The Talisman

Book Description

On a brisk autumn day, a thirteen-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America–and into another realm.

One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written, The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save his mother’s life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape of innocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredible truths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more. Let the quest
begin. . . .

Download Description

In celebration of the publication of Stephen King and Peter Straub's extraordinary new thriller, Black House, we offer here the story that started it all -- The Talisman.

On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of thegray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resortcalled the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father isgone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But forJack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make ajourney back across America -- and into another realm.

One of the most influential and heralded works of fantasy ever written,The Talisman is an extraordinary novel of loyalty, awakening,terror, and mystery. Jack Sawyer, on a desperate quest to save hismother's life, must search for a prize across an epic landscape ofinnocents and monsters, of incredible dangers and even more incredibletruths. The prize is essential, but the journey means even more.

Let the quest begin...

"Extraordinary.... Makes your hair stand on end."
    THE WASHINGTON POST

"A classic... rare and dazzling."
    NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Customer Reviews:

Read it 20 years ago... Still A Great Read.......2007-09-08

I read this book when I was about 13 years old. I remember being bored through the first bit and then becoming more and more involved as the story picked up. As it happens I just finished re-reading it and it's still a really good book. My perspective has changed a bit now though.

For a book that has been reviewed by 337 people before me, it's probably not exactly vital to do a plot summary but I'll do one in 50 words or less. A kid named Jack Sawyer has a mother who is dying of cancer. He learns of a parallel world that he can travel back and forth to and which contains a magical artifact which has the power to heal her. That artifact is the eponymous Talisman. The catch is that Jack is in New England somewhere and the Talisman is in California. So an epic quest begins! Will he overcome the forces of evel? Will he find the Talisman?? Will he save his dying mother???

Well of course he will! Like all good quest tales it's not the destination that counts as much as the journey. And what a journey it is! Jack will travel the length of the United States and face violent fops, evil werewolves, malls, radioactive wastelands, fireballs, snipers and worst of all.. the most frightening of all... Televangelists.

The esthetic of the Quest epic usually involves a party of companions that travel with the hero and guide him and help him along. This book is actually different from them in that Jack usually is either alone or only has one companion at a time. This means that there is a lot of time spent inside Jack's head as he works things out.

One of the reasons I liked this book as a teenager was that the stories, either in printed or visual form, never seemed..hrm.. I don't know.. (You know.. this is print.. I didn't have to let you know I was searching for words here, I could have just edited this out once I thought of the right ones.. but oh well) The actions of evildoers never seemed to be handled appropriately, the writers always seemed to wuss out. I'll give a for instance: I was 13 at the time I read this book as I mentioned. At the time G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe and The Transformers were in vogue (Robotech hadn't hit TV yet) and the villains on these shows, being recurring characters, never really suffered any realistic consequences, I mean if Cobra Commander was a real guy they would have put a bullet in his brainpan the first time they captured him. But they put him in jail instead - because an organization that can blow up cities and control the weather and such is probably incapable of breaking their leader out of Jail. Star Trek was popular in our family but it seemed that all those guys did was talk everything to death. EVEN Star Wars, the bastion of fanboy Fantasy violence was getting to a point where Luke and Vader were all lovey dovey. I didn't want to see Darth Vader redeemed (I mean I did.. and I liked that he was but come on) I wanted to see Luke slice that dude into 9 pieces Ice Pirates style.

I am making a point here (all evidence to the contrary) in that this book was so awesome to me at that particular moment because it was the first story I had heard where evil is punished (well thee was Lord of the Rings. but dropping a ring into a volcano didn't exactly strike me as evil being punished :)). There have been many stories since where I get that similar sense of closure (Robotech hit the air six months or so after I finished the Talisman and changed my outlook forever. Everyone got a slice in that show, good guys and bad) but this was the first.

That may have seemed like a very long digression there, but to me it was very important. It is especially important now that I see the Talisman as a small part of Stephen King's larger universe. That universe has The Dark Tower as it's axis and the Dark tower is the biggest let down in literary history in my not so humble opinion.

I should also say here that, as an adult rereading this book, I discovered that hidden away towards the end of this novel is the best description of a mystical experience I have ever read in fiction. Most people say that a mystical experience is impossible to describe (and it is) but I think he came the closest you can come while being hampered by the chains of the written word.

Finally, Peter Straub is credited as co-writer of this particular Stephen King book, but I think he must have just been the editor or something, maybe he wrote the table of contents. After reading this book I sought out a Peter Straub book and read it. It was hard to find and knew why long about page 20. This guy is bad.. very bad.. he's axiomatically bad. He makes C.J. Cherryh look like Chaucer. Yes that BAD! So I can't understand how this book got his name on it. IF you have read Straub and hated him, don't shy away from this book because King is the main voice here.

Stephen King and Peter Straub make a very good team........2007-08-29

I read this book in like, three days. It moves at a fast pace. Stephen King and Peter Straub work very well together. No, it is not one of my favorite novels by him, and I prefer most of his horror novels (and other stories) to this, but I really liked it. I recommend this to all fans of Stephen King and Peter Straub.

P.S. I am reading Black House now and I will review that when I am done.

The Adventures of Jack Sawyer--Horrifying and Wonderful!.......2007-07-28

In THE TALISMAN, Stephen King and Peter Straub have crafted a horror-fantasy-adventure story for the ages (one which they were proud enough to sequelize, years later). When I read this book, I had an idea that most of the ideas were Straub's (as they seemed very un-King like to me at the time, having not yet read THE GUNSLINGER or EYES OF THE DRAGON) and that most of the actual writing was King's (this based wholly on King's growing tendency to write in the vernacular, even when in third person omniscient point of view). I'm better read and, I hope, less presumptuous now, but I'd still be curious as to the division of labor on this incredible journey. THE TALISMAN should be listed among the greater works of either author, and that is saying something.

It's the archetypical quest story: a boy's mother is dying, and he must journey across the country (blipping back and forth between this world and its smaller, "twinner" fantasy equivalent). Along the way, out hero will face untold dangers, befriend magical creatures, suffer horrible betrayals--and, of course, he will triumph. These reliable stand-by devices for the epic quest story are augmented, empowered, and tweaked with a hearty helping of King-Straub horror, and by that style of writing that begins to make the reader feel not as though he is actually reading a story, but that someone is sitting next to him and telling the story. And the storyteller isn't a wizened old, professor, speaking in the archaic; he's probably a retired, slightly alcoholic rock star, rich and profane in expression, musical, and nostalgic for his own lost boyhood.

Grand, imaginative, and inexplicably sorrowful--the more so as it nears the end--THE TALISMAN is a must-read novel.

(This review has been posted by Marcus Damanda, author of the vampire book, "Teeth: a Horror Fantasy".)

love it.......2007-06-12

This book is awesome..I have read it 3 times..I love love love..This guy is a rock star

Memorable Novel.......2007-05-25

Two things stood in my mind after I finished this book. I'll let you make up your own mind on what this says for the novel. The truth 'the test of truly owning something is the ability to give it up.' The phrase 'goat penis.' It is uttered by one of the story's villains entirely too much.

A mix of the profound and the grotesque, like any good horror show.

Narrative drive and suspense are top standard. Characters and settings are amazing, except for our main hero, Traveling Jack. He is never really described, but that is a technique of King's where we insert our own ideal image into Jack's place. This would have served me better if I could have easily figured out if Jack was White, Mexican, Asian or African American. His ethnicity is a mystery that is not addressed.

And the end. Jack has such incredible adventures, it is easy to forget he is twelve. The end ends well, but reminds us many threads are left unexplored because this was a child's story. The authors allude this isn't the end of Jack's life, a life which has other magnificent stories, but as far as I can tell, no other novels have been written about Traveling Jack, the man of many worlds. That left me a little disappointed, as the Black House, the sort-of-sequel, sounds like Jack decided to just forget his entire adventure. I may read it in few years. Eventually.

This was a good book to read while sitting through a 20+ hour bus ride, which is where I read my copy. While good, the story doesn't even make my personal top twenty-five, but I can see how you can really fall in love with it if you haven't read thousands of books.

The Talisman (Daughters of the Moon, Book 10)

Average customer rating:

Only Average
Maggie's story
It was okay
An excellent book
Not that exciting - -

The Talisman (Daughters of the Moon, Book 10)
Lynne Ewing
Manufacturer: Volo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786818786

Book Description

Maggie is running out of time on this earth. And before she can name her successor, she reflects on the incredible, age-old journey that brought her to where she is. As a girl in ancient Athens, her father was a great warrior and leader of men. However, it was Maggie, known then as Penelope, who chose to battle the greatest enemy of all-the Atrox. After seeing an innocent man succumb to the Atrox and his shadowy followers, she takes a vow to help cleanse the world of its evil. But in doing so, she may have to forego the love of the great soldier, Hector, and lose her sister to the dark side.

Customer Reviews:

Only Average.......2005-04-11

I read #9 many moons ago, and when i picked this book up, i was really excited. I wouldn't say that i was necessarily disappointed but it wasn't one of the best. My first thought was that Ms. Ewing's contract required a certain number of books, and she needed this one to complete that quota.
Penelope, aka Maggie, is the daughter of an Athenian Warrior, at least that's what she thinks. As she learns through her trials she is destined to take the place of the current mentor of the Daughters of the Moon. But of course she has to go into the depths of Nefandus, a type of underworld for the Atrox.
On her way, she meets a Spartan Warrior, shamed by having lived through battle. As we learn at the end of the book, we've met the character Chrysippus once before, and it's an exciting discovery.
This book took me the longest to finish, usually, i finish these books w/in a few hours, this took me a couple days. And like the Daughters Maggie has fallen in love w/ someone who was taken away from her by evil. Such a Goddess thing to do.
I was never really interested that much in Maggie, but i am glad that i found out some things about her.
What frustrated me the most was that we didn't learn her successor. GRRRR!

Maggie's story.......2004-10-24

Personally, I'm glad Lynne wrote this book. In this book she explained everything about Maggie. It was a sad ending though (sniff).

Maggie is an important character. Since the first volume I wanted to know more about her and this book explains it.

Hooray for Maggie!!!!

It was okay.......2004-10-01

Even though we found out some stuff about Maggie (the ending was pretty sad) it was a boring book. I missed the party life that the Daughters have. We do find out some stuff about her and how she became the Mentor to the Daughters. And something that Maggie has never mentioned before.....

An excellent book.......2004-09-09

This is another of my top three favorite DotM books and milestone in the DotM series. It explores Maggie's past and shows you how things that went on in the present were started in the past. It also shows how much faith Maggie has and the obstacles she's overcome to be the woman the Daughters love most. It was an excellent book, and I truly enjoyed it.

Not that exciting - -.......2004-09-01

I was dissapointed in this book. Yes, Maggie is a very important character in the series, but i do not think the Ewing should have made a book all abut her. I misssed the Daughters and the Followers. It was interesting, but it did not suck me in like the others did. I actually put the book down for more then an hour!! But, I guess it is important to know about Maggie and her struggles.

I DO HOPE SHE MAKES ANOHTER BOOK ABOUT STATON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol a little off topic but hey!

Making Talismans: Living Entities of Power

Average customer rating:

Fascinating reference, not at all practical
Making Talismans
Good Book
Really useful
Elaborate, detailed, but FULL of mistakes!

Making Talismans: Living Entities of Power
Nick Farrell
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0738700045

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating reference, not at all practical .......2007-08-28

First, the book's contents are fascinating, and well worth reading, for the sake of the knowledge. It's a very good reference book for a magickal, arcana, or occult library collection.

That being said, the information is not easily used by anyone other than a fairly advanced and experienced practitioner of ritual magick. The rituals are complex and fiddly, and any wrong step will, according to the author, result in a useless or weak talisman.

So, it's a mixed review. Good book, interesting information, not at all practical, unfortunately. I'd say buy it if you're interested (as I am) in arcane knowledge, but unless you're a working ritual magickian, don't count on being able to actually make much use of the information it holds.

Making Talismans.......2006-06-03

A book filled with wonderful information. However! I was a little disappointed when it only had a few chapters in the end that was solely on making these talismans. I really would have liked a more organized and systematic approach to talismans right in the first chapter. I also didn't like the way the author referred to things all around the book for example... "to do this you must go to this chapter and to do that you must go to this chapter," ehh... BUT! I am greatful because the talismans do work. I would've liked a better approach to their creation though. Hope this helps.

Good Book.......2005-01-20

Gotta tell ya, if you enjoy crafting Magical items and talismans just happen to be one of them, then you'll want to get this book.

While I have been recently delving back into the pre-Rennaissance talisman making processes, I have to say I have great respect for the author of this work. Why? Well first off he's innovative. At least as for what he's penned in his book and where he obtained that knowledge, I can't say for certain. He's a member of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn (EOGD), the Society of Light (SOL) and Builders of the Adytum (BOTA). Thus he could have picked up varying levels of techniques from many sources and teachers and then again he may have invented much that is new.

One thing I highly dislike about Llewellyn authors is their need to always have to go back to the beginning. Chapter two is about "A Brief History of Talismans" - brief my eye! That lasted from page 13 all the way to page 44! Ugh! Just what everyone wants to learn, history lessons from yet "another" Llewellyn book author. Then his chapter three is "Names of Power" and we get more of that until page 60! You see, if Llewellyn wasn't worried about page count, they could trim off 36 pages!

The next chapter delves into something a little more meaty and that's "Neo-Pagan Talismans". Talk about something you just don't see everyday listed in a table of contents! And this is a terrific chapter up until Mr. Farrell get's to page 73 where he starts in with his own version of how the Gods from various pantheons line up to each of the seven major planets. Sorry folks but if you're just using it as a basis for talisman making, then fine adopt it but do NOT think that the Egyptian deity Ra equates exactly with the Greek Apollo or Norwegian Frey. This is typical new age author shoddy information giving! Each God/dess must be studied in its entirety and weighed on its own merits.

There are aspects between these three Gods that more than likely would cause them to openly war with one another should you introduce them. So just because they share a single planetary rulership does not mean they're exactly alike. If you doubt me, then do some research on your own and learn about the Gods from other non-Occult sources.

Chapter Five is weak because it's on "Angels and Talismans" and frankly most of the offered information here can be found most anywhere else in Ritual Magic literature.

Chapter Six is called "Snaring the Power of the Planets" and it too is somewhat weak. He does show you how to plot the seals of the Spirits and Intelligences of the Planets on the Magic Squares that belong to each Planetary power. If you've never seen this before, you may want to read that chapter pretty heavily. The last thing in this chapter is *yawn* Planetary Hours - again found in hundreds of other books too.

Chapters Seven and Eight are well worth your time to read. Here he gets into color and coloring thoughtforms. The section of Flashing Tablets should be read but again this information can be found in any number of other texts on Ritual Magic. Eight gets into drawing the talisman and here he really shines! He discusses shapes as well as new ideas such as layering the talisman and using the lightning bolt from the Four Worlds. Plus he offers up some traditional symbology you can make use of for your own talisman.

Finally chapter Nine is about "Consecrating the Talisman" and it's standard Ritual Magic procedure though with a couple of fine twists to it. And Chapter ten is all about how to determine if your talisman is indeed working!

Really useful.......2004-09-13

Making Talismans is a very clear well written, and well researched book. It covers an extremely difficult subject well.
Unlike many of the books on the market it does not tell you about talismans or provide you with a history. It tells you how to make your own.
Farrell's main idea is that the physical object that make's up the talisman is less important than the magical act or ritual that empowers it. This obviously creates a problem because making a talisman is really a conglomeration of different occult techniques. Normally attempting to build one would be the work of an experienced magician.
However Farrell shows that this does not need to be the case. He provides you with all the information you need to create a talisman, and then simply gives you three different empowerment rites to try.
The book is fast becoming an occult classic because it really is the first to make these techniques accessible. Also a large number of more experienced magicians, for example Donald Kraig are recommending it.
Superficially it is complex and this has put a number of people off. However no one in my group has found any problems understanding it and we are all beginners. I liked the way that pagans could use a system in their tradition and more Golden Dawn types can use theirs. This places the book into the hands of a wide range of magical practitioners from Wiccans to ceremonial types.
The main question is do the techniques work. I have seen several articles by people who have used the book. My own group also had some fairly spectacular effects with it.
Anyway I heartily recommend it for both beginners and advanced people.

Elaborate, detailed, but FULL of mistakes!.......2004-08-30

The book is full of great information, but the way it was written was like a slap to the face. I'm not even sure if it was sent to an editor! So many blatant mistakes on irrelevant stuff like syntax, not to mention more serious mistakes relevant to the content. Half finished tables, redundant information... I was very insulted.

The book gets at least 4 stars for content, but because it was very incompetently presented, I can only give it a 2.

Spiritual Merchants: Religion, Magic, and Commerce

Average customer rating:

Wanted more
Groundbreaking Work
An interesting history of voodoo/hoodoo supplies
perfect addition to my library
One of a Kind

Spiritual Merchants: Religion, Magic, and Commerce
Carolyn Morrow Long
Manufacturer: University of Tennessee Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1572331100

Book Description

They can be found along the side streets of many American cities: herb or candle shops catering to practitioners of Voodoo, hoodoo, Santería, and similar beliefs. Here one can purchase ritual items and raw materials for the fabrication of traditional charms, plus a variety of soaps, powders, and aromatic goods known in the trade as "spiritual products." For those seeking health or success, love or protection, these potions offer the power of the saints and the authority of the African gods.

In Spiritual Merchants, Carolyn Morrow Long provides an inside look at the followers of African-based belief systems and the retailers and manufacturers who supply them. Traveling from New Orleans to New York, from Charleston to Los Angeles, she takes readers on a tour of these shops, examines the origins of the products, and profiles the merchants who sell them.

Long describes the principles by which charms are thought to operate, how ingredients are chosen, and the uses to which they are put. She then explores the commodification of traditional charms and the evolution of the spiritual products industry--from small-scale mail order "doctors" and hoodoo drugstores to major manufacturers who market their products worldwide. She also offers an eye-opening look at how merchants who are not members of the culture entered the business through the manufacture of other goods such as toiletries, incense, and pharmaceuticals. Her narrative includes previously unpublished information on legendary Voodoo queens and hoodoo workers, as well as a case study of John the Conqueror root and its metamorphosis from spirit-embodying charm to commercial spiritual product.

No other book deals in such detail with both the history and current practices of African-based belief systems in the United States and the evolution of the spiritual products industry. For students of folklore or anyone intrigued by the world of charms and candle shops, Spiritual Merchants examines the confluence of African and European religion in the Americas and provides a colorful introduction to a vibrant aspect of contemporary culture.

Customer Reviews:

Wanted more.......2007-03-10

I liked this book. It was interesting to learn about how African belief systems were transformed in the New World--and how profit was made from those transformed beliefs, mostly by white people. The author danced around this contradiction a bit but never really addressed it. I wish she had.

I felt disappointed by her section on High John the Conqueror Root. Her hints that the root is something other than Ipomoea jalapa were intriguing, but she never came to any conclusion about the herb's actual identity. This mirrored her hesitation about addressing the contradiction of white retailers selling the props of African American magic to black people.

This book had a lot of nifty details, though. I thoroughly enjoyed finding out what Indio's incense powder is made out of, for instance.

Groundbreaking Work.......2006-06-04

Carolyn Long's book is one of the foremost works on the subject of African American conjure. In fact, it was the first book-length work to examine modern hoodoo shops, which are its primary focus. I strongly recommend it as an interesting and informative read.

An interesting history of voodoo/hoodoo supplies.......2004-02-15

What an impressive book! Ms. Long has definitely done her homework on this tome. I have wondered for many years about the sources she discusses in this book, and I find it thorough, open-minded and extremely enlightening. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone curious about those strange little bottles of oils and perfumes, packets of powder, 7-day candles with silkscreened decorations on them, and any and all accoutrements of this most fascinating of subjects. I look forward to seeing more of her work!

perfect addition to my library.......2002-10-19

I have been researching hoodoo and voodoo for the past two years, but none of the books I've come across compare to Spiritual Merchants. Not only is it honest, but it's simple...it reads almost like a conversation. I appreciate the oodles of images and merchants, especially since Long distinguishes between their races. Unfortunately, most of the web sites are defunct. I will treasure this book always!

One of a Kind.......2001-07-26

What a great treat it's been to read Spiritual Merchants. Carolyn Long knew she was covering new ground, and it's obvious from the writing that she relished the field work. But what's at least as impressive is the depth of archival research. The preliminary history of Voodoo and hoodoo in the U.S. is really incomparable for its clarity and coherence. Carolyn Long should be congratulated for a terrifically written book--and UTP deserves the same for a beautifully produced book at a reasonable price. It's sure to be a standard for years to come.

The Talismans of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara)

Average customer rating:

"Some of Us Listened to the Earth's Whisper..."
Amazing end
The Final Fight For the Four Lands Begins!
Thank god the next series is strong I almost gave brooks up
Talismans of Shannara

The Talismans of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara)
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345386744
Release Date: 1994-01-31

Book Description

Although some of the goals to keep Shannara safe had been met, the work of Walker Boh, Wren, and Par was not yet done. For The Shadowmen still swarmed over the Four Lands, poisoning all with their dark magic. Each Shannaran had a special death waiting for him- at the hands of The Shadowmen-unless Par could find a way to free them all with the Sword of Shannara.

Download Description

The descendants of the Elven house of Shannara had all completed theirquests. Walker Boh had restored the Druid's Keep with the BlackElfstone. Wren had restored the missing Elves to the Four Lands. AndPar had found what was quite possibly the legendary Sword of Shannara.

But their work was not yet done. The Shadowen still swarmed over theFour Lands, poisoning all with their dark magic. And the leader of theShadowen, Rimmer Dall, was determined that the scions of Shannara wouldnot share the knowledge that would end the sickness. For Walker, hewould dispatch the Four Horsemen. For Wren, he sent an untrue friend.And for Par, he devised the most terrible fate of all.

The charges given by the shade of the Druid Allanon were doomed tofailure -- unless the Shannara children could escape the traps beinglaid for them, and Par could find a way to use... the Sword of Shannara.

Customer Reviews:

"Some of Us Listened to the Earth's Whisper...".......2006-09-08

The forth and final installment in "The Heritage of Shannara" quartet, preceded by the "Scions", "Druid" and "Elf Queen" of Shannara. The premise is that the Four Lands are dying under both the totalitarian Federation and the sinister Shadowen, and the shade of the Druid of Allanon has called together three scions who can put an end to the entropy. Par is sent in search of the Sword of Shannara, Walker to bring back the Druid Keep of Paranor, and Wren to discover the missing race of Elves and restore them to the Four Lands. As the story starts, all these tasks have been completed, though with a heavy toll. Walker is trapped in Paranor by four Shadowen assuming the shape of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse; Wren is now the untested Queen of the Elves, facing an approaching army; and Par still believes he is responsible for the death of his brother, unaware that Coll is alive and well, but under the control of the Federation-leader and Shadowen Rimmer Dall.

Now our heroes are gradually reunited (sometimes in rather ingenious ways, such as Morgan and Wren's serendipitous meeting ) in order to join forces against the Shadowen once and for all. There is a strange power growing in the undergrounds of the Federation Tower that may be the key to their undoing. Slowly the pieces of the puzzle fit together as the Four Lands gradually unite under the Scions.

The problem is, there is a lot of exposition and action leading up to this main event. The characters have to be re-established and to meet up with each other and in this regard Brooks is in danger of running out of ideas. This volume in particular suffers from an excess of main characters getting captured by the bad guys and the need for elaborate escape plans to be drawn up by those who've managed to escape the authorites: there's five examples of this throughout the book (count `em: Damson, Par, Coll, Padishar and Wren all managed to get kidnapped throughout the course of the book). Apart from getting repetitive, it also holds off the climatic ending, causing it to seem somewhat rushed by comparison.

There is one other major problem, that in hindsight, stretches over the entire series: the nature and purpose of the Shadowen. In my opinion, they make for weak antagonists. Admittedly, some are genuinely scary. Others, not so much. None of them - not even Rimmer Dall - become three-dimensional characters. Their origins (explained in "Elf Queen" and elaborated on here) are not particularly original, interesting or properly explained. Although there is a half-hearted attempt to explain why there are so many different types of Shadowen, it ultimately rings false. The weirdest example of this is when Walker is held captive in Paranor by four Shadowen who take on the form of the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Read carefully; they are not the Biblical Horsemen, but simply Shadowen taking on their form. If this is the case, then why only send four? Why not a whole army? Why don't all Shadowen take this form and by doing so imbue themselves with the power of the Four Horsemen?

My point is that the Shadowen come across as too arbitrary, too random. Brooks gives himself the power to make them whatever he wants them to be, whether humanoid, animalistic, or mythological and they only as powerful as they need to be to defeat/be defeated by the protagonists - whatever the story calls for at that particular moment. Furthermore, the origins of the Shadowen is painfully plagiaristic of Tolkien (something I had hoped the Heritage series was drawing away from) as well as reminiscent of his own work in the original Shannara trilogy.

But for all of this, "Talismans" is a satisfying end to the story that was started way back in "Scions". All the major plot threads are wrapped up and all the questions answered (though some better than others). By now the characters are established enough for their personalities and actions to really shine, and the reader is fully invested in their fate. Par, Coll, Walker, Wren, Damson, and newcomer Matty are nice, normal people who do extraordinary things, a concept that never fails to entertain.

Amazing end.......2005-10-09

Teery brooks is a genius, this book that end the heritage series is an explendid book, it conlcudes everything that happened in the first 3 books of the heritage series and it leaves you with your mouth open wishing for more.

The Final Fight For the Four Lands Begins!.......2005-04-25

The Talismans of Shannara is the conclusion to the sequence started in The Scions of Shannara and continuing in The Druid of Shannara and The Elf Queen of Shannara. All the story threads come together. Coll risks everything to save Par from complete madness. Wren and the returned Elves fight against the Shadowen controlled armies of the Federation. Walker fights the Four Horsemen. It all culmanates at Rainbow Lake where the Scions search for the missing Wren. Par comes face-to-face with his worst fears and the secret behind the Shadowen's power is revealed.

It all sets up the events of the Voyage trilogy and the close of this sequence put Terry Brooks in his own league.

Thank god the next series is strong I almost gave brooks up.......2005-02-25

I wanted to kick Brooks in the nads after reading the fist one then second one of this series....so godawfully bad and plodding and man, you couldn't stop since you had to know how it ends right? Don't let these three throw u off Broosk as it did me for a year!! I might have never read brooks again!

I was really getting angery since he obviously put these ones out kinda fast and then ended the trilogy quickly with major cops outs to most plot lines all around.....I fkin hate cop outs!

Thankfully The Voyage trilogy has started much stronger, much, and May Have Brooks reborn in my views, but this series pissed me off so bad it took me like 1-2 years to even bother with the next trilogy even though I had it boxed set since christmas 1 year ago....its now 02/05...

Any way The shadowen are cast aside as what was going to be one of the cooler enemies invented in a while

The coolest character in this series was killed in the previous book and his waepon is not shown to be taht powerful after all

kinda bummer

Talismans of Shannara.......2003-12-22

I read the book Tailsmans of Shannara by Terry Brooks. This book is the 7th in the series and continues off the one before it. I would suggest this book to grade 8 and up. This book is fantasy. The Shadowen, things that are almost imposable to kill swarm the four lands. Their dark magic killing everything. Their leader is determined to kill the scions of Shannara. For walker he sends the four horsemen. Wren he gives an untrue friend. Par he takes control of his brother Coll and leads par to a terrible fate. When I was reading I got into the book really quickly. This book was easy to get into because the other one left me wondering.

Average customer rating:

Nonstop laughter from cover to cover
Regency high jinks with a dash of romance
Completely delightful novel
Enormously rollicking good fun - great secondary characters
Hilarious!

The Talisman Ring
Georgette Heyer
Manufacturer: Arrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0099474395
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Book Description

Neither Sir Tristram Shield nor Eustacie, his young French cousin, share the slightest inclination to marry one another. Yet it is Lord Lavenham's dying wish. For there is no one else to provide for the old man's granddaughter while Ludovic, his heir, remains a fugitive from justice.

Customer Reviews:

Nonstop laughter from cover to cover.......2007-07-09

This is definitely one of the funniest Heyer I have read so far. I think this is probably because there are two heroes and two heroines, and their chemistry with each other is just sparkling! If I have to compare it with The Grand Sophy and Venetia (both excellent!), the laughter index here is higher.

Regency high jinks with a dash of romance.......2007-05-24

This was an enjoyable light read. The book has less storyline and romance than I personally prefer... but over all, it's not too shabby! To keep your expectations in line, you must know it was originally published in the 1930's. The romance won't hold up compared to more contemporary authors, but some will appreciate the "less is more" quality of the book.

Anyway, this is a nice mix of a "whodunnit" with a little comedy and romance. You'll get a stoic hero; a non-sensible young woman to create chaos and a rouge who helps her; a bumbling tippler who misses it all; a flouncy fop; and a level headed beauty who's got spunk. Their adventures at an Inn in the English county of Surrey over the course of a week are an entertaining distraction from whatever else you should be doing.

This is the first Georgette Heyer novel I have read, and I believe I have stumbled on to a reliable source of light historical/romance reading to fill the space and time between the heavier, more developed stories I prefer.

Completely delightful novel.......2007-04-13

This is a sparklingly witty book that had me laughing out loud nearly constantly. The audio version, narrated by Phyllida Nash, is delightful. Her characterizations are wonderful, from the irrepressibly flighty Eustacie to the oblivious Hugo Thane. Best of all, she conveys the characters' own sense of the absurdity of the situations in which they find themselves embroiled. I loved every minute of the production, and am sorely tempted to start over again immediately from the beginning. Highly, highly recommended.

Enormously rollicking good fun - great secondary characters.......2007-02-12

This is a wonderfully rich novel, full of excellent secondary characters which lots of charm and wit. Sir Tristram has promised to marry his cousin Eustacie, But Eustacie, passionate French girl that she has has decided that Sir Tristram will never ride Ventre Terre to her rescue and so she must escape and find her glamourous cousin Ludovic who has had to flee from the country house as he has killed a man over cards. All rather romantically passionate.

Sir Tristram is not impressed at all and in his practical capable fashion goes back to retrive her, only now he ends up in a country hostel, ver probably a msugglers den with highwaymen, a Justice of the Peace and his redoubtable sister, Sarah Thane. And further more, he gets dragged into the plans by Eustacie and Sarah to prove Ludovic's innocence.

It is hilarious good fun, Heyer's sense of the ridiculous is utterly to the fore in this one. It has so much good humour - very reminiscent of The Corinthian. Sir Tristram begins as a rather dour character, but is lifted up by his engaging battles with Sarah.

This is a guaranteed enjoyable read, good first novel for Heyer fans, and although not strictly regency period (more Georgian) one of her best humoured works

Hilarious!.......2007-01-11

A Hallmark of most of Georgette Heyer's works is her sense of humor. I have read most of her romances and I have to say that her wit and comedic timing are at their best in the Talisman Ring. Her dialogs are simply brilliant and just when it looks like everything is going pear shaped Miss Thane or Tristram come up with a solution that is sure to entertain.

Don't miss this one!

The Talisman Italian Cookbook: Italy's bestselling cookbook adapted for American kitchens.

Average customer rating:

The Talisman Cookbook
From Grandma, With Love
Great, classic cookbook
Good traditional Italian recipes
Before its Time

The Talisman Italian Cookbook: Italy's bestselling cookbook adapted for American kitchens.
Ada Boni
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0517503875
Release Date: 1950-12-13

Book Description

Il Talismano is and has been for over 50 years the one great standard Italian cookbook. It is to Italians what Joy of Cooking is to Americans. Containing in simple and clear form the best recipes for all the foods that we associate with Italian cuisine, it covers all the regional variations of Italian cooking: Milanese, Bolognese, Venetian, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Veronese, and Florentine.

Appetizers range from the simply elegant, like Cantaloupe and Prosciutto and Artichoke Hearts in Olive Oil, to the sublime, like Tunnied Veal and Crostini of Mozzarella and Anchovies. Soups include Stracciatella, Fish Brodetto Rimini Style, and Tuscan Minestrone.

No part of Italy is very far from the sea, a fact reflected in the variety and quality of Italian seafood preparations: Flounder with Black Butter Sauce, Lobster alla Diavolo, Mullet in Piquant Sauce, Scungilli Marinara, and Shrimp Buongusto. For the landlocked there are recipes for Beefsteak alia Pizzaiola, Ossobuco, Saltimbocca, Scaloppine al Marsala, Loin of Pork with Milk, Chicken Cacciatora, Chicken Livers with Sage, Wild Duck with Lentils, and Rabbit in Egg Sauce.

Pasta is perhaps Italy's greatest contribution to world cuisine, and The Talisman contains dozens of authentic recipes like Homemade Ravioli, Green Lasagna Modena Style, and Spaghetti Marinara. There are recipes for Polenta, the Italian cornmeal preparation, as well as rice dishes and pizza.

Finally, Italian desserts are explored in full: Almond Macaroons, Pine Nut Cookies, Ricotta Pie, Zeppole, and Zuppa Inglese. There is also a glossary (complete with pronunciation guide) to Italian cooking terms.

For the American edition of The Talisman, all weights, measurements, instructions, and ingredients have been adapted to American usage. The result is a collection of recipes that are as easy to prepare as they are delicious to eat.

Customer Reviews:

The Talisman Cookbook.......2007-08-13

This is a excellent collection of recipes and includes many that are not found in other cookbooks. I have been using this book for years and am replacing a very old copy which I ordered from Ronzoni years ago.

From Grandma, With Love.......2007-08-08

When I moved away from home and then returned to visit my grandmother, I decided it would be a good idea to get her recipes. She would create a feast every Sunday for our family and I wanted to carry on the tradition. Imagine my surprise when she handed me this cookbook and said, "they are all in here." Naturally, Grandma would experiment with the recipes, here and there, but the basics are in there just waiting for your personal touch.

Note: These are old world recipes, not what you would expect from a cookbook published today. Be prepared to start from scratch.

Great, classic cookbook.......2007-01-13

Simple, authentic recipes. Many recipes in this book have become family favorites for us. This book sits next to The Joy of Cooking on the bookshelf in my kitchen.

Good traditional Italian recipes.......2007-01-03

An Italian cookbook that is very traditional. . . . The introduction by Mario Pei highlights this: "It may be emphasized that this is an Italian, not an Italo-American cookbook. The recipes here listed describe dishes which are regularly eaten throughout the length and breadth of the Italian peninsula rather than dishes which are the specialty of a single Italian region, or those which have grown up in Italian communities in America." The end result, Pei observes, is that "a large number of these dishes will be almost totally unfamiliar to the American reader."

The book is divided into many sections, starting with antipasto, going through soups, egg dishes, cheese, and so on through macaroni, spaghetti, rice, to pizza, and finishing with desserts and beverages. All in all, the cookbook covers a lot of territory.

Many of the recipes will not be so simple to manage, if one wants to put something together quickly. Other reviews have mentioned this in one way or another.

However, there are some good recipes in this cookbook, traditional as they might be, that promise a nice taste treat. Among these are Beefsteak Hunter Style, Ragout of Beef with Tomato Sauce, Pork Chops in Tomato Sauce, Pork Chops Modena Style, Macaroni with Ricotta, and so on. Again, some recipes call for an awful lot of up front work that many readers won't be interested in. But there are also many others that can be done quite handily.

A good book to add to one's cooking library.

Before its Time.......2006-12-31

This book-an adaptation, not a translation of an Italian
cookbook was published in 1950. This was a time when
many Americans still held to various dumb and demeaning
stereotypes about Italy and Italians. If there was any
knoweldge of Italian food at all, it was based on an
experience at a few southern Italian-styled restaurants
that had opened in major American cities.

This book and the television show that accompanied it were
useful correctives to the few Americans who were aware of
them. The TV show was a pioneering 'food-tv' effort by a
husband and wife team called the Bontempi. The book itself
was sponsored by the Ronzoni Pasta Company in Queens, New
York and was sold for $3.00 on the show.

Fifty-five years later, the recipes look remarkably soph-
isticated. The only tomato sauce recipe is on the fourth
page of the sauce section and rice dishes get almost as
much space as pasta. Classic dishes-like Saltimbocca and
Osso Buco Milanese abound and Lasagne are prepared in
both Northern and Southern versions. There are a few Italian-
American dishes included-you can have two different
versions of spaghetti and meatballs, but the recipe listed
under 'meatball' is for a one and half pound loaf,
simmered in stock.

The introductory essay by the linguist Mario Pei is priceless.
He explains in the most gentle terms the difference between
American stereotypes and Italian reality.

For a snapshot of Italian food before it became modernized,
this book is irreplaceable. It is also the source of
the kind of simple and elegant recipes that made Italian
food both wildly popular and strongly influential. For
many cooks it will be the only Italian cookbook they'll
ever need.

--Lynn Hoffman, author of THE NEW SHORT COURSE IN WINE and
the forthcoming novel bang BANG from Kunati Books.ISBN 9781601640005

Lone Wolf & Cub, Volume 11: Talisman of Hades

Average customer rating:

Yagyu Retsudo renews the quest to kill Ogami Itto & Daigoro
Ogami Itto is hired for several intriquing assassinations
At long last, Ogami Itto gets emotional over Daigoro
The reprints end here
The epic continues...

Lone Wolf & Cub, Volume 11: Talisman of Hades
Kazuo Koike , and Goseki Kojima
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569715122

Book Description

The #1-selling graphic-novel sensation continues! The Lone Wolf and his cub, father and son, are separated by the hatred of the Yagyu -- and the path to togetherness is lined with blood and honor. As Ogami continues his search for little Daigoro, he must battle deadly Yagyu assassins and aspiring, cocky samurai. He prepares to give them a taste of his blade... Meanwhile, Daigoro visits a crazed old woman living under a bridge, and teaches her a valuable lesson. In these and other stories in this volume, Lone Wolf and Cub continue to unlock the mystery of the Yagyu, one step closer to the truth behind his quest for vengeance. Prepare for more legendary action, in a handy size that fits in your back pocket!

Customer Reviews:

Yagyu Retsudo renews the quest to kill Ogami Itto & Daigoro.......2002-11-22

The Yagyu letter continues to gnaw at Yagyu Retsudo who gives ample proof in Volume 13 of the Lone Wolf & Cub saga, "The Moon in the East, the Sun in the West," that he will go to any length to get his revenge on Ogami Itto. In the five chapters of the manga epic included in this volume is the most shocking act of violence we have yet wetness in this bloody saga:

(64) "The Moon in the East, the Sun in the West" has Retsudo ruminating on how he has sent all of his legitimate sons to be slaughtered by Ogami Itto. But the old man has an illegitimate son and daughter, and horrible plans for them both.

(65) "'Marohoshi' Mamesho" is another one of the fascinating characters created by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. This time around the title character is an old policeman from the capital on the verge of retirement who stumbles across Ogami Itto being commissioned for his next act of assassination. "Marohoshi" has spent his life protecting people and he is not going to let this ronin continue on the assassin's road.

(66) "Spoiling Daigoro" is an offbeat story where the family that hires Ogami Itto persuades him to let Daigoro stay with them while he goes off to do his job. They have a son who is a coward and a weakling with no friends, and the boy's father thinks that having Daigoro around might be good for Suzunosuke. Ogami Itto agrees and thinks go well for a while, but Suzunosuke soon grows tired of hearing his parents praise Daigoro day and night.

(67) "The Hojiro Yaguy" finds Retsudo's illegitimate son planning on using poison darts that can stop a charging horse to slay Lone Wolf. It looks like there is no way on earth Ogami Itto can escape, but, of course, he always has something up his sleeve. Warning: The ending of this one is unexpectedly brutual and shocking.

(68) "The Bird Catchers," is another episode where Lone Wolf and Cub are spectators for the most part as they come across a group of female falconers preserving a dying way of life. But what makes this tale of some significance, especially as the last one in this volume, is that in the eyes of his son, it seems Ogami Itto might have finally gone too far.

"The Moon in the East, the Sun in the West" is another superb collection of stories in the Lone Wolf & Cub saga. Koike and Kojima still manage to provide a new twist and turn in every volume while stringing us out as long as possible with both the short term mystery of the Yagyu letter and the long term quest of Ogami Itto to get his vengeance on the entire Yagyu clan. I read one episode a night right before bed and am almost always surprised to see what new direction each night's story might take. This has to be one of the ten greatest comic epics of all time.

Ogami Itto is hired for several intriquing assassinations.......2002-11-17

The mystery of the Yagyu letter is apparently forgotten in the five Lone Wolf and Cub tales told in Volume 12, "Shattered Stones." However, one thing that really stood out in these stories is that since he was reunited with his father after they were separated by circumstances, Daigoro has been smiling a lot more:

(59) "Nameless, Penniless, Lifeless" is one of the most disturbing stories in the Lone Wolf and Cub saga. It begins with a woman putting on a sex show for peasants. But what is even more shocking is that the woman has lost her mind and that her husband, whose face is half scared by terrible burns, is the one who talks her into her displays. There is more here than meets the eye, as is often the case in these stories, and the way in which the truth is revealed might remind you of part of Shakespeare's "Hamlet."

(60) "Body Check" is another one of those tales in which Ogami Itto has to use his brains to put himself in a position to use his sword for his next assassination.

(61) "Shattered Stones" begins with one of the most different ways that Ogami Itto has met someone who wanted to hire him for an assassination. On top of that the rules of the assassination are quite different (again, I am reminded of a Western parallel in the novel "Sophie's Choice").

(62) "A Promise of Potatoes" is an amusing little change of pace story for this series. Daigoro is off by himself again, being beaten up by a group of kids, when he is rescued by a con artist who teaches the boy to sit by a bowl looking pitiful as a way of making money. But where there is Cub can Lone Wolf be far behind...

(63) "Wife Killer" is a wonderfully ironic title, which we learn is used to describe somebody who gives away the tricks of magicians, who are known as "hand wives." Noronji Hoya, the Princess of Magicians, who has been using a delighted Daigoro as her "assistant," is about the encounter the "wife killer," an old saki-sotted magician who travels with two thugs who extort money from magicians: pay up or have your secrets revealed. But Noronji Hoya has a better proposition: she will perform a trick and if the old man can reveal her secret she will kill herself; if not, then she will take the old man's eyes.

Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima are back to telling tales in which Ogami Itto is more often than not more of a spectator to the action in which other characters carry the stories. One of the testaments to the greatness of this manga epic is that the title character can be almost incidental to the story and it is still completely riveting. Here we are, not even halfway through this saga, and they are still coming up with new and intriguing variations on the basic themes they established early on. The fact that they can maintain this high level certainly justifies the exalted status Lone Wolf & Cub has in the international world of comics.

At long last, Ogami Itto gets emotional over Daigoro.......2002-11-12

"Talisman of Hades" is a nice title, but "Thirteen Strings" is the one you are not going to forget of the four stories collected in Volume 11 of the "Lone Wolf & Cub" magna epic. We had been confronted with a major development in the story as Ogami Itto stole the Yagyu letter. All pretenses were dropped as Reshido Yagyu declared open war on Ogami Itto, but Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima were showing the same sort of audacious subterfuge as their heroic creation, for as Ogami and Reshido crossed blades, Daigoro lost is hold on his father's shoulders and literally fell over a cliff. Suddenly the mystery of the Yagyu letter has become secondary because father and son have become separated. Their search for one another continues in these stories and for the first time we see Ogami Itto express emotion for his son:

(55) "Talisman of Hades" finds Ogami Itto is now putting up pictures of a baby cart where once he had pasted the talismans of meifunado to invite clients of death and assassination. A group of young students on their way to an academy stumble upon the mystery of the signs and when they see the strange ronin slay a "priest" (another Yagyu assassin in disguise of course), they decide they must intervene, forcing Lone Wolf to teach them a valuable lesson.

(56) "Ailing Star" has Daigoro finding a place to stay with an old granny who lives under a rotted bridge in danger of collapse. The locals keep trying to convince the old lady to leave, but she refuses. "Ailing Star" forms an interesting counterpart to "Talisman of Hades" as Daigoro has his own little lesson to impart.

(57) "Thirteen Strings" is an 118-page story where Koike and Kojima come up with their own version of a Kurosawa film experience (the rain during the last acts of the story is a clue). When we come to end of this epic tale, surely "Thirteen Strings" will be one of the most memorable episodes. A runaway horse is about to trample a child in the road when Ogami Itto intervenes. The horsewoman turns out to be the Lady Kanae, Daughter of the Go-Jodai of Odawara Han, and a spoiled brat who fancies herself a samurai. Ogami also learns of a larger conflict between the Go-Jodai and the farmers. Drought has blighted the harvest for four years and the Go-Jodai has tightened the screws on the farmers, who "hire" Ogami to attend a meeting between the two sides (because if anything happens to Chosuke, the leader of the farmers, Lone Wolf will bring word back to the farmers). Go-Jodai has his own agenda for implementing fundamental agricultural reform. Meanwhile, his headstrong daughter seeks revenge on the ronin who has insulted her. But then the rains bring a sudden flood that changes absolutely everything. This is a memorable story of surprising depth, showing that Koike and Kojima are absolute masters of their craft.

(58) "A Poem for the Grave" has Ogami Itto seeking help in finding the secret of the Yagyu letter. This turns into another assassination job, which results in an encounter with another honorable soul who seeks to turn Lone Wolf from the Assassin's Road. The question is whether things might be different this time because of Ogami Itto's separation from Diagoro.

I am in awe of Koike and Kojima maintain this level of excellence through a story that is not even halfway over by this point in the telling of the tale. I continue to savor one story each night at bedtime so that I can think about how it fits into the big picture and the ebb and flow of the story. An absolute masterpiece, not just as a comic book, but as an epic narrative.

The reprints end here.......2001-12-17

Back in the late 80's and early 90 I owned a comic book store. This was one of the items I looked forward to every month. The writing was incredible and the artwork supurb. Out of dozens of issues I can only think a one or two that weren't worth my time.

When I first saw these book at the local comic store I ignored them. After all I had all of the issues and didn't need to spend money on smaller reprints even if they were in the origional format. However with the middle of this issue we have stories that were never published in America before.

It didn't hurt that one of the best stories (and the last) story of the full sized comic was here "Mazohoshi Maeesho" For people who don't know the series that story will say it all. The intro story also paints a path for those unfamilar with the series.

It would frankly be a waste of verbage to describe each story. The quality level is as always so high and the stories so interesting that there is little more to say.

If you never read this series start with #1 and enjoy. If you like me didn't buy it because they were reprints then go wild.

The epic continues..........2001-08-22

I happen to be quite a fan of big, sprawling epics, no matter what the medium may be. "Lone Wolf And Cub" is certainly turning out be quite an interesting one indeed. Continuing the plot from the previous volume, samurai-for-hire Ogami has been seperated from his son Daigoro during a brutal attack by his former masters, the Yagyu. As we begin this book, Ogami is on the search for Daigoro, but on his way he will run afoul of assassins and lone samurai. This volume lays out some great stories, as well as new developments in the series that will keep me reading indefinitely. For those unfamiliar with the series, it's best to start back at the first volume. For me (entrenched in the series already), this is another piece in Ogami's search for vengeance and another piece in the big puzzle of Lone Wolf And Cub.

Complete Book Of Amulets & Talismans (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)

Average customer rating:

good enough
Hundreds of symbols and how they empower
A great resource
Without an Equal
Good Book but.

Complete Book Of Amulets & Talismans (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)
Migene Gonzalez-Wippler
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 087542287X

Book Description

The Pentagram, Star of David, Crucifix, rabbit's foot, or four-leaf clover . . . they all provide feelings of comfort and protection, intended to attract good while dispelling evil. Found throughout history and in nearly every culture and religion, amulets and talismans can be made and used by anyone.

Spanning the world through the diverse cultures of Sumeria, Babylonia, Greece, Italy, India, Western Europe, and North America, this book presents the history and uses of amulets and talismans. Readers will also learn the magical properties of hundreds of symbols and objects commonly used as amulets, as well as how to create, empower, and use their own talismans.

Customer Reviews:

good enough.......2006-11-03

4 stars out of 5. Good enough. This book lacks system of data organization and proper sources of information. and it makes me feel that the author actually believes in the power of all kinds of amulets...On the other hand, the information is inspiring and gave me lots of new ideas. Yes, do not evaluate the book by its cover :)

Hundreds of symbols and how they empower.......2006-03-18

There are numerous amulets and talismans which provide comfort and protection - both healing powers and defenses against evil - and COMPLETE BOOK OF AMULETS & TALISMANS covers them all; from the Star of David and the Crucifix to natural amulets from Hindu and third world traditions. Both the history and the uses of amulets around the world are presented in a guide which explains magical properties of hundreds of symbols and shows how to create and empower a personal talisman.

A great resource.......2004-09-15

I picked up this book when I was doing research for my book on ceremony and ritual. It proved to be invaluable. From generally accepted meanings of numbers, planets and colors to world-renowned, as well as obscure symbols and their common-day uses, it is filled with easy-to-understand explanations and references for the beginner and the professional interested in unlocking some of life's mysteries.

Without an Equal.......2003-07-13

Migene Gonzalez Wippler has dedicated her life to scholarly research and mysticism and this comprehensive source book reflects that. This is one of the most indepth, cross-cultural guides to amulets and talisman that I've come across and that includes over 25 years of research in this field. I have subtracted 1 star because at times the author is a little too much of an erudite for the general reader who may become bogged down with jargon. Nevertheless the dense text, great illustrations and multicultural analysis make this book wwelcome on the shelf of anyone studying magic, mysticism or esoteric symbolism. As a paperback it is reasonably priced which is an additional benefit.

Good Book but........2003-07-11

Not a bad book on making Amulets and Talismans but i think it could have been done better.. still a good book

Average customer rating:

modern Homeric prose
Homer Revisited
I must say Manfredi became my favorite author
what happens after the fall of troy and before the Aeneid?
Breathing history

The Talisman of Troy
Valerio Massimo Manfredi
Manufacturer: Pan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0330426532

Customer Reviews:

modern Homeric prose.......2007-09-18

If someone had've suggested to me, before reading this book, that an author could come along and successfully marry Homeric poetic style and atmosphere with modern ancient historial fiction, I would've been sceptical. But this book does it. A simply fantastic yarn that manages to cross a boundery into inspiring literature. Although I get the point of a previous reviewer regarding a pre-knowledge of Homer, I'm not sure it is a must. I think it serticaly adds to the expereince, but I'm pretty sure this book would stand alone.

The Manfredi/Manfredi author/translator combination is also worth pointing out: the translations of his older works have never been as strong. If you are reading Manfredi in English, check that the translator is Christine Manfredi.

Homer Revisited.......2006-01-05

I've found the author's other books quite entertaining, but this one is truly excellent. It reads almost like another "Odyssey" set in the real world, a tale of the last of the heroes from the age of myth on a dark, epic voyage. Manfredi uses easily accessible prose to express a timelessly classic storytelling style that perfectly fits the subject matter and imbues it with a sense of tragedy. There is an all-pervading sense of pathos as the protagonists travel across the landscape of a dying once-wonderous age. A familiarity with the the greek myths would help to appreciate the story, but isn't required. If you love reading about the Odyssey and the Argonautika, you'll enjoy this one. To date, it is my favorite of Manfredi's novels.

I must say Manfredi became my favorite author.......2005-09-04

Another grandiose and brutal epic of the ancient world from the bestselling author of the Alexander trilogy, Spartan and The Last Legion
A castaway tossed onto a deserted beach is the last survivor of a world that no longer exists. He has a terrible, fascinating story to tell - the true reason for which the Trojan War was fought... The protagonist of this tale is Diomedes, the last of the great ancient Greek Homeric heroes, who seeks to return to his beloved homeland after years of war against Troy. But destiny has other plans for him. Betrayed by his wife, who plots to murder him and persecuted by hostile gods, he has no choice but to turn his sails west, towards Hesperia, the mysterious mist-shrouded land that will one day be called Italy. He ventures boldly into this new world, for he carries with him the magic Talisman of Troy, a mysterious, powerful idol that can make the nation that possesses it invincible... The Talisman of Troy recreates the emotions of an epic age, at once grandiose and brutal. It breathes life into that tormented time when these ancient, mysterious peoples were first settling the land of ice and fire which over the centuries would become their home and the centre of a world destined to last for millennia.

what happens after the fall of troy and before the Aeneid?.......2005-07-01

I gave this novel only three stars, because the writing, is at times, oppressive. Manfredi deserves an "A" for effort. This novel, in the writing stlye, of the great author/poet Homer, fills in the gaps regarding the fates of the great heroes that conquered troy. We learn the fate of Agamemnon, the Greek King who has sacked Troy and returns home to a betrayal by those he most trusts. Dimomedes also returns home to Greece to learn that his wife has been both unfaithful and scheming to remain in power. Diomedes chooses to flee Greece and wander through wild, unexplored Italy in exile. There he must tangle with another survivor of Troy, the mighty Aeneas, and eventual founder of Rome.

A background in the classics is necessary to follow the stories.
If you have read these great classics and want to read a well crafted novel that connects some of the points of these great volumes, then Manfredi's work is for you. If you fell asleep in English Lit. class during the Iliad, you'll never get past the first chapters of this work.

Breathing history.......2005-03-09

If this is one of Manfredi's less-acclaimed works, then I can't wait to read his others. It's been a while since I read a good historical/semi-historical novel and this sure is one of them. For this, the credit also goes to the translator Catherine Feddersen, who makes the bronze age world come alive without sounding cheesy as many contemporary writers do. The novel focuses on the lost poems of the Trojan circle, remnants of which can be found in the Greek tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, and in Virgil's Aeneid. The Trojan war is over, and the heroes return home to an unwelcome reception, unfaithful wives and posers on their thrones. The main story revolves around Diomedes of Argos and his voyage to Italy, but we are also witness to the fates of Menelaus and Agamemnon. On the surface, the events that Manfredi describes are true to Greek legend with a few twists here and there. But underneath it, he weaves a very Robert Graves-like theme of the return of the reign of the mother goddess which, although I am no authority on Greek legends, I have not found in any original source. Then there are fascinating descriptions of what the author presumes the Dalmatian coast was like in the Bronze age, the places he describes are the coastal areas of present day Albania, Bosnia, Croatia and Italy. A fascinating read!

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