2015 Group Read discussions: April 2015 *The Sword of Shannara* Roll Call/Initial Impressions **No Spoilers**

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

Who will be joining our runner up read this month?
The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks.

[Lioth]

How can I miss this ?
Sword of Shannara it's the second fantasy book that I read in 199x.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

Back then...I was grateful for another Tolkienesque book.
;)

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

Well...I read it in the 70's
;)
shhhhhh...

[Lioth]

Ooh, Reading books in the crib.
You are very precocious.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

;D

[Margret]

I haven't read it yet! Have it sitting on my bookshelf ready

[Margret]

I haven't read it yet! Have it sitting on my bookshelf ready

[Kyra]

Ooh, I read this when I was in high school, when it first came out. Loved it! Lots of fun. Yeah, Tolkienesque, but at the time there was a lot less available so we were glad to get whatever we could find. I think I actually read it at least two or three times. Too much on my reading list now to join in, but I hope everyone else reading has as much fun as I did back then!

[Rob]

This was my second fantasy book ever read (age 12?). First was "Three Hearts, Three Lions" Poul Anderson. I remember that THTL was a thin book, so when I walked into the bookseller (Waldenbooks for those who remember), I picked up the THICKEST book I could find in the fantasy section, and it happen to be The Sword of Shanara. I wish I would have picked up Tolkien but who cares! I had fun with it, I'm not sure if I remember much about it... Except the names of a few Characters... hmmm

[Katy]

Oh yes, it's been over 30 years since I last read it.

[Tnkw01]

Love seeing all the fond memories of this book. I too read this in the 70s. I am looking forward to reading again. What I remember most about the tale was all the great art by the Brothers Hildebrant.

[Katy]

Tnkw01 wrote: "Love seeing all the fond memories of this book. I too read this in the 70s. I am looking forward to reading again. What I remember most about the tale was all the great art by the Brothers Hildebrant."

You can find many of these paintings online:

[Kyra]

Tnkw01 wrote: "Love seeing all the fond memories of this book. I too read this in the 70s. I am looking forward to reading again. What I remember most about the tale was all the great art by the Brothers Hildebrant."

Oh, yeah, I loved the art. And there was even a comic strip of it in the paper, telling the whole story in comics form. I cut those out and pasted them in a scrapbook (long gone, now) so I could read them over and over again.

[Kyra]

Rob wrote: "This was my second fantasy book ever read (age 12?). First was "Three Hearts, Three Lions" Poul Anderson. I remember that THTL was a thin book, so when I walked into the bookseller (Waldenbooks f..."

Yeah, I think I also picked it up because it was nice and thick, and had great cover art, and the story sounded cool. (And yes, I remember Waldenbooks! Little bookstores at the mall, but I could usually find something interesting in the fantasy section.)

[Tnkw01]

Thanks Kathy for the picture. When I saw it a lot of memories came flooding back. I hope we can read The Elfstones Of Shannara as one of our books of the month sometime in the future. From what I understand, MTV is going to make a tv series based on this book.

[Rob]

Kyra wrote: "Rob wrote: "This was my second fantasy book ever read (age 12?). First was "Three Hearts, Three Lions" Poul Anderson. I remember that THTL was a thin book, so when I walked into the bookseller (W..."

Ha... yeah the cover art was a winner for me as well. The small art piece posted above makes me wonder how close this novel really is to TLOTR. Look to reread this book starting tomorrow? Holiday weekend... may have to wait until Monday.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

This was my first fantasy book (not including Magic Faraway Tree :)) I don't know how I had money as we didn't get any often, but I saw it in Woolworths, mum went mad that I'd wasted my money on a book.

I raced through it, then snuck out and got book two. And there began my love affair with fantasy, ah good times.

Our sister group will be reading the first three books in the next few months.

[Shadowdenizen]

I actually have been re-reading the Shannara series chronologically from scatch, beginning with the Genesis of Shannara trilogy.

It's been interesting seeing Brooks' style/method of writing progress, and I'm looking forward to getting to the Sword trilogy (Currently reading "First King of Shannara, which is the direct preqeul to the Sword trilogy), to see how it holds up to the more recently written books.

I've read it a number of times over the years, but it must be more than a decade since I've read it last.

[Amy]

I love how many people got into fantasy via Shannara. :) I was just the same, although sometime in the late '90s, I think. Funnily enough, it was the cover that also attracted me, although a completely different cover to the one a lot of you guys are talking about.

Anyway, I'm not sure I'll have time to read it this month, but I look forward to the discussion, even though I think The Elfstones Of Shannara is the better book. ;)

[Tracey the Lizard Queen]

I read this one about a year ago and thought it was ok, not enough for me to pick it up again though or continue with the series. Am I missing out?

[Yordan]

Hmm, one of my first fantasy novels. I don't think I'll join you this month tho - I really liked it as a kid but I suspect I won't like it now, so I'll pass. Have fun!

[Melissa]

Loved this book. Decided to re-read the whole lot again

[Bev]

Tracey wrote: "I read this one about a year ago and thought it was ok, not enough for me to pick it up again though or continue with the series. Am I missing out?"

The first couple of books are a little simple but Brooks does develop the series over the years explaining the link between the present and future.

Worthwjile hanging in there.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

Totally agree Bev, I reread the series a few years ago after an op, enjoyed it thoroughly.

[R.M.]

I have this one, so I'll read it. When I'm done I'll see if I can't find Vance's book since that is the main one for the month.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

I've read this...and will follow along, but if anyone wishes to help take the lead, let me know.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

I have heard it said, that this book is a ripoff from Tolkien's Middle Earth.

This never bothered me. I think there are artists that will always give inspiration to others. Nothing is truly original any more.
;)

Anyone have thoughts on this?

[Tnkw01]

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I have heard it said, that this book is a ripoff from Tolkien's Middle Earth.

This never bothered me. I think there are artists that will always give inspiration to others. Nothing is truly origin..."

Brenda, I really don't understand why the so called "Tolkien rip offs" are such a big deal. I love the Sword of Shannara and I really love The Iron Tower Omnibus By Dennis McKiernan. Tolkien was a genius and I believe it's been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. With that in mind it would seem that Tolkien has been flattered many times over.

On another note, another interesting read is The Last Ringbearer by Kirill Yeskov. It tells the story of LOTR from the other side.

[Shadowdenizen]

[quote]On another note, another interesting read is The Last Ringbearer by Kirill Yeskov. It tells the story of LOTR from the other side.[/quote]

SOunds interesting! Was it ever translated to English? I can't seem to find a translated copy anywhere [though my Google-fu admittedly is weak.]

I'm a big fan of that concept, though; we played in a "Midnight" RPG campaign for YEARS after Fantasy Fligth released it. (Think "Lord of the Rings", if Sauron had won..)

I generally don't mind the Tolkien pastiches; though I'm FAR more conscious of it now, as an adult, than when I first read the Shannara (and Iron Tower) stuff when I was a child.

I'm finishing First King now, so I'll just have to try to read Sword with a clear mind.

[Tnkw01]

To the Mods,

Is it ok to post a link to the page where one can get the Last Ringbearer? It's the only place I know one can get it in English and it's free. If not I'll understand.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

Sure

[Joseph]

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I have heard it said, that this book is a ripoff from Tolkien's Middle Earth.

This never bothered me. I think there are artists that will always give inspiration to others. Nothing is truly origin..."

It's not just that it was inspired by Tolkien -- it was, I think, the first really big, successful fantasy novel that very consciously riffed on Tolkien and, together with D&D, helped cement the whole elf/dwarf/Dark Lord paradigm for generations of fantasy readers, for better or for worse.

As far as retelling from the other side, I like Jacqueline Carey's Banewreaker books.

[Tnkw01]

Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "Sure"

This is where one can find it. It's really an interesting read.

http://ymarkov.livejournal.com/270570...

and then click in the "I now offer this work for your perusal" link.

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

And you could even ppst again in the recommendations folder if you like.
:)

[Tnkw01]

Will do, thanks.

[Amy]

Joseph wrote: "Brenda ╰☆╮ wrote: "I have heard it said, that this book is a ripoff from Tolkien's Middle Earth.

This never bothered me. I think there are artists that will always give inspiration to others. N..."

Banewreaker is a really interesting book and one I enjoyed a great deal. What I found particularly interesting about its early pages was that Carey is one of the few authors I've come across who - for me, at least - successfully captures the formal style of the Silmarillion (and to a lesser extent LotR), without it coming across as overwrought.

On the topic of Shannara, I tend to find Brooks isn't mentioned as much as other, similar writers like Jordan or Feist. Perhaps his work just isn't as fashionable, or maybe it's not as complex, but for such an influential writer in fantasy, he doesn't seem to get as much attention.

[Shadowdenizen]

I"m definietly going to check out Banewreaker; sounds right up my alley from the way you guys describe it!

[Margret]

About 200 pages in.. I haven't decided if I can look past the whole using LOTR as your outline and then changing a few minor details thing... Less scenery heavy, and at least there isn't pages upon pages of Elven- songs that I have no goddamn clue what they're singing!

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

lol

[Evan]

A little late to post here, but I still haven't finished this book. I feel like everything just falls into our heroes laps as they need it. Have not yet made it out of the Dwarven town they encounter.
=[

[Shadowdenizen]

Stick with it! :)

It's worth the read, since it sets the stage for the larger world of Shannara, and the other two books in that first trilogy (Elfstones and Wishsong) are both quite good!

[Brenda ╰☆╮]

Never to late to post, Evan!
:)