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Encyclopedia > The Talisman (1983 novel)
The Talisman
Author Stephen King, Peter Straub
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Fantasy, Horror novel
Publisher Viking Press
Released 1984
Media Type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 672 pp
ISBN ISBN 0-670-69199-2
Followed by Black House

The Talisman is a 1984 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". For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... Peter Francis Straub, born March 2, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a writer of fiction and poetry, best known as a prolific horror author. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Look up Fantasy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary For other definitions of fantasy, see fantasy (psychology). ... Horror fiction is, broadly, fiction intended to scare, unsettle or horrify the reader. ... Viking Press was founded on March 1, 1925, in New York City, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim. ... A hardcover (or hardback or hardbound) book is bound with rigid protective covers (typically of cardboard covered with cloth or heavy paper) and a stitched spine. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... For the novel by the same name, see Black house (novel). ... For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... Peter Francis Straub, born March 2, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a writer of fiction and poetry, best known as a prolific horror author. ... Portrait of Sir Walter Scott, by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832) was a prolific Scottish historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time. ...

Contents

Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

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'. It has been suggested that Cancerous tumor be merged into this article or section. ...


The premise of the novel involves the existence of a parallel world to Earth, called 'The Territories' (a strange fantasy world with ties to King's The Dark Tower). Individuals in the Territories have "twinners," or parallel individuals, in our world. Twinners' births, deaths, and (it is intimated) other major life events are usually paralleled, but in rare instances (such as Jack Sawyer's), a person may die in one world but not the other, making them a "single" and giving them the ability to switch back and forth between the two worlds if taught how. Jack is taught how to 'flip' by a mysterious figure known as Parker, who may be a gunslinger in the Territories. The Dark Tower painting by Michael Whelan The Dark Tower is a series of seven books by American writer Stephen King that tells the tale of lead character Roland Deschains quest for the Dark Tower. ... The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark Tower series, which King considers to be his magnum opus. ...


Werewolves, known simply as Wolfs, inhabit the Territories but these are not the wild killers of tradition. They serve as royal herdsman or bodyguards and can sometimes under stress change to wolf form voluntarily. A sixteen-year-old Wolf, simply named Wolf, is accidentally pulled into America by Jack Sawyer and adopts Jack as his herd, serving as his companion. Wolf is extremely likeable, kind, loyal and friendly, much like a dog, though his wolf nature shows through on occasion. A German woodcut from 1722 A werewolf (also lycanthrope or wolfman) in folklore and mythology is a person who shapeshifts into a wolf, either purposely, by using magic, or after being placed under a curse. ...


By splitting the story between the Territories and the familiar United States, or 'American Territories' as Jack comes to call them, 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 Jack's friend Richard, Jack must retrieve the Talisman before it falls into the hands of evil schemer Morgan Sloat, Jack's father's partner and murderer.


King and Straub followed up in 2001 with a sequel, Black House, that picks up with Jack as a retired Los Angeles homicide detective trying to solve a series of murders in the small town of French Landing, Wisconsin. For the novel by the same name, see Black house (novel). ...


The television network TNT recently announced it would be adapting The Talisman into a six-part mini-series. // TNT may refer to: Trinitrotoluene, the chemical explosive usually known as TNT Alkyl nitrites, TNT is a UK brand for this medicinal and recreational drug Turner Network Television, cable television network TNT N.V., Dutch international transport and logistics corporation, and its divisions TNT Logistics, formerly the Australian business Thomas...


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; Revered in the Territories
  • Queen Laura DeLoessian - Queen of the Territories; mother of Jason; twinner of Lily Cavanaugh Sawyer
  • Elroy - A nasty shape-changer that may be at least part Werewolf
  • Judge Ernest Fairchild - Judge in Cayuga; puts Wolf and Jack in Reverend Gardener's Home for Wayward Boys
  • Captain Farren - The captain of the outer guard who helps Jack in the Territories
  • Reverend Robert "Sunlight" Gardener - Twinner of Osmond; evil man who runs Reverend Gardener's Home for Wayward Boys; Shot Jack's father
  • Reuel Gardener - Sunlight Gardener's only son; killed by Jack/Jason after their trip through the Blasted Lands
  • 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
  • Rushton - Morgan of Orris's son; drowned as an infant; Richard Sloat's twinner
  • Prince Philip Sawtelle - Twinner of Philip Sawyer; killed by Orris shortly after birth of Jason
  • 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 Philip Sawyer
  • Richard Llewell Sloat - Good friend of Jack Sawyer and son of Morgan Sloat
  • Morgan of Orris - Morgan Sloat's Twinner; also known as Morgan Thudfoot
  • 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

See also

For the novel by the same name, see Black house (novel). ... For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... Peter Francis Straub, born March 2, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a writer of fiction and poetry, best known as a prolific horror author. ...

External links

  • The Talisman at the Internet Movie Database
  • Database containing descriptive bibliography, publishing history, reviews, and literary criticism of King and Straub's The Talisman


The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about actors, films, television shows, television stars, video games and production crew personnel. ...

Stephen King
Bibliography
Novels: Carrie (1974) • ’Salem's Lot (1975) • Rage (as Richard Bachman) (1977) • The Shining (1977) • • The Stand (1978) • The Dead Zone (1979) • The Long Walk (as Richard Bachman) (1979) • Firestarter (1980) • Cujo (1981) • Roadwork (as Richard Bachman) (1981) • The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (1982) • Different Seasons (novellas) (1982) • The Running Man (as Richard Bachman) (1982) • Christine (1983) • Pet Sematary (1983) • Cycle of the Werewolf (1983) • The Talisman (written with Peter Straub) (1984) • Thinner (as Richard Bachman) (1984) • The Bachman Books (novel collection) (1985) • It (1986) • The Eyes of the Dragon (1987) • Misery (1987) • The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three (1987) • The Tommyknockers (1988) • Dark Visions (cowritten with George R. R. Martin and Dan Simmons) (1988) • The Dark Half (1989) • Dolan's Cadillac (1989) • My Pretty Pony (1989) • The Stand: The Complete & Uncut Edition (1990) • Needful Things (1990) • The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands (1991) • Gerald's Game (1992) • Dolores Claiborne (1993) • Insomnia (1994) • Rose Madder (1995) • Umney's Last Case (1995) • The Green Mile (1996) • Desperation (1996) • The Regulators (as Richard Bachman) (1996) • The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass (1997) • Bag of Bones (1998) • The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999) • The New Lieutenant's Rap (1999) • Dreamcatcher (2001) • Black House (sequel to The Talisman; written with Peter Straub) (2001) • From a Buick 8 (2002) • The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (revised edition) (2003) • The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla (2003) • The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah (2004) • The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (2004) • The Colorado Kid (2005)
Cell (2006) • Lisey's Story (2006)
Short fiction: • Night Shift (1978) • Different Seasons • Skeleton Crew (1985) • Four Past Midnight (1990) • Nightmares & Dreamscapes (1993) • Six Stories (1997) • Hearts in Atlantis (1999) • Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark Tales (2002)
Non-fiction: • Danse Macabre (1981) • Nightmares in the Sky (1988) • On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000) • Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season (cowritten with Stewart O'Nan) (2005)
Original ebooks: Riding the Bullet (2000) • The Plant: Book 1-Zenith Rising (2000)
Audio Recordings
Audiobooks: L.T.'s Theory of Pets • Blood and Smoke (2000) • Stationary Bike (2006)
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The Dark Tower
Written by Stephen King 

Books in the Series
The Gunslinger • The Drawing of the Three • The Waste Lands • Wizard and Glass • Wolves of the Calla • Song of Susannah • The Dark Tower For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... Bibliographies at the University Library of Graz Bibliography (from Greek βιβλιογραφία, lit. ... Carrie (1974) is Stephen Kings first published novel. ... ’Salem’s Lot is a horror novel by Stephen King, written in 1975. ... For the film sequel to Carrie, see The Rage: Carrie 2 Rage (originally titled Getting It On) is the first novel by Stephen King published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ... The Shining (1977) is a horror novel by American author Stephen King. ... The Stand is an apocalyptic horror novel by Stephen King. ... The Dead Zone is a novel by Stephen King published in 1979. ... The Long Walk is a novel by Stephen King published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ... FireStarter (Japanese ファイスタ Fai Suta) is the second episode of the anime FLCL. Spoiler warning: Summary The Episode starts out with Mamimi playing some handheld videogame about burning stuff to please a dark god Cantide. ... Cujo is a horror novel by Stephen King, published by Viking in 1981. ... Roadwork is a novel by Stephen King, published in 1981 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ... The Dark Tower painting by Michael Whelan The Dark Tower is a series of seven books by American writer Stephen King that tells the tale of lead character Roland Deschains quest for the Dark Tower. ... The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark Tower series, which King considers to be his magnum opus. ... Different Seasons (1982) is a novella collection by Stephen King containing the following stories: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (subtitled: Hope Springs Eternal) Apt Pupil (subtitled: Summer of Corruption) The Body (subtitled: Fall From Innocence) The Breathing Method (subtitled: A Winters Tale) Three movies, The Shawshank Redemption (based on... The Running Man (1982) is a science fiction novel by Stephen King, written under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. ... Christine is a horror novel by Stephen King, published in 1983. ... Pet Sematary (1983) is a novel by Stephen King. ... Cycle of the Werewolf is a horror novel released in 1983 by Stephen King, featuring illustrations by renowned comic book artist Bernie Wrightson. ... The Talisman is a 1983 fantasy novel by Stephen King and Peter Straub. ... Peter Francis Straub, born March 2, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a writer of fiction and poetry, best known as a prolific horror author. ... Thinner is a 1984 novel by Stephen King about an obese lawyer who experiences a dramatic and ultimately dangerous weight loss as a result of a Gypsys curse. ... The Bachman Books is a collection of novels by Stephen King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ... It is a Horror novel by Stephen King, published in 1986. ... The Eyes of the Dragon is a book by Stephen King published in 1987. ... For other uses, see Misery (disambiguation). ... The Drawing of the Three is the second book in the Dark Tower series written by Stephen King in 1970 and published by Donald M. Grant, Publisher in 1987. ... The Novel The Tommyknockers is a 1987 horror novel by Stephen King. ... Dark Visions is a compilation book, with 3 stories by Stephen King, 3 by Dan Simmons, and 1 by George R. R. Martin. ... George Raymond Richard Martin (sometimes called GRRM, born September 20, 1948 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American author and screenwriter of science fiction, horror, and fantasy. ... Dan Simmons portrayed on the cover of Locus magazine. ... The Dark Half. ... Dolan’s Cadillac is a short story by Stephen King. ... Originally published in 1989, My Pretty Pony was an oversized, slipcased book commissioned for the Whitney Museum in New York as a coffee table book. ... The Stand is an apocalyptic novel by Stephen King. ... Needful Things is a horror/black comedy novel written by Stephen King in 1991. ... The Waste Lands is book III of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. ... Geralds Game (1992) is a novel by Stephen King. ... Dolores Claiborne (1993) is a novel by Stephen King, which was adapted into a 1995 film starring Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh. ... Insomnia is a novel written by Stephen King and first published in 1994. ... Rose Madder is a 1995 novel by Stephen King. ... Umneys Last Case (1995) is a short story written by Stephen King and published as a separate booklet as part of Penguins 60th anniversary. ... Cover of the single volume version of The Green Mile The Green Mile (1996) is a serial novel by Stephen King, later republished with all six volumes in a trade paperback. ... Desperation. ... The Regulators is a novel by Stephen King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ... The Dark Tower painting by Michael Whelan The Dark Tower is a series of seven books by American writer Stephen King that tells the tale of lead character Roland Deschains quest for the Dark Tower. ... Wizard and Glass is the fourth book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. ... Bag of Bones is a 1998 novel by Stephen King. ... The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999) is a novel by Stephen King. ... The New Lieutenants Rap (1999) is a short story by Stephen King The story was originally published as a chapbook by Philtrum Press and given away to attendees at Stephen Kings 25th publishing anniversary party April 6, 1999. ... Dreamcatcher (2001) is a novel written by Stephen King. ... For the novel by the same name, see Black house (novel). ... From a Buick 8 is a novel by horror writer Stephen King (ISBN 0-7432-1137-5). ... The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark Tower series, which King considers to be his magnum opus. ... Wolves of the Calla is the fifth book in Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. ... Song of Susannah is the penultimate novel in Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. ... The Dark Tower is the seventh and final book of novelist Stephen Kings Dark Tower series, published September 21, 2004 (Kings birthday) by Donald M. Grant Publishers, and illustrated by Michael Whelan. ... The Colorado Kid The Colorado Kid is a 2005 short novel written by Stephen King for the collection Hard Case Crime. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Liseys Story. ... This is a list of short fiction by Stephen King. ... Night Shift (1978 Doubleday) is the first anthology of short stories by Stephen King. ... Different Seasons (1982) is a novella collection by Stephen King containing the following stories: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (subtitled: Hope Springs Eternal) Apt Pupil (subtitled: Summer of Corruption) The Body (subtitled: Fall From Innocence) The Breathing Method (subtitled: A Winters Tale) Three movies, The Shawshank Redemption (based on... Skeleton Crew (1985) is the second published anthology of short stories by Stephen King. ... Four Past Midnight is a collection of four novellas by Stephen King. ... Nightmares & Dreamscapes cover Nightmares & Dreamscapes is a short story collection by Stephen King published in 1993. ... Six Stories (1997) is a short story collection by Stephen King containing the following stories: Lunch at The Gotham Cafe L.T.s Theory of Pets Luckey Quarter Autopsy Room Four Blind Willie (later published as part of Hearts in Atlantis) The Man In the Black Suit See also Short... Hearts in Atlantis (1999), is a fictional work by Stephen King. ... Danse Macabre is a nonfiction book by Stephen King on horror fiction and United States pop culture. ... A Book with Text by King and Photos by F-Stop Fitzgerald, published in 1988 This was a coffee table photo book. ... On Writing. ... Faithful: Two Diehard Boston Red Sox Fans Chronicle the Historic 2004 Season (also known as Faithful) is a book co-written by Stephen King and Stewart ONan. ... Riding the Bullet (2000) is a novella by Stephen King. ... The Plant is a fiction novel published in 2000 by Stephen King. ... A U.S. Postage Stamp commemorating one hundred years of sound recording. ... is a short horror story in Stephen Kings anthology Everythings Eventual. ... Blood and Smoke (1999) is an audio book where Stephen King reads three of his own short stories. ... An exercise bicycle is a stationary bicycle used for exercise and not for travel. ... The Dark Tower painting by Michael Whelan The Dark Tower is a series of seven books by American writer Stephen King that tells the tale of lead character Roland Deschains quest for the Dark Tower. ... For other persons named Stephen King, see Stephen King (disambiguation). ... The Gunslinger is a novel by American author Stephen King, and is the first volume in the Dark Tower series, which King considers to be his magnum opus. ... The Drawing of the Three is the second book in the Dark Tower series written by Stephen King in 1970 and published by Donald M. Grant, Publisher in 1987. ... The Waste Lands is book III of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. ... Wizard and Glass is the fourth book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. ... Wolves of the Calla is the fifth book in Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. ... Song of Susannah is the penultimate novel in Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. ... The Dark Tower is the seventh and final book of novelist Stephen Kings Dark Tower series, published September 21, 2004 (Kings birthday) by Donald M. Grant Publishers, and illustrated by Michael Whelan. ...


Other Media
The Comics Marvels The Dark Tower The Dark Tower is a miniseries published by Marvel Comics. ...

Related Books
The Little Sisters of Eluria • ’Salem's Lot • The Stand • The Talisman • Skeleton Crew • It • The Eyes of the Dragon • Insomnia • Rose Madder • Desperation • The Regulators • Bag of Bones • Hearts in Atlantis • Black House • Everything's Eventual • From a Buick 8 The Little Sisters of Eluria is a short story written by Stephen King, first published in 1998 in the collection Legends: Short Novels by the Masters of Modern Fantasy. ... ’Salem’s Lot is a horror novel by Stephen King, written in 1975. ... The Stand is an apocalyptic horror novel by Stephen King. ... Skeleton Crew (1985) is the second published anthology of short stories by Stephen King. ... It is a Horror novel by Stephen King, published in 1986. ... The Eyes of the Dragon is a book by Stephen King published in 1987. ... Insomnia is a novel written by Stephen King and first published in 1994. ... Rose Madder is a 1995 novel by Stephen King. ... Desperation. ... The Regulators is a novel by Stephen King under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. ... Bag of Bones is a 1998 novel by Stephen King. ... Hearts in Atlantis (1999), is a fictional work by Stephen King. ... For the novel by the same name, see Black house (novel). ... From a Buick 8 is a novel by horror writer Stephen King (ISBN 0-7432-1137-5). ...


Organizations
North Central Positronics • Sombra Corporation • Tet Corporation North Central Positronics is a fictional corporation in Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. ... Spoiler warning: To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In the Dark Tower series of novels by Steven King, the Tet Corporation was founded by Roland Deschain and his ka-tet to prevent the destruction of The Rose (in the Dark Tower series) by stopping the Sombra Corporation from purchasing the vacant lot on which the rose grew. ...

Main Characters
Roland Deschain • Randall Flagg • Crimson King Spoiler warning: // Main article: Roland Deschain Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, with his old pet hawk David and one of his many visions of the Dark Tower. ... Cover of The Dark Tower VII. Art by Michael Whelan . ... Randall Flagg. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ...


Other Characters
Father Callahan • Cuthbert Allgood • Rhea of the Cöos • Eldred Jonas • Blaine the Mono • John Farson • Dinky Earnshaw • Patrick Danville • Bryan Smith • Mordred Deschain Spoiler warning: // Main article: Roland Deschain Roland Deschain, the last gunslinger, with his old pet hawk David and one of his many visions of the Dark Tower. ... Father Callahan. ... Cuthbert Allgood is a fictional character from Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. ... Rhea of the Coos is a witch mentioned several times in the fictional Dark Tower series by Stephen King. ... Eldred Jonas is a fictional character from the novel Wizard and Glass by Stephen King. ... Blaine the Mono is a demented monorail train appearing in the third and fourth books of Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. ... John Farson, The Good Man, was a leader of a revolution in the land of Gilead from Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. ... Dinky Earnshaw is a fictional character appearing in Stephen Kings Dark Tower series and short story Everythings Eventual. Dinky is a powerful psychic, also known as a Breaker. ... Patrick Danville as an adult. ... Bryan Smith. ... Mordred. ...

Glossary
Ka • The White • The Red • Slo-Trans • Taheen • Lud The following terms are used in The Dark Tower, a series of books by Stephen King. ... Ka is the force that leads all living (and unliving) creatures, it is the equivilant of destiny, yet not. ... The White represents the collective forces of order and goodness in The Dark Tower (series). ... The Red represents the collective forces of chaos and destruction in The Dark Tower (series), and is the antagonist to the White. ... Slo-Trans is a fictional engine in Stephen Kings The Dark Tower series. ... The Taheen are fictional human like creatures in proportion, but have animal characteristics. ... Lud is a fictional city in Stephen Kings Dark Tower series. ...



 

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