Kevin's Watch

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Fist and Faith wrote: I figure there's too many books and too little time for that attitude.

Yeah, I agree. That's what I told him.

I have to admit to being surprised at how many people don't like the Shanara series.

While I'll admit that its no TCTC I have enjoyed most all of TB's books.

The Shanara series kind of kick started me into the fantasy genre and the first 3 books I think are still wonderful. The second trilogy the Scions of Shanara was basically just a retelling of the first trilogy with different characters and could have been left out.

But the Voyage of Jerle Shanara rocks. If you haven't read it yet I highly suggest you run out and get the first book.

If you've read any of the Shanara series you have probably figured out that:

Spoiler

the world of Shanara is actually our world thousands of years after some sort of man-made disaster, probably a nuclear war.

And that comes out big time in the Jerle series where:

Spoiler

the main characters end up on an island where a military base has survived thanks to an AI with orders to protect, at all costs, the history of the old world. This clash of magic and modern day technology is something I have never read in any other fantasy novel and is done very well!

However, I will admit that the dinasour who makes a brief appearance was a bit ridiculous.

There is a stand alone Shanara book called something like The Last King Of Shanara or maybe just The King Of Shanara I can't remember but it rocks also and if I'm not mistaken features Alanon.

Plus the Druids Keep is such an awesome place! I get chills everytime one of the characters goes there.

Oh well, just force feeding you my humble opinion again.

Take care,
Matthew

Some locations and ideas from the Shannara series are fascinating, no doubt about that - Paranor is forbidding and quite creepy, for example, and it conjures the image of this dark, empty castle devoid of life except for that of the current Druid, a castle that was thought for an Order and was now inhabited by a single being.

However, I agree that the first book, Sword of Shannara, heavily copied LotR ( with Allanon in Gandalf's shoes, Shea and Flick in Frodo and Sam's, the prince whose name I don't remember in Aragorn's, and even the story structure was identical, with Allanon coming to Shea, revealing secrets, then going away promising to return, then sending someone in his stead because he couldn't return in time/meet Shea in time ).

Spoiler:

Spoiler

The idea of a sword that has the power to reveal truth and the idea that truth itself is the only weapon that can affect a being that lied to itself about its own life is original, though...

The Elf-Stones of Shannara was good enough, Wishsong less so ( although the characters were better developed ), but the Scions series was not very good and it already began repeating itself ( possibly the only part I enjoyed was:

Spoiler:

Spoiler

Walker Boh's journey to recover the Black Elfstone from the Stone King, Quickening's sacrifice, and the return of Paranor with Boh as the Druid.

First King of Shannara was better, but mostly because it showed many things and characters one could recognize from earlier books ( the black elfstone, for example ); but the trilogy of the Jerle Shannara was far below average in my opinion.

Spoiler:

Spoiler

Brooks's description of "technology" and his melding it into his world - even if it is our world after the Great Wars he speaks of - seems to me awkward - it lacks detail and intricacy and above all a way to make us believe in its possible reality.

I think the author's main fault is that he doesn't give much attention to detail and character development... for example, almost every author has made up "rules" as to how magic works, what you can accomplish with it, and how - it helps giving a feel of believability. Brooks's magic lacks this kind of details, and thus, it doesn't make me feel like what he's saying is believable, in my opinion.