Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Reviews of Talisman

Talisman
Talisman
Author: Stephen King
ISBN-13: 9788401329296
ISBN-10: 8401329299
Publication Date: 1/2002
Pages: 811
Rating:
  ?

0 stars, based on 0 rating
Publisher: Plaza Janes Editores, S.A.
Book Type: Hardcover
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

60 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

reviewed Talisman on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I love Stephen King. I hadn't read a book of his in awhile and it was nice to go back to my reading roots. I have been distracted reading a lot of other books that are popular or series that others love, but it was nice to go back to something familiar. King has a great way of getting into the heart of the "every man". This story was also very creative. King created a believable whole new world parallel to the real world. Towards the end I started getting bored with all the battle and action scenes, but he created such a likable character in Jack that wanted to find out what happened and I cared about the characters. This book really reminded me of the Dark Tower series. It was very similar so similar in fact that it was a little disappointing to realize that both books aren't really orignal ideas, but they were different enough that I can forgive King for that.
stocktonmalonefan avatar reviewed Talisman on + 58 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is a book I will never part with. It is in my top four of Stephen King books to read, along with "The Shining, Salem's Lot, and The Stand." It's mesmerizing from the very beginning, full of intrigue and magic. If you love Stephen King, you MUST read this book! And even if you're not a Stephen King fan per se, I think you will find this story to be engrossing, and probably will end up reading it into the wee hours of morning. The main character is Jack Sawyer--a 13 year old boy bearing the burdens of the world on his shoulders. His father is dead and his mother is dying. He alone can change her future and many ways, mankind. It sounds silly--but it's beautiful. I found myself laughing at parts and crying at others. This is not you're typical Stephen King--scary, gruesome book. This is a tale of love and magic. Read it!
Kibi avatar reviewed Talisman on + 582 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A Good Read..., February 18, 2006
Reviewer: P. Robinson "Relic113" (Calgary)

The Talisman chronicles the adventure of a twelve year old boy named Jack Sawyer. The young hero sets out from the East Coast of the USA in a bid to save his mother, who is dying from cancer. Jack needs to find the mystical artifact known only as the 'The Talisman'.
Werewolves, both good and bad, inhabit the far western parts of a world parallel to America known as The Territories - which incidentally are part of the Dark Tower World. A sixteen-year-old Wolf, simply named Wolf, is accidentally drawn pulled into America by Jack Sawyer, and the two form a strong friendship as they seek ways to travel between their worlds and find the talisman.
The book is split between The Territories and our world's America. King and Straub are able to constantly throw Jack from the frying pan to the fire, as he escapes from one life-threatening situation to another. Jack must retrieve the Talisman before it falls into enemy hands and will be lost to him forever.
A different type of book for King, as it involves the creation of worlds other than our own...A concept he uses almost exclusively in his Dark Tower stories and the Eyes of the Dragon. However, this is a successful stand alone novel, in its own right and I would suggest picking up a copy of this for a rainy day so you too can visit another world...
reviewed Talisman on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I've read this so many times I almost have it memorized. One of my absolute favorites!
reviewed Talisman on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Two of the world's bestselling authors (Stephen King and Peter Straub) team up in the ultimate masterpiece of spine-tingling terror...the most compelling, most talked-about, most frightening book of the decade.

You are about to take a journey...a terrifying trip across a nightmare America filled with monsters beyond anything ever imagined before...a journey into the dark heart of horrorr..
reviewed Talisman on + 17 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
If I were to review this book, I would have to write a book on the review. This book holds quite a few horrow stories by King.
reviewed Talisman on + 30 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book. Epic without being one bit boring. Scary and mystical and exciting, I highly recommend to any fans of history, fantasy, science fiction, thrillers and either or both of the authors.
Phantene avatar reviewed Talisman on + 72 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my favorite books by Stephen King (The Stand is my #1 favorite) and one of my favorite books by Peter Straub. A fantastic story! This book was hard to put down, an incredible read. Highly recommended!
reviewed Talisman on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
From the back cover: "You are about to take a journey...a terrifying trip across a nightmare America filled with monsters beyond anyhting ever imagined before...a journey int the dark heart of horror. Tow of the world's bestselling authors team up in the ultimate masterpiece of spine-tingling terror...the most compelling, most talked-about, most frightening book of the decade."
reviewed Talisman on + 391 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent-you will be glued to your seat.
reviewed Talisman on + 23 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What an awesome fantasy novel. Just great reading. I finished it in 2 days
waterbearer avatar reviewed Talisman on + 62 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Boy travels between this world and "the territories" in search of the talisman to save his dying mother and basically the world. Dark Tower all over the place. Great read.
constant-reader avatar reviewed Talisman on + 130 more book reviews
A great, fantasy crossover and a wonderful collaboration between the two authors.
reviewed Talisman on + 15 more book reviews
Another excellend write by Stephen King and Peter Straub. The Talisman is an intriguing journey of a little boy bound to save the world. Don't miss the follow up Black House.
reviewed Talisman on
Best-selling authors Stephen King and Peter Straub are a dynamic duo collaborating on The Talisman.
With fantasy and reality in this tale, The Talisman" chronicles the journey of a young boy attempting to save his dying mother. After meeting an eccentric old man in an amusement park, Jack Sawyer becomes aware of an alien realm called the Territories. Jack must trek across America, facing the evil creatures of the Territories and of this world, to retrieve a valuable prize that can save his mother's life.
reviewed Talisman on + 12 more book reviews
Classic King. Awesome, and 24 CD's (unabridged) in case you have some time to kill. Great for a commuter.
timetravelgirl avatar reviewed Talisman on + 153 more book reviews
Great!!!
reviewed Talisman on + 13 more book reviews
My favorite book by far, excellant story great charecters and like stephen kings other books, addictive. I definatly reccomend this book to anyone
reviewed Talisman on + 108 more book reviews
One of my favorite books ever! (Gosh, it's been YEARS).
Phantene avatar reviewed Talisman on + 72 more book reviews
This is one of my favorite books by Stephen King (The Stand is my #1 favorite) and one of my favorite books by Peter Straub. A fantastic story! This book was hard to put down, an incredible read. Highly recommended!
reviewed Talisman on + 2 more book reviews
Great book. A must read for any Stephen King fan.
Ravenz avatar reviewed Talisman on + 49 more book reviews
Great Book
reviewed Talisman on + 612 more book reviews
I completely loved this book and I reccomend it to anyone.
hotbananamuffin avatar reviewed Talisman on + 4 more book reviews
Took a long time to get into - but once I did, I couldn't put it down. Really interesting and twisted.
reviewed Talisman on + 7 more book reviews
Another of Stephen Kings great adventure books.
reviewed Talisman on + 6 more book reviews
This book keeps you turning pages to the end. I am not a big Stephen King fan, and I still found it a very enjoyable read.
reviewed Talisman on + 11 more book reviews
excellent,terror & mystery
reviewed Talisman on
Adventures of a young boy going across America into another realm.....edge of your seat!
reviewed Talisman on + 29 more book reviews
Good book . . . written with co-author.
reviewed Talisman on + 12 more book reviews
Extraordinary!!!! This book will make your hair stand on end!!
reviewed Talisman on + 12 more book reviews
A wonderful fantasy novel from two great horror authors. I read this one in less than 2 days. Just couldn't stop reading.
reviewed Talisman on + 5 more book reviews
Personally loved it, although it's all that fantasy stuff. LOL!
reviewed Talisman on + 49 more book reviews
What a perfect duo in horror....Steven King and Peter Straub.
reviewed Talisman on + 27 more book reviews
A classic as far as I'm concerned.
divamom2 avatar reviewed Talisman on + 17 more book reviews
Another great read written by the master! I couldn't put this down, and anxiously turned each page to find out what happened next to Travellin Jack.
reviewed Talisman on + 43 more book reviews
Excellent!
reviewed Talisman on
Excellent Book!
reviewed Talisman on + 11 more book reviews
I've read this book a couple of times - great read & very creative story.
reviewed Talisman on + 47 more book reviews
Classic Stephen King, with a little temperance from Peter Straub that curbs the usual King gore. It's a story of parallel universes, "twinners" (twins or doubles in parallel universes) and mot importantly, what a boy will do to save the life of his mother. Great characters throughout.
reviewed Talisman on + 5 more book reviews
This is a great quest novel written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Follow the adventures of Jack Sawyer, who on a desparate quest to save his mother's life must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dnagers and even more incredible truths. It's one of my favorite books of all time, and I'm posting it here because I have several copies!
reviewed Talisman on + 179 more book reviews
The first (1984) collaboration between horror/fantasy writers King and Straub, this book has been reissued in multiple formats to coincide with the publication of its sequel, Black House. In The Talisman, 12-year-old Jack Sawyer takes on a quest in this and a parallel world, the "Territories," to acquire a mystical talisman that will save the life of his dying mother and her "twinner," the Queen of the Territories. Jack "flips" back and forth between worlds during his journey, finding his way through and past representatives of good and evil in both
Phantene avatar reviewed Talisman on + 72 more book reviews
This is one of my favorite books by Stephen King (The Stand is my #1 favorite) and one of my favorite books by Peter Straub. A fantastic story! This book was hard to put down, an incredible read. Highly recommended!
reviewed Talisman on + 12 more book reviews
I could not get through this book. Then again, I am not a King fan.
GrandmaMel avatar reviewed Talisman on + 59 more book reviews
"Lions, tiger, and bears, oh my!".....this is a quote that comes to mind after reading this fantastic story. Being an avid Stephen King reader (but no great fan of Peter Straub) I am guessing that is why I never read this book until now....gosh...I'm so sorry I waited so long! This tale grips you and carries you right along with the 12 year hero, Jack and you get so engrossed that you feel as if you are his sidekick along for the ride. And what a ride it was! This is definitely one of those books that you hate to see come to an end. It reminded me a little of the Lord of the Ring saga....adventure around ever corner, danger under every bush! You will be very glad to have read this book and it will stay in your memory for a long time! Definite 5 star material!
reviewed Talisman on + 335 more book reviews
Ona brisk autumn day, a thirteen-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: His father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America - and into another realm.
cindimoss avatar reviewed Talisman on + 21 more book reviews
This is the w worst book with Kings name on it. It is endless, repetative, and painful to read or listen to. I had to leave me thoughts to balance all the rave reviews, which I honestly don't understand at all.
With proper editing, and cutting a good 500 pages, this could possibly be a decent story.
mccoffield avatar reviewed Talisman on + 76 more book reviews
THIS IS THE AUDIO CASSETTE VERSION (NOT MP3 AS DESCRIPTION MIGHT SUGGEST).

COMPLETE AND UNABRIDGED - A WHOPPING 28 HOURS ON 18 CASSETTE TAPES.
duffeybooks avatar reviewed Talisman on + 59 more book reviews
couldnt get through it, too much for me
reviewed Talisman on + 8 more book reviews
Good book.
I am a smoker and I also have a cat in the house.
reviewed Talisman on + 1568 more book reviews
On a brisk autumn day, a thirteen-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across Americaand into another realm.
One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written, The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save his mothers life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredible truths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more. Let the quest begin. . . .
reviewed Talisman on + 36 more book reviews
"....a thirteen-year old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: His father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change, For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America-and into another realm."
reviewed Talisman on + 4 more book reviews
I read it from beginning to end and I just couldn't get into it no matter how hard I tried.
ada04 avatar reviewed Talisman on + 68 more book reviews
This book was so good that I reread it at least once a year! A little slow to start, then watch out! I dare you to start this & not stay up late reading, lol.
AngelWings avatar reviewed Talisman on + 160 more book reviews
This is a good book. Sometimes the authors get too indepth.
Bibliocrates avatar reviewed Talisman on + 252 more book reviews
One of my all time most favorite books and definitely my favorite Stephen King to date!
icesk8tr avatar reviewed Talisman on + 363 more book reviews
On a brisk autumn day, a thirteen-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across Americaand into another realm.

One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written, The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save his mother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredible truths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more. Let the quest
begin. . . .
reviewed Talisman on + 25 more book reviews
From the back cover: "Two of the world's best-selling authors team up in the ultimate masterpiece of spine-tingling terror... the most compelling, most talked-about, most frightening book of the decade... A classic... a journey to rival the greatest adventure stories ever told... rare and dazzling....
reviewed Talisman on + 25 more book reviews
One of my favorites. I have a large collection of Stephen King books. All are available for trade. Check out the rest.
reviewed Talisman on + 7 more book reviews
I've never actually read it, I just figured I could mail it to someone who wants it.
Meg29 avatar reviewed Talisman on + 9 more book reviews
My copy doesn't have a dust jacket