Terry Brooks: The Sword of Shannara (EBook, 2000, Random House Publishing Group)
eBook
English language
Published Nov. 7, 2000 by Random House Publishing Group.
Living in peaceful Shady Vale, Shea Ohmsford knew little of the troubles that plagued the rest of the world. Then the giant, forbidding Allanon revaled that the supposedly dead Warlock Lord was plotting to destory the world. The sole weapon against this Power of Darkness was the Sword of Shannara, which could only be used by a true heir of Shannara--Shea being the last of the bloodline, upon whom all hope rested. Soon a Skull Bearer, dread minion of Evil, flew into the Vale, seeking to destroy Shea. To save the Vale, Shea fled, drawing the Skull Bearer after him....From the Paperback edition.
Extremely enjoyable! This is a great adventure with some very memorable characters. Despite what others have said, it is a very different story and atmosphere than in Tolkien's books.
an epic quest to save the world from evil...
short plot description: after a cataclysmic event in the past different races (dwarves, gnomes, trolls, elfs) and magic have returned to Earth and all high technology has been lost. We follow the events when Shea Ohmsford, a half-elf who lives peacefully in Shady Vale becomes aware that he is the last heir to the House of Shannara and only he can wield a weapon to destroy the evil which threatens to enslave all of Earth. Woefully unprepared and chased by evil minions he embarks together with his human brother Flick on a quest which will decide the fate of the world...
my thoughts: Brooks borrows (very) heavily from Tolkien's LOTR, sometimes too much for my liking. Nevertheless the setting is intriguing, plot and characters do serve their purpose. Not many surprises here if you've read epic quest fantasy before (though the …
an epic quest to save the world from evil...
short plot description: after a cataclysmic event in the past different races (dwarves, gnomes, trolls, elfs) and magic have returned to Earth and all high technology has been lost. We follow the events when Shea Ohmsford, a half-elf who lives peacefully in Shady Vale becomes aware that he is the last heir to the House of Shannara and only he can wield a weapon to destroy the evil which threatens to enslave all of Earth. Woefully unprepared and chased by evil minions he embarks together with his human brother Flick on a quest which will decide the fate of the world...
my thoughts: Brooks borrows (very) heavily from Tolkien's LOTR, sometimes too much for my liking. Nevertheless the setting is intriguing, plot and characters do serve their purpose. Not many surprises here if you've read epic quest fantasy before (though the "lost technology"-setting is well done).
my advice: one of the better entries in a genre which has seen too many Tolkien wannabes.
