who embarks on a quest across parallel universes to find the magical talisman that can save his mother's life. The talisman is a powerful object that can grant the bearer the ability to travel between these alternate realities. Jack learns about the existence of the talisman after his mother falls gravely ill with cancer. He discovers that his father, who died when he was a baby, was a "traveler" - someone who can move between the different realms.
He discovers that his father, who died when he was a baby, was a "traveler" - someone who can move between the different realms. Jack inherits this ability and sets out to find the talisman in order to save his mother. Throughout his journey, Jack encounters various dangers, including monstrous creatures and hostile individuals.
Netherul empire of mzgic
"Finally, without warning or preamble, Larloch, the Shadow King, revealed the secret past of Netheril." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
So begins the first book in the Netheril boxed set, so begins the Netheril story. The Netheril Empire was located where the Anauroch -- that strange desert in the other wise green and frequently frosty north -- is now located in the modern period of the Forgotten Realms setting. In many ways, the desert is the scorch mark they left when their empire fell. The boxed set was published several years ago and was the first of the Arcane Age supplements. All told it is interesting and despite a few errors worth the money.
"The year 326 marked one of the most important dates in Netheril's history � the discovery of the nether scrolls." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
The boxed set contains two books and two maps, with the two books totaling about 158 pages. Each map is printed on both sides. The first shows Netheril at its height on one side and its frontier on the other � the frontier is Savage North in the current setting. The second map shows Netheril shortly before its collapse, illustrating a stark change as much of its lands have turned to desert. The reverse of the second maps illustrates the Karsus enclave. The first book is "The Winds of Netheril," which details the history of Netheril, offering campaign suggestion and parameters as well as a list of when spells where created. It also describes equipment available, the gods of the period and a list of important cities and locations in the Netheril Empire. Finally, it includes a detailed look at the Karsus enclave and a list and description of important people through the history of Netheril. The second book, the "Encyclopedia Arcana," details magic items unique to Netheril and a list of Netheres spells, such as "Karsus' Avatar": a spell that allowed a mage to become a god.
"This spell allowed the caster to become a god of his choosing, replacing a current with himself the moment the spell was completed." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
However it was not a good idea for Karsus to cast the spell because he choose Mystryl -- the goddess of magic at the time. In so doing he pretty much turned off all of magic for about and hour and a half. This caused all the floating Netheril cities -- the enclaves created and run by 20+ level mages -- to pile drive into the ground, old mages to turn to dust and all sort of trouble all over the place. Mystra � the next goddess of magic � came to power and rewrote all the rules so that could not happen again, basically setting up 1st edition until the Time of Trouble, when 2nd edition came about. Thematically the boxed set is very interesting. It portrays a human society that lasted more than 3,000 years and had its own flavor and so forth. The magic is interesting and the notion of a culture with many floating cities is truly fantastic. After reading the set it does feel like it is something of a sadness to have lost such a nation and people.
"As his body fell, his stony eyes, still shimmering with the last glint of godly omniscience, caught a glimpse of the cities of Netheril smashing to the ground, killing all their inhabitants. His heart broke � greed for the power of the gods themselves caused the destruction of his home, his family, his friends, and his people." Netheril: The Empire of Magic
Of course, the set is backwards engineered to fit into the current Forgotten Realms setting so the empire had to fall down and go boom. That aside, slade and Butler did a good job with the set. In many ways it is reminiscent of the stories of Atlantis � an ancient empire of humanity the rose to a great height but fell when they tinkered poorly with ultimate power. Likewise there is a subtle message about a people who were used to having everything handed to them and who were not able to survive on their own without everything being handed to them. Perhaps this message is why the set has gotten bad reviews elsewhere: gamers do not like games with a message or stories with a moral. They just want to kill thing and only want DM's around to facilitate their ability to do so. Be that as it may, the set is good because it portray a setting that is truly fantastic � great floating cities, magic that provides everyday household needs, strange non-human shaped beings and so forth. In many ways, most supplements and novels just feel like a day at a Ren-Fair where they have a modest laser-lights show budget. Much of "fantasy" in the Realms is no longer so fantastic. This boxed set bring the fantastic back. The set does have its faults. First among these are editorial errors, like in one place where "fate" is misspelled as "fat." These are mostly amusing until the history and time line sections where they become confusing. In addition, the scope of the history of Netheril poses some problems as well. In 3,000+ years, it only filled a space about the size on the Anauroch, rather than a territory much larger. In this 3,000+ year period there were never any major wars to speak of and little to no description of how Netheril dealt with other major world powers like Calimshan, Unther, Mulhorandi and what have you. Granted there was space limitations, but by comparison, "Cormanthyr: Empire of Elves" did a much better job in the history department. This should not stop you from picking up a copy, however. In the end, this boxed set has been unfairly disparaged and is worth picking for the way it details a truly fanatic and interesting setting.
Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)
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After 300 years of studying magic under the Eaerlanni, the Nether Scrolls were discovered by the Finder, within the ruins of Aryvandaar in −3533 DR. The scrolls provided a huge leap forward in Netherese spellcraft, which they favored over the magic they learned from the elves. The next two hundred years saw the power of the Netherese arcanists increase by leaps and bounds. It was during this age that the 33-year-old Congenio Ioun, in an unprecedented feat of skill, created his first magical item, the ioun stone. In the last 20 years of this age, the arcanists assaulted the Land of Alabaster Towers and stripped away arcane spells from the minds of the nation's sorcerers.
He also befriends other characters who assist him in his quest, such as Wolf, a werewolf-like creature; and Richard Sloat, a man from a different reality. As Jack crosses from one world to another, he comes to realize the interconnectedness of these realms and the impact of his actions on each of them. The plot weaves together elements of fantasy, horror, and adventure, creating a thrilling and engaging narrative. The talisman itself is a small object that is imbued with immense magical power. It acts as a key that can open doors between the different realities, allowing Jack to travel between them. The talisman also enables Jack to possess others temporarily, granting him their unique skills and abilities. The novel explores themes of identity, courage, and the power of love. Jack's journey not only tests his physical capabilities but also challenges his understanding of himself and the choices he must make. The talisman becomes a symbol of hope and perseverance in his quest to save his mother and protect the worlds he encounters. "The Talisman" received critical acclaim for its vivid world-building, complex characters, and compelling storyline. It became a bestseller and has since gained a cult following among fans of fantasy and Stephen King's works. A sequel titled "Black House" was published in 2001, continuing Jack Sawyer's adventures in alternate realities..
Reviews for "The Talisman: A Collaboration between Stephen King and Peter Straub"
1. Emma - 2 stars - I have to admit, I did not enjoy "The Talisman" by Peter Straub. The story felt disjointed and the pacing was all over the place. It was hard to connect with the characters or understand their motivations. The fantasy elements felt forced and out of place in the overall narrative. While the concept had potential, the execution fell flat for me.
2. Thomas - 1 star - "The Talisman" was a disappointment for me. The writing style was confusing and convoluted, making it difficult for me to become immersed in the story. The plot lacked direction and failed to engage me. The characters were poorly developed, and their actions often felt arbitrary. Overall, I found it to be a tedious and forgettable read.
3. Olivia - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Talisman" but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The story felt overly complex and hard to follow. The pacing was inconsistent, with dull moments dragging on and suspenseful moments feeling rushed. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and failed to evoke any emotional connection. It was a struggle to maintain interest throughout the book.
4. Benjamin - 2 stars - "The Talisman" by Peter Straub left me underwhelmed. The plot had potential, but it was executed in a confusing and convoluted manner. The writing style was unnecessarily dense, making it difficult to fully comprehend the story. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked depth. Overall, I found the reading experience to be frustrating and unsatisfying.