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In 1984, best selling authors Stephen King and Peter Straub published a joint effort titled The Talisman. It was a well-received fantasy novel in which the authors introduce readers to a new world known only as The Territories, which inhabits a dimension similar to Earth. For years fans have been clamoring for a sequel to this epic story but the wait has been long. Peter Straub has been working on his own project including The Blue Rose trilogy and the fantastic The Hellfire Club. Stephen King has expanded the world of The Territories into a saga known as the Dark Tower series and continued to write bestsellers such as Dolores Claiborne and The Green Mile. Now, the wait is over. In September 2001, Black House, the sequel to The Talisman finally made its debut. Before reviewing Black House, let’s take a look at the book where it all began. It is 1981. Jack Sawyer is a young boy living with his mother in an old hotel in New Hampshire. Lily Cavanaugh Sawyer is a former actress dying of cancer. All she wants is to be left alone and spend what little time she has left with her son. Her business partner, Morgan Sloat, is not happy about that and keeps tracking her down in order for her to sign some papers that will help Jack after is gone and give him control of her assets. Lily does not trust him and she is right. There are other elements involved beyond her understanding and Jack will be in for a big surprise that will change his destiny forever. For the last several years, strange things have been happening to Jack Sawyer. Evil creatures have tried to kidnap him and his daydreams have been rather vivid, almost real. It will not be until he meets an old man, known to Jack as Speedy Parker who tells him about the Territories and the role Jack’s dead father played. It is in the boy’s hand to save his mother and save a kingdom and for that he will embark into the trip of a lifetime. An original concept when it first premiered, the Territories is an alternate world with elements similar to Earth but different at the same time. It resembles a bit like the legend of King Arthur in television and movies. They do not rely on science but magic is predominant. There are alternate versions of people Jack meets and knows called Twinners. The important thing about this is that Jack’s mother’s twinner is Laura DeLoessian, Queen of the land. She is dying and her fate is intertwined with that of his mother in his own dimension. The only hope they have is a magical talisman located at the other side of the kingdom that only he can access. Speedy says that if he finds the Talisman he can probably save his mother and at the same time save the Queen. There will be forces trying to prevent the boy from reaching his goal including Morgan de Orris, Morgan Sloat’s twinner. They are both aware of each other and they both want to stop him. Time is short and it will be a long ride. This terrific story is a boy’s journey through Earth and The Territories where he flips back and forth where he encounters adventure in both worlds. This is not a children’s story but it will make you feel like a kid as the story moves along. The novel inspired many people and it is rather obvious with all the television shows and movies that have come out throughout the years. However, after 15 years, The Talisman is as good as ever with the battle between good and evil. How will The Talisman affect the events in Black House? Don’t know yet, but will find out soon. Don’t wait for the next review; give this book a shot if you haven’t already. It is a hefty novel but worth every single page. A true classic.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, March 2003
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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