The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks

The Sword of Shannara

ByTerry Brooks

  • Release Date: 1978-04-12
  • Genre: Epic Fantasy
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 246 Ratings

Description

The Sword of Shannara is the first volume of the classic series that has becomeone of the most popular fantasy tales of all time.

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 trueheir of Shannara. On Shea, last of the bloodline,rests the hope of all the races.

Thus begins the enthralling Shannara epic,a spellbinding tale of adventure, magic, and myth . . .

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Terry Brooks's The Measure of the Magic.

Reviews

  • Love this series.

    5
    By LaughingWarthog
    I read all of Terry Brooks’ books when I was in high school and reading them again 20 years later is just as enjoyable if not more so. You don’t want to stop reading. Books like this make reading fun again.

  • Doesn’t stand the test of time

    2
    By Joerum62
    I remember reading The Sword of Shannara as a teenager when it first came out and really being entranced by the story. Well, time has significantly altered my opinion.

    I read The Sword of Shannara before reading the LOTR trilogy, so it was not apparent then as it is now how much Terry Brooks lifted from LOTR. I guess, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - and Brooks proves it throughout his story!

    While Shannara is more compact and faster paced then LOTR, it definitely lacks the depth and sweeping story that Tolkien gave us. Much is lacking due to flat characterizations and the cursory manner of moving the characters through what should be a more richly developed alternative world. Thus my two star rating.

  • One of my favorites

    5
    By Flying Gage
    Always a favorite. It was the first book of any length I read as a boy in 4th grade. A book responsible for allowing my brain to wander and far.

  • For old times sake

    5
    By Estes12245
    I tried reading this book as a kid and could never get into it. Then re-reading it as an adult. Dang ! What a great book. Great world, great characters, great story.

  • Passes the time, but derivative

    3
    By JClau
    I read this as a child and just reread it. I was stunned to discover it was the closest remake of LOTR I’ve yet read. But, it was still something to read.

  • Great Book

    5
    By ElDude89
    I have never been a big sci-fi person but this book was a great read. Brooks does an awesome job developing the characters and keep the story interesting despite some 700+ pages. Many say it's a LoR rip off but at most I would say LoR was an inspiration. Middle earth and hobbits are boring. This series has much more interesting characters: Druids, Eventine, and the border legion.

  • On the Edge on my sit

    5
    By P Carl
    This book is full adventure around every corner and written so well that you truly believe that you are right in the middle of it all. Not a single page of this book leaves you bored but finds you longing to turn the page to find out what happens next. A must read.

  • I give this book 1,000,000,000,000,000 STARS!!!

    5
    By Shannaraaddicted
    After watching The Shannara Chronicles I just had to read this book!!! I'm not much of a reader so I mean it when I say this book was amazing. I couldn't put it down!!! I read the whole book in less than two weeks!!! Now I am truly looking forward to the rest of the Shannara book!!

    P.s. Watching the show first made it really awesome to picture the characters and the land and EVERYTHING!!

  • No cover

    5
    By Hawktale
    Great book, wanted to re read it, but it doesn't seem to come with the proper cover, just plain green with white print. Can this be fixed?

  • Still a favorite!

    5
    By Dude! Sweet!
    You know how you can sit and read most books and remember every last detail? 12 years ago I read this book, and even now I'd have to say its one of my favorites! The journey that Shea Ohmsford takes is described so intricately that I would often get lost in the text through my imagination and have to go back and reread it... This is definitely worth your time. Enjoy!

More by Terry Brooks

About "The Sword of Shannara"

Explore The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks on eBooksStore by Arnlweb. Discover book details, reader ratings, reviews, release information, genres, and related digital books available through the iTunes Store.

This book is part of our growing collection of bestselling eBooks, popular digital reading materials, and trending author releases. Readers can explore similar books, discover new authors, and browse related genres including fiction, romance, mystery, fantasy, business, self-help, educational books, and more.

Our platform helps readers discover highly rated digital books optimized for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop devices. Browse fast-loading book pages, reader reviews, and popular recommendations from bestselling authors worldwide.

Why Readers Explore This Book

  • Detailed book information
  • Reader ratings and reviews
  • Popular author collections
  • Related digital books
  • Mobile-friendly reading discovery
  • Fast-loading book pages
  • Trending eBook recommendations

Popular Reading Categories

  • Fiction & Literature
  • Business & Finance
  • Romance & Drama
  • Mystery & Thriller
  • Fantasy & Adventure
  • Educational eBooks
  • Self-Help & Motivation