The Sword of Shannara Trilogy
By Terry Brooks
- Release Date: 2002-08-27
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
Description
For the first time in one elegant collector’s edition hardcover, and featuring an introduction by New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks, here are the first three novels of that classic series: The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, and The Wishsong of Shannara—the beginning of a phenomenal epic of good and evil.
The Sword of Shannara
Long ago, the wars of the ancient Evil ruined the world. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles. But the supposedly dead Warlock Lord is plotting to destroy everything in his wake. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness is the Sword of Shannara, which can be used only by a true heir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline, rests the hope of all the races.
The Elfstones of Shannara
The magical Ellcrys tree is dying, loosening the spell that bars the Demons from enacting vengeance upon the land. Now Wil Ohmsford must guard the Elven girl Amberle on a perilous quest as she carries one of the Ellcrys’ seeds to a mysterious place where it can be quickened into a powerful new force. But dark on their trail comes the Reaper, most fearsome of all Demons, aiming to crush their mission at any cost.
The Wishsong of Shannara
An ancient Evil is stirring to new life, sending its ghastly Mord Wraiths to destroy Mankind. To win through the vile growth that protects this dark force, the Druid Allanon needs Brin Ohmsford—for she alone holds the magic power of the wishsong. Reluctantly Brin joins the Druid on his dangerous journey. But a prophecy foretells doom, as Evil nurses its plans to trap the unsuspecting Brin into a fate far more horrible than death.
Thus begins Terry Brooks’s thrilling Shannara epic, an unforgettable tale of adventure, magic, and myth.
BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Terry Brooks's The Measure of the Magic.
Reviews
A journey that you’ll keep wanting to venture...
5By obm912I found the books by way of the tv show Shannara Chronicles...did some research and found out there’s like a big following and books still related to it coming out til this day. The lore and stories will engulf you to a point where you want to read more and find out more about the story behind the Four Lands....Sword is a great book, a bit of a slow burner but good nonetheless. Currently reading Elf stones which the show was based on and the book is 100 times better already and I’m maybe 35% through it. Very engaging and the characters are amazing. Honestly the only way to know is to find out yourself and read it and get form your own opinion. Just know you wont be disappointed.Slow start
4By Susie899If you don't know these books, you missing out on everything great storytelling is about. This is the reason I fell in love with fantasy books. I think Brooks is the best ever. I've read these three a hundred times over. Highly recommended!Not Too Bad
3By Original SajoeThe underlying story is pretty good and kept me turning pages. The descriptions of surrounding details was clear and painted good pictures. However, the extreme and utter failure of distances and travel times left me terribly disappointed and really took away from the story. The maps are horrible as well. Olden moor is described as being two to 3 days walking distance west of the Ravenshore mountains. Yet every map i can find shows them north east. As i come to those traveling parts of the book i skim forward as fast as possible without reading too much so i can get to the next description or action scenes.A must read for any fan of epic fantasy!
5By dwcapps"The Sword of Shannara", is a very well written series reminiscent of "Lord of the Rings", but comes at it's story telling from a different view. Like traveling across country, but this time taking an alternate route. You may be going to the same destination, but the scenery along the way will be different.Once Upon a Time
2By Other sci-fi guyOnce upon a time I might have given this book a higher rating until I encountered some far better fiction by the likes of Patrick Rothfuss. The characters are engaging if not believable and the stories are interesting but repetitive and predictable. That is not to say that Brooks is not a good writer. There are many well written action scenes separated by quite a bit of nicely crafted prose... Miles and miles and miles of it. There are so many descriptions of landscape, soliloquies, and reprises of the story line than the reader can skim through an entire chapter in a minute or two and miss none of the plot. I believe the Shannara stories are too long for children and most to simplistic for adults. I'm grateful not to have to wallow through the extreme graphic violence that makes up lots of the current crop of adventure stories but i would appreciate a little more in the way of adult relationships.Great
5By TannerisAs with most of Brooks books this is a fantastic read.Love Them All
5By Mlh2003I first began this series back in '01-'02 and at the time I'd had a hard time getting into it because I hadn't really been trying. Also, I was beginning in the middle of a set in the middle of a series. The next year I went and read through all the Scions of Shannara set and then went out and bought the Sword of Shannara set and from there it was hook, line, and sinker. For the most part, Terry's story lines are the same throughout all the books. It's a basic set-up but it works well for him and it's really the characters which bring the book to life and I always find myself loving at least one of the characters if not more. If you're on the fence about this series, don't be. It's well worth the time and the money.Hated every character but 1
1By bugger off2Very disappointed with this first book after seeing these rave reviews. Only the character Menion Leah was tolerable. The other heroes were scared and witless or stern and imposing--all annoying. The overly long descriptions were repeated a million times. I scanned the last 150 pages to get it over with faster. Unfortunately, I bought this trilogy, so I will try to read the other two books.Might be a great series...
1By Bf2loserBut I can't stand the author's writing style. This is the first book I've bought off of iBooks without reading the free sample. And unfortunately, it is the only book I've bought off of iBooks that I feel was a complete waste of money. I'm not saying this series isn't a great story, i'm sure it is, but I can't stand how terry writes. So whatever...if you're interested in these books, I would definitely recommend you read the entire sample before you make the decision to buy them. Pay attention to how he describes things/people. I'm almost halfway through the book and he still uses over abundant and annoying descriptions of how strong, or lean, or handsome, or whatever, the main characters are. It's like...I get it already. The elves are lean and tall. Enough...Great writer
5By CrammitIn response to snapper-Z, who probably have not even read the books is making a big mistake by not reading terry brooks' work. His writing style is completely different from Tolkien. If have read the hobbit over 20 times and lord of the rings over 10 times. I have also read sword and heritage of shannara many times and.....your missing out on one of the great fantasy fiction writers out there. He is a pioneer.
