[AuntiePam]

Do you try and figure out who wrote which bits?

I just started it, and I'm giving Straub credit for the first 40 pages or so, until we get to the description of the body in the abandoned diner. (That's not a spoiler.)

That first section is kinda long-winded, but it's well-done long-winded, which is something Straub does well.

If the story was sucking me in, I wouldn't be wondering who wrote what, but so far, I'm not in the story, I'm just observing.

But it's early yet. I'm sure it'll get better.

[aldiboronti]

I finished it last month. You`re definitely right about Straub`s authorship of the introductory part, he admitted as much in an interview. As for the rest, you have to be careful assigning authorship; in the same interview he says that he and King had some fun imitating each other`s style.
However they did it, it reads marvellously, although I was a bit worried at first about the introduction of King`s gunslinger mythos (Straub had similar concerns at first apparently) but it all seemed to cohere, and it`s a great book.

[Rob B]

We've got a pretty interesting discussion on this in the fantasy section:Black House... (http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000783.html).

Auntie Pam, this book was at times subtly horrific and others very un-subtle. I loved it!

[AuntiePam]

Thanks, Fitz -- I'll have to remember to go back and read that SF Weekly review that was linked when I'm done with the book. I never know when a review is going to spoil the book.

Wonder if it's safe to read it? Did you?

[Rob B]

I read it the interview before the book. It didn't give anything major away, IIRC.

[Cygnus]

I just finished this last night, and I was very pleased with some of the surprises in the plot. Anything that makes me sit straight up and say (aloud), "What!!?" is good! I don't want to give anything away for those who haven't read it yet, but I was pleased to see some familiar names.

I enjoyed Black House, but not as much as the Talisman (which I just re-read last month). Straub always creates wonderful, deep characters, and I felt that aspect was somewhat lacking in this one. Though Henry was just great.. what I wouldn't give for a friend like that! King always provides great moments of comic relief, and that was very much in evidence. Some of the lines he (I presume) came up with had me laughing out loud.

I forgot to add my one main complaint. I didn't really like the narrator speaking directly to the reader. There are some books that can pull it off, but it just broke the suspension of disbelief for me in this case.

[This message has been edited by Cygnus (edited January 03, 2002).]