Think of it as Lord of the Rings, but without the intimidatingly detailed cultures and fewer pages of birthday parties. The first book at least....
The second two in Brook's opening trilogy are more variations on the theme. He gets a bit more original and I think the middle volume (ummm...the Elfstones of Shannara?) is more successful than the third. His wrting also improves.
As for the others? I liked the Scion of Shannara books, but he was beginning to retread ground. That is doubly true for the newer Shannara books with airships and such. But the writing and plots really go down hill. I've borrowed a few of them as beach reads, and it wasn't even worth it for the tales anymore.
Give Brooks' Word and the Void series a shot though. It's a decently written trilogy, but the plot and pacing make it a great, easy read. Avoid the follow up trilogy, Genisis of Shannara, like the plague.
The second two in Brook's opening trilogy are more variations on the theme. He gets a bit more original and I think the middle volume (ummm...the Elfstones of Shannara?) is more successful than the third. His wrting also improves.
As for the others? I liked the Scion of Shannara books, but he was beginning to retread ground. That is doubly true for the newer Shannara books with airships and such. But the writing and plots really go down hill. I've borrowed a few of them as beach reads, and it wasn't even worth it for the tales anymore.
Give Brooks' Word and the Void series a shot though. It's a decently written trilogy, but the plot and pacing make it a great, easy read. Avoid the follow up trilogy, Genisis of Shannara, like the plague.
Terry Brooks
- 11/12/2009 04:52:49 AM
823 Views
well, when I was 12 it was great.
- 11/12/2009 05:07:53 AM
663 Views
They were written thirty years ago, when different standards prevailed. Oh, and for younger readers.
- 12/12/2009 07:00:32 PM
625 Views
As others have mentioned, they were okay for their time period. Word and Void is a decent series. *NM*
- 12/12/2009 08:26:20 PM
284 Views