I talked about Terry Brooks today and how much I hate how the modern fantasy community hates him. Dude was instrumental in reviving the fantasy genre and he deserves some respect.
They mostly hate him, not because of his work, but because his work is what people think of as "stereotypical fantasy". Modern fantasy fans just want medieval action movies with "grim-n-gritty" (self insert) heroes and villians.
Exactly. Without Terry Brooks keeping epic fantasy alive in 1977 and beyond, would we have had Jordan, Goodkind, Feist, etc.? And Sword of Shannara is a fun read.
Exactly. And regarding the Tolkien comparisons for Sword of Shannara, I read Shannara first and prefer it. Unpopular opinion but it's true. I was the first to check that book out of my school's library when it came out. Brooks is a master at battle scenes. Modern readers equate gore with quality the way comedy fans equate profanity with funny. I've read the modern and the old and will put Brooks'skill up against any of them. Personal tastes are one thing, skill is another. For instance, I don't care for Tolkien, Donaldson or McCaffrey - but that's a taste thing. I'd never say they couldn't write. Their styles just don't appeal to me whereas Brooks always has.
Most of my family has read the Shannara series, so naturally it wasn’t hard for me to get some copy’s of the first 4 books in paperback, there on my shelf so I’m excited to get to read them.
Very much enjoyed hearing about how Terry Brooks Sword of Shannara shaped the directions you went as an adult, very cool. I was introduced to the books in the 6th grade. My language arts teacher had little carousels of books in her classroom and would allow us to "check them out" same was with the school library. I picked up Sword on a whim and was hooked. Hadn't read Tolkien at that time, though my father had. And like a good parent he would pick up whatever books I brought home and read them to find out what I was into it. He read Sword in one evening while I slept. And the next day offered some perspective, pointing out that it was very closely linked to LotR, but not in a bad way (he also ended up buying the first three books for me). I didn't understand at the time, and even after reading The Hobbit and LotR, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. But after the movies came out for LotR, I was floored. Somehow seeing it all play out on the big screen I felt a bit like I was watching both LotR AND also Sword, play out at the same time. However, past Sword of Shannara, I see no more similarity between Brooks creation and Tolkien's, than anyone would expect from one fantasy setting to another. Anyone who looks at Sword as not worth it because of the parallels to LotR is missing out, and ignoring the rest of Brooks work for that reason is truly a disservice to themselves and to others who listen to their opinions. Oh, I also pronounce it Sha-Nar-Ah - never occurred to me that someone else would pronounce it differently, but it's not really surprising. People from different parts of the country and the world tend to pronounce things differently. I can easily chalk that up to regional dialect influences. 😄
Terry Brooks saved my life. Without his books I would have had an even worse childhood. He has always been my inspiration to first become a writer and then a librarian. I wish people will give him more of a chance. He gets a bad rap just because he was writing Tolkienesque fantasy but many people were back then.
Loved your backstory! I had similar experiences growing up (not adopted). It was sci-fi for me. Fantasy was non-existent in my world. The kiddos now have no clue how difficult it was to get niche stuff. We savored and cherished it. Now there's a smorgasbord. There are pros and cons, but ultimately you have to slow down and smell the roses.
Fantastic! Thank you for your great review! You nailed many of the emotions and the imaginative growth I experienced when reading the book at age ten! It took me months, and I loved every second. For many like us (who might have read "Sword" prior to "LoTR") this was the template, the fictional axe that cleaved our minds and opened us to epic fantasy. Like you, I enjoyed the first series the most, and when Mr. Brooks began to "explain" the source of the magic, I think he erred. The mystery carries its own attraction and magic, and that mystery surely is there in the first three tales. Allanon was epic, and the apocalyptic dystopian threads were subtle, so the entire world seemed as if it had existed for ages. Thank you for the great video! I want to get your books, right away!
Yeah, man. That cover is pure enchantment. It's amazing how illustrations can set the "tone" of a world forever. Like, Krynn looks like Elmore's first paintings in my head. Always will. Awesome vid, man. I'm going through your catalogue from the start ; ) Dave
They can blame David from the Bible for that trope haha And probably way earlier. Kids who grow up rough learn alot of empathy. It's not a hollow trope.
Dude that's so cool you did magic cards! And you did them when they were at their best. When I was little I had an uncle that played magic and I remember he used to let me and my friends look through his cards. It was so inspiring we would make our own comic books (poorly drawn) based on random cards we pulled out, it was so fun. Those early Magic, & other card games had absolutely beautiful art, & really sparked my imagination. So thank you for being one of those awesome artists!
Great to see you keep your books in pristine condition through many readings over decades. I always appreciated people who do that! Thanks for the great video - The Sword of Shannara was my first fantasy book, I read it every summer when I was ten, eleven and twelve. 🙂
Thank you for your take on the book. Just bought a hardback copy of the sword of shannara trilogy. I found DragonLance when I was in 8th grade, I know this will be different, I am just hoping to find the characters engaging like the Companions
I am thinking of trying the Shannara series again giving up on the audio version of book 1 several years ago. The passion and enthusiasm you express here is inspiring, whether I end up getting into the series or not. Very cool to see.
I really appreciate this review. I've been reading fantasy my entire life (40 years) and have appreciated how far the genre has come and the thoughts/ideas that have grown with it. That being said, what I always loved most about fantasy was the classic sword and sorcery/d&d/Tolken-esque themes and settings. I love those stories, tropes and all. It's pure comfort for me. And I agree with how great classic fantasy art was too. It just gave such a feeling of excitement and wonder!
I've always loved the covers of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, especially from that era when I first got into them in the late 70s and early 80s. I remember the Hildebrandt cover of Shannara so well. It's probably the main reason I picked up that book in the first place.
I think we may be related ..... as a lifelong Tolkien nerd, it was Sword of Shannara that began it all for me . I literally finshed it, cried, turned back to page one and started again .... agh...to be 10 yrs old again !!!
I remember getting The Sword of Shannara as a kid and falling in love with it, that cover alonre to this day gives me that nostalgic feeling hard core. Also I had that Lord of the rings card game I didn't know you did art for it! One thing about the Sword of Shannara is that it took me until reading it again a few years ago to realize that they're in a post apocalypse world as the way that they describe the ruins of metal really sounds like the way you'd imagine a medieval person trying to describe modern iron buildings. I don't think his work is truly too Tolkien esque except for the way it starts
I read my flatmate’s copy of Sword of Shannara in 1993. I quickly read all that were published at that point. I have bought each instalment as it was published and am excited for the final book this year. It has been a friend and escape during some dark times. I look forward to reading your books. Similar books I have loved seemed to be your influences.
I just recently finished the original trilogy, and I love it man. For me, In my case I was familiar with LOTR before Shannara, but for me Shannara has been a lot easier to absorb and get into than LOTR. I love the Characters, and it’s just a great story. And I like that it doesn’t break off into the random poems and songs, and that the quest felt more urgent and immediate. When I read The Fellowship Of The Ring it took awhile for Frodo to leave the Shire, and it seemed like frikin forever for them to leave Rivendell, It seems like Sauron’s minions could have easily besieged Rivendell and got the ring by the time they decided to leave😂 btw I love old PC games, and I got inspired to read the Shannara trilogy after I started playing the old Shannara PC game 🙂
The best guess for the line that inspired you, that I could find was Shea pondering if Allanon had come with some hidden purpose of his own and then "There were too many questions that he didn't have answers to." Which seem like pretty intriguing lines 🤔
Dude, this was so good. Our paths are quite similar, except that you write and I don't. I had the very same editions of the first trilogy and Heritage that you have. I read the Sword for the first time in the late 80s and I just recently went back through them all in audiobook, including the prequels for the first time. I loved listening to your enthusiasm for the Sword, because it gets a lot of hate for its being so derivative. Oh, and you mentioned the Prydain books by Lloyd Alexander. Those are the books that got me into fantasy. My school teacher read the Book of Three to us when I was aged 7/8 and I was super into the horned king and the idea of an oracular pig. It's so cool to have found your channel!
The first fantasy book I ever read was The Elfstones of Shannara, in about 1985. I enjoyed many Terry Brooks books after that. Maybe time to reread some. thanks for the video!
I will never forget, just after reading The Lord of the Rings, I walked into a downtown bookstore in Salem, Oregon and there on the shelf was the iconic cover of The Sword of Shannara. With, literally, trembling hands, I picked it up and immediately took it to the counter, purchased it and went outside and sat in the shade and spent the next two hours immersing myself in the four lands. That led to a lifelong love for anything Terry Brooks composed regarding the four lands and the Ohmsford clan. Thanks for this review. Love how your adoption story led you to a special kinship with Shea. That is very touching. One question though, My version of the Sword of Shannara might be slightly different from yours because I went to page 81 and read the 16 line and it was a reference to a red herring. Was that correct or did I miss something? BTW I watched your Submarine confession video and, while I get your dismay at your mistake, I noticed a similar mistake in one of the Terry Brooks Shannara tomes. Naturally I can't remember it now, but it jarred me, but it certainly did not stop me from reading his work. If I can remember the phrase I will send it to you. However, my base feeling is that you are being way to hard on yourself. Steve
You knspired me to finally try these books out - Just finished Sword today and I loved it! To me the LOTR comparisons were heavy in the first half of the book but enjoyable nonetheless. It was less aparent in the latter half of the book, where I grew to really like the characters and the journey. Looking forward to reading more!
❤️❤️❤️ I absolutely loved playing the Middle Earth CCG!!! So cool to find out you illustrated some of the cards! 🤯❤️❤️❤️ The Shannara Series has always been near and dear to my heart. It was one of the first fantasy series I ever read. Having that said, I found SoS to be a pretty bad LOTR rip off. Terry Brooks gets better the further you get into the his books. Elfstones is probably my fav. Wishsong is good. The second series is solid (loved druid of Shannara). The Anthrax series is good conceptually but that is where his writing style changes you can see with how he lays out his scenes he is no longer writing books and is now writing screenplays for adaptation. Anyways...came to fanboy about the Middle Earth CCG, but thought I'd leave my 2 cents on Shannara while here.
Fant believe this was three years ago! Going back for a re read while my friend Jackie and i 1:24 wait for your last audiobook to come out and wanted to see what you thought
I done a lot of rewatches of a Shannara advenute game longplay recently! Game is made by Legend Entertainment, done a lot of interesting point 'n' click gems. Love Eric Heberlings(of Elder Scrolls I - II fame) score in the game! Very evocative and as older I got the more interested in the whole "Monomyth" theme I become.
When I see just how similar our experiences are growing up -- even the art of the Hildebrandt brothers! -- (and A Game of Thrones is what made me actually start typing out my first novel) it makes me wonder if you'd like my epic fantasy. I'm reading your second book now, which is compelling and visceral. I'm really enjoying it.
Shannara is such an amazng series. I read it in the 80's as well. I read The Lord of the RIngs for the first time in 1980, which prepared me for the deluge of 80's fantasy which also includes Dragonriders of Pern and Xanth, etc. You mention how you don't feel Shannara is derivative, which seems to be a complaint from people who did not read it when it came out. To me, Shannara was one of the first Fantasy series I read, like you, so to me Terry Brooks is one of the Grandfathers of Fantasy.
You should get into RA Salvatores Forgotten Realms.. The amount of lore, action, adventure and character arcs in those stories is amazing man. I’d like to say I’m pretty well read and reading about Salvatores world is some of the most fun I’ve had reading. Drizzt is a total bad ass good guy.
I still have my Shannara books with the original covers as well. That cover made me go search out more work by the Hildebrandt Brothers and purchase their art books...that led me to Boris Vallejo, Michael Whelan....Larry Elmore... I UTTERLY DESPISED the TV series...it was all "woke" with girl power and lesbianism, etc. (I'm a woman, btw) I pronounce "Shannara" the same way...I was shocked when I heard Terry himself pronounce it since that pronunciation makes little sense to me. (shrug) Edit: I did not know that Keith Parkinson had passed. Rest in peace.
That's part of my channel. With each book review I give a little writing advice and talk about that particular book influenced my own novels. Sometimes it's at the beginning of the review or middle or end.
I just rebought the first trilogy a few weeks ago. The cover drawings are awful. I miss the old ones. They looked like something our of Dungeons and Dragons. Same thing with Thomas Covenant series or Dragonlance.
It would be nice to have had more than one woman in The Sword of Shannara. I liked the book, but it couldve been better. The one woman was more of a trophy than an actual flushed out character.
Have you ever read wheel of time? In comparison, Terry Brooks is a mediocre Story teller. Poor and lazy writing skills. In my opinion, drop it and ready wheel of time. Sword of shanarah is a pain to read.
SoS is better than the LotR. So much easier to read... so much more... battle scenes so awesome. Tolkien couldn't write a war scene to save his life... helms deep was three pages. Give it up for Brooks... one of, if not, the best fantasy authors ever!
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I talked about Terry Brooks today and how much I hate how the modern fantasy community hates him. Dude was instrumental in reviving the fantasy genre and he deserves some respect.
Ya I saw your vid
Not only respect... but perfects what Tolkien attempted.
They mostly hate him, not because of his work, but because his work is what people think of as "stereotypical fantasy".
Modern fantasy fans just want medieval action movies with "grim-n-gritty" (self insert) heroes and villians.
Exactly. Without Terry Brooks keeping epic fantasy alive in 1977 and beyond, would we have had Jordan, Goodkind, Feist, etc.? And Sword of Shannara is a fun read.
Exactly. And regarding the Tolkien comparisons for Sword of Shannara, I read Shannara first and prefer it. Unpopular opinion but it's true. I was the first to check that book out of my school's library when it came out. Brooks is a master at battle scenes. Modern readers equate gore with quality the way comedy fans equate profanity with funny. I've read the modern and the old and will put Brooks'skill up against any of them. Personal tastes are one thing, skill is another. For instance, I don't care for Tolkien, Donaldson or McCaffrey - but that's a taste thing. I'd never say they couldn't write. Their styles just don't appeal to me whereas Brooks always has.
Most of my family has read the Shannara series, so naturally it wasn’t hard for me to get some copy’s of the first 4 books in paperback, there on my shelf so I’m excited to get to read them.
Terry Brooks is such a treasure of the genre!
Very much enjoyed hearing about how Terry Brooks Sword of Shannara shaped the directions you went as an adult, very cool. I was introduced to the books in the 6th grade. My language arts teacher had little carousels of books in her classroom and would allow us to "check them out" same was with the school library. I picked up Sword on a whim and was hooked. Hadn't read Tolkien at that time, though my father had. And like a good parent he would pick up whatever books I brought home and read them to find out what I was into it. He read Sword in one evening while I slept. And the next day offered some perspective, pointing out that it was very closely linked to LotR, but not in a bad way (he also ended up buying the first three books for me). I didn't understand at the time, and even after reading The Hobbit and LotR, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. But after the movies came out for LotR, I was floored. Somehow seeing it all play out on the big screen I felt a bit like I was watching both LotR AND also Sword, play out at the same time. However, past Sword of Shannara, I see no more similarity between Brooks creation and Tolkien's, than anyone would expect from one fantasy setting to another.
Anyone who looks at Sword as not worth it because of the parallels to LotR is missing out, and ignoring the rest of Brooks work for that reason is truly a disservice to themselves and to others who listen to their opinions.
Oh, I also pronounce it Sha-Nar-Ah - never occurred to me that someone else would pronounce it differently, but it's not really surprising. People from different parts of the country and the world tend to pronounce things differently. I can easily chalk that up to regional dialect influences. 😄
"I did a lot of elves in the woods..." Go on...
Truth
Terry Brooks saved my life. Without his books I would have had an even worse childhood. He has always been my inspiration to first become a writer and then a librarian. I wish people will give him more of a chance. He gets a bad rap just because he was writing Tolkienesque fantasy but many people were back then.
Indeed
Another great Tolkienesque author was Dennis McKiernon (sp?)
Read the first 3 shannarah books in 7th grade. Amazing books. Thanks for the nostalgia tour.
Of course!!!
Loved your backstory! I had similar experiences growing up (not adopted). It was sci-fi for me. Fantasy was non-existent in my world. The kiddos now have no clue how difficult it was to get niche stuff. We savored and cherished it. Now there's a smorgasbord. There are pros and cons, but ultimately you have to slow down and smell the roses.
That cover is DOPE!
Fantastic! Thank you for your great review! You nailed many of the emotions and the imaginative growth I experienced when reading the book at age ten! It took me months, and I loved every second. For many like us (who might have read "Sword" prior to "LoTR") this was the template, the fictional axe that cleaved our minds and opened us to epic fantasy. Like you, I enjoyed the first series the most, and when Mr. Brooks began to "explain" the source of the magic, I think he erred. The mystery carries its own attraction and magic, and that mystery surely is there in the first three tales. Allanon was epic, and the apocalyptic dystopian threads were subtle, so the entire world seemed as if it had existed for ages. Thank you for the great video! I want to get your books, right away!
Great comment thanks
Yeah, man. That cover is pure enchantment. It's amazing how illustrations can set the "tone" of a world forever. Like, Krynn looks like Elmore's first paintings in my head. Always will. Awesome vid, man. I'm going through your catalogue from the start ; ) Dave
They can blame David from the Bible for that trope haha And probably way earlier. Kids who grow up rough learn alot of empathy. It's not a hollow trope.
100%
Dude that's so cool you did magic cards! And you did them when they were at their best. When I was little I had an uncle that played magic and I remember he used to let me and my friends look through his cards. It was so inspiring we would make our own comic books (poorly drawn) based on random cards we pulled out, it was so fun. Those early Magic, & other card games had absolutely beautiful art, & really sparked my imagination. So thank you for being one of those awesome artists!
Just started a Dutch translation of the sword of Shannara. Good to hear your take on the book!
Great to see you keep your books in pristine condition through many readings over decades. I always appreciated people who do that!
Thanks for the great video - The Sword of Shannara was my first fantasy book, I read it every summer when I was ten, eleven and twelve. 🙂
Thank you for your take on the book. Just bought a hardback copy of the sword of shannara trilogy. I found DragonLance when I was in 8th grade, I know this will be different, I am just hoping to find the characters engaging like the Companions
I am thinking of trying the Shannara series again giving up on the audio version of book 1 several years ago. The passion and enthusiasm you express here is inspiring, whether I end up getting into the series or not. Very cool to see.
I really appreciate this review. I've been reading fantasy my entire life (40 years) and have appreciated how far the genre has come and the thoughts/ideas that have grown with it. That being said, what I always loved most about fantasy was the classic sword and sorcery/d&d/Tolken-esque themes and settings. I love those stories, tropes and all. It's pure comfort for me. And I agree with how great classic fantasy art was too. It just gave such a feeling of excitement and wonder!
I've always loved the covers of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, especially from that era when I first got into them in the late 70s and early 80s. I remember the Hildebrandt cover of Shannara so well. It's probably the main reason I picked up that book in the first place.
I love the Hildebrandt art too. As you could tell by my video
I think we may be related ..... as a lifelong Tolkien nerd, it was Sword of Shannara that began it all for me . I literally finshed it, cried, turned back to page one and started again .... agh...to be 10 yrs old again !!!
I remember getting The Sword of Shannara as a kid and falling in love with it, that cover alonre to this day gives me that nostalgic feeling hard core. Also I had that Lord of the rings card game I didn't know you did art for it! One thing about the Sword of Shannara is that it took me until reading it again a few years ago to realize that they're in a post apocalypse world as the way that they describe the ruins of metal really sounds like the way you'd imagine a medieval person trying to describe modern iron buildings. I don't think his work is truly too Tolkien esque except for the way it starts
I read my flatmate’s copy of Sword of Shannara in 1993. I quickly read all that were published at that point. I have bought each instalment as it
was published and am excited for the final book this year. It has been a friend and escape during some dark times.
I look forward to reading your books. Similar books I have loved seemed to be your influences.
Ya how many Shannara books now? 20? 30?
Brian Lee Durfee Reviews I think it’s 28? I don’t really count. I just used to buy them whenever I was in a bookstore and there was a new book out.
I just recently finished the original trilogy, and I love it man. For me, In my case I was familiar with LOTR before Shannara, but for me Shannara has been a lot easier to absorb and get into than LOTR.
I love the Characters, and it’s just a great story. And I like that it doesn’t break off into the random poems and songs, and that the quest felt more urgent and immediate. When I read The Fellowship Of The Ring it took awhile for Frodo to leave the Shire, and it seemed like frikin forever for them to leave Rivendell, It seems like Sauron’s minions could have easily besieged Rivendell and got the ring by the time they decided to leave😂
btw I love old PC games, and I got inspired to read the Shannara trilogy after I started playing the old Shannara PC game 🙂
The best guess for the line that inspired you, that I could find was Shea pondering if Allanon had come with some hidden purpose of his own and then "There were too many questions that he didn't have answers to."
Which seem like pretty intriguing lines 🤔
No. But good try.
Dude, this was so good. Our paths are quite similar, except that you write and I don't. I had the very same editions of the first trilogy and Heritage that you have. I read the Sword for the first time in the late 80s and I just recently went back through them all in audiobook, including the prequels for the first time.
I loved listening to your enthusiasm for the Sword, because it gets a lot of hate for its being so derivative.
Oh, and you mentioned the Prydain books by Lloyd Alexander. Those are the books that got me into fantasy. My school teacher read the Book of Three to us when I was aged 7/8 and I was super into the horned king and the idea of an oracular pig. It's so cool to have found your channel!
The first fantasy book I ever read was The Elfstones of Shannara, in about 1985. I enjoyed many Terry Brooks books after that. Maybe time to reread some. thanks for the video!
The Elfstones of Shannara is one of the best fantasy books of all time
I will never forget, just after reading The Lord of the Rings, I walked into a downtown bookstore in Salem, Oregon and there on the shelf was the iconic cover of The Sword of Shannara. With, literally, trembling hands, I picked it up and immediately took it to the counter, purchased it and went outside and sat in the shade and spent the next two hours immersing myself in the four lands. That led to a lifelong love for anything Terry Brooks composed regarding the four lands and the Ohmsford clan. Thanks for this review. Love how your adoption story led you to a special kinship with Shea. That is very touching.
One question though, My version of the Sword of Shannara might be slightly different from yours because I went to page 81 and read the 16 line and it was a reference to a red herring. Was that correct or did I miss something?
BTW I watched your Submarine confession video and, while I get your dismay at your mistake, I noticed a similar mistake in one of the Terry Brooks Shannara tomes. Naturally I can't remember it now, but it jarred me, but it certainly did not stop me from reading his work. If I can remember the phrase I will send it to you. However, my base feeling is that you are being way to hard on yourself.
Steve
That's the correct line
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS Guess I am not as erudite as I thought I was.
You knspired me to finally try these books out - Just finished Sword today and I loved it! To me the LOTR comparisons were heavy in the first half of the book but enjoyable nonetheless. It was less aparent in the latter half of the book, where I grew to really like the characters and the journey. Looking forward to reading more!
❤️❤️❤️ I absolutely loved playing the Middle Earth CCG!!! So cool to find out you illustrated some of the cards! 🤯❤️❤️❤️
The Shannara Series has always been near and dear to my heart. It was one of the first fantasy series I ever read.
Having that said, I found SoS to be a pretty bad LOTR rip off.
Terry Brooks gets better the further you get into the his books. Elfstones is probably my fav. Wishsong is good. The second series is solid (loved druid of Shannara). The Anthrax series is good conceptually but that is where his writing style changes you can see with how he lays out his scenes he is no longer writing books and is now writing screenplays for adaptation.
Anyways...came to fanboy about the Middle Earth CCG, but thought I'd leave my 2 cents on Shannara while here.
Just bought the sword of Shannara special edition book from Amazon can't wait to finally read it thanks for the video
Fant believe this was three years ago! Going back for a re read while my friend Jackie and i 1:24 wait for your last audiobook to come out and wanted to see what you thought
I love your description of a typewriter!
I just picked up The Forgetting Moon. I have been out of reading for many years. Hopefully the journey back into it gets a nice kick with your work.
Lonesome Warrior must be influenced by the title of Lonesome Dove. Its an important vid, Brian. I am happy fr u. I will read ur books.
Good description of a typewriter :D
Isnt it tho
I done a lot of rewatches of a Shannara advenute game longplay recently! Game is made by Legend Entertainment, done a lot of interesting point 'n' click gems. Love Eric Heberlings(of Elder Scrolls I - II fame) score in the game! Very evocative and as older I got the more interested in the whole "Monomyth" theme I become.
That art book looks amazing! I can see why you became obsessed with it.
I remember that Safeway. Bought my fair share there. Thank Goodness for them. All they really had in that area.
When I see just how similar our experiences are growing up -- even the art of the Hildebrandt brothers! -- (and A Game of Thrones is what made me actually start typing out my first novel) it makes me wonder if you'd like my epic fantasy. I'm reading your second book now, which is compelling and visceral. I'm really enjoying it.
thanks!!!
Shannara is such an amazng series. I read it in the 80's as well. I read The Lord of the RIngs for the first time in 1980, which prepared me for the deluge of 80's fantasy which also includes Dragonriders of Pern and Xanth, etc. You mention how you don't feel Shannara is derivative, which seems to be a complaint from people who did not read it when it came out. To me, Shannara was one of the first Fantasy series I read, like you, so to me Terry Brooks is one of the Grandfathers of Fantasy.
Cool channel SUBBED!
You should get into RA Salvatores Forgotten Realms.. The amount of lore, action, adventure and character arcs in those stories is amazing man. I’d like to say I’m pretty well read and reading about Salvatores world is some of the most fun I’ve had reading. Drizzt is a total bad ass good guy.
I will probably review the original Forgotten Realms trilogy at some point.
Loved the prologue!
You will get there!
God I miss bookstores. They were the only reason I went to a mall after 1985.
awesome personal story! love it!
REESE WITHERSPOON!!!
Dude your book is fucking epic!!!!
thanks
TOM BOMBADIL🎉🎉🎉
I've noticed that covers for fantasy books are boring and derivative these days.
It's almost always just a close-up of a sword or another weapon on a boring background :)
Love the enthusiasm but Shea wasn't a bastard, he was an orphan.
I still have my Shannara books with the original covers as well. That cover made me go search out more work by the Hildebrandt Brothers and purchase their art books...that led me to Boris Vallejo, Michael Whelan....Larry Elmore...
I UTTERLY DESPISED the TV series...it was all "woke" with girl power and lesbianism, etc. (I'm a woman, btw)
I pronounce "Shannara" the same way...I was shocked when I heard Terry himself pronounce it since that pronunciation makes little sense to me. (shrug)
Edit: I did not know that Keith Parkinson had passed. Rest in peace.
Great comments. I agree with everything.
what is the line?
I did my research and I failed lol
That’s what I want to know
Came here for a review and 12 minutes in it's still just you talking about your own books.
That's part of my channel. With each book review I give a little writing advice and talk about that particular book influenced my own novels. Sometimes it's at the beginning of the review or middle or end.
I just rebought the first trilogy a few weeks ago. The cover drawings are awful. I miss the old ones. They looked like something our of Dungeons and Dragons. Same thing with Thomas Covenant series or Dragonlance.
So you are partly responsible for my spending over $5000 on Magic the Gathering cards. LOL
It would be nice to have had more than one woman in The Sword of Shannara. I liked the book, but it couldve been better. The one woman was more of a trophy than an actual flushed out character.
Like this guy has never heard of a library. Sus
Have you ever read wheel of time?
In comparison, Terry Brooks is a mediocre Story teller. Poor and lazy writing skills. In my opinion, drop it and ready wheel of time. Sword of shanarah is a pain to read.
SoS is better than the LotR. So much easier to read... so much more... battle scenes so awesome. Tolkien couldn't write a war scene to save his life... helms deep was three pages. Give it up for Brooks... one of, if not, the best fantasy authors ever!
Also known as lotr bad copy
You're pronouncing Shannara wrong. It's pronounced "Shăn" as in can, and then nara. Both of the n's are pronounced. This is how Terry says it.
God bless the Internet!