I read the Talisman many years ago and enjoyed it very much. the concept of Jack Sawyer on a quest to save his mother, his ability to flip into the territories and his adventures along the way left a good impression of Mr King and his books. Knowing Black House was available but having not read it, i re-read the Talisman first to refresh my memory as to the events in the first book then, on to Black House.
I was put off by the book initially. The character of Jack doesnt appear for multiple chapters and hundreds of pages (maybe not hundreds, but quite a few). Having just re-read Talisman I was eager to find out what happend after and was dissapointed that there were so few answers. I disagree with the authors approach to Jack and his rather mundane chosen career. It seems to me that after an adventure like to one he had and being exposed to what he was that he should have become a Senator or President, something worth of his experiences and talents. I have nothing against the police by the way or the vital work they do, but Jack was described and being special due to this time in the territories and should have remade the world, not solved crimes in LA. No metion of Wolf, His mother's fate, Richard other than in passing. I wanted reunions and felt cheated. I understand Lily's fate is mentioned in Tommyknockers but when I read that I had'nt read the Talisman. After getting past my irritation and expectations I looked at the story as a simple detective tale with some supernatural elements I was familiar with and was able to enjoy it. I do hope there is a third story and that it can better meet some of the expectations I had going into the Black House.
I was put off by the book initially. The character of Jack doesnt appear for multiple chapters and hundreds of pages (maybe not hundreds, but quite a few). Having just re-read Talisman I was eager to find out what happend after and was dissapointed that there were so few answers. I disagree with the authors approach to Jack and his rather mundane chosen career. It seems to me that after an adventure like to one he had and being exposed to what he was that he should have become a Senator or President, something worth of his experiences and talents. I have nothing against the police by the way or the vital work they do, but Jack was described and being special due to this time in the territories and should have remade the world, not solved crimes in LA. No metion of Wolf, His mother's fate, Richard other than in passing. I wanted reunions and felt cheated. I understand Lily's fate is mentioned in Tommyknockers but when I read that I had'nt read the Talisman. After getting past my irritation and expectations I looked at the story as a simple detective tale with some supernatural elements I was familiar with and was able to enjoy it. I do hope there is a third story and that it can better meet some of the expectations I had going into the Black House.