Kevin's Watch

What do you think of the Shannara books by Terry Brooks? I've always enjoyed them, though Sword of Shannara was clearly an imitation of TLOR which bothered me...

Mudge

I read the original Shannara trilogy when I was 11 or so. Really enjoyed them then. Then several years later I read the first two (lost my copy of Wishsong somewhere) again, and found them nostalgic, and entertaining....but I'd been spoiled by TCTC and LOTR, and they just were not as deeply emotionally challenging (or something, it's early ) as I'd come to expect from epic fantasy. But they did kind of midwife me into the world of fantasy literature, so I will always like them for that, and probably read them again someday.

Spoiler

Never read any further Shannara books. I tried once. I think I read all of Scions, and at the end of it, I left some guy (Garet Jax?) with his hand slowly turning into stone.....and realized I just didn't care if he ever got out of that cave or not....

Sorry, not much af a fan really. But I have read them, and might not be here today if I hadn't, so I guess I owe them that.

I read the first three as they were published (1977, 1982 and 1985) and very much enjoyed them. Brooks had this ability to set up scenes and then resolve them just as I think I would have done it had I been writing it. I also liked the way he was willing to occasionally knock off good characters, which was rare in those days and helped create suspense.

Afterwards, though, I feel his work has become very repetitive. And since Allanon was my favorite character and he was no longer a part of the story, I sort of lost interest. I've thought about having another try at Heritage of Shannara or the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series . . . maybe next year.

I would put his epic fantasy on a "tier" lower than, say, the Covenant Chronicles, Dark Tower, Song of Ice and Fire and LotR.

As a sidenote, I met Brooks back in 1988 and had him sign my original trade editions of the first three Shannara novels. He's a very nice guy and seemed quite genuine to me.

I read them once years ago. Only Sword and the one after that, can't remember it's name. It copied LOTR too much. Then, I discovered the Chrons and everything paled, except LOTR, to that. I was stuck on Thomas for years

There's THREE of those books? Oh, my.....I think I'm gonna hurl. I barely made it through the first one.

There's a lot more than three. I think the latest puts the total at twelve.

Your kidding...shows you how much I've paid attention to that particular series..hehe

Roland of Gilead wrote:There's a lot more than three. I think the latest puts the total at twelve.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I carry the Sword of Shannara in my laptop case with me just about everywhere I go. I've had the book since about 1988. I've managed to read the first page. Just 599 to go and I'll be up to speed with the rest of you.

Don't waste your time.

ROdAN wrote:Don't waste your time.

I must. After the resounding review you gave the book I have to read it.

Go blow yourself. Up, I mean.

ROdAN wrote:Go blow yourself. Up, I mean.

Kaboom!

edit

Garet Jax rocks!

Weeeell...I totally agree with birdandbear. If this is the first "adult" fantasy that you read in your young life, you're gonna love the books. I read the Covenant books a few years (that means AGES) later, and I didn't touch TLOTR till I was 22.

I think my grandmother gave me the first Shannara book for Xmas present when I was 13. She thought it was some sort of historical novel.
It was the first fantasy book I read. At that time I'd never even heard of TLOTR, I think. A friend tried to make me start LOTR afterwards, and I didn't like the beginning at all. Brooks seemed more grown-up to me then. I've never really been very fond of Hobbits and wizards with white beards.

And I loved Allanon, too.

But I think that everything after the Wishsong series sucked.
Still, I might read the new (Jerle) books one day. But only for nostalgic reasons.

Allanon is one of my all-time favorite supporting characters. He carried the first three Shannara books . . . at least for me.

I also liked the Amberle Elessedil story very much. Made me cry.

But when I reread the books a while ago, it all seemed very shallow to me.

I haven't read the Shannara books myself, but I've got a favorite story about them (sorry if I've already told it, can't remember):

A friend of mine read the first book while he was doing his military service (here in Sweden, which has a conscript army). He caused a bit of bewilderment among his lodging-mates by regularly running out into the corridor and screaming with pain (over how awful it was)...

But still he dutifully read all through not just the first book but the whole trilogy. He couldn't bring himself to not finish a book once he'd started it.

Theo

I figure there's too many books and too little time for that attitude.