Yes, I’m the one who read “Black House,” then went to read “Wizard & Glass,” then asked what other SK books were referred to in the Gunslinger series. I was also inspired to re-read “The Talisman,” the first SK/PS collaboration.
It had been so long since I read it, that there was major information that I had forgotten about! I had completely forgotten about Wolf, for instance. I keep wishing (as I read) that they would explain about the Territories more, but it also seems to me that the Territories is also Roland’s world, or at the very least linked to Roland’s world.
I’m about 3/4 of the way through “The Talisman” and frankly am finding it to be infinitely better than "Black House,’ although there is still quite a bit of “darkness” in it. Not nearly as dark as Black House, but I’ve been practically unable to put it down! I was up reading it at 3 am today, in fact (and was late getting up and in to work because of it! LOL). Better than Monday, when I accidentally left it on my desk at work.
Anyone want to make comments on “The Talisman,” any observations to share?
I love these books. Both of them. “Black House” took me a while to get into, because of the present-tense. But I’ve re-read it a few times, and it gets better. “The Talisman” is the better read, though. Once it picks up. It’s too slow for me in the beginning.
The cross-references I’ve noticed?
“Black House” and “The Talisman.” Duh. We know that The Territories is the land inhabited by Roland of Gilead.
“Insomnia.” When Clotho and Lachesis are talking to Ralph and Lois about fate/destiny (the conversation on the hospital roof), they show a picture of the dark tower surrounded in roses. Also, later in the book, the kid that was supposed to be saved at the rally? Pat? When he’s drawing his pictures, he draws a tower, and says that the man, Roland, has made his way to it. His mother thinks he has an overactive imagination.
There’s another one, too, but I can’t think of it. There’s a line about Roland reasting uneasily, rolling over in his sleep…
Talisman is a much better read, done when both authors were at their most confident prime. I was shocked by the ending of Dark House, but nowhere near as much as when Jack started waxing poetic about Sophie - it was weird, having this major(?) character come out of nowhere, with the same name as my newborn daughter. Really took me out of the book, to tell the truth.
The Talisman is one of my favorite books of all time. Does anyone have a clue when the movie/miniseries is coming out?? I heard once that ABC was going to develop it, but that was like six years ago, and since then, not a peep.
I tried reading Black House but gave up after reading 100 pages or so and NOTHING HAPPENED. Maybe I’ll try again later, but right now the book is performing a much more important duty by providing a coaster for my ashtray…