The Talisman

By: Stephen King, Peter Straub

Narrated by: Frank Muller

Length: 28 hrs

Publisher's summary

On a brisk autumn day, a 13-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.

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....

©2001 Simon & Schuster; 2001 Stephen King and Peter Straub

Critic reviews

Audie Award Winner, Fiction (unabridged), 2002

"A classic...rare and dazzling...a journey to rival the greatest adventure stories ever told." ( New York Daily News)

"Extraordinary...makes your hair stand on end." ( The Washington Post)

Review of The Talisman

I enjoyed The Talisman immensely. It held my attention from the first page to the very last word. Frank Muller gave an incredible performance as narrator.

Still great!

Loved the story when I read it decades ago, great to relive it again. Great narration but the pronunciation of “Agincourt” and “gorget’ drove me insane. Lol

A fun journey to the DT adjacent worlds

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Only if youre a huge Dark Tower or Stephen King fan. This book is a dense book, with lots of details that most people are going to find a bit overwhelming I think.

Would you recommend The Talisman to your friends? Why or why not?

Only if the above are true. My wife loves SK, but I told her to skip this one - it's more like an adult fairytale than it is a King or DT novel

What does Frank Muller bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Empathy. Frank's gift is really characterization, I find myself always seeking out books that are narrated by him. Even non-stephen king.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I got a bit misty at the end when the finale is coming to some of the main characters. I really enjoyed them and will miss them in the next book - Black House

cant stand the narration

i cant follow anything in this story do to the narration. Every sentence the narrator reads sounds lime the build up in a movie preview and he reads so fast he has teouble keeping his breathe. Terrible narration i will be sure not to purchase any other book narrated by the same person.

Talisman

This was a very great adventure I loved every precious minute til the end. bravo

amazing

It was very hard for me to stop listening to this. This is my second time listening this book and I am still just as much in love with it as the first time I listened to it. I can't wait to hear the sequel. And I am ecstatic to finally Feast my ears on the third book.

Weak 3 stars. One long quest/journey.

I was not enchanted. At best I was curious. The parallel universe was interesting.

Jack is twelve years old. A wise old man “Speedy” tells Jack about an alternate world called the Territories, with many of the same people called twinners. Jack’s mother Lily is dying of cancer. Lily’s twinner in the Territories is Laura who is Queen of the Territories. Laura is also ill. Speedy tells Jack he can save the lives of Lily and Laura if he gets the Talisman which is located in California. Jack is on the east coast. Speedy tells Jack to start his journey by walking. He also gives Jack a potion that allows Jack to flip back and forth between the worlds. This story is mostly one long journey. Jack encounters evil villains and magical creatures. He also encounters allies. Jack is frequently harmed, yet he survives and escapes. He radiates goodness, love, courage, and perseverance.

This was ok, but I wasn’t excited or pulled in. At best I was curious about what would happen. There is a lot of description - maybe too much - of places and creatures. If I were reading the physical book I might have been impatient for it to be over. But because I was listening to the audiobook I didn’t mind since I was doing other things. But I wasn’t surprised, delighted, or wowed the way I’ve been with other Stephen King books. I wonder if part of the reason is that it was coauthored with Peter Straub. I don’t think I have ever loved a book that was “coauthored.” This may not apply, but I envision coauthors being buddies and not wanting to criticize each other. A sole author is more likely to self criticize, resulting in a better work.

The best audience for this book is probably teenage boys. There are werewolves, odd creatures, and magical items and places. Strong language is used a few times, but not often.

The ending was typical for this type of story with a final fight between good and evil. I would have liked a more unusual ending, but at least it was happy for the good guys which I liked.

The narrator Frank Muller was excellent. He is one of the best narrators ever - for any book.

Genre: fantasy adventure suspense.
Ending: good for most of the good guys. Bad for the bad guys.

Loved it

One of my favourite books, and this was perfect. The whole family listened to it on a road trip over 3,000 kms, and we all loved it (11 - 41 yrs).

Yes, it does drag on, but King does that. The narrator lost nothing of the fine story I know and love.

Not My Favorite King

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I have been a King fan for over 40 years, both written and audio. For some reason this book dragged on and on for me. I found myself wishing it were just over.

Precursor for the Dark Tower series.

If you liked the dark tower series you're sure to enjoy these two books. Jack is an enjoyable character and it's a shame you don't see him in the dark tower series.