Paul McCarthy |
Terry is not as dry a Tolkien. His descriptive writing has more life to it. He tells a story whereas JRR sometimes seems if he is recounting history from a textbook.
The Hobbit is much better than LOTR simply because Tolkien writes in a flowing story.
The Sword of Shannara was almost an exact duplicate of The LOTR series but written in Terry's style. I recently bought the trilogy in hardcover and read the Sword (5th time) again and recently finished The Elfstones for the second time. I appreciated the Elfstones more the second time simply because I am after reading so much garbage fantasy lately that it seemed like a breath of fresh air. In many ways it is better than the Sword simply because it is TERRY's story. With three dimensional characters, a great plot, great villains, magnificent description and an ending I did not see coming it was a fine piece of fantasy work.
It was almost fifteen years since I read the Elfstones again. I remember when I was younger I enjoyed the Wishsong the most of the three books and I can't wait to dig in again.
Liam Kelly |
Thought I'd jump into this old thread rather than create a new one:
My wife just bought The Elves of Cintra for me, which is the middle book in the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. Has anyone read GoS? What did you think?
I have read the first book in the trilogy "Armageddon's Children". What do I think? Ace. I really thing that Brooks has matured as an author. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed his early stuff but he has definitely improved his writing skills, he's much better now. With this trilogy he has continued the grit of his Word and Void trilogy. Most enjoyable.
mandisaw |
I really think that Brooks has matured as an author.
I agree wholeheartedly. The most recent Shannara trilogy left me a little cold somewhere between books 2 & 3, but the Genesis trilogy has the same great pacing and good mix of hope & tragedy that I loved in the Word & Void books and in the later Landover books.
Recently I had the good fortune to see Brooks at a con panel, and he acknowledged that his writing has gotten more "angry", as a reflection of his feelings about the real world. But I think more of his true voice comes through, as opposed to trying purposely to stick to genre or fan expectations. I'm absolutely loving it.
BTW, I haven't read it yet, but the panel was pushing a graphic novel short story set in the Shannara-verse between Elfstones & Wishsong, Dark Wraith of Shannara. Sounded interesting, and if you're doing a re-read of the first trilogy, you might want to check it out.
Callous Jack |
I still consider Elfstones to be his best work, I enjoyed it so much. I haven't read the GoS stuff yet, I finally got around to reading the The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy and the High Druid of Shannara trilogy. Both were pretty good although I'm a little tired of the doomed expedition format he seems to use fairly often especially.
Dragnmoon |
I still consider Elfstones to be his best work, I enjoyed it so much. I haven't read the GoS stuff yet, I finally got around to reading the The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy and the High Druid of Shannara trilogy. Both were pretty good although I'm a little tired of the doomed expedition format he seems to use fairly often especially.
Agreed on the Elfstones... His best work..
James Laubacker |
Callous Jack wrote:I still consider Elfstones to be his best work, I enjoyed it so much. I haven't read the GoS stuff yet, I finally got around to reading the The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy and the High Druid of Shannara trilogy. Both were pretty good although I'm a little tired of the doomed expedition format he seems to use fairly often especially.Agreed on the Elfstones... His best work..
I agree, Elfstones is just great, though Wishsong is close. Running with the Demon is also excellent.
Aaron Whitley |
Elfstones was also my favorite as a kid. I stopped reading the series after the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara because I thought the series had really gone down hill. My brother recommended the Word and the Void series so I might pick those up, read then, and the continue with the newest set. Merging the two worlds seems like a neat idea with potential.
Liam Kelly |
Unfortunately, no, though it's been so long since I read Shannara, I'd have to read them again and get the essence of the stones in order to recreate the Elfstones. I think I'm going to do that.
Please do, they would be a great magic item. Powerful in a very specific way but not super powerful in general use.
Best of luck with that.
A 2E Floppy-Eared Golem |
I guess I'm here to crash the party.
I am currently reading the legendary Elfstones of Shannara, and have been rather underwhelmed. Granted, it seems to have gotten better as I've gone along, but I can't tell if the story is growing on me or if I have just resigned myself to the good-vs-evil schlock and have dulled the inner critic enough to sedately go along with the ride. I'm at about page 200. Demons are killing elves.
Callous Jack |
I guess I'm here to crash the party.
I am currently reading the legendary Elfstones of Shannara, and have been rather underwhelmed. Granted, it seems to have gotten better as I've gone along, but I can't tell if the story is growing on me or if I have just resigned myself to the good-vs-evil schlock and have dulled the inner critic enough to sedately go along with the ride. I'm at about page 200. Demons are killing elves.
Well, typically many fantasy books have the good-vs-evil bit going for them, so I'm not sure what you were hoping for in this case but I guess we all have different expectations.
A 2E Floppy-Eared Golem |
Well, typically many fantasy books have the good-vs-evil bit going for them, so I'm not sure what you were hoping for in this case but I guess we all have different expectations.
That is true to an extent. But read something by Charles de Lint, China Mieville, or Francesca Lia Block and you'll discover some different approaches to fantasy story-telling. In Perdido Street Station, it's not so much good vs. evil as it is a man obsessed with science living without a whole lot of scruples in a city with little regard for decency, democracy, or dignity, accidentally unleashing terrible, monstrous horrors out into the city. Charles de Lint places idealistic characters within stark urban landscapes, mixing in fantastic elements into an otherwise modern-day setting. Plus, they both have excellent prose styles, something which I find lacking in Elfstones.
A 2E Floppy-Eared Golem |
Callous Jack wrote:Well, typically many fantasy books have the good-vs-evil bit going for them, so I'm not sure what you were hoping for in this case but I guess we all have different expectations.Yeah...I thought people who wanted evil-vs-evil instead just read the newspaper...
No, it's not that I want "evil-vs-evil" but, really, Terry Brooks' Elfstones seems to be simplistic to me. The first fifty pages or so are full of references to the "great wars" where "good" fought "evil". To me, that's ridiculous. I don't think that people in the world go around thinking, "I want to be evil." There may be a selection of psychopaths who do this, but I don't think that in general that's how people and groups of people behave. Now I understand that in Brooks' fantasy world there are evil demons who are basically psychopathic and want to totally destroy everything and everyone except themselves.
The question may arise, "Why would someone read fantasy if they want a semblance of real-world social structures?" Well, because fantasy stuff is fun and interesting. Orcs are interesting. Extra-planar creatures are interesting. Elves are interesting, faeries are interesting! Magic and people living by their wits are exciting and interesting. What I don't think is very interesting is simplistic reductions of social forces. "Good" vs. "Evil" just doesn't strike me as very innovative or even authentic.
In the case of the Elfstones, it would be a better book in my opinion if Brooks moved away from the reductionism of "good" and "evil" and instead described the difference between elven societies and demon societies, if the demons have anything resembling societies. If they don't, and they are all a bunch of sociopathic killers, I want the author to explain to me why they haven't all ripped each others' throats out. If there is some bond between them or restriction or taboo that keeps them from doing that, that makes for interesting stories. But telling the reader that the elves are "good" and the demons "evil" makes me feel like I've stepped back to a pre-teen reading level, which perhaps is the audience a book like this is marketed to, but I'm not sure. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I read it when I was younger, but since I'm in my 30s now, I want more depth.
JoelF847 RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16 |
Mairkurion {tm} wrote:No, it's not that I want "evil-vs-evil" but, really, Terry Brooks' Elfstones seems to be simplistic to me. The first fifty pages or so are full of references to the "great wars" where "good" fought "evil". To me, that's ridiculous. I don't think that people in the world go around thinking, "I want to be evil." There may be a selection of psychopaths who do this, but I don't think that in general that's how people and groups of people behave. Now I understand that in Brooks' fantasy world there are evil demons who are basically psychopathic and want to totally destroy everything and everyone except themselves.Callous Jack wrote:Well, typically many fantasy books have the good-vs-evil bit going for them, so I'm not sure what you were hoping for in this case but I guess we all have different expectations.Yeah...I thought people who wanted evil-vs-evil instead just read the newspaper...
The references to ancient history good vs. evil wars are simply a case of the winners writing the history. Of course they're going to say that their enemies were EVIL. Now true, when those enemies are demons reality may be closer to the historical record.
As for wanting a view of demon culture, the book is pretty silent on that. They're a supernatural, metaphysical bunch of creatures escaping from their prison to do what demons do - namely kill mortals. Regardless of how true that is, it's certainly the perspective of the elves and protagonists of the story.
As for Terry Brooks' writing, this was his 2nd book, and he didn't stray far from many of the fantasy stereotypes. He does a great job though of making a really, really good version of those stereotypes. However, as he continuted the series, he grows significantly as an author. In addition, as for your desire to know more about demon culture, there is a later trillogy that deals with this quite a bit.
Xaaon of Xen'Drik |
Callous Jack wrote:Well, typically many fantasy books have the good-vs-evil bit going for them, so I'm not sure what you were hoping for in this case but I guess we all have different expectations.That is true to an extent. But read something by Charles de Lint, China Mieville, or Francesca Lia Block and you'll discover some different approaches to fantasy story-telling. In Perdido Street Station, it's not so much good vs. evil as it is a man obsessed with science living without a whole lot of scruples in a city with little regard for decency, democracy, or dignity, accidentally unleashing terrible, monstrous horrors out into the city. Charles de Lint places idealistic characters within stark urban landscapes, mixing in fantastic elements into an otherwise modern-day setting. Plus, they both have excellent prose styles, something which I find lacking in Elfstones.
[Threadjack]
Been reading Perdido Street Station...It's a great book, but there is soooo much there, I think I'll have to read it a few times to fully digest the world...had to return it to the library...(stupid holds)...just as it was getting awesome...moths...Think I'm going to pick it up at Borders if it's there this weekend with the 40% off coupon...[/Threadjack]
A 2E Floppy-Eared Golem |
The references to ancient history good vs. evil wars are simply a case of the winners writing the history. Of course they're going to say that their enemies were EVIL.
That's not exactly how it reads in the book. To me, it's the narrator flat out telling the reader, long ago, there were wars between the forces of good and the forces of evil. It's not presented as the Elves' version of history, but the reality of the world.
In addition, as for your desire to know more about demon culture, there is a later trillogy that deals with this quite a bit.
What is the name of that series? That might be something I'd read.
A 2E Floppy-Eared Golem |
Crimson Jester wrote:Well then I have a simple answer for you...don't read it.Thanks, I was beginning to come to that conclusion myself. ;)
I am going to finish it though. I mean, it's a major work of fantasy, right? I want to finish it, and be able to either appreciate it or judge it, or both. ;)
JoelF847 RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16 |
JoelF847 wrote:In addition, as for your desire to know more about demon culture, there is a later trillogy that deals with this quite a bit.What is the name of that series? That might be something I'd read.
It's the High Druid of Shannara, consisting of Jarka Ruus, Tanequil, and Straken.
mandisaw |
A 2E Floppy-Eared Golem wrote:I am going to finish it though. I mean, it's a major work of fantasy, right? I want to finish it, and be able to either appreciate it or judge it, or both. ;)Crimson Jester wrote:Well then I have a simple answer for you...don't read it.Thanks, I was beginning to come to that conclusion myself. ;)
Don't let that guide you. In some ways, IMO, "Sword" & "Elfstones" were the weakest/most simplistic of Brooks' novels, probably mostly because they were his earliest published works. If you're looking for his best work, rather than his most "classic" work, you might want to start in the middle of his career and work forward, as each sub-series is largely self-contained.
I highly recommend his "Word and Void" series if you want a more modern, fuzzy-ethics story. I may be in the minority here, but I'd say those and some of the later "Landover" books are some of his best work to-date.
On a sideways note, Gene Wolfe and Samuel Delany like to wreak havoc with high fantasy & SF genre tropes quite a bit. If you haven't yet, I'd recommend checking out their work as well.
Sunderstone |
I consider Shannara the star wars of fantasy. I love the setting of Shannara, the characters, the names etc.
After delving into (and sometimes struggling through) so many huge Epic fantasy series from GRRM, Steven Erikson etc, I found myself returning to Shannara again. Its always a relaxing great read.
I started rereading the series this year and im currently almost finished with the 2nd book of the Scions series (The Druid of Shannara). They have all been just as great now as they were back in the day.
Ive never read the Word and the Void books before, but I will after these. Then ill likely read the Genesis series.
Terry Brooks is still my favorite fantasy author.
kyrt-ryder |
As much as I love Terry Brook's work (and I do love it, I inhaled the Sword of Shanara trillogy, the King of Shanara, The Scions of Shanara, The High Druif of Shanara, AND the Genesis of Shanara) for some reason I simply could not get myself interested in Running With the Demon. It just felt so... dull to me.
Granted, I was trying to read that while waiting for the last book of the Genesis of Shanara trillogy to come out, so there was something else I was looking for, I suppose I should go back and try the series again.
To those who've asked about the Genesis of Shanara series, I won't give any major spoilers, but I will say this. It makes for one hell of an apocalyptic setting.