The Sword of Shannara Trilogy

Terry Brooks

Oct 2002 · Sold by Del Rey

About this ebook

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.

Ratings and reviews

The books are great individually, but when you look at the series you notice a recurring theme of.. problem starts, here comes allanon with dire news, a "fellowship" is formed, long walks through the woods, internal conflict, then resolution. Dont get me wrong, I do like the series but I hope the heritage trilogy has more dynamic plot lines.

If the review is bad and mentions LOTR as a basis for the bad review. Go ahead and laugh at the stupid Tolkien fanboys. Rate the author fairly or stfu. This is easy reading, with just the right amounts of detail and if it had come before Tolkien, "it" would have made a better movie. The relic in question, sword vs a ring, as well as the challenge of wielding it, makes for a better story.

I read both the LOTR and the Shannara series as a kid and Shannara slays LOTR. Allanon is a far better character than Gandalf and Shea beats Frodo any day and twice on Sunday as a hero. Terry Brooke's books storyline flows much better than LOTR with the exception of The Hobbit. I don't discourage anyone from reading both but just because Tolkien was first and had a large following doesn't make them better.

About the author

Terry Brooks has thrilled readers for decades with his powers of imagination and storytelling. He is the author of more than thirty books, most of which have been New York Times bestsellers. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.