The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition
by Terry Brooks
The Original Shannara Trilogy (Collections and Selections — 1 (Collector's)), Shannara Universe: Chronological (10)
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Fantasy. Fiction. Science Fiction. Thriller. HTML:THE PHENOMENAL EPIC OF GOOD AND EVIL LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN EXPERIENCED BEFOREThirty-five years ago, Terry Brooks brought to life a dazzling world in The Sword of Shannara. Nineteen more Shannara volumes would follow, making the series one of the most popular fantasy epics of all time. Now comes a fully annotated collector’s edition of the novel that started it all—featuring never-before-shared insights into the classic tale, an show more all-new introduction by the New York Times bestselling author, and replicas of the original sketches for some of the long-lost, black-and-white paintings by the Brothers Hildebrandt that decorated the original edition, and a replica of the original Hildebrandt central color plate on the back of the jacket..
Long ago, wars ravaged the world. In peaceful Shady Vale, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford knows little of such troubles. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon reveals that 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.
Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of a mighty evil, flies into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save his home, Shea must flee, drawing the Skull Bearer after him in menacing pursuit.
Thus begins the enthralling Shannara epic, a spellbinding tale of adventure, magic, and myth.
PRAISE FOR TERRY BROOKS
“The Sword of Shannara is an unforgettable and wildly entertaining epic, animated by Terry Brooks’s cosmically generative imagination and storytelling joy. This was one of my favorite fictional worlds growing up, and I look forward to many return trips.”—Karen Russell, New York Times bestselling author of Swamplandia!
“Terry Brooks has been my constant companion over a lifetime of exploring my beloved fantasy genre. I say with all honesty I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara. If Tolkien is the grandfather of modern fantasy, Terry Brooks is its favorite uncle.”—Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Desert Spear
“I can’t even begin to count how many of Terry Brooks’s books I’ve read (and reread) over the years. From Shannara to Landover, his work was a huge part of my childhood.”—Patrick Rothfuss, New York Times bestselling author of The Name of the Wind
“Terry Brooks is a master of the craft and a trailblazer who established fantasy as a viable genre. Not only do I owe him for many hours of reading pleasure, I owe him my job. He is required reading.”—Brent Weeks, New York Times bestselling author of The Night Angel Trilogy
“The Shannara books were among the first to really capture my imagination. I didn’t just enjoy reading the novels—the world became so real that I would spend hours creating Shannara fan-fiction in my mind. My daydreams and therefore my stories will always owe a debt to Terry Brooks.”—Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Beyonders and Fablehaven series. show less
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Read SOS once before years ago, but have been looking for a long cycle of standard high fantasy books to get into since Feist is gone.
A pretty fine achievement here, as it was very early in the genre's history. You had Tolkien, and little else in the way of epic D&D type fantasy fiction.
Now, of course he stole everything from Tolkien, I mean literally just about everything, plot devices, characters, the fellowship, the innocent young kid main characters, the mysterious wizard, the all powerful bad guy that can only be defeated in conjunction with a legendary artifact, the grumpy dwarf, the traveling under the mountains, the undead-type-flying-black-spy type things, the siege of the impenetrable good guy citadel, the elven army coming show more to the rescue, the king being drugged by a sniveling bad guy, just for heaven's sake, he basically rewrote the LOTR with different names. Really. Goodness.
That said, it was his first book, written well, fun, I did care about the characters, and I am assuming that since he has written something like 20+ of these things, he finds his own voice and story eventually, etc. So I'll read another and see how things go! show less
A pretty fine achievement here, as it was very early in the genre's history. You had Tolkien, and little else in the way of epic D&D type fantasy fiction.
Now, of course he stole everything from Tolkien, I mean literally just about everything, plot devices, characters, the fellowship, the innocent young kid main characters, the mysterious wizard, the all powerful bad guy that can only be defeated in conjunction with a legendary artifact, the grumpy dwarf, the traveling under the mountains, the undead-type-flying-black-spy type things, the siege of the impenetrable good guy citadel, the elven army coming show more to the rescue, the king being drugged by a sniveling bad guy, just for heaven's sake, he basically rewrote the LOTR with different names. Really. Goodness.
That said, it was his first book, written well, fun, I did care about the characters, and I am assuming that since he has written something like 20+ of these things, he finds his own voice and story eventually, etc. So I'll read another and see how things go! show less
I'm finished with The Annotated Sword of : I found the annoatations distracting. Speaks often of infleunce of Tolkien.
I'm finished with The Annotated Sword of : I found the annoatations distracting. Speaks often of infleunce of Tolkien.
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147+ Works 111,978 Members
Terry Brooks was born in Sterling, Illinois on January 8, 1944. He received a bachelor's degree in English literature from Hamilton College and a graduate degree from the School of Law at Washington and Lee University. Before becoming a full-time writer, he was a practicing attorney for many years. His first book The Sword of Shannara (1977) was show more the first work of fiction to appear on the New York Times Trade Paperback Bestseller List. He made the list again with his title The High Druid'd Blade: The Defenders of Shannara. His other works include the Word and Void trilogy, The Heritage of Shannara series, Magic Kingdom of Landover series, The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series, High Druid of Shannara series, Genesis of Shannara series, and the novelization to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Reference guide/companion to
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Annotated Sword of Shannara: 35th Anniversary Edition
- Original publication date
- 1977
- People/Characters
- Shea Ohmsford; Flick Ohmsford; Allanon; Menion Leah "Prince of Leah"
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- Members
- 155
- Popularity
- 209,474
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.61)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 2
