#AudiobookReview-‘The Talisman’ by Stephen King and Peter Straub

‘The Talisman’ by Stephen King and Peter Straub is the first of 2 collaborative, same universe set books.It was published in 1984 to great excitement and mixed reviews.

Some readers, much more clued in than myself claim that they can tell where one writer begins and the other ends, but that is irrelevant in some respects-the overall journey that the book takes you on is the point, rather than proliferative self congratulations in picking the damn thing apart.

Adapted into a graphic novel which sadly only ran into 6 issues, ‘The Talisman’ audiobook runs at 28 hours long and is narrated by Frank Muller, a well regarded audiobook artist and long time Stephen King collaborator.

It’s 28 hours long folks. It’s one hell of an investment and I guess the only question you want answered is ‘Is it worth the time?’

My answer would be-Hell Yes! And also, remember it is set in 1984…this is tres important.

Frank is a tried and trusted narrator, it takes sheer cojones to tackle roles made famous-and infamous-by legendary actors so to take on the multi-layered, universe straddling ‘Talisman’ is one huge feat.

The story goes like this-Jack Sawyer and his mother, Lily Cavanagh, faded B movie actress, are on the run and end up in Arcadia Beach,New Hampshire. Literally  they have come to the end of the road.

She is dying of cancer, broken hearted after the sudden death of her husband and is being hounded by Morgan Sloat, his business partner. His reasons for wanting her, and gaining control of Jack, are uncertain to begin with, but become dangerously clear very soon.

At the Alhambra Arcade, Jack meets a man named Speedy Parker who works on the fairground and there is an intimation that Speedy shines.

He calls Jack ‘Travellin’ Jack which is a nickname Jack’s dad gave him, impossible for anyone else to know. Breaking down Jack’s barricades, he gives Jack a drink which results in him ‘flipping out’ to The Territories.

The Territories is an alternate earth, existing simultaneously at the same time as ours yet also in the past-for example they have no electricity over there. On his first trip he glimpses the Queen of the Territories, Laura De Loessian who is Lily’s ‘Twinner’. She too is dying, and when Jack returns, Speedy explains that everyone has a Twinner, very few people are single natured as when one version of you dies, the other tends to also. Jack happens to be single natured which makes him important and also vulnerable/

The only thing which will save both Lily and Laura is a talisman ,which is on the opposite side of America.Jack’s  destination is the Agincourt Hotel, the only thing is, how can he get there and leave his  mother behind?

In one of the saddest scenes I have listened to, Jack takes leave of both Speedy and his mother, setting out on what seems like a fool’s errand.

It is so important to remember that this is set in the 80’s , as a modern reader might think ‘Hang On, Jack has gone to an abandoned fairground, been given alcohol and passed out in front of a stranger then left on a quest to save his mother?’ You need to suspend disbelief as this is a different time where the journey is the point.

Jack can only travel on foot-Speedy explains the dire consequences of ‘flipping’ from a plane or into an ocean. He has to become the Travelliun’ Jack that his dad called him and embark on this quest. Also there are ripples created when flipping as Jack soon discovers.

And what a quest it is. Taking in some of the most brutal villains either author has ever created (Sunlight Gardner, never has there been such an aptly named evil bastard as Sunlight Gardner) and literally spanning worlds, this is not just a race against time, this is a coming of age.

To an extent Lily has sheltered Jack from the world and it’s a harsh awakening that he has coming into reality. Every time he flips he returns an older,scarred and wiser child.He is not alone though and makes unforgettable friends such as Wolf, and brings along his cousin Richard (Morgan Sloat’s son and Jack’s cousin).

Richard is the voice of reason in the book, he is purely scientific and logical to the point that when he does understand what is going on, after a terrifying siege at his prep school , his mind breaks and his body literally begins to deconstruct as a reaction to the other worldly creatures chasing him and Jack.

He provides a counterpoint to Jack’s dreaminess and innocence and together they support each other through harrowing encounters with monsters as well as the intolerably cruel Morgan Sloat.

Frank brings all of this and so much more to shuddering life, breathing these characters into your ears on buses, in trains, walking , wherever you are. This is a highly recommended audiobook, I would absolutely join Audible to pick it as a part of the 30 day free trial.

‘The Talisman’ is a book that you live with, it takes a hold and keeps it till the story is done., Fantastic and terrifying all at the same time, you will shudder, have your heartbroken-more than once-and meet unforgettable characters in memorable locations-The Oatley Tap, anyone?

There are easter eggs for another King book here…watch out for a familiar figure who chats to Jack at the very beginning of the novel.

About the authors…

These guys literally need no introduction, being as they are bestselling masters of horror.

The background to ‘The Talisman’ is that King spent time in London with his young family in the 70’s and he and Straub became friends, a friendship that has lasted ever since and led to a sequel called ‘Black House’.A potential third outing for Jack Sawyer could be on the cards but guess we’ll have to wait and see…