Black House

[michal]

This is the only Stephen King's (Yes yes - and Peter Straub) novel that I know, other than the DT series, that is an official sequel (to The Talisman of course). What was it about this book and of course Jack Sawyer, that made Mr. King want to explore his faith?

[Moderator]

There is no connection to Stephen's faith (or questioning it) and this book.

[Lencho_of_the_Apes]

His "fate", maybe? Good question...

We all float down here...

[Roseasharn]

I've read Black House several times and I didn't get that feeling beyond what I get it from every book that SK writes. I mean, I'm not saying that he out and out starts asking questions about God (or goddess, or coyote, so on and so forth) in all his books, but most often I see him questioning the nature of good and evil within the framework of the story and his characters.
Now as to the possibility that we are talking about Jack Sawyer's "fate"
I dunno. I thought Jack Sawyer was compelling as was the world that SK and PS created. And of course, I loved the way it intersected with The Dark Tower (because I am a giant dark tower nut. I can nerd off for days to those books and the concordance)
While there aren't really sequels to SK's stuff, I think it is valid to say that it all falls under an umbrella. We find out what happens to certain characters from certain books in other books. There is a continuity. It's a small world and all that.
And since I enjoyed reading it so much, maybe they did it because it was fun to write it and to be writing it together.
Or they just magically knew that if they didn't write a sequel I would have been in torment all my days!
Ai, No! **telenovella style hand sweep across my brow**
:p

[jchanic]

I can't believe any discussion of this story leaving out Henry! He is probably one of the most compelling "minor" characters in any of King's books. I loved him!

John

[Doc Wilson]

Desperation has a much more explicit God focus than Black House.

[michal]

:oo: Please forgive a non native that had typed so quickly that she did not read what she wrote and could not edit her post after posting...

It was the Fate of Jack I was contemplating about, as for faith, I have very little opinion on other people's as I am far from being determined regarding mine.

Sorry...

[Insomniak]

I always wanted to read it and for I will-Lol I like the title

[JohnDalglish]

I can't believe any discussion of this story leaving out Henry! He is probably one of the most compelling "minor" characters in any of King's books. I loved him!

John

Hi,

I agree, and I hope he has a 'twinner' in Talisman 3.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Roseasharn]

Honestly, part of what makes The Talisman and Black Houe so strong ARE the minor characters. Wolf, Henry, The Thunder Five, Jack's Mother, Sophie, Speedy Parker/Parkus and so on. Rarely have I enjoyed supporting cast as much as I enjoyed them in these two books.
For me, in Black House, it was Beezer. I fancy myself half in love with him. But I also loved Henry. I think in the Talisman, my favorite supporting characters were Wolf and Speedy Parker/Parkus.
And my God, the villians! EEK! Morgan creeped me out, but not as bad as Charles Burnside. For myself, I'm going to say he's the most horrible villian, natural or supernatural, in any of SK's books.

[JohnDalglish]

I always wanted to read it and for I will-Lol I like the title

Hi,

Indeed, and it's a great book but I'd recommend reading The Talisman first if you haven't already.

Long days and pleasant nights

[LittleRedKing]

I can't believe any discussion of this story leaving out Henry! He is probably one of the most compelling "minor" characters in any of King's books. I loved him!

John

Hear Hear! Henry is one of my all time favorite "side" characters.

[deltadog32]

I think this book was a good one but I think it wasn't as good as the Talisman.

[Doc Wilson]

I think this book was a good one but I think it wasn't as good as the Talisman.

I would agree but I think its more due to the fact that Talisman was so outstanding rather than any deficiencies in Black House.

One of the cooler ideas explored in both was this observation that we quickly forget the truly startling, worldview crumbling moments in our lives as we put our sense of reality back together. This has happened to me and it is exactly as SK describes.

[Lily Sawyer]

Mi, Michal. *spoiler alert* I didn't find Black House to be a story that explored faith as much as it is one that analyzes courage. There are marvelous depictions in the book of Beezer's courage to hunt down his daughter's killer; Henry's courage to ultimately die while trying to make things right; and Jack's courage to finally deal with his past and legacy.

Just my $0.02.

[michal]

Mi, Michal. *spoiler alert* I didn't find Black House to be a story that explored faith as much as it is one that analyzes courage. There are marvelous depictions in the book of Beezer's courage to hunt down his daughter's killer; Henry's courage to ultimately die while trying to make things right; and Jack's courage to finally deal with his past and legacy.

Just my $0.02.

FATE I meant FATE not faith. Will this typo haunt me forever??? :biggrin2:

[JohnDalglish]

FATE I meant FATE not faith. Will this typo haunt me forever??? :biggrin2:

Hi,

Condemned to a fate worse than deaf LOL

Long days and pleasant nights

[Lily Sawyer]

John - RFLMAO!!

Or condemned to my faith:
Blonde AND blind.

(I read michal's opener only and didn't read the rest of the thread.)
Oops.

[Patricia A]

FATE I meant FATE not faith. Will this typo haunt me forever??? :biggrin2:

Naw, it'll go away... eventually.
Seriously, most everyone who's been here for any length of time has posted a typo that made them cringe.
I too have publicly displayed the errors of my spell checking ways more than once, and I still live and breath, so.... fegettt about it. :wink2:

[Srbo]

Hi,

I agree, and I hope he has a 'twinner' in Talisman 3.

Long days and pleasant nights

So do I, so do I.