Return to Shannara

[Trey Greyjoy]

I read TSOS as young-en and fell in love with the characters and the world.
I devoured both Elfstones and Wishsong as they were released. I know I read TSOS at least 3 times, maybe more, and thats a lot considering my age and attention span at the time.

**yes** in its essence maybe its a simplified LOTR, but to say its nothing more than that I think is not giving it enough credit. The trilogy, and in particular, the first novel, will always be treasured memories to me.

There seems to be a sort of consensus brewing nowadays that Brooks is a bit...Im not sure how to summarize it...not worth reading?? That kind of makes me a bit sad considering how much it meant to me and how many fond recollections I have of it. What do you all think? Of course, posing this question in the Brooks forum Id expect some skewing of the results, but Im still curious.

At any rate, Ive recently visited the author's home page and found that he's been rather productive over the years. There seem to be many more Shannara books out there! My love of George RR Martin has given me a rather bad case of tunnel vision it seems.
So...
I think Im going to make a journey back to Shannara! Im curious to see what Ill think of the land after all these years. Will I see it from the eyes of a younger me? Or will the years gone by color the experience in tone of jaded cynicism???

Just wanted to comment.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well I read a few TB novels "back in the day" - read right up to Talismans of Shannara, but the quality wasn't quite the same as his earlier work although I give him some credit for having the guts to move on a few centuries and start afresh with new characters like Walker and 'kill off' Allanon who was easily his best character. Kind of Gandalf meets Dirty Harry I guess

I also got the Ilse Witch but that was the last of his books I read. I didn't really like the story & characters that much.

[dwndrgn]

Are you planning on reading the original trilogy again? I imagine you will find what you are looking for. If you are intent upon re-awakening that feeling you had as a youth when reading this series, you'll get it. If you are intent upon comparing those novels to novels written and read today, you'll find that.

Brooks has a special place in my heart - quite like you I devoured this series as a kid. In fact, I read it directly after LOTR and liked it MUCH better. It was much more accessible for a younger audience than Tolkien's series. But that was then and this is now. I know from personal experience that re-reading a book from our childhood can be a surprise. Our adult minds see things much differently than our young eyes did way back when. We're all growed up and jaded :-( So it is quite possible you won't enjoy it nearly as much as you did then. It is also quite possible that you will have a wonderful trip down memory lane and enjoy remembering that wonderful discovery.

However it goes, have lots of fun!

[Trey Greyjoy]

Yes. I think Ill start with the original and work my way forward.
I know what you mean about going back being a surprise. I hope not too much of one though!!!

I actually had this happen to me not so long ago with a book that I read only 10 years ago or so.
I remembered having loved the Robert Jordan books, but decided to wait until more of them were out before picking the series back up.
When I went back to re-read the first one about a year ago, I really didnt think as highly of it I did the first time. I may still go back and give it a chance.

[dwndrgn]

I had a similar thing happen with Donaldson. Went back to re-read and couldn't get through the first one.

[jhon]

TB is going through a patch with shannara novels of all being vary much the same and he does not seem to becoming up with new ideas or even moving the story on very much and he does seem totake delight in killing of charaters. I do have high hopes of his word and void novels. i did love his frist trilogy of this series and his second seems to be very promosing.

[Leandra]

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

... and 'kill off' Allanon who was easily his best character. Kind of Gandalf meets Dirty Harry I guess

So true! Allanon was easily my favourite character, and - er - the reason I didn't get past Wishsong is that I suspected he would die there. I read the Sword and the Elfstones, but then couldn't go on. I didn't have the guts to live through the Druid's death. (coward, coward)

I read the two books when I was ten-ish and they really influenced me - especially Allanon. In a way, he became an "invisible friend", and I talked about him so much that even my mum knew his whereabouts. However, when I told her the story of the Sword, she scoffed and said it was a rip-off of Tolkien. And even though I'm not a fan of he great JRR, the resemblance is kind of striking. Especially the part where Gandalf and Allanon "die" and then appear again.

I don't think I'm going to read the other books in the series. Even with the first two, I told myself that I didn't really enjoy them that much. They might be worth re-reading them, though!

[Barristan]

I have read everything Terry has published in the UK and have to say that the best book out of the Shannara series is Elfstones.

The 2 latest trilogies, Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and The High Druid, are much flatter than his early work. I have to say I was disappointed with them, and I love the Shannara storyline.

He had done a pretty good job with the Heritage series, so was a let down afterwards. Still, his "new" Shannara/Word & Void series looks promising from the Chapters I have read. The W&V trilogy was so good and showed us a new side to his talent. I kind of wish he had stuck with those or written another Landover book as he had previously promised. Oh well, its still more Brooks books, so shouldnt grumble!

[little smaug]

I'd agree with Barristan - I adored the earlier Shannara books, particularly the Heritage of Shannara series, but I don't think that Voyage of the Jerle Shannara or High Druid were up to the same standard. I don't know if the reason is anything I could put my finger on, they just didn't engage me in the same was as the previous books.

[Santeeil]

Originally Posted by little smaug

I don't think that Voyage of the Jerle Shannara or High Druid were up to the same standard. I don't know if the reason is anything I could put my finger on, they just didn't engage me in the same was as the previous books.

I agree with you the more recent doesn't do it for me, yet, I love the originals, so what if it's similar to LOTR, if somethings good don't people want more??

I hope someone can mimick David Gemmel's style, I love his work and am gutted we won't see any more, but I wouldn't critise if a similar author arrived on the scene who enthralled me as much. Sword of Shannara is a classic I couldn't put it down as a Teen, even though it followed a very similar formula to LOTR, it was still fresh and exciting, the sequels were good but re hashed the original a little for me and are their no other exciting families in Brooks' world than the Ohmsfords?!? Heritage was brilliant though to be fair.

The more recent though, as you say SMAUG, aren't as engaging and my opinion is the level of technology at the disposal of the characters, takes something away from the originals medievil fantasy feel.
This level of technology also gives alot of simple explanations to difficult situations and easy outs, as it were for Brooks to use, also the charaters aren't as endearing, seen them elsewhere but fleshed out alot better!!

[Alurny]

I recently revisited the shannara series (and the add on's) and it kind of tainted my early experiences.

I grew up with these books reading every single one (apart from his latest trilogy) and at the time seemed like the most fantastic books. But as I have grown older either 1) My tastes have changed or 2) I have experienced better examples of fiction. They are still good. If only for the memories (and influences) of my life. For example I associate Sword of Shannara with a very happy time in school (year 9) where I had no worries of stresses. Terry Brookes was also the first fantasy I read and so introduced me to the works I love today

[Trey Greyjoy]

Thanks for that post Alurny. I worry about that also and I feel the same way as you about the original. I havent started yet because I was trying to finish up some other works first. I think maybe Ill leave the original trilogy and start up with those that came after. Id hate to reread the original only to feel let down.

[Fran Ohmsford]

I'm in my 30s and every one of my top 10 movies I've loved since my early teens at the latest.
I was introduced to Shannara aged 12 with Elfstones; Still my favourite novel of all time.
My dad used to read The Hobbit and LoTR to me and my little sister at bed time yet The first time I picked up fellowship to read for myself I was bored. I finally got through it and loved Two Towers but RotK was an anticlimax. Even so I was in a bookshop in the Lake district looking for the Silmarillion when a gentleman recommended I try Elfstones.
Since then I've read the first 7 Shannara novels at least 5 times each and First King & Voyage at least 3 times.
Nothing will ever come close to the thrill I get when I pick up these books {I once got through a hundred pages of Elfstones in my lunchhour at work}.