More than a few years ago, when I read through the Knight of the Word trilogy, I remember reading about a man who was chosen to carry a black staff. The staff enabled him to do amazing things to protect the people of our world from demons of the Void.
I would venture a guess that this same black staff will be at the center of this new book, set to come out in August.
Ever since I read the original Sword of Shannara, I’ve been a fan. Even moreso as I read more of Terry’s novels. He has crafted a wonderful universe in Shannara, a post-apocalyptic fantasy world that more resembles Middle-Earth than what you would expect a post-apocalyptic world to be.
This new book takes place 500 years after the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. Not having read that yet, I don’t know the setting much. Apparently, the surviving good people of the world have surrounded themselves with a powerful protective magic for that 500 years. And now, it seems to hae disappeared, leaving them all vulnerable to the demon hordes waiting outside.
I am really looking forward to more Shannara novels like this one. Hopefully I will have caught up before this one comes out.
After the Sword trilogy, this is the next series in the Shannara saga. And it’s a good one, too. It’s so good that Brooks couldn’t keep it in just three books! Okay, so maybe that’s exaggerating a bit, but it is a good quadrilogy.
Scions sets the stage for the rest of the story. The Federation has taken over a lot of the Four Lands from the south and they’ve prohibited the use of magic. A descendant of Jair Ohmsford has the wishsong and uses it to tell stories, which attracts the attentions of the Federation’s secret police, the Seekers. Along the way, they are visited by an old mad claiming to be the very man, Cogline, that helped Brin so long ago. He tells them that Allanon’s shade wants them to be at the Hadeshorn soon.
If you’re a fan of fantasy or Shannara or both, this is a great book and an excellent start to the series.
So I finally got around to finishing the original Shannara trilogy. Wishsong was a great ending to a great set of stories.
Wishsong picks up where Elfstones left off. Wil has settled down and had a couple kids. Of course because of him using the elfstones, his kids are gifted with the Wishsong which allows them to sing what they want and it happens, one with illusions and one with reality. Of course, that means Allanon shows up with yet another tale of woe and how this new generation of Ohmsfords are the only hope for the world.
It’s an excellent story that delves into the dark side of using the magic and touches on the seductiveness of evil. It rarely comes on offensively showing itself for what it is. Instead, it is able to twist things around so what evil is seems more right than anything else. It reminds me of a line from a Star Wars book, warning how the starting down the path to the dark side will feel more right than anything else and that is where the danger is.
I loved this book and I can’t wait to read more of Terry Brooks’ wonderful Shannara series.
I finished The First King of Shannara last night. Awesome book. If you like Lord of the Rings or Forgotten Realms books, you’ll probably like this one, too. I kind of knew the ending since I read The Sword of Shannara a few years ago. Anyways, I’m on to the Star Wars: Dark Nest trilogy. After that is Legacy of the Force: Betrayal. These should be interesting being the first few books after NJO.
In other news, last thrusday was Ashley’s and mine fifth month together. Booyah! I’ve heard of marriages that haven’t lasted this long. Sad, but true. Read the rest of this post »
