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Stephen King/Peter Straub: The Talisman

SFG75 said:
About to begin this one tonight. Any thoughts?
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T'is a great one, IMO. :D I've read reviews where people complain that it starts off slowly, but it had me hooked right from the beginning. If you like fast paced fantasy-adventure books, you'll love this one. The pace just does not let up, and it reminded me a lot of The Dark Tower series with the parallel worlds, etc. If you don't like it right from the start, then I don't think you will like it when you are further into it.

I also have the sequel, Black House, which I have tried to read several times, but it just hasn't held my attention. :rolleyes:

I'd be interested to hear what you think when you start it.
 
I luuurve this book; it's my favorite Stephen King book, and probably my favorite fantasy book of all time. Of course some of the plot is a bit predictable, but I love the heroes - Wolf especially is an incredible character, and he made me cry a bit. It is full of suspense, and I absolutely could not put it down once I got into it.

Even my mom, who hates Stephen King with a passion and who is notoriously squeamish, loved this book. I will be really interested to hear your thoughts when you finish it. :)
 
I liked it. If you are familiar with Straub's and King's writing styles you can tell who wrote certain parts of the story.
 
I'm only up to page 50 so far. The swirling sand the boy hearing voices was very creepy. King has quite the knack for introducing the creepiness very early on.:eek: I also enjoyed the intorduction of the washed up "B" actress who has issues. Hope to get a little more reading in tonight, so far, so good.
 
Strangely enough, I read Black House before I started The Talisman (I didn't realise it was a sequel). I love BH, it was everything I love about King with that little extra thrown in courtesy of Straub. Of course I didn't understand the references to the first book. but I don't feel it matters.

I have only read half of The Talisman, I don't know why. I think I got to the part at his friend's school. I will have to give it another go.
 
I prefer Straub's early stuff to King's, his horror is more subtle and psychologically driven. And his prose is top notch.
 
Up to about page 80 now-I'm going at a snail's pace due to being busy as of late.:( I do enjoy the whole parallel reality thing, not to mention the Huckleberry Finn likeniess. Tom Sawyer and the obvious name of the boy, the African-American custodian and of course, Jim in the earlier Twain work.
 
Update-I'm at page 292. the doldrums have passed a bit as the young boy and his wolf friend encountered the big bad relative of the boy's. Hitchhiking with a wolf and walking the interstate-never would've predicted that one.
 
imhere4beer said:
I luuurve this book; it's my favorite Stephen King book, and probably my favorite fantasy book of all time. Of course some of the plot is a bit predictable, but I love the heroes - Wolf especially is an incredible character, and he made me cry a bit. It is full of suspense, and I absolutely could not put it down once I got into it.

Even my mom, who hates Stephen King with a passion and who is notoriously squeamish, loved this book. I will be really interested to hear your thoughts when you finish it. :)
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Definately one of my favorites. I've read it about 10 times. Wolf may be my favorite King character. The sequel was an enormous letdown. I might give it another chance. The lowered expectations may help
 
I have to say that the lull in the book definitely ended. I loved how Wolf tore things up at the private boys home-holy cow-what a bloodbath!. And how amusing was it for the sounds of death and chaos to be supported in the background with the preacher going on and on about evil and the like? King was awesome in creating that whole scene.

I'm really enjoying this one now. I have 150 pages to go, I hope to wrap this one up tonight, though the action is fast and furious and its making me want to begin sooner than I possibly can.:D
 
I did the same and read Black house first before I realised it was a series but I read the talisman and loved it then read Black house again!

I would definately recommend them both.
 
Talisman

Great Book! The thing I love the most about Stephen Kings books is the connection between each one. This book starts to explain alot of what that connection is all about. In fact I didn't relaize the connection until I read this book.
 
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