FELLOWSHIP OF TALISMAN [Mass Market Paperback]

I really believe this book was a wonderful beginner for me. It was the first of my ventures into the fantasy genre. I mean, there were all sorts of interesting characters and be it that they didn't have an immense background or personality to them, they all still fit in well to make the book enjoyable. I believe a lot of readers missed (including other reviewers) the underlying religious plot, that gave the book a bit of in-depth meaning. If Mr. Simak had made this into a trilogy or something similar, I'm sure there could have been a lot more done with character and plot. I thought it was quite impressive. I found myself even upset when the lady horse or donkey was killed. The book drew me in and that is what I like...and the character ideas were superb! I mean, a banshee, witch, and hermit! What great additives. Thanks Mr. Simak for an enjoyable adventure.

Simak's book is not for advanced readers, but it is great for kids in school. When teaching the fantasy genre, it has incredible applications. The simple characters are easy to understand, giving the book a logical progression, while generating ample discussion on their interractions. A previous reviewer mentioned that the characters have only one characteristic (An understatement), but for a critical thinking exercise students can identify and define characters by observing their actions and interractions. To teachers who struggle with fantasy books which students can not engage in due to alien ideas and complex plots, I readily reccomend this book!

Fellowship of the Talisman - Clifford D. Simak

"I have longed all my life to be a soldier for the Lord...a holy zeal burned, perhaps not to brightly, in my breast, but at least it burned. I tried many things to prove my devotion. For years I sat staring at a candle flame...at times I nodded and singed my eyebrows on the candle's flame"...chapter 7

"Fellowship of the Talisman", published in 1978, is a fantasy themed novel written by Clifford D. Simak (1904-88).

This story takes place on an alternate earth that is similar to our earth except that no technological development has taken place - as the book introduction states "the Dark Ages has never ended". Although the setting is England in the 20th century we might as well be back in the 1500's. The reason for this lack of progress is attributed to "the Evil" a malignancy that occurs every five hundred years which for reasons not stated retards human progress.

Our hero, Duncan Standish, is charged with a quest by his father the Lord of the manor, and by the local archbishop to deliver an ancient manuscript to a certain scholar at Oxford. The document could be irrefutable proof of the actual existence of Jesus. If verified it is surmised mankind would flock to the Church and "The Evil" could be overcome and humanity would resume its progress. Unfortunately the route to Oxford must pass throught areas controlled by the current infection of "The Evil". Duncan acquires an entourage of fantasy companions consisting of a hermit, a ghost, an imp, a harpy, a goblin and a woman related to a wizard.

My short description of the plot may lead one to dismiss this book as a ludicrous fantasy. I found it very entertaining with the bonus of several very interesting theological discussions with the imps, witches and the holy hermit. Readers of Simak will not be surprised since religion; evil, and mankind's destiny play pivotal roles in many of his novels.

For readers with a particular interest in the Simak novels I should inform you that many of the usual and customary elements he employs are missing in this story. There are no robots, lyrical passages extolling the wonders of nature, references to newsmen, newspapers, and as noted the location is not SW Wisconsin or the area around Minneapolis-St. Paul.

The basic plotting of this story has a lot in common with his novel "Enchanted Pilgrimage" (1975). Both books concern a reluctant hero charged with a mission who acquires a gaggle of phenomenal beings as they overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to complete their quest.

Author Simak wrote 26 novels three of which can be fairly classified as "fantasy" while the remainder are science fiction. In addition to the book under discussion other two are "Enchanted Pilgrimage" (1975) and "Where Evil Dwells" (1982). I know I'm on "thin ice" skating between the realm of science fiction and fantasy particularly with an author like Simak since some of his other novels have a mix of fantasy and science fiction elements. What you say, gentle readers?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews  3.0 out of 5 stars