The Talisman Art
Works / Novels

The Talisman

The Talisman Art

Released

November 1984

Available Format(s)

Hardcover / Paperback / Limited Edition / Kindle / Audio

Written With

Peter Straub

Publisher

G.P. Putnam's & Sons

Twelve-year-old Jack Sawyer embarks on an epic quest--a walk from the seacoast of New Hampshire to the California coast--to find the talisman that will save his dying mother's life. Jack's journey takes him into the Territories, a parallel medieval universe, where most people from his own universe have analogs called "twinners." The queen of the Territories, Jack's mother's twinner, is also dying.

From the Flap

"You got a job, Travellin' Jack," Speedy told him. "A job that ain't gonna let you go, and that's the Lord's truth. I wish it was different."

Jack Sawyer, twelve years old, is about to begin a most fantastic journey, an exalting, terrifying quest for the Talisman--for only the Talisman can save Jack's dying mother and defeat the enemy who is out to destroy them both. But to reach his goal, Jack must make his way not only across the breadth of the United States, but through the wondrous and menacing Territories as well.

The Territories lie as firmly in the imagination as Atlantis or Oz; they are as real as every reader's own vision of that parallel world evoked in the mind's mysterious eye. In the Territories Jack finds a world little removed from the Earth's own Dark Ages: though the air is so sweet and clear a man can smell a radish being pulled from the ground a mile away, a life can be snuffed out instantly in the continuing struggle between good and evil. Jack discovers 'Twinners', odd reflections of the people he knows on Earth-most notably the dying Queen Laura, the 'twinner' of Jack's own imperiled mother. But only a few can flip from one world to the other; Jack's late father could, the malevolent Morgan Sloat can, and so will Jack himself.

As Jack makes his way westward towards the redemptive Talisman, a dual array of heart-stopping encounters challenges him at every step--from a terrifying period when he's held captive in an Indiana home for wayward boys that is run by a sadistic religious fanatic, to sudden and murderous attacks by enemies of Queen Laura in the Territories.

Stephen King and Peter Straub have combined their talents to create an unforgettable epic of fantasy, adventure and resounding triumph.  

Characters

Hide List Show List
Name
Description
Ella
Speed Carousel Horse at the Arcadia Funworld
Elroy
A nasty pedophilic shape-changer with hooves
Gloria
Worked at Smoky Updike's bar
Henry
Gave Jack sawyer a lift in the Territories. Father of Jason
Jason
Son of Henry
Larry
CPA who was on the road with his family
Lewis
Name given to Osmond as the name of Jack Sawyer, the son of Lewis Farren
Lori
Girlfriend of Smokey Updike
Margaret
Wife of Morgan of Orris
Midnight
Carousel Horse at the Arcadia Funworld
Morgan of Orris
Evil twinner of Morgan Sloat.
Osmond
Morgan of Orris's right hand man. Possibly smothered Jason DeLoessian.
Rudolph
Cook in Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Rushton
Son of Morgan of Orris.
Scout
Carousel Horse at the Arcadia Funworld
Silver Lady
Carousel Horse at the Arcadia Funworld
Simon
Guard in the Territories
Snowball
Blind man who sung. Looked like Speedy Parker
Stephen
Delivered ale to village until his carriage overturned and the ale was spilt.
Timmy
At mall with girls.
Wolf
Jack's werewolf friend
Abelson, Peter
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Adams, Billy
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Anders
Depot Keeper in the Territories
Atwell, Carlton (Digger)
Chief of police who frequented Smoky Updikes bar
Aubrey, ?
Fake stepfather of Jack Sawtelle (Jack Sawyer)
Balgo, Mr.
Jack Sawyers computer teacher
Banberry, Minette
Owner of the "Golden Spoon" in Auburn
Bast, Hector
Steward in Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Bledsoe, Jerry
Service station attendant and handyman for Sawyer and Sloat
Bledsoe, Nita
Wife of Jerry
Boynton, ?
Security guard at Thayer School
Brady, Diamond Jim
Mentioned by Jack Sawyer
Buckley, ?
At Thayer School
Calhoun, Haystack
Wrestler
Casey, ?
Worked in Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Cassidy, Tom
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Cavanaugh, Lily
Maiden name of Lily Sawyer
Chang, Lorette
Saw Jerry Bledsoe die
Clark, ?
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Darrent, Bob
Gave Jack Sawyer a ride. District high school Superintendent
Davey, Bruce
Killed in Angola earthquake
DeLoessian, Jason
Son of the queen of the Territories, who died at birth. Jack Sawyer's twinner
DeLoessian, Queen Laura
Queen of the Territories. Mother of Jason. The woman who Jack Sawyer has to save along with his mother
Destry, Alan
Frightened to death
Dondorf, Asher
Client of Sloat. Actor
Dufrey, Mr.
Principal of Thayer school
Duggan, Andrew
Actor
Elam, Jack
Actor
Ellis, Andy
Character in Lily Sawyer's movie "Last train to Hangtown"
Ellis, Rafe
Character in Lily Sawyer's movie "Last train to Hangtown"
Etheridge, ?
In Thayer School
Fairchild, Judge Ernest
Judge in Cayuga. Puts Wolf and Jack in Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Farren, Lewis
The captain of the outer guard, who helps Jack in the Territories. Also the name Jack Sawyer uses while travelling.
Feeney, Mrs.
Jack Sawyer overheard her talking about Jerry Bledsoe
Ferguson, Tom
Gave Jack Sawyer a ride. Shoe shop foreman
Frazer, Coach
Coach at Thayer School
Gardener, Reuel
Son of Reverend Gardiner. Went to school at the Thayer school
Gardener, Reverend Sunlight
Twinner of Osmond. Evil man who runs Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Gargan, Joseph
Writer for Angola Herald
Garson, ?
At Thayer School
Glover, Randy
College friend of Phillip Sawyer
Gordon, Dexter
Sax Player
Hagen, Michael
Killed in Angola Earthquake
Hallas, Judge
Told Snowball where he could busk for money
Hatfield, George
Expelled from Thayer school
Hatfield, Mr.
Father of George
Haywood, Mr.
At Nelson's house
Heidel, Robert
Killed in Angola Earthquake
Henry, Mrs.
Wife of Henry
Humbert, Albert
Fat kid in Thayer school
Hunkins, Mr.
Math teacher in Thayer school
Hutchins, Will
Actor
Irwinson, George
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Janklow, Ferd
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Keegan, Donald
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Kiger, Myles P.
Gave Jack a lift, and a coat
Lewis, Brandon
Went to school with Jack Sawyer. Had a speech impediment
Light, Emory W.
Gave Jack a ride. President of the First Mercantile bank of Paradise Falls
Littlefield, ?
At Thayer School
Martin, Bill
Mentioned in a song sung by Speedy Parker
Morton, ?
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Norrington, ?
At Thayer school
Oates, Buster
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Olafson, Mr.
Worked at the Buckeye Mall
Owdersfelt, Mrs.
Mother of Roy
Owdersfelt, Roy
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Palamountain, Elbert
Jack Sawyer worked on his farm
Palamountain, Mrs.
Wife of Elbert
Parker, Jack
Name used by Jack Sawyer
Parker, Lester (Speedy)
Jack's friend who taught him how to "flip" between worlds. Blues musician
Parkins, Billy
Youngest son of Buddy Parkins
Parkins, Buddy
Driver who gave Lewis Farren (Jack Sawyer) a lift
Parkins, Emmie
Wife of Buddy
Parkus, Lester
Parker's Twinner
Peabody, Bobby
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Pedersen, ?
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Rasmussen, Theodore
Missing after Angola earthquake
Sawtelle, Jack
Name given to Smokey Updike by Jack Sawyer
Sawtelle, Prince Philip
Twinner of Phillip Sawyer. Killed by Orris shortly after birth
Sawyer, Jack (John Benjamin)
Twelve-year-old Travelin' Jack who has to find the Talisman in order to save the queen and his mother, and possibly the world.
Sawyer, Lily Cavanaugh
Queen of the B Movies. Mother of Jack. Actress in "Death's Darling", "Blaze", "Last train to Hangtown".
Sawyer, Philip
Father of Jack. Died in hunting accident
Schulkamp, Arnold
Missing after Angola earthquake
Scoffler, Hank
Friend of Jack Sawyer
Scoffler, Mrs.
Mother of Hank
Singer, Sonny
Steward In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Skarda, Vernon
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Sloat, Gordon
Father of Morgan. Lutheran minister
Sloat, Morgan
An evil manipulator, Twinner of Morgan of Orris. Father of Richard. Partner of Phillip Sawyer
Sloat, Richard Llewell
Good friend of Jack Sawyer
Stevens, Inger
Actress
Temkin, Victor
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Thayer, Andrew
In Thayer school
Thayer, Elder
In Thayer School
Thielke, Thomas
Killed in Angola Earthquake
Thompson, Bill (Buck)
Gave Wolf and Jack a ride
Thudfoot, Morgan
Morgan Sloat's Twinner. Also known as Morgan of Orris
Updike, Smokey
Owner of Oatley's Tap bar where Jack worked.
Van Pelt, Armin
Worked in New York University Geology Department
Van Zandt, ?
Urinated on beds In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Vaughan, Helen
Fake aunt that Jack Sawyer was travelling to find. His mothers sister
Walker, Clint
Actor
Warwick, Andy
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Wild, Jerome
Killed in Angola Earthquake
Williams, Officer Frank B.
Took Wolf and Jack to Judge in Chayuga
Wolf, Phillip Jack
Name Jack Sawyer uses for Wolf
Woodbine, Thomas
Uncle of Jack Sawyer who was killed by a car. Homosexual. He was killed by order of Morgan Sloat
Woodruff, Benny
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
Yellin, ?
In Reverend Gardiner's Home for Wayward Boys
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