Mentoring is the primary vehicle for spiritual insight and holistic growth today, and Talisman is written from the perspective of a mentee reflecting on the teachings of his/her mentor. It ends with the mentee becoming the mentor. This is why the second edition of this book is shorter, with the second section significantly revised. Originally, the second section took the reader back in time, to follow some of the dialogue Echo remembered. Most readers, however, were intrigued by Echo and wanted to go forward in time. They intuited correctly that the voice of “Echo” was a composite of real people. What happened to Echo? So the first section of this book remains an assessment of the spiritual quest for God in the postmodern world. It explores the significance of incarnation, but in the context of the power and depth of being rather than any dogmatic point of view: experience and mystery over knowledge and certainty. The goal is not to answer questions of existence, but to sustain the courage to be and provide reason to hope. The second section of the book introduces a methodology to reflect on one’s position vis-à-vis the “eternal” in any particular “now.” Echo not only continues to grow personally, but helps other spiritual travelers understand their own quest for God: Life-on-the-Edge, Life-in-Between, and Life-at-Peace. Meditation on the principles expressed through the “talisman” helps the spiritual traveler see where they have been, and discern where they are going. A talisman can be any form (object, song, data, etc.) that is grasped by Unconditional Being to become a portal linking finite yearning to infinite meaning. Here the talisman is a six-pointed star which has mystical significance for many religions. But whatever your talisman is, it will help you experience the nearness of God, in your unique cultural context, and find hope.

Players assume roles of would-be rulers of land of Talisman. They journey to a perilous region to find the Crown of Command, and use its magic to cast spell upon rivals, forcing other players out of game.

"Talisman is a book about a book: It's the book that's never there when you wake up, no matter how hard you try to take it with you. The book you steal when you're too young to understand it's not the only copy in the world. Talisman is about hunger and magic, and the power of stories made solid."--Back cover.

Over the years, board games have evolved to include relatable characters, vivid settings and compelling, intricate plotlines. In turn, players have become more emotionally involved--taking on, in essence, the role of coauthors in an interactive narrative. Through the lens of game studies and narratology--traditional storytelling concepts applied to the gaming world--this book explores the synergy of board games, designers and players in story-oriented designs. The author provides development guidance for game designers and recommends games to explore for hobby players.

The bestselling authors of The Secret of the Sphinx relate the extraordinary account of a longstanding conspiracy at the heart of Western civilization, the visual evidence of which surrounds us all. A talisman is an object with “meaning.” It is a potent symbol or icon that can fire the imagination and emotions of men and women anywhere, any time. It can be a small amulet, a ring, a flag, a statue, a monument, and even a whole city. Think of a wedding ring. Think of the Statue of Liberty or the collapsing Twin Towers of New York, or the toppling statue of Saddam Hussein. Think of the Wailing Wall. Think of Jerusalem. . . Talisman is a roller-coaster intellectual journey through the back streets and rat runs of history to uncover the traces in architecture and monuments of a secret religion that has shaped the world. The story takes us from Heliopolis to Luxor, Alexandria, Toulouse, Florence, Rome, Paris, London, Washington DC, New York, and finally to the global pandemonium following September 11, 2001. It is a tale filled with romance and intrigue, heroism and faith, peopled by ancient Egyptian astronomer-priests, Christian Gnostics, Hermetic sages, learned Jews, Arab savants, Occitan counts, Cathar “perfects,” Knights Templar, Renaissance magi, Rosicrucian “invisibles,” Bavarian Illuminati, and Freemasons. Pivotal historical events and processes, not least the Renaissance, the birth of scientific rationalism, and the French and American Revolutions, are radically re-evaluated in the light of new investigative evidence presented for the first time in Talisman. Even the belief that the United States has a “global mission,” so obvious today, may ultimately prove to be less the result of a short-term reaction to terrorism than the inevitable working out of a covert plan originally set in motion almost 2000 years ago. With its eye-catching amazing revelations, extensive documentation, and all-encompassing theories, Talisman will ensure that its readers will never look at the world in the same way.

This Penguin 60s book contains a short story taken from Nightmares And Dreamscapes.

This is Howard Moss's gripping novel about Captain Josh Randolph, USAF, an astute, brave pilot of F4-E jets during the Vietnam War. Lucky in love and air battles, Josh kisses his talismans before missions - a St. Christopher medal given him by his mom and a small Buddha presented to him by his gorgeous Thai lover, Malinee. Successes are many, but Josh also experiences loss of comrades, flight crashes and ill-fated rescue missions. The big question is whether he can survive the bittersweet trauma of love. Howard Moss, himself a highly-decorated combat pilot who once was Officer-in-Charge of the Tiger FAC program during the war, has the experience to tell this story about human emotions and conflict among different cultures in an engaging manner that is authentic, humane and often humorous. Kiss the talisman and enjoy the journey!