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The Sword of Shannara Trilogy

Questions About The Sword of Shannara Trilogy

by Terry Brooks (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (5)

My 9 year old son has started reading this. I'm curious if there are any adult themes in this book like the kinds of things that show up in a series like Game of Thrones or Hunger Games? He is familiar with the Lord of the Rings and has read the first 5 Harry Potter Books.
John Leitzke It depends on your definition of "adult". If by adult you mean sex, then no. If by adult you mean: accepting your responsibilities, defending whats ri…moreIt depends on your definition of "adult". If by adult you mean sex, then no. If by adult you mean: accepting your responsibilities, defending whats right and good even though you aren't immediately involved, taking care of those in need, fighting for the greater good; then yes. These themes really come out in the 2nd book, Elf Stones. The Sword is your pretty much standard (at times silly) hero with a sword fantasy. Brooks has said he achieved a lot of maturity in re-writing Elf Stones from his initial draft.(less)
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Can anyone address why the trilogy book is 1200 pages, but the first three books total over 1700 pages?
Stephanie The print in the trilogy is pretty tiny, so that would be my guess.
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Are the books considered young adult?
Stephanie I would say it's considered fantasy adventure. I would not look for it in a YA section at the book store, but see no reason why it wouldn't be for tha…moreI would say it's considered fantasy adventure. I would not look for it in a YA section at the book store, but see no reason why it wouldn't be for that age group. (less)
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Who else, thinks that apart from the first part the rest of the book borrows less and less from LOTR series?
Jerrodm It's been a couple of decades since I read these all the way through as a boy - I'm currently half-way through the second book in the series with my o…moreIt's been a couple of decades since I read these all the way through as a boy - I'm currently half-way through the second book in the series with my own sons - but I think that's right. In fact, I think Brooks himself said that he started off to write a reimagining of Middle-Earth, but taking off from the idea that it's a post-apocalyptic Earth, where the different races are the products of differential mutation or other pressures brought on by the fallout of a global nuclear war. Obviously there are other differences as well, namely that magic exists!

But yes, I do think the subsequent stories expand the world of the Shannara series away from the direct debt to LOTR, and towards being its own world. Of course it's still strongly influenced by Middle Earth in terms of the characteristics of the races, the types of weaponry, clothing, etc. But I think that's natural given the starting point. What's interesting is that in a later series (The Word and Void series) Brooks ties this world directly to our own present-day world. I remember being totally blown away by that as a kid reading these through!(less)
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Has anybody heard of any plans to make movies out of this series?
William Middleton Show is titled The Cronicles of Shannara. 1st season is over. You can find it online at http://www.mtv.com/shows/shannara
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