Product Description

In a terrifying trip across America young Jack Sawyer is searching for the Talisman, the only thing that can save his dying mother. His quest takes him into the menacing Territories where violence, surprise and the titanic struggle between good and evil reach across a mythic landscape.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116784 in Books
• Published on: 1996-06-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 784 pages

Mirror
'Chilling horror story or fantastic journey through a strange world…the book works like…well, like magic'

Review
'Chilling horror story or fantastic journey through a strange world…the book works like…well, like magic' (Mirror )

'A classic…a journey to rival the greatest adventure stories ever told…rare and dazzling' (New York Daily News )

Synopsis
In a terrifying trip across America young Jack Sawyer is searching for the Talisman, the only thing that can save his dying mother. His quest takes him into the menacing Territories where violence, surprise and the titanic struggle between good and evil reach across a mythic landscape.

Customer Reviews

Certainly not his best
I am a big fan of Stephen King and so being one of the few I haven't read by him I decided to read the Talisman. To put it in one word its DISAPPOINTING. The story is of young Jack Sawyer who sets out on a quest to find "the talisman" (which you don't know what it is until the end) which can save his dying mother. He travels across the USA and also delves into another world called the "Territories" where he makes some friends who help him along the way whether it be in the territories or in the real world. The story is interesting but at times I felt it really dragged on and could have been condensed. At times the story really starts to move at snail's pace and I had to force myself to go on to finish the book. Although the pace picks up near the end where everything is coming to a head, it also becomes quite confusing and at times I had to read back to follow what was going on.

This book is a good read but if you are a King fan you may be a little disappointed. One thing good in all King books is that he keeps the characters simple and keeps the number of characters low so it is easier to follow the book and he has again done so here, however, I did at times find it difficult to follow who was whose "twinner" in the book, a "twinner" being the territories version of the person in the real world.

All in all, 3 out of 5 stars for this one. A better read would be "Desperation" or "Salem's Lot" if you are into your horror/ fantasy reading.

"Rainbow! Rainbow! Rainbow!"
The Talisman by Stephen King is an incredible journey, in which 12 year old Jack Sawyer wanders through the Territories in search of a way to save his dying mother.

Jack is a fantastic protagonist for the story. Brave and witty he shows maturity well beyond his years as he faces things that would only appear in another world. The other world is called "The Territories" and Jack can get there by "flipping". Stephen King really lets your imagination run wild with this idea of other worlds, and every time Jack arrives somewhere else, King describes it in such great detail, it always feels new and exciting, and in the Talisman's plot, you never know what is around the corner.

The Talisman is a very special book in every way. The characters, the settings, and the magic of Jack's adventure. It is completely absorbing, and you will feel sad when the book ends that it is over, but The Talisman is certainly a journey that won't be forgotton by anyone that reads it.

One of my favourite horror fantasy books
I have read this book several times and I still find it enjoyable every time. I also find this book very funny (the character of Wolf is hilarious, adorable and a tad scary), gripping and exciting. I would say this is one of the best fantasy horror books I have ever read.