The concept of a talisman has been a part of human culture and history for centuries. Talismans are believed to possess magical or supernatural powers that can ward off evil and bring good fortune to the wearer. The word "talisman" is derived from the Arabic word "tilasm," meaning completion or perfection. Talisman secret kair is a term that combines the idea of a secret talisman with the notion of kair, which is an ancient Greek word for time. This combination suggests a talisman that holds special powers related to time or the manipulation of time. The concept of manipulating time has always fascinated humans, and many myths and stories revolve around the idea of controlling or bending time.
The concept of manipulating time has always fascinated humans, and many myths and stories revolve around the idea of controlling or bending time. In some ancient cultures, talismans were even believed to have the power to stop or slow down time, allowing the wearer to have an advantage or to escape danger. The idea of a talisman secret kair implies an object that can unlock the secrets of time, enabling the wearer to have control or insight into past, present, or future events.
The Secret of Sinharat & People of the Talisman: A wonderful double feature
Leigh Brackett, the so-called “Queen of Space Opera,” would have turned 100 years old on 12/7/2015, and to celebrate her recent centennial in my own way, I have resolved to read five novels featuring her most well-known character: Eric John Stark. Brackett, of course, was already something of a well-known commodity before her first Stark story appeared in 1949; she had already placed no fewer than 32 short stories and novelettes, beginning in 1940, in the various pulp publications of the day, thereby establishing herself as the most important female sci-fi author of the Golden Age (other than C.L. Moore, of course). Her Stark tales, all three of them, originally appeared in the pages of Planet Stories magazine: “Queen of the Martian Catacombs” in the Summer ’49 issue, “Enchantress of Venus” (which I have discussed earlier here at FanLit) in Fall ’49, and “Black Amazon of Mars” in March ’51. “Enchantress,” a wonderful tale, has been oft anthologized, but the first and third stories that bracket(t) it have been extremely difficult to find. (The upcoming Haffner Press release, The Book of Stark, will happily bring those lost tales back into print.) Fortunately for me, Brackett later reworked these tales, revising and expanding them to novel length, with the respective titles The Secret of Sinharat and People of the Talisman, released in 1964 as one of those cute little “Ace doubles” — M-101, for all you collectors out there — with a hefty cover price of… 45 cents. I recently laid my hands on this collectible item, and thus was finally able to read these two wonderful sci-fi/adventure novels.
The Secret of Sinharat and People of the Talisman serve as perfect introductions to Eric John Stark, the product of Earthling parents living on Mercury. Stark’s parents were tragically killed in a mining accident on the blazing-hot planet, and the young boy was later raised by barbarous aborigines and renamed N’Chaka. By the time he has grown to manhood, Stark’s skin has been burned almost black (no illustrator has ever gotten this trait right!), and though he comes off as an intelligent, civilized adult, that barbarous upbringing of his is never far beneath the surface. Indeed, Stark often strikes the reader as a Conan of the spaceways, what with his immense strength, superb fighting skills and superhuman climbing abilities. The Martian and Venusian backdrops in these first three Stark outings might almost be Cimmeria or Hyperborea, in fact, so primitive are the natives and their weapons; only the planetary settings and some alien supergizmos nudge the stories into the realm of sci-fi. Brackett was supposedly heavily influenced by the Martian tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs in her creation of Stark’s environs, and Golden Age great Henry Kuttner served as a mentor of sorts to her, but it is assuredly Robert E. Howard who comes most forcefully to mind here. Brackett even writes like Howard on occasion, especially during her gory battle sequences and when detailing nudity, wining and wenching, but she is also more than capable of beautiful descriptive prose to flesh out her stunning imagination. Secret and People are both compulsively readable page-turners, sweeping the reader irresistibly along on their wild and violent rides.
As for the story lines, in The Secret of Sinharat, Stark, to evade getting tossed into prison for a 20-year stretch for gunrunning, agrees to assist his old mentor, Simon Ashton. Stark will act as a mercenary in the employ of the barbarian chieftain Kynon, who is marshaling the various tribes of the Martian Drylands, as well as the evil town of Valkis on the Low-Canal, to thus form an invincible army and attack the Martian City-States. Stark’s mission is to find out as much intelligence as he can and, hopefully, break up the brewing war. Thus, Stark encounters Kynon and a gaggle of his thoroughly unpleasant lieutenants, sets out on a desert trek with them, is seduced by Kynon’s woman, the redheaded Berild, and ultimately encamps with the others at the ancient Martian city of Sinharat before discovering the true nature of the rebellion and the legend that gives the abandoned city such an evil reputation. Brackett throws in all sorts of imaginative touches (for example, one of Stark’s enemies here is an addict of “shanga” radiation, which causes a temporary atavism back to beasthood!) and memorable set pieces into her tale. In one grueling sequence, Stark and Berild are deliberately separated from the others during a monster sandstorm, and their resultant desert crossing rivals even the one that H. Rider Haggard depicted so memorably in King Solomon’s Mines.
In People of the Talisman, Stark is back on Mars, this time near the north polar regions. He has agreed here to bring back the lenslike talisman of the title to the walled city of Kushat. His dying friend, Camar, had stolen it many years before, thus depriving the city of its legendary protection. Kushat, according to myth, guards a mountain pass that leads to… nobody quite knows where. And so, Stark takes the mystic thingamabob to Kushat, narrowly escaping from the clutches of the Lord Ciaran and his barbarous Mekh tribesmen en route. (“Ciaran” is a name that Brackett evidently liked, as it was also the name of one of her characters in the 1944 story “The Jewel of Bas.”) In the book’s gripping central set piece, Stark helps defend Kushat when Ciaran’s hordes attack, and again, the use of swords, spears and battering ram is more reminiscent of a Conan story than of a futuristic Martian outing.
And later, Stark and a desperate band of city survivors attempt to climb through that nearby mountain pass, talisman in hand, and uncover its grim secret. Brackett, in this novel, offers up a twist ending that nobody should foresee, as well as presenting us with an alien race that truly is alien as regards looks, clothing, mentation and conduct. The author peoples her tale with many interesting side characters, as well, including one of the military commanders of Kushat, Lord Rogain; sadly, Brackett does not tell us precisely how much hair this man sports! The author or her Ace editors were guilty of one serious slip in this tale, sadly… when Stark refers to Ciaran’s aged advisor, Otar, by name, even though he had not had a chance to learn that name yet; an error, no doubt, that was introduced when the original short story was reworked in 1964. Other than this slip, however, People is a wonderful short novel. I devoured this one while I was home sick over a few days and found it perfect company, indeed.
Revising and expanding these Golden Age tales for more modern times evidently began to warm Brackett to Eric John Stark again, for just 10 years later, she released the first of three new novels featuring the character: the opening salvo of the so-called SKAITH TRILOGY. The first book in that trilogy, 1974’s The Ginger Star, is where this reader will be heading next…
It is an intriguing notion, as it combines the mystical powers of a talisman with the enigmatic nature of time. While the concept of a talisman secret kair may be purely fictional and exist only in myths, legends, and works of fiction, it continues to capture the imagination of people. The idea of having control over time or being able to see into the future is a deeply desired power for many. In literature and popular culture, talismans and time manipulation often play a significant role. They are used as storytelling devices to create suspense, intrigue, and wonder. The idea of a secret talisman with the ability to control or unlock the mysteries of time adds an element of fantasy and adventure to many stories. In conclusion, the concept of a talisman secret kair combines the mystical powers of a talisman with the enigmatic nature of time. While purely fictional, it continues to captivate the human imagination and serves as a powerful storytelling device in literature and popular culture..
Reviews for "Talisman-Enhanced Hair: An Ancient Path to Wisdom and Enlightenment"
1. John - 1/5
I found "Talisman secret kair" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The storytelling felt flat and predictable, with no surprises or twists to keep me engaged. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any depth or complexity. The writing style was also quite mediocre, with repetitive and cliché descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of my time and would not recommend it to anyone looking for an exciting and captivating read.
2. Emily - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Talisman secret kair" based on the intriguing synopsis, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The pacing of the story was inconsistent, with slow and tedious moments that made it difficult to stay engaged. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me confused and unable to fully grasp the setting and its rules. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to connect with the characters. While there were some interesting concepts introduced, they were not explored in enough depth to make the book truly compelling.
3. Sarah - 2/5
"Talisman secret kair" promised an epic adventure, but it fell short of my expectations. The plot was convoluted and disjointed, jumping between different storylines without a clear direction. I struggled to keep track of the numerous characters introduced and found it challenging to connect with any of them. The writing style was also overly descriptive, to the point where it became tedious and forced me to skim through paragraphs. Unfortunately, this book was not able to captivate me or immerse me in its supposed fantastical world.
4. Michael - 1/5
I was extremely disappointed with "Talisman secret kair". The narrative lacked coherence and failed to provide a complete and satisfying story. The pacing was slow and there were unnecessary filler scenes that added nothing to the overall plot or character development. I also found the dialogue to be unrealistic and forced, making it difficult to connect with the story or its characters. Overall, this book failed to engage me and I would not recommend it to others looking for a captivating read.