The Talisman (King and Straub novel)
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| Author | Stephen King, Peter Straub |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, Horror |
| Publisher | Viking |
Publication date | 1984 |
| Publication place | USA |
| Pages | 672 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0670691992 Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| Followed by | Black House |
The Talisman is a 1983 fantasy novel by Stephen King and Peter Straub. The plot is not a reworking of the earlier Walter Scott book also titled The Talisman, although there is one oblique reference to "a Sir Walter Scott novel".
Overview
This book charts 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, by finding an artifact called 'The Talisman'.
The major premise of the novel is that there is a parallel world to Earth, called 'The Territories' (a strange fantasy world with ties to King's The Dark Tower, whose people are "Twinners" of the people in our world. Their births and deaths are usually paralled, but in rare instances (such as Jack Sawyer's), a person may die in one world but not the other, giving them the ability to switch back and forth between the two worlds if taught how. Jack is taught how by a mysterious figure known as Parker, who may be a gunslinger in the Territories.
Werewolves, known simply as Wolfs, inhabit the Territories and are not the wild killers of tradition, but may change form at will and serve as royal herdsman or bodyguards. A sixteen-year-old Wolf, simply named Wolf, is accidentally pulled into America by Jack Sawyer and adopts him as his herd, serving as his companion. Wolf is mentally slow but extremely likeable and kind.
By splitting the story between the Territories and the familiar US, 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. Accompanied by Wolf and his friend Richard, Jack must retrieve the Talisman before it falls in the hands of his deceased father's evil accomplice Morgan Sloat.
Followed up in 2001 with a sequel, Black House, that picks up with Jack in his 30's trying to solve a series of murders.
There have been rumours of a film adaptation for well over a decade.
Characters
The major characters of The Talisman are listed here in alphabetical order:
- Jason DeLoessian - Son of the queen of the Territories who died at birth; Jack Sawyer's twinner
- Queen Laura DeLoessian - Queen of the Territories; mother of Jason; twinner of Lily Cavanaugh Sawyer
- Elroy - A nasty shape-changer with hooves
- Judge Ernest Fairchild - Judge in Cayuga; puts Wolf and Jack in Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
- Lewis Farren - The captain of the outer guard who helps Jack in the Territories
- Reverend Sunlight Gardiner - Twinner of Osmond; evil man who runs Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
- Osmond - Morgan of Orris's right hand man; possibly smothered Jason DeLoessian
- Lester (Speedy) Parker - Jack's friend who taught him how to "flip" between worlds; blues musician
- Prince Philip Sawtelle - Twinner of Phillip Sawyer; killed by Orris shortly after birth
- Jack Sawyer - Jack has to find the Talisman in order to save the queen, his mother, and possibly the world
- Lily Cavanaugh Sawyer - Queen of the B Movies; mother of Jack; actress in "Death's Darling", "Blaze", etc.
- Philip Sawyer - Father of Jack; died in hunting accident
- Morgan Sloat - An evil manipulator; twinner of Morgan of Orris; father of Richard; partner of Phillip Sawyer
- Richard Llewell Sloat - Good friend of Jack Sawyer
- Morgan Thudfoot - Morgan Sloat's Twinner; also known as Morgan of Orris
- Smokey Updike - Owner of the Oatley Tap bar where Jack worked
- Helen Vaughan - Fake aunt that Jack Sawyer was travelling to find; his mother's sister
- Officer Frank B. Williams - Took Wolf and Jack to Judge in Cayuga
- Wolf - Jack's werewolf friend
- Thomas Woodbine - Uncle of Jack Sawyer; homosexual; he was run over and killed by order of Morgan Sloat