The Talisman By Stephen King Has The Worst Character In All of The Multiverse & He Almost Ruins It

Mike head to the Territories to confront his twinner by discussing the 1984 collaboration between Peter Straub and Stephen King, The Talisman.
You can purchase The Talisman here: amzn.to/3aCfWV0 (physical) amzn.to/3peSwck (digital) amzn.to/3pl8rWU (audio)
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0:00 Introduction and background
2:23 What Is It About?
3:18 What Makes It Good or Bad?
11:55 Why You Should Read It
12:56 Final Thoughts
15:24 Multiverse Connections
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Music used: Epic (No Copyright Music)
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Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0(CC BY 3.0)
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#MikesBookReviews #StephenKing #TheTalisman

[@muhammadhashir6136]

The video quality is good but the openings where u quote the book and the thumbnails are just GORGEOUS.

[@gregkral4467]

My brother introduced this book to me when I was about 13-14, I was and still am a chronic insomniac, brain just wants more and more all the time, ... my favorite time of life was when I couldn't get to sleep, had a room downstairs, and a backpack with the cup'o'soup when they were good, with the freeze dried mushrooms and veg, and croutons.... well when everyone went to sleep, I would put on my nice 60 watt lamp with old 70's orange shade.... nice to read by, and make a cup o soup and read this book. I loved it. Must have read it about 3 times, then back to conan...

[@inkfeats1143]

For me getting to meet Wolf as a character made this book worth the read. I don’t even remember really what else happened, but the scenes with Wolf? Yeah, you better believe that they are seared into my memory.

[@collegeman1988]

When Wolf died after that crazy preacher from the Sunshine House murdered him, it reminded of how sad I felt when I’ve had dogs that I was really close to died. My last dog was a Boxador who had cancer and I had to make the difficult decision to have her euthanized. She was very protective of me and became very jealous of other dogs when they were around. I miss you Karma. You were the best.

[@downhomesunset]

I adored Wolf

[@PhilipChaseTheBestofFantasy]

It’s true that most writers don’t write kids particularly well, or they stay away from them by keeping their portrayal superficial. This does sound somewhat reminiscent of the randomness that I’m encountering in Dark Tower so far, and so I’m naturally interested in spite of it being bloated and having the obnoxious character. When I was in high school, there was a guy one town away who looked enough like me that people called him my twin. He was more of a troublemaker than I was, and I had a couple close calls because people mistook me for him. Excellent job once again of spreading the gospel of King! Thanks, Mike!

[@josie_the_valkyrie]

One of the reasons I really disliked The Institute was because I felt like the kids were written far too mature.

[@paulcain548]

Hey Mike. Where did u get the T shirt? Love it and your content as always. Happy Christmas buddy. Love the channel 👍🏻🇬🇧

[@mikesbookreviews]

My wife actually made this one for me. She’s a wizard. Merry Christmas to you, too!

[@amandabennett7456]

Ok, so saddened that you weren’t a fan but have a few points I’d like to bring up for thought. This, as you know, is my favorite book of all time. The first time I read it, I was 12 years old, and as not having much of a childhood myself, the ability to identify with that in a character, recognizing that that could be normal was amazing. So I don’t think he was too mature just, like you mentioned, an unfortunate side effect for those who are forced to grow up way too soon. Yes, Richard was annoying, but I saw him from the perspective of being all the character attributes that Jack would have possessed if he had chosen the internal path of not being a ‘grownup’ about his journey. A sort of external inverse reflection. I believe there was definitely meant to be a tie to the Dark Tower series as a start to the whole part of the multiverse. This book, in my opinion, is one of the the novels (not the only) that is intimately entwined and embedded in the multiverse. Almost entirely so. Everything even to the point of the stark similarities between Jack and Jake. As far as bloat, I see it as more the trials required but fair enough. Wizard and Glass has by far been the most bloated to me....I wanted to pull my fingernails out with pliers to not have to finish that one, but I did. I’ve read this novel about 8 or 9 more times over the years, and as I’ve gotten older, I’m still able to continually derive some new insights. So, there is my diatribe but you knew it would come. 😬We can have a better, actual, more in-depth discussion at a later time....

[@mikesbookreviews]

Ha ha I didn’t recall this being your favorite King book. I think if I had read it while younger and also before reading Dark Tower I probably would have enjoyed it more. I like the ideas, the execution just missed the mark for me.

[@joecourtney8552]

Yea felt about the same about this. The only connection I found was when he was talking about somebody who could go dim but not invisible. I know that was a part of Eyes Of The Dragon. Unsure if that shows up other books.

[@Vangone-bu6vu]

I loved Wolf! My thoughts on Richard was that he was Jack’s best friend but they didn’t give us a reason to make him our best friend.

[@darthandy6161]

As a kid, I followed Eyes of the Dragon with The Talisman and it cemented me as a King fan. I can’t be sure I would feel the same way if I read it today, but I generally don’t reread books so I’m glad it lives in my memory as enjoyable.

[@williamjones3534]

First two books I read as well only I can't remember the order

[@robertnewberry8296]

"Of course, if we’re talking King’s saviors of the multiverse, my personal favorite and close runner-up to Roland is Jack Sawyer, the twelve-year old hero of The Talisman. Critics have sometimes observed The Stand to be King’s American Lord of the Rings, but in my view they are wrong - it is The Talisman that was his equivalent of the fantasy quest across the United States. The quest is that of Jack, who has to cross the United States - and the fantasy world attached to it, the Territories - from New Hampshire to California, to obtain the eponymous Talisman to save his ex-Hollywood movie star mother (and her fantasy ‘twin’, the Queen of the Territories) dying from cancer. And in doing so, perhaps save the whole world and the multiverse as well."

[@j.dfarrelly7228]

I read The Talisman this year just before all the Dark Tower series, and I honestly loved it. For me at least it's just behind Salems Lot and The Stand.

[@TheBookCure]

Sad that this was a miss for you, but happy I finally got to hear your thoughts! I read this at age 12, right before diving into the dark tower, and I loved it. Wolf was one of my favourite fantasy characters for a long time. I’m looking forward to a reread soon, just to see how it compares.

[@williamjones3534]

Damn! You read this at age 12?!😲 I was 15 or 16 when I picked it up. Much props to you for being able to pick it up and stick with it at that age. I was heart broken for 3 days when wolf died and put the book down for as long, maybe longer before I resumed reading. I remember how much I resented Richard.

[@TheBookCure]

@@williamjones3534 Same. I don’t think I’ve cried harder while reading since then. I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with only my Dad’s books to pick from, so I got my fantasy introduction early, haha.

[@williamjones3534]

@@TheBookCure Well... I didn't cry or anything but I do have allergies so my nose may have gotten stuffy and my eyes a little puffy😳😜

[@cs5842]

The Oakley tap, Sunshine Gardener, the blasted lands. A triumph, the whole book.

[@gregoryzaste5435]

I thought you had a new look. Haha. Great thumbnail. Love the vids. Keep em coming.

[@MarciMasala]

I read this book waaaay back when I was 19/20. Thoroughly immersed, totally engaged, loved Wolf, and attribute this book as my gateway to fantasy/urban fantasy.

[@ashcarrier6606]

As far as staying "on task", there was a reason for the tangents. Recall that Speedy Parker warns Jack NOT to fly to California. The reason given that if he were to cross into the Territories while at 30,000 feet, he'd die. The reality is that a Jack Sawyer who simply flew to California would be dead pretty quickly. Because he would not have overcame the challenges in his journey that transformed him into something very much like a Gunslinger.

[@robertnewberry8296]

Jack Sawyer 3, or Talisman 3, is a temporary title for an upcoming book to be pusblished by Stephen King and Peter Straub. The book will be a sequel to The Talisman and Black House, and is projected to be the final volume of The Talisman series.

[@downhomesunset]

I hope there are more Wolfs in this one. Is Jack going to become a leader in the territories?

[@justincurlew9595]

I would have to agree with many parts here Mike, Wolf was my favorite! When Wolf died I wanted to put the book down (I would never do that though). The off task and "Bloat" I felt and just had to keep trucking thinking maybe it leads to other important parts of the Multiverse. I did pick up on a small reference to Pet Sematary, (nothing multiverse shattering) when Jack refers to Osmond as "Osmond The Great and Terrible".

[@dyrcosis]

i first read this novel either when it was released at the end of 1984 or I may have waited until early 1985. I remember enjoying it the first read through and then again just before the sequel came out. I don't recall many details but a couple of scenes stuck with me through the years: The first is when Jack is captured at some point and threatened with a lighter. Another is when he sees a slave boy in the distance get his back broken by being rolled over by a wagon. At least, I'm pretty sure those scenes were in there. It's possible I'm delusional.

[@tempion1]

Damn! Did we read the same book? My favorite book of all time! Reading it once a year since I was 15!

[@greghunter6951]

I agree 100%. My favourite book by Stephen King.

[@cs5842]

Same :)

[@atootaholoooloh8053]

Somehow, I could never finish reading this book, even though I loved the parts I did read. I always stop after the chapter where Jack works at the bar and tries to leave. I just seem to lose interest at that point for some reason.

[@leonmita724]

I was the exact opposite. Couldn't put it down, the same with "IT"..

[@ohmslaw6856]

You need to finish when possible.. some beautiful moments in that book

[@downhomesunset]

@@ohmslaw6856Especially the parts with Wolf. He did protect his herd!

[@scandle6161]

I really want to read Black House, I picked it out last night from my King library & started reading it (enjoying so far!). Nowhere on my copy of the book does it say it's the 2nd in a series. The Talisman doesn't really pique my interest as such - do I have to read this first before I read Black House? Because I really don't want to 😅🤣 If anyone could advise me, that would be great 🙂 Thanks.

[@GhostInCocoJumbo]

I can't help laughing when people talk about how Richard annoys a lot. But I don't hate him he's just a kid suffers from ptsd, the lack of family ties, and illness.

[@nathanbeer3338]

I disliked Richard as well. There were moments where I asked myself where Pennywise was when you need him\her\it, especially at the moment where the ungrateful whiny Richard called Jack an asshole not long after Jack has literally saved his life. But what I liked was the strong friendship between the two boys (whenever Richard wasn't complaining) and the way they can commiserate for the loss of one's parents and the some funny moments during their adventure. Also, in my opinion the Sunlight Home is one of the best moments in the book, all the villains there were unsettling and, well SPOILER, the outcome was undoubtedly satisfying.

[@Shesabitspooky]

I ordered this book because I am a giant stranger things fan & seen Lucas reading this book to Max in the end! I also think the duffers are making a show on it so I’m super interested to see any ties it might have to stranger things and obviously the new show coming probably in a few years time! This was a great video btw!! Very detailed & I love that it was spoiler free but gave me insight into what I’m going to read when my book comes in! I’ve read that A LOT of people do not like this book so I’m sort of disappointed but I’ll give it a chance

[@montecristo1845]

Yes! I heard Steven Spielberg purchased the film rights (even before the book was published) back in 1984 or so. This was before Stephen King added time restrictions for filmmakers to start production within a few years of purchasing the rights instead of sitting on them for decades. The Duffer brothers’ Stranger Things obviously caught the attention of Spielberg (& probably King as well) and they must have expressed their desire to film the story, so he is either going to produce or direct with them a limited series or feature film. Hence the Easter egg you saw at the end of Season 4. 🤩😎🤗

[@SorallaRebelde]

Thanks for this review, I was hoping I'd find a review on Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub since I just finished that book. Have you read the 2nd book in this series yet? If you have I'd love to hear your review on it! Thanks 😊 ❤️

[@greghunter6951]

Still is my favourite Stephen King story. Read it many times. Wolf (silent as oiled smoke) and the creature fight ( feelings bugs biting his fingers when a creatuee is punched) are my favourite parts of the writing.

[@downhomesunset]

“His eyes as red as brake lights”

[@jctmanu]

Hey Mike addressing what you said about disliking books 6-7 of the Dark Tower, I totally agree. However the standalone DT novel that King wrote called “The Wind through the Keyhole” is awesome! It definitely recaptured the magic of books 1-4 of the series. Not sure if you’ve read it or not but you definitely should. Love your channel! You’ve become my favorite book tuber in the last few months.

[@downhomesunset]

I love that book! It is a great stand alone book!

[@KK-zb3xc]

Read it back in 95 and just finished rereading again last night. My mam died in September of cancer so I found the last few pages incredibly hard. Back in 95 all was well with the world.

[@TSFitzpatrick]

My mother died from cancer when I was 16. I feel for you. The ending was tough.

[@warrengilson1835]

Just finished The Talisman today. I was impatient with the drawn out first few chapters but once we were on the road it was pretty good. I didn't mind the enforced halts at Oatley and Sunshine House. Here's an idea from outta town ... was Tom Sawyer (of Mark Twain fame) some sort of foretelling/retelling/parallel - was Tom on a quest across America's south with Huck Finn to save Aunt Polly? And before you say aww thats just his surname and the authors giving a wink on the last page - both Jack and Tom went on to become detectives in their respective sequels. 😉😉 On to The Wastelands next ....

[@teestjulian]

I cried for the first time reading a book which was the talisman when Wolfie died

[@therealjohndoe3862]

I read The Talisman when it first came out and really loved it. At some point, I will go back and read it again. Thanks for the reminder!

[@DaveShaves44]

11:02 "why are you here? Please someone shoot this kid" dude I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF so hard when you said that hahahahahahahaha So funny. I absolutely loved this book. I would 100% agree with you on King getting off the path with Jack working at the tavern and that religious boys school cult place. Didn't really care for either of those side stories either. But honestly, I feel this way with almost all his books! He's such a rambler! With almost every one of his books, I think they could be cut down by several hundred pages lol. Richard didn't bug me too much and I actually wasn't crazy about Wolf until his epic fight scene! Although I did listen to most his parts on audio book and I think it was moreso the narrator's style of voicing him that I found annoying, probably more than the actual character. Overall I loved the book gave it 5 stars

[@gator7082]

There's just something that has always fascinated me about this book, one of my favorite King books.

[@nintenjoel]

I've got to say... I'm into a lot of reviews and nerdy stuff... I had no idea book reviewers was a thing until now hahahaha. Great book, great review. I give the book an 8ish out of ten. New subscriber!

[@robertnewberry8296]

"Son of Celluloid first appeared in Volume 3 of Clive Barker's Books of Blood, written in 1983 and published in the UK in 1984 and the US in 1986. Along with other graphic tales of horror within the covers of these debut volumes, Son of Celluloid glorified in illustrating Barker's unapologetic imagination and established the author as one who was unafraid to deal with subjects that others treated as taboo. Son of Celluloid centred on the disease of cancer and had it act through several icons of the silver screen... In the story, Sonny Barberio's cancer has grown through the absorption of attention and love granted the players projected onto the screen of the Movie Palace cinema behind which the escaped convict's otherwise lifeless body resides. Manifesting itself first as John Wayne and then as Marilyn Monroe, the cancer now seeks a more physical interaction. 'Marilyn' has already despatched the hapless cinemagoer Dean, before moving in on the cancer's next intended victim, Ricky..." "She'd run into a cul-de-sac. There was no way out from this end of the cinema, and judging by the come-ons she was giving him, she knew it. She turned and flattened herseif against the wall, feet spread out a little. He was within a couple of yards of her when a breeze out of nowhere billowed her skirt up around her waist. She laughed, half closing her eyes, as the surf of silk rose and exposed her. She was naked underneath. Ricky reached for her again and this time she didn't avoid his touch. The dress billowed up a little higher and he stared, fixated, at the part of Marilyn he had never seen, the fur divide that had been the dream of millions. There was blood there. Not much, a few fingermarks on her inner thighs. The faultless gloss of her flesh was spoiled slightly. Still he stared; and the lips parted a little as she moved her hips, and he realized the glint of wetness in her interior was not the juice of her body, but something else altogether. As her muscles moved the bloody eyes she'd buried in her body shifted, and came to rest on him. She knew by the look on his face that she hadn't hidden them deep enough, but where was a girl with barely a veil of cloth covering her nakedness to hide the fruits of her labour? "You killed him," said Ricky, still looking at the lips, and the eyes that peeked out between. The image was so engrossing, so pristine, it all but cancelled out the horror in his belly. Perversely, his disgust fed his lust instead of killing it. So what if she was a murderer: she was legend. "Love me," she said. "Love me forever."'

[@richardlynch5632]

Wolf = The story of a boy and his dog, never gets old😉😎👍

[@markrobinson5588]

Richard was his best friend!! Jack wasn’t going to abandon him because of annoyance!! How could we go on without The Oatley Tunnel and Smokey Updike and then The Sunlight house these “side” stories as you call them fit perfectly , you overinflated “the bad” in this book every word in it serves well and yes Wolf is one of the best King characters of all time his innocence ,loyalty ,love and sacrifice make him human. And it’s not kind of a good ending it has a great ending!! God pounds his nails!! Lol

[@downhomesunset]

Wolf kept his herd safe!

[@justincopple8222]

This book is one of my personal favorite books besides the stand and the different seasons which included the body aka Stand by me which is one of the best non horror coming of age story made into a great movie. Im hoping we do get to see the series of the Talisman some time soon. Come on Netflix get on with it already LOL.

[@downhomesunset]

I’d like to see ‘The Breathing Method’ made into film

[@brettskinner1416]

I know Jack wasn't Jake's Twitter but I kept wanting to keep say that when I was reading it

[@damonke79]

I'd have to sit down and put thoughts to paper to see where I rank this but I do remember liking it. You mentioned some of the ideas being better executed in The Stand and It. Those are his two best books in my opinion, so it's understandable that you didn't think it was on the level of those.

[@williamjones3534]

Well... that's a shame. I thought you would like this book mike 😔 This was the first or second Stephen King novel I read with the other being "The Eyes of the Dragon." In all fairness I was 15 or 16 when I first read this book so taste change. I remember loving this book for Wolf! It broke my heart when he was killed and I was depressed for 3 days. If nothing else I thought you would have enjoyed it for the "Dark Tower" connections. It's been long debated that the Talisman was just another incarnation of the Rose. In fact I think King later said that it was. I think you may have hated or resented Richard because he came after Wolf which is easy to do. After all Wolf left a very big void I think. Didn't he remind you of a smarter version of Tom Cullen? (no joke intended)

[@heatherhill6434]

Having read Peter Straub (and being thoroughly scared 🙂) I can say with some authority the bloat is his. PS in a different Era would have written travel logs delving into the minutiae of the flowers, bugs, rocks that you will pass.

[@collegeman1988]

I was 17 and in high school when I read The Talisman when it was released in hardback in 1984, and I enjoyed it. I don’t remember it being an awful book and I did read it again several years later. If the book Stephen King co-wrote with Peter Straub were made into a movie or miniseries, I imagined Jack’s mother would be played by either Jane Fonda or Lily Tomlin. I’ve never read any of The Dark Tower books, but I did fantasize about areas in metro Denver where I live where they were portals to alternate realities. When the C-470 freeway opened in the mid 1990s, I drove past these two small buildings that looked like huts. In fact, they were cell phone tower buildings, but I imagined in the alternate reality of The Territories, this place was the alternate reality called The Outpost just east of The Wastelands where Jack and his friend Richard from prep school stayed before using a hand truck on the railroad to get out to California to get the Talisman to save Jack’s mother.

[@legendaryfatcat]

Love the shirt, Mike.

[@oberstul1941]

Nice review; I dig it. As a matter of fact I AM that guy who doesn't likes Talisman and blames it on Peter Straub due to personal bias. It just so happens that this was the only SK book I put off reading for a long time and when I finally got to it, it was soured from my previous read of Straub's "Lost Boy, Lost Girl" that I kinda hated - and thus any of the Talisman's faults I blamed on PS, being at that time a SK fanboy. Anyway, season's greetings and happy holidays, folks!

[@sjkrum320]

Wolf! Right here and now! It's been a very long time since I've read this. But I liked it well enough.

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

I first read this book in Saudi Arabia as I sat in the sand as combat medic in Desert Storm. I liked it a lot then. Years later, I read it again and liked it a little less. And a few years ago, I read it once more and liked it less . . . Again. It was in preparation to read Black House. And unfortunately, I couldn’t get into BH at that time. I do plan on trying again, but I’m done with Talisman.

[@davidransom4703]

when jack meets wolf,s tribe or family of wolfs and he thinks maybe wolf survived some how and realized it was not soo broke my heart all over again... Yes wolf was my favorite character

[@NP-iy1zu]

I'm sure the following has already been said but Leland Gaunt drives a Talisman...

[@downhomesunset]

YES I remember that now. With the weird third headlight!

[@bryanvanloh8217]

While reading Talisman, I felt much like you. Asking Why this and that. Seems pointless and bloated. But I was happy for the journey when finished and overall was glad I read. Since finishing, I’ve forgotten the negatives and now look back with fondness at Jack Sawyer’s journey. I too hated Richard at first and don’t really see him as a King character, but it works for me with my view of the story overall and we saw him develop and have a small arc. So I hate him less. I enjoyed the Talisman and recommend it but far from a first King read.

[@williamjones3534]

I think part of the problem is that Richard came after Wolf. It's kind of hard not to resent Richard on the heels of Wolf!😉

[@rgee3972]

I read this in 1985 when I was 13. I couldn't put it down and it's been my favorite book ever since. I've reread it 2 or 3 times. Totally respect your criticisms and enjoyed hearing your overall thoughts.

[@henrytheworst]

I first read the talisman in 8th grade, 1986 - and you couldn’t tear me away from it. The Dark Tower books were a satisfying progression

[@danielruppel4237]

this thumbnail is incredible

[@whutzat]

Mike, what is your LEAST favorite Stephen King book? Have you talked about that before?

[@mikesbookreviews]

Not at length. Probably Cell.

[@downhomesunset]

@@mikesbookreviewsOoof that book is awful!

[@thesmuli83]

Merry Christmas everyone🎄🎅

[@Pnkfloid49]

The talisman is one of my #1 favorite books of all time because of wolf

[@alexisdumas84]

I loved the Dark Tower and just kind of wanted more of that, or at least something similar, so that's why I picked the Talisman up; it's on my bookshelf right now. Honestly, I'm a huge "journey before destination" guy (although I dislike Brandon Sanderson), so your review really only increases my desire to read this book lol!

[@williamjones3534]

Totally with you on the dislike Sanderson thing. The man is a great world builder but severely lacking in terms of characters and story

[@alexisdumas84]

@@williamjones3534 Oh yes, exactly! I went into Mistborn really wanting to like it, but not having any expectations, and was severely disappointed. Basically hated it. I haven't read Stormlight yet, but I'm hoping it'll be better.

[@williamjones3534]

@@alexisdumas84 Mistborn WAS THE SERIES I READ TOO! After my buddy talked it up and reading the WOT I decided to give that series a go. I never even finished the third book. I thought Sanderson's magic system was good but his characters were cardboard cut outs. I refused to pick up another book from the man after that experience. Writer friend of mine either worked with or sat in a panel with Sanderson says he's a nice guy.

[@alexisdumas84]

@@williamjones3534 I agree on the characters front, although I'm used to cardboard cut out characters because I read a lot of science fiction. My main problem wasn't that they were cardboard cutouts, but that as much time was spent on their shallow development and simplistic themes as would have been spent in another novel on very deep and complex characters. usually, when your characters are cardboard cutouts, you don't spend much time dealing with their development or internal thoughts or emotions, because there's not that much there; Sanderson completely turned this around and It felt like A complete waste of time. Moreover, although his world building was really interesting and entertaining, I felt like it was delivered very badly: namely, through the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter. The type of reveals and important information that was documented there was the sort of thing that should have been revealed as part of the plot. Even worse, and this is what really got me to dislike it, the political maneuver frames taking place in the Well of Ascension and Hero of Ages were extremely poor in comparison to some of the books I had been reading, including Dune and the Commonwealth Saga (in fact, the Commonwealth Saga has an amazing example of how to do a Ruin-esque plot line much better, in the Starflyer, too).

[@otherworldsthanthese]

I still haven’t read The Talisman, I’ve got to read it in 2021!

[@ahill6858]

Agree with Richard! Too much Richard and not enough Wolf!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Richard is the WORST.

[@ethancockerham3067]

I have to agree the bloat killed this for me on the first read, when he got stuck working the bar I put the book down for awhile. I've only read it twice and I have to say it was a bit better the second time around. I hated Wolf until their time at the Sunlight Home and missed him even more when Richard was introduced. I whole heartedly agree on the horrid character of Richard. The small bits with Parker felt like little bits of sunshine in the slog of Jack's journey. Could definitely have been condensed down a bit.

[@colleenjacobs8210]

Loved the Talisman. Loved Jack and Wolf! I followed your advice to read this before starting The Dark Tower series…..glad I did!

[@WilAdams]

For me there are only 3 parts of this book that rise above all the others. One (and perhaps the 2nd best) was the Smokey Updike sequence in the bar where Jack always has to 'run me out another keg.'. Second (The best for me) The Sunlight Gardner School for Wayward Boys. Finally, there is the scene with the Territory Trees (our boy? is it our boy?). I loved those scenes. As for your attack on Richard, he was--for me--a terrific character. I loved the way he whined. I do agree that Wolf was wonderful--especially in the book's most horrifying scene 'You're the herd now, Jacky'. Oh, and you are wrong about writing coming of age stories. Yes, King is good at it, but both Orson Scott Card and Robert McCammon (Boy's Life).are much better coming of age stories. Yeah, we know that King does horror well, but Orson Scott Cards novella (not the novel) in Maps in a Mirror--Lost Boys was far more scary than anything King has done.

[@vincezetti7216]

there are a couple holes in this story. 1) why doesnt sloat just kill lilly in the hotel room? 2) at the end, why doesn’t parkus or anyone help lilly in the hotel room when shes almost dead... they send a friggin limo to pick up jack and richard but they cant help lilly? 3) why isnt lilly in the hospital if she has cancer? 4) why didnt gardner realize jack parker was jack sawyer... he clearly remembered him from somewhere, and he knew there was an APB out for a kid named jack, espec one travellin w a wolfman. richard was annoying af, but not nearly as annoying as detta/odetta.

[@billhollister5523]

Wolf! Wolf was absolutely my favorite, right here and now!

[@downhomesunset]

You pounded that nail!

[@caseythornton4094]

One of my favorite King books without a doubt. Much like Insomnia, the sequel to The Talisman, Black House seems almost like another Dark Tower novel

[@davidransom4703]

i liked figuring out who,s writing peter or stephen it was pretty cool and satisfying

[@bilmoe5856]

Mm? Have you been on a quest before? The point is that you never get from point a to point b without a zig or zag in the story. Richard is there to frustrate you! That's why he exists in this book.

[@bobgdn]

I enjoyed this book when it first came out. I haven’t read it since so my opinions may have changed over the years. Black House was a huge disappointment to me. I don’t really remember much of that book but I do remember being super confused.

[@alexbigday1587]

Sooo any chances you'll be taking a look at Black House in the upcoming future?

[@samfowler9851]

Yeah, This was my first Stephen King book I read and it is the only Stephen King book I read, and I can tell it was a mistake to start here.

[@joecourtney8552]

Yes for sure. This is my 5th of his and least favorite. I started with Firestarter and really liked it.

[@damonke79]

I've read 53 of his books. There are far worse books. From a Buick 8? Dreamcatcher? Those are far worse in my opinion.

[@downhomesunset]

⁠@@damonke79Cell. Ugh that was awful!

[@AAAAAAAAAA225]

THE THUMBNAIL

[@brentasmith]

Even though my overall impression was slightly more positive because I enjoyed some of the journey aspects, I 100 percent agree with a lot of that criticism. I HATED Richard Sloat. Hated him.

[@stanhdngateezwme5546]

Can you review or react to the Lore of HID&GEM / Lore of HDnG?? It's a Wiki style read, and the English version is all online. Thanks from the fanbase!!!

[@bryanbjorne1156]

I actually really liked this book the first time I read it. When I was in highschool in the 90s. I didn't care as much for it the second time I read it 10 years later. I still liked the book the second time threw but I didn't love it.

[@michaelo5665]

So glad you finally covered this book

[@mathieuleader8601]

I wonder if we will have the trilogy ever completed

[@sebastiondenning2042]

Who else came here to figure out the little Easter egg from stranger things season 4?

[@Pduarte79]

😏 me. Lol Is there any movie of this?

[@MiaLeyden]

I've only read two of Peter's books, both were good but also very erratic. Maybe that inspired King to be more erratic himself. I haven't read The Talisman in a hot minute so maybe it's time to give it a re-read.

[@ohmslaw6856]

Loved the book; definitely heartwarming and memorable.

[@ohmslaw6856]

Is the talisman associated with merlins rainbow? It is a orb

[@IanPatton]

I really agree with your critique. This could have been a very tight, very good adventure story had 40% of it been binned. Unfortunately, Black House, which could have been a very good sequel has exactly the same problems. It's sad, these both had the potential to be REALLY GOOD stories.

[@theesperanzacompromisebyja9044]

I still haven't read this one. I remain curious about it.

[@megikamirdala2827]

I just started this book yesterday, completely obsessed with anything Dark Tower multiverse. I stopped reading anything else.

[@belinda35_77]

WOLF!! My heart...

[@bilmoe5856]

The talisman was one of the wizard's rainbows, maybe even black 13

[@theepicduck6922]

Personally I overall enjoyed the book although it wasn't perfect in its execution. Probably a fairly casual Steven King reader on my end although it hit the type of genre I tend to prefer more than most of his writings to try bridging into his larger body of works.

[@lynsylva-bb6ss]

I thot it was great ! Youd be surprised what determination can do. You just havent had a reason to test yourself.

[@danecobain]

I quite enjoyed this one, but Black House almost killed me!

[@danielrhea7693]

so i understand the richard content, definitely felt the same way, im just sad he brought it back with patrick danville. feel like he reinvigorated a dead ass character

[@bilmoe5856]

Man, the point is that Jack was held up the entire time. I feel like you missed a lot of the point of how frustrating a journey actually is.

[@baciliogomez375]

Pretty much agreed 100% *SPOILERS WARNING* The book kinda got killed for me more when they basically replaced Wolf with Richard! Richard is probably one of kings most painful characters to read

[@TSFitzpatrick]

I loved the Talisman. Read it back to back the first time. I was maybe 14.

[@schlamuffenimperator9460]

Ugh, I hated Richard. He had no point to be there, besides probably proofing his Father was evil enough to not care about him in the end.

[@mikesbookreviews]

The GD worst!

[@carolclaxton9813]

Ur mad funnay....keep it ☝

[@johncoltharp2572]

Read Straub's Shadowlands

[@mikesamp11]

I loved this book. I agree it could have been shorter. I agree Richard is the worst.

[@Skrubybrother]

Why does everybody dislike the bar sequence on KZbin

[@simonedwards9450]

Was really disappointed with this novel. I was really looking forward to it but just couldn’t get into it. Maybe when I get round to reading Black House, I might give this another go

[@Chaos8282]

I have an original hard copy of this that my dad bought. It was one of the first books he recommended I read after Cujo and the Godfather. I remember almost nothing about it.