When I started this project, I don't think that I was anticipating the discovery of any great SK books that I did not already know. I figured that I was vaguely aware of his oeuvre, enough so that I had read the ones that I liked and that the others would probably not be up my alley. Sure, there were some pleasant surprises (like The Dead Zone), but for the most part I was right. Books that I figured I would not really like that much, such as Christine and Firestarter, were not my favorites.
I also was less than enthused about reading The Talisman for two reasons. First, it was really long. Ugh. Second, there is a sticker on my library copy that states unequivocally that this book is science fiction. Ugh. Not that I don't like science fiction (I am writing this while watching an episode of original Star Trek), but from my previous encounter with SK's version of science fiction I was not impressed. By which I mean The Tommyknockers, which gets a full 5/5 in ughs from me. We will see how I think about it after a reread but from what I remember, it was a clunker.
However, as soon as I started The Talisman, I pretty freaking much loved it. It is like the Dark Tower in only one book (so the length is now okay with me). And it was in no way science fiction. The sticker totally lied. It was fantasy, and it blended together a large number of fantasy tales along with it, which was awesome. Also, it has all kinds of ties with his other work. Before, when people asked me which SK novel I would recommend for those new to his oeuvre, I would give this super long, drawn-out response. Now my answer is The Talisman.
So what is in here? Everything! Narnia, lots of Narnia (and it even references the Narnia references): sick mother (The Magician's Nephew) and closets to other worlds (The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). Lord of the Rings, particularly when Jack almost can't give the talisman to anyone else (......precious........). Future King books (people are dim, like Flagg will be in The Eyes of the Dragon). Scary monsters in tunnels/sewers. A haunted hotel. A guy who is kind of like Tom from The Stand, only he is also a werewolf, so he is also kind of like a dog in human form (Wolf). Tom Sawyer. In other words, the same blend of features that make The Dark Tower work: eclectic combinations of references and influences. And you know what? It's fun too.
In fact, I think that in some ways it is even better than many other King novels because of its clarity. King wrote this in tandem with his friend Peter Straub and maybe Straub cleaned up some of his prose. The action sequences felt particularly clean and easy to follow. I don't always find that with King, and I have always assumed that this is because he was cranking through so many books that sometimes things got by that were obtuse. This time around though, it was really simply to follow what he was saying, particularly in the action scenes because they were so vivid. I still remember them now.
So, if you are looking for a fun Stephen King book that is kind of long but not obnoxiously so, then I highly recommend The Talisman. And I am already looking forward to reading it again someday.
(T-2 until IT)
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