- Charles Burnside
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Charles Burnside, né Carl Bierstone, is a fictional character within the pages of the Stephen King and Peter Straub collaboration Black House, itself a sequel to their first joint effort, The Talisman.
He is an 85-year-old serial killer of children; in the book it is implied that he has killed at least 100 of them. He is shown to be the willing host for a demonic entity known as Mr. Munshun, and it is the combination of Charles/Carl and Mr. Munshun which has made him such an effective killing machine for the last several decades.
At the beginning of the book, Burnside resides within Chipper Maxton's Home for the elderly. He fakes having Alzheimer's Disease, and then reverts to his true personality in "cycles." With the help of Mr. Munshun A.K.A Lord Malshun, he kills and [[cannibalism}cannibalizes]] children, sparing otherworldly entities known as Breakers, as his master's master, the Crimson King, needs these for his plans. Burnside started a fresh killing spree in the town of French Landing, causing Jack Sawyer to come out of his early retirement. Burnside is extremely clever (adding to the demonic aid he receives) and is quite a cunning opponent. By the end of the book however, it become increasingly clear that there is one enemy that he cannot outsmart or dodge: Father Time. Burnside's age is a key factor. He is seriously wounded by Henry Leydon in a battle at Leydan's house and staggers away. He takes Tyler Marshal down Conger Road and into Din-Tah to wait for the End-World mono and Mr. Munshun. His age and weakness allows for Tyler to disembowel him with his bare hand. Ironically, Burnside's "friend" Mr. Munshun steps over his body on the way to confront Jack Sawyer, Dale, Doc, and Beezer without so much as a tender word on his passing.
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