Shannara

[Elessar]

Has anyone read these excellent series by Terry Brooks?

I personally think that they are a great set of books.

[Byrn]

I've read up to the Heritage of Shannara. and the First King. I understand there is another Series that continues with Walker Boh. Haven't had a chance to read those yet. Elfstones is my personal favorite.

[ClimberMan]

i have read them they rock

[Frerkai]

Heritage of Shannara...
Fair conclusion... Great story

[radarofpolo]

all around a great series to read. The new ones that are coming out are pretty good too (Ilse witch, ect.)

[Sayuri Sedai]

one of my favorite series. the heritage being my favorite of them. although i still need to get my hands on his newest, 'the First Druid of Shannara' or so i beleive its called.

[Elessar]

The newest book, Jarkaa Ruus, pretty much repeats Isle Witch in a way, can't wait to get book 2 of the High Druid when it comes out though.

[Mazrim_Taim]

Hmm, I love the shannara series, although I like Word/Void and Landover series a little better because the ideas are more origianal. I like the stories, but a lot of the books have a rediculously similar plotline, and Brooks is not a king of dialogue. (those loong narrative explanations and that really cheezy dialogue) And the guy just Sucks at writing romances. They're so freakin unrealistic. I'd love to see one of his books turned into a movie someday; that would be cool, and the books are actually pretty simple to interpret because he's so visually discriptive. And the battle scenes would actually have Tactics, which are more complicated than say, LotR was. That would be great to see onscreen. Yeah, I can see this thread didn't live for very long, but oh well.

[Aviendha2]

I have read up to The Wishsong of Shannara, and I really want to read the other ones. They are the best series of fantasy books that I have read (excluding The Wheel of Time) and I think that Terry Brooks should write more of the Shannara books. I think it's pretty close (Terry Brooks books and Robert Jordan books) in terms of being really well known. I still think The Wheel of Time is better, though.

[Mazrim_Taim]

I like the Wheel of Time much better, as Jordan's writing style doesn't annoy me. Terry Brooks and Terry Goodkind are both good at stuff, but both seem to have overly long dialogue to explain stuff. Like several paragraphs for something that could easily be said in a few sentences, and imply the rest. Although I must say Goodkind is a lot better at romances. And both of them are pretty good at battle scense and whatnot. And the magic of Terry Brooks I find a little more interesting, as far as the druid fire and whatnot, and not the versitile element-based thing that Goodkind has going. But as far as which ones are actually better, I have no idea. I like all of them for different reasons. I like Wheel of Time generally for the world, characters, and whatnot, which is really rich. I love SoT (what I've read so far) for the more adult-orientated, and compelling storyline, with nice twists and stuff. And Terry Brooks stuff is pretty good for a good all around thing I suppose.
I also really love Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams. But as of now, I'm not sure which author I like more...oh wel, I guess I'm not even good at playing favorites.

[Aviendha2]

Brooks is a really good writer, but Jordan adds more detrail to everything. Goodkind, like what MT said, is better at romances, but Jordan isn't that far behind. Brooks is good with the magic and all, but Goodkind has more battle scenes. It's way more interesting. But Goodkind and Brooks write too much, trying to cram as much as they can into a paragraph when Jordan just writes what they just said into a simpler way, and it's easier to read. I still like Goodkind and Brooks, though. But Jordam is better by a long shot.

[LaughingTurtle]

Hehe, have we read the same series? You think Brooks and Goodkind are long winded whereas Jordan is succinct and detailed? The two adjectives don’t go very well together and while I’ll grant the fact that Jordan is detailed; it’s almost to a fault. The way a dress’s colored sash flows in the wind whilst simmering in the sunlight is all fine and dandy but when it takes you three pages just to describe the scenery in a scene, it gets a little tedious; especially when you have to do it ever few chapters. It interrupts the flow sometimes.

This is by no means meant to rag on Jordan; I’ve read all the mentioned authors and have enjoyed them all to varying degrees. It is only that I find it hard to agree with some of the mentioned statements. Sure magic and battles may be judged by one as better or worse but it depends on what you're looking for. Brooks magic is left largely unexplained and mysterious whereas Jordan spells out each and ever weave. For another, they are all pretty formulatic, as in going with the traditional storylines of good guys, bad guys, quests, etc. This can be good in cases when I just want a straight forward story, I know eventually good shall overcome evil, feel good read. Though to break out of the mold, there’re authors like Robin Hobb, and George R. R. Martin.

Once agin I'm not saying people's opinions are wrong only that it is interesting to see how sometimes others views are vastly different on the same authors.

[magatsu17]

LT in da house, sup man

[Aviendha2]

Hehe, have we read the same series? You think Brooks and Goodkind are long winded whereas Jordan is succinct and detailed? The two adjectives don’t go very well together and while I’ll grant the fact that Jordan is detailed; it’s almost to a fault. The way a dress’s colored sash flows in the wind whilst simmering in the sunlight is all fine and dandy but when it takes you three pages just to describe the scenery in a scene, it gets a little tedious; especially when you have to do it ever few chapters. It interrupts the flow sometimes.

This is by no means meant to rag on Jordan; I’ve read all the mentioned authors and have enjoyed them all to varying degrees. It is only that I find it hard to agree with some of the mentioned statements. Sure magic and battles may be judged by one as better or worse but it depends on what you're looking for. Brooks magic is left largely unexplained and mysterious whereas Jordan spells out each and ever weave. For another, they are all pretty formulatic, as in going with the traditional storylines of good guys, bad guys, quests, etc. This can be good in cases when I just want a straight forward story, I know eventually good shall overcome evil, feel good read. Though to break out of the mold, there’re authors like Robin Hobb, and George R. R. Martin.

Once agin I'm not saying people's opinions are wrong only that it is interesting to see how sometimes others views are vastly different on the same authors.

Thanks. *said sarcastically.*

[LaughingTurtle]

You're welcome *said facetiously* :p

[Aviendha2]

Forget about it. Well, I still think Jordan's the best.

[zaren]

I have read most, up until the Scion of Shannarra series. I have not read the new trilogies.

[Mazrim_Taim]

I have read everything up to the last current book that's out (Straken, the third of the "High Druid of Shannara Series")
They're decent, though they have similar themes and characters to the degree that it gets kinda old.
The book still manages to suck me in and entertain me though, so I guess it did its job.
I also recommend his Magic Kingdom of Landover series as well as the Word/Void trilogy (Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, Angel Fire East), they're good easy reads. And I think they're among his better books still.
Shannara saga (well since it's a broken up series of different characters, like the first three and First King all stand by themselves pretty much, and then the Heritage of Shannara is another set of characters in the future, and then even further into the future are the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, and the High Druid of Shannara, both are closely related though and have some crossover characters; anyway series saga whatever) is a bit more drawn out.

[Josh1200]

I started reading the first king of shannara prequal and it was extremly booring after i got through the begining. im trying some other shannara books but after that i dont have much hope for them

[Mazrim_Taim]

well try his Running with the Demon/A Knight of the Word/Angel Fire East trilogy. different world (well...ours technically) and different stuff going on. much more compact as well (stuff happening over like three or four days etc)
Or try "Magic Kingdom for Sale: Sold!" the first of his kingdom of Landover series. I enjoyed both of those.

[Josh1200]

while im willing to try them i think for the first time in years im going to go to the library instead of just buying books that look good(that has worked good for me, ive found probly 50 books i loved just by grabbing it of the shelve at barnes and noble).

[Roheryn]

I LOVE the Shannara series! Although I didn't like High Druid as much as I liked the earlier series. My favorite was Heritage... although that might have something to do with Walker being my favorite character....

[LogainFD]

google shannara forums, then join

[TheoryMan]

I've still got this series to read... I was going to, but got sucked into RandLand

[muse040786]

I have read EVERY Terry Brooks book published... I LOVE SHANNARA!!! And tho i am in love WoT, the WishSong as a power, kicks the One Power's Ass(if it has one.)

[Mazrim_Taim]

well I think the OP and druid magic are virtually the same as they use elements primarily, and while the wishsong may have more potential power because you can do almost "anything" with it, the characters which have the wishsong rarely hone their powers to the level of an Aes Sedai or druid. It's the whole "I'm scared of magic!" thing, although perfectly understandable.
I finished reading the High Druid series a while ago, and just didn't like it that much. Not enough large battle action that was new (and I really think this is the best thing Terry Brooks has going for him, he does have some Cool battles), and what's with the stupid name "Cinaminson"?...This guy's romances make no sense.

[blight.master]

i loved the shannara series. the one complaint i have about them... is the titles of the books. people have made fun of RJ for having titles that all fit a specific formula (the [something] of [something else]). the shannara series titles are laughably even worse than that. i jokingly called the series "the miscellaneous nouns of shannara" once... but then realized it was so true.