October Stephen King Tribute Day 30: The Talisman

The Talisman is a collaborative work with Peter Straub. It was originally published in November of 1984.

Warning, this review does contain spoilers.

Having previously lost his father, Jack's mother is now dying of cancer and has uprooted their life and moved to Arcadia Beach. Jack feels out of control, not being able to do anything to change his current circumstances. Then he meets Speedy Parker. Speedy shows Jack how to "flip" into a parallel world known as The Territories. Jack sets out on a mission to California to obtain the Talisman that can save his mother's life.

Jack hitches rides in our world and sometimes flips into the Territories along the way. He meets a werewolf appropriately named Wolf. Wolf accompanies him on his journey. Jack learns that people in our world have a "twinner" in the Territories. It turns out Jack's mother's twinner if the Queen of the Territories. Their way is blocked by Morgan of Orris and his twinner Morgan Sloat. They want to take over the Territories and Jack's father's business respectively.

There is a huge divide in reception of this novel among Stephen King fans. Some strongly hate it, while others, like myself, think it is one of his best works. Everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion. As for me, I loved this book and have read it at least three times. At the time of my first reading, it was my longest novel I had read. I was proud of that.

I think what makes this book so fascinating to me is that it is hard to classify it into any one genre. There are horror elements throughout, but also a strong fantasy element. There is quite a bit of drama, and possible some thriller in there, although I doubt any of King's works can be called quick reads.

This book is a key part of the whole Dark Tower series. I have to admit I have never been a fan of that series, but this book is very good. The author duo got together again and published a sequel, Black House, in 2001. I am not a fan. The magic that was created with The Talisman just did not carry over into the second book.