Shannara Series

[Circus Cranium]

Interesting. Brooks openly admits that he grew up on Tolkien, and wanted to write in the same vein. I personally think he makes it his own, but where is that point where we distinguish between like-style and a rip off? Many fantasy stories have the standard cliches; the trek, the search for (insert magical object here), the once powerful (insert mage, wizard, witch, etc) gone bad, trying to take over the world. The team of (elves, trolls, trackers, etc) helping the hero on his journey through the (forest, swamps, hills, fire marsh etc).

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by Lacedaemonian

Brooks is sans.

Eh? Without what?

[mzarynn]

I'm glad to hear that the first book of the Isle Witch series is slower than the rest of Terry Brooks' books. It is one of four books I received as presents this Christmas and I chose to read that one first because I recognized his name from the board. It took me a week to get through the first 150 pages before I finally set it down and started on another. I found the writing dramatic and the characters over the top without justification. I couldn't get interested in the world. I thought maybe I was in a reading slump until I read the next book, of a similar size, in one day. Which book should I start with if I want to enjoy the Shannara series?

[erickad71]

I would start with The Sword of Shannara. The next two are The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara. These three are the best, in my own very humble opinion. They are the first three of the whole series.

[Circus Cranium]

Erika's right, start with Sword; I liked Elfstones the best of all. Isle Witch gave me the same problem---snore fest--and I was dissapointed because it's I think the last Shannara series, and I was jacked up for it.

[erickad71]

Yeah, I don't know if it was because I read the first ones when I was younger...but the later books just didn't do anything for me.

[mzarynn]

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely start with Sword next time.

[Lament Du Lamia]

I rather enjoyed the Voyages of the Jerle Shannara. -shrug- guess im just not picky with my fantasy. Trying to read something else on the other hand...

[Circus Cranium]

As an update--I finally finished The Isle Witch. And it ended up being really good. There was just a whole lot of back story at the start, more than his usual novels I think. But now I'm excited that I have 2 more books in this series. Gotta go out and grab em.

[GOLLUM]

Hi all!

I'm a fairly big Terry Brooks fan having read all of his Shannara books as well as the Landover and Word series. His best work for me is actually his Word series IMHO.

I most enjoyed the Sword Of Shannara, Elfstones and Wishshong series. I feel his Voyage Of The Jerle Shanarra trilogy was his best work since the Sword Of Shannara and Elfstones.

His current High Druid trilogy is not bad but I felt the previous Voyage series was better.

I don't know if you're all aware of this yet but Terry has indicated he will be writing at least six (2 sets of three) new books that precede the Sword Of Shanarra novel. These prequels start with the apocolyptic "end of the world" I assume as we know it and the inital rise of the Shannara races as they appear in Sword.

Bye for now..

[Circus Cranium]

Hi there, nice to meet another Brooks fan!

I only just heard about this prequel series coming out. Although, I do have that novel 'The First King of Shannara', which I guess was written AFTER the sword series, but is supposed to take place before. I've attempted to read it several times, and for some reason still haven't finished it.

Have you read Scions of Shannara? I really enjoyed that one; I think more than The Sword books. But I do look forward to finishing the voyage of Jerle series.

[Rahl Windsong]

A while back, I read the first book in this series and by the end of it I found myself "skimming" the book in an effort to be done with it. I hate to put a book down once I start it. Having said that I almost put this book down and I found this story bored me.

Rahl

[rune]

I like the idea of getting to read the prequel to the Shannara series. I gave up on his High Druid Series as it felt it didnt have the depth of character that the others had. The Isle Witch character didnt seem to well crafted to me.

So I'm hoping he does better with a prequel

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by Circus Cranium

Hi there, nice to meet another Brooks fan!

I only just heard about this prequel series coming out. Although, I do have that novel 'The First King of Shannara', which I guess was written AFTER the sword series, but is supposed to take place before. I've attempted to read it several times, and for some reason still haven't finished it.

Have you read Scions of Shannara? I really enjoyed that one; I think more than The Sword books. But I do look forward to finishing the voyage of Jerle series.

Yep, read them all when they first came out. OHH showing my age methinks!!

Have a good one!!

[GOLLUM]

Originally Posted by rune

I like the idea of getting to read the prequel to the Shannara series. I gave up on his High Druid Series as it felt it didnt have the depth of character that the others had. The Isle Witch character didnt seem to well crafted to me.

So I'm hoping he does better with a prequel

Hi again Rune!

Interseting comments and YES a preqel series I think will prove most intriguing. He states at least six books by the way, so expect more than six!

Bye for now...