Opinions about the Shannara Series

[theophanides]

They might be predictable but it all really depends on the authors style of writing and how well they can pull it off. if the author can pull it off, then the story souldn't be as preictable even if you guess.some authors add twists and turns here and there to try and throw you off like pretending that one main character is dead or actually killing them off slowly:O.its ll down to their ability to write.

[Tansy]

I do think Terry Brooks tells a good story regardless of his formulaic approach, he is easy and enjoyable to read

[dreir]

Oh yes, Clansman, you should definitely get the Word and the Void series.

From my experience with Shannara, I get the feeling that the first several books appealed more to me when I was still only a teenager. If you asked me then, I would definitely start babbling excitedly (and very biased-ly) about just how good the series were. But now that I'm all grown up (I wouldn't call it 'old'), I find that books like Running with the Demon suit me more. I think this problem of books losing their sense of wonder with age is not exclusive to Brooks. And so saying, I disagree with ghost that the Shannara books are for the 'older than young adults' category. I think they're perfectly suited for them.

[Antubis]

As posters have already mentioned in this topic, it is formulaic fantasy. When I read it at a time, when I had not read a lot of adult fantasy novels, I thought it was fine until I reached Wishsong. I stopped reading pretty quick. The same sort of stuff being re-used; a chosen one(s), with a group adventurers, a evil force trying to stop them from accomplishing their goal, Allanon again..

I never thought it was a great story, but decent. I lost my interest in it, especially with the knowledge that there were more Shannara books to go through, with most likely the same formula used again.

It just becomes a little stale, when you read a book series, packing a decent amount of pages, in which nothing very surprising or that different from the previous book happens. To be fair, I guess reading other fantasy books who have somewhat similar set-ups, made it easier for me to get tired of Shannara as well.

I enjoyed Landover and The Word & Void more.

[Grimward]

Interesting, Antubis; most of those who've given up on Brooks tend to like Wishsong the most. If you didn't make it to the ending, you may have missed a significant departure from "the formula".

The last two Shannara series (Jerle Shannara/High Druid) before the current one that started with Armageddon's Children seemed darker to me, and I personally did not find them to be as formulaic, either. The current series, of course, marries the Word/Void and Shannara stories, and really can't be described as formulaic so far.

[schpat]

The last two shanara series just follow the same formula as the first book, but spread out over a trilogy.

I did enjoy the first book of word/void the best of all though, something about the childlike atmosphere but the deadlt serious matter.

Am also really enjoyin AC

[Antubis]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Interesting, Antubis; most of those who've given up on Brooks tend to like Wishsong the most. If you didn't make it to the ending, you may have missed a significant departure from "the formula".

Just my luck, I stopped at the one Shannara book which I should have read . Re-reading my post, I made it sound as if Wishsong was so bad, that it made me stop reading, which wasn't really the case. It wasn't because I thought Wishsong was a bad story, but because it started out the same as the previous two, which made me think that I was going to be reading something too similar again.

I thought I'd just explain myself a bit better, in case people misunderstood

[Grimward]

No, I got your meaning on the first read, chief, and it does look very much the same at the beginning. My vote would be to read on, but I'm a little biased because I like his stuff...

[Antubis]

Everyone is biased to some extend I am not much of a Brooks fan (though I might have been at some point..I remember repeated visits and posts on his forum), and it has been years since I last read something of him. But I might pick up Wishsong if it is worth the read. And check out which books he has written in the meantime.

[sassy1]

I remember when I started reading the Shannara Series I thought they were very much like the Lord Of The Rings, and that each book was very similar to the last one, though they were still very enjoyable. But then when I read the Voyage Of The Jerle Shannara Trilogy and the High Druid Of Shannara Trilogy I was blown away. they have to be my favourite books out of the whole series. I would definately recommend reading those to anyone who thought the first few books were getting a little stale.

[Yuoaman]

Yes, the early books are very formulaic, though after the Talismans series he sort of started breaking away from that formula, though I have to say I enjoy everything which he writes...

[Moggle]

It's true that dwarves and elves are old hat, even for young readers, but is this really the reason why the books aren't very good? After reading 7 chapters of the first book I was already extremely bored with the story and the characters, who btw had some of the lousiest names I've ever come across.

[GOLLUM]

Well, I've read everything by Terry (except the Star Wars stuff) and YES quite formulaic and YES not that inspiring with the prose or at times with the simplicity of the storyline but somehow I've found it addictive enough. I suspect because it's a bit like one of those comfort foods you grew up (I literally followed the books since my late teens) with and like going back to even when you know it's not particularly good for you.

The first 3 Shanarra books were the best for me and then I found the series to sag in the middle but then some of the latter ones were quite good and I'm quite enjoying the current prequels.

The Word and Void series is actually quite good and definitely the best thing Brooks has ever written, so that's what I would recommend to someone. Kingdom of Landover is a bit more light on but provides some comic relief.

[JagLover]

The sword of Shannara is childish and highly derivative of LOTR.

There was a big step in quality for the remaining two books of the series. Which Terry Brooks admits himself. An editor he had at the time gave him extensive tutelege in writing and made him abandon altogether his first proposed sequel to the Sword of Shannara.

To say the later two books were better however does not mean they stand comparison with the best the genre has to offer. Only that at least they are worth reading, particularly for younger readers.

[GOLLUM]

It's certainly derivative, no arguments there....

You wouldn't compare these books with the best the Genre has to offer. That would certainly be comparing chalk with cheese. Word and Void isn't bad. I would place that as being above average but that's all.

I read most of these books in my late teens/early 20s before moving on to other things. A fair assessment that they would be popular with a YA audience. If you want something reasonably light, which I sometimes like to read, then I delve into the current prequels.

Who are some of your favourite authors Jaglover??