# Talisman 3

An untitled novel by Stephen King, sometimes referred to as Talisman 3, is the proposed third and final book in a series formed by the 1984 novel The Talisman and its 2001 sequel Black House, both written with Peter Straub, who died in 2022.

## Background

Rumors regarding a third Talisman book began circulating as soon as the second novel, Black House, was published in 2001. At a signing in November 2001, Straub stated that work on a third book would commence in "around five years" (2006). But there was no word regarding this until October 2004, when King, on his official website, said the following: "People who are interested in Jack Sawyer [the protagonist of the series], don’t lose hope that you will see him again." Around the same time, Straub also confirmed in an interview that a third book is forthcoming. A year later, in November 2005, Straub stated in an interview that work on the third novel could begin in four or five years (2010). In October 2006, in an interview with Time magazine, Straub said:
   Steve and I agreed years back that we would do a third one, and that would be it, because Black House virtually sets up, and all but promises a follow-up. And then we would have a three-volume fantasy novel. That's perfect. That's probably what it wanted to be from the beginning.
Later, in April 2009, King stated that the two collaborators "will probably write the third and last Talisman book in one or two years" (2011). In an interview with Cemetery Dance, Straub said:
   We were going to start right about now, but King got sidetracked by a Broadway musical that he was writing with John Mellencamp. So that's been taking shape. And I think they were having out-of-town tryouts this autumn. Then we'll see what happens. But at some point we'll get back to it, because we have to. It's like two-thirds of a long, long story, and the other part really should be done.
In December 2009, Straub stated via his Twitter: "And for those who care, no worries. In about a year [King] and I will begin planning a new book. It will be the third and last volume in the Jack Sawyer trilogy." Doing a YouTube interview for reddit in February 2010, Straub once again confirmed a third book:
   Steve and I agreed [...] three years ago that we would in all likelihood write a third book, the last of the Jack Sawyer novels. In a way, though, it was there from the beginning, at least the ending of Black House, because the ending of Black House opens up into another narrative altogether. The protagonist is given a wonderful but profound problem, and he will have to cope with that problem. And it practically writes another book by itself. It doesn't, I assure you, but it does kind of tell us what one of central issues of that novel will be. I think we'll begin in a year or so. It doesn't have a title.
In February 2012, Stephen King's assistant noted that both authors had other projects and haven't been able to coordinate their schedules as of yet to work on the novel. In July 2012, Straub commented that "plans for the third book have gone no further than before". This was later confirmed by Stephen King's assistant in February 2013. However, in May 2014, Peter Straub stated at a signing that the authors "have an idea of a story" and "it won't be too much longer". Later, in November 2014, during a book reading event in support of his new novel Revival, Stephen King said that he and Straub are currently planing the new Jack Sawyer book and hope to write it in 2015. In an interview with the Miami Herald in March 2016, Straub revealed that the writing was supposed to begin 3–4 years ago (circa 2012), but due to health reasons and work schedule it never did, and that work on the book may begin in 1–2 years. Straub passed away in 2022.
In August 2023, King has expressed the possibility of finally writing the third installment of The Talisman series despite the passing of Peter Straub, saying: "Before he died, Peter sent me this long letter and said we oughta do the third one, and he gave me a really cool idea and I had some ideas of my own." More recently, in June 2024, King spoke about at last beginning work on the book in 2024, saying he re-read The Talisman in order to take notes and plans to re-read Black House. Finally, in several posts on Threads in January 2025, King confirmed he was writing the new novel, referred to as Talisman 3, which will be based in part on notes left by Peter Straub, and the book will be credited to both authors, with King telling Fangoria he's "channeling" Straub.