Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub review – a self-indulgent finale to the Talisman trilogy
Stephen King has completed the Talisman trilogy with Other Worlds Than These, fulfilling an idea originally conceived by co-author Peter Straub in 2013 and left unfinished after Straub's death in 2022. The novel reunites readers with Jack Sawyer, now 57 and struggling in the Territories, as he investigates brutal child murders connected to demonic possession spreading across both his parallel world and America-side. For dedicated King devotees, the book delivers moments of genuine joy through references to his broader fictional universes, particularly the Dark Tower series.
However, this 800-plus-page tome is not considered vintage King. The reviewer found Jack's cross-dimensional journey increasingly repetitive and self-indulgent, with the protagonist repeatedly traversing similar obstacles to the point where even characters comment on the "endless repetition". The book cannot be recommended to readers unfamiliar with the previous Talisman novels and likely requires familiarity with King's seven-volume Dark Tower sequence for full appreciation.
- King completes Talisman trilogy with Jack investigating demonic child murders
- 800-page plot becomes repetitive, disappointing even devoted King fans
- Requires prior knowledge of earlier Talisman books and Dark Tower series
New here? Start with this
The Talisman is a fantasy series created by Stephen King and Peter Straub, two prominent American authors. King and Straub collaborated on the original novel in 1984, followed by a sequel in 2001, but the planned third book remained unfinished for decades. The third novel, Other Worlds Than These, has now been completed and published, marking the conclusion of a trilogy that devoted readers have waited a very long time for.
Jack Sawyer is the protagonist of the Talisman series, a man caught between two parallel realities: America and a fantasy realm called the Territories. In this latest book, now in his late fifties, Jack investigates a series of brutal murders of children that appear connected to demonic forces spreading across both worlds. The story explores Jack's attempts to stop this supernatural threat as it manifests in both dimensions simultaneously.
The completion of the trilogy is particularly significant because Peter Straub, King's long-time collaborator, passed away in 2022 before finishing the final book. Stephen King completed the novel from Straub's outline and notes, fulfilling their original vision. The book is primarily aimed at readers who have already followed the first two Talisman novels and are familiar with King's broader body of work, particularly his Dark Tower series.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The completion of this long-envisioned trilogy fulfils a significant creative commitment, and for devoted readers, the density of King's universe-building and interconnected references represent ambitious, rewarding storytelling that respects the fanbase's investment. The book's substantial length and complexity offer genuine depth and closure to characters followed across decades, with those references providing moments of authentic joy rather than mere indulgence.
The case against
Whilst fan service has legitimate value, it cannot excuse structural weaknesses such as repetitive plotting or padded pacing across 800 pages. A compelling narrative should engage readers regardless of prior familiarity; requiring extensive reading of multiple series actually gatekeeps the story, suggesting the work prioritises authorial satisfaction and in-group rewards over crafting a gripping, self-contained tale that stands on its own merits.