The Talisman / Black House - Double Book Review - NO SPOILERS!

My thoughts on two Stephen King & Peter Straub collaborative books -- "The Talisman" and "Black House" -- which collectively are known as the Jack Sawyer series. Part fantasy, part adventure, part suspense, and all-in-all a highly-rewarding experience.

My rating: "The Talisman" gets a 71 / 100, and "Black House" gets a 93 / 100.
TL;DR: "The Talisman" is a relatively straight-forward fantasy-adventure with substantial dragging in its first two acts leads to a propulsive conclusion, while "Black House" builds on the high-octane finale of its predecessor with awe-inspiring style, some unforgettable characters, and some major connections for fans of "The Dark Tower" series.

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[jarz]

Black house is one of my favorite books, I’ve read both of these several times and could talk there pros and cons for hours. This is by far one of the most honest and on point reviews I’ve seen. Well done sir.

[weedingaloud]

The talisman spoke to me way more than black house . I feel they had story untold and had a need to finish thier work.Black house felt drawn out and full of filler the Talisman has a much faster pace with a larger world at stake. It drives to the very end . The whole cross country journey and all the things that happen to traveling Jack are amazing the setting in the magic world . And jack was being held prisoner in that bar if you remember he was threatened if he ran the sherif would hunt him down .Wolf was amazing point blank !

[quinnwilder]

This is interesting. I've read lots of reviews that claim that The Talisman is actually much better than Black House but I love them both equally even though they are very different.

[dionoraferrantino]

I have been a VORACIOUS reader for 50 years. My favorite (fiction) book (which I have read once a year for the last 20 yrs) is The Talisman (by Stephen King & Peter Straub). I have yet to read Black House but have just ordered the set & will begin again on Monday 06/08/2020 with re-reading The Talisman; then (binge) reading Black House (which I have yet to read). I have always felt that The Talisman is like Stephen King & Peter Straub meet & meld with Mark Twain. (Jack & Wolf melded with Tom & Huck). What an adventure! I can hardly wait!

[Gnashadelphia]

Whoa dude I came for the review and wasn't expecting a PFI shirt!! I've seen Coheed like 13 times, have a few tattoos, love them!

[jobelle]

The talisman was for me a masterpiece. It is one of my favorite books if not my fav. The story, characters, journey had such an impact on me that I feel like I lived through it in my past lol. I remember when I finished the book about 7 years ago now. I closed it, laid my head down and was just like...woww😊💖 Bittersweet memories. Through it I laughed, cried, and felt my heart racing from suspense. I'll always cherish it

[Joeykm]

I've read both The Talisman and The Black House. I've found the Talisman to be far superior to Black House. Many parallels in the storyline of The Talisman mimics The Dark Tower series in many ways. The Blasted Lands and the Train Ride is one of the more obvious similarities. Then there's the Hotel Agincourt and its remarkable similarities to The Dark Tower. You even get to see the Can-Toi, before they were called that in The Talisman. All Things soive the Lord, says the blind man in The Talisman. You'll even see the Good Book of Farming in the Dark Tower series. It makes you wonder if Jack Sawyer came from the Line of Eld.

[paulflint]

great review, these two are going to be read after i finish Duma Key. i love horror too

[somelucifrostguy]

I've finished The Talisman (and really liked it) and I've started reading Black House but I'm not really enjoying it. I just wish it started out with Jack Sawyer but these other characters aren't really interesting. Hopefully, it gets better.

[brantbiggs]

Ive never posted on a book review, never thought they even existed, but since im buzzing Ill just say I loved them both! I never even thought to try to discern whos writing was whos, I just LOVED both. Kinda like the Hobbit in some ways! My main beef with Black House was that Im sorry, if the Talisman, the center of all worlds, the Nexus, touched Lily Sawyer, and instantly cures her cancer, come on...how could she then later die of the same cancer? Surely breathing in the center of existance would make her immune?

[nathanbeer]

Haven't read Black House yet.
I actually liked the Talisman, Richard Sloat was unsepperable and annoying but I liked the other characters and the friendship and the unsettling moments in the book (Sunlight Home especially) and especially the grand connection to the Dark Tower series.
Don't understand why the Talisman is such an underrated book.

[GDaws]

How long does it take to get going? I just read abt burny and the bird/gorg

[GhostVolta]

Prize Fighter Inferno! Big fan of Coheed as well!

[geminisundone]

I'm about to start Black house but I don't understand why you failed to mention Peter Straub co-wrote it...all Stephen king talk.
I've read quite a few Straub novels and he is a more literary writer.
They balance each other.
The Talisman was good. I gave it a similar rating. Not great but good IMO.

[michaelp]

I consider The Talisman and Black House to have occurred on different levels of the Tower. In The Talisman, the Talisman itself is an alternative manifestation of the Tower.

[WilAdams]

WOW, you and I could not be further apart. Talisman, for me was astonishing. Blackhouse was a super bore, and the half-azzed link to the Dark Tower series was crap. Of course, for me, the Dark Tower ending book (don't get me started) was crap. A series that took 30 years to finsih and then it ended up being a 'find your own fate' book was an outrage. Talisman was filled with great scares (you're the herd now, Jacky') and wonder 'Dips abound in the market grounds) and creepiness (every scene with Sunlight Gardener) and even some humor (Wolf, I want the oe with yellow pee on it, wolf), and emotions (again wolf). As for his time at the bar. WOW, how futile that is as Jacky realizes that he can never get away. Until Elroy shows up, and Jacky realizes he must risk all to escape. WOW. That book was great. I actually read it back to back 4 times. Looked forward to the Steven Speilburg film, that never materialized.

[broderickbessette]

Bro. This review was helpful but it was hard to watch. I think you should script your content. :)

[danlewis]

Your frequent cuts and plodding commentary were irritating enough that I had difficulty keeping with you. Throw in a joke man. That said I agree with some stuff, except your nitpicking about the talisman. The places where detors occur are meant as traps for Jack. They are the traps that make sense for the plot and tone of the story they are realistic in their origin and feel like trials of character that Jack must go through in order to find the strength necessary to face the Blasted Lands and the Black Hotel. Read deeper.

[NaveenKumarErroju]

Argh! Irritating review... Is this a discussion? Or is this your personal experiences with King? This is a review dude... Stick with those books. We don't need how he wrote. We need how is it.