r/shannara Aug 31 '16

WELCOME TO SHANNARA!

49 Upvotes

Welcome to the home of Shannara on Reddit!

My name is Shawn Speakman and I am the 20-year webmaster and friend of author Terry Brooks. I maintain all of his social media hubs and think he has the best fans in the genre. This sub-reddit has been created to discuss the Shannara books as well as the new TV series, The Shannara Chronicles.

I have been reading Terry's work since I picked up The Sword of Shannara when I was 13 years old. Since then, I have read everything, and these days I continuity edit every novel that is published.

In my spare time, I also write fantasy, Terry calling my debut novel, The Dark Thorn, a "fine tale by a talented writer." I am also the editor of Unfettered, the bestselling fantasy anthology.

I hope you will spend some time here and enjoy discussing this amazing literary world that Terry has created! Cheers!


r/shannara 6d ago

An aspect of Terry's writing missing (deliberately?) from Brona (vague story spoilers for all of the Shannara series inside) Spoiler

10 Upvotes

Most of Terry's stories feature a couple P.o.V. chapters for antagonists.

Sword: A couple chapters where we see the view of the Warlock Lord.

Elfstones: Dagda Mor focused chapters

Wishsong: I don't recall any, but it has been a while since I revisited Wishsong

Heritage: Rimmer Dall

First King: I think the assault on the Druid keep is Warlock Lord P.o.V.

Voyage: While I don't immediately recall anything from the Morgwar's P.o.V., we get the Isle Witch, Antrax, and Sen Dunsidan.

High Druid: More Dunsidan and Shadea a'Ru

Genesis: Demon/Findo Gask P.o.V.

Legends: Can't think of anything specific for Bearers of the Black Staff, but we get some Ragman P.o.V. in The Measure of Magic

Dark Legacy: Nothing I recall from the Straken Lord, but more Fedetation antagonistic P.o.V.

Defenders: Arcannen

Fall: Between infiltrators and traiter Druids, we have our villain P.o.V. filled.

Galaphile: Sections from the P.o.V. of the Spectre Telle.

Brona: Nothing. This could just be Delilah S. Dawson writing style is she doesn't include antagonist P.o.V. It could also be with the subject of Brona, including an antagonists P.o.V. would take away from Brona's journey to who/what he becomes.

I'd be curious to hear what Delilah's thought process were with regards to this specific feature of writing.


r/shannara 7d ago

What to read next after First King.

7 Upvotes

I'm nearing the end of my first read through of First King of Shannara. I've been following Terry's suggested reading order from https://www.goodreads.com/series/99160-shannara---terry-s-suggested-order-for-new-readers

I know a lot of people recommend reading the publication order and I notice that no where in Terrys reading order does he mention the Word & Void series. He recommends going into the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara after First King and I don't see the Word & Void books anywhere in his recommended reading order.

So for people who have read everything, should I divert from Terrys recommended reading order and start the Word & Void series after First King or continue with Terrys reading order and move into the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series and start the Word & Void series somewhere else ?


r/shannara 19d ago

What are some aspects of the world/writing/story you've found frustrating/annoying?

13 Upvotes

r/shannara 20d ago

The depth of Par Ohmsford

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8 Upvotes

I have my opinions on Par, but it just occurred to me to dig into his core ethos. Maybe you already put these pieces together, but Parmenides wrote about different realities, permanent and transient, and it seems to fit really well. What do you think?


r/shannara 24d ago

A need for more cross generational storytelling.

25 Upvotes

First, please allow me to gush 🥰.

I just wanted to say how refreshing the Shannara series is. Admittedly, when I first started reading it, I hated the structure of the series. The leapfrogging across generations kinda upset me. I'd grown to love the characters and couldn't bear leaving them behind, so when I picked up the next book and found that 300 years had passed, it was hard to stomach. However, as time goes on and I work my way further through the series, I appreciate Brooks' creativity in this respect. Authors tend to drag a series on using the same characters in the same era. It's kinda boring and completely unrealistic. Fair enough you stay with the characters you love, but their personalities change over time, they manipulate them to keep things fresh, and in the end the characters are no longer the same as the ones you first loved. It just isn't believable either that major high stake events would repeatedly keep occurring in the same generation. Anyway, I like that Brooks gives you characters you can really root for, puts them in challenging once in a generation situations and then walks away from them and lets them just live off-page. You get to keep those fond memories you have of them because nothing can change and you learn little nuggets of what became of them through conversation in later series. Very clever!

I was curious, do you think there should be more cross-generational storytelling like this? Do you find it more refreshing than the standard style of writing?


r/shannara 25d ago

Brona Signing Events with Terry Brooks

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14 Upvotes

Terry asked me to post his event dates/times for BRONA. Visit his website for more details.


r/shannara 26d ago

The Elf Queen

0 Upvotes

Heritage of Shannara already pretty low on the list, but good lord it has been really hard to sit through this without yelling at these dumbass characters.

Which book does this to you?


r/shannara 28d ago

I have dumb problem and need some convincing

1 Upvotes

Hopefully without spoilers, i just finished the High Druid of Shannara trilogy and started the Genesis of Shanara and i dont have fun reading it. Dont like the modern setting and yes i know how it fits in the complete saga. But reading it feels like a chore. Help :P


r/shannara Aug 01 '26

Pre-order Now: BRONA Signed By Terry Brooks

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46 Upvotes

Sharing that I ordered about 800 copies of BRONA from Penguin Random House this last week. I realized I hadn't really done any publicity about Terry signing at The Signed Page, so I thought I'd better do that this weekend. Terry will also be stopping by the warehouse this Monday to sign more copies of the Shannara trilogy hardcovers, FYI.


r/shannara Jul 31 '26

When chronologicaly would you set a Shannara Tabletop RPG?

14 Upvotes

Possibly (if you know, you know) going to be doing a D&D campaign and have been thinking of setting it in the world of Shannara. I already have my time period in mind, but wondering what other people's thoughts are and what those reasons are.


r/shannara Jul 31 '26

I'm up to the Voyage trilogy, so could I read Galaphile and Brona?

6 Upvotes

I really want to read Galaphile and Brona (upcoming) as these early stages in the Shannara timeline really interest me, however, I've only read the SoS Trilogy, Heritage quartet and first king. Do you think I'd be able to read these 2 new books or should I continue reading them in publication order?

Thanks for your advice?


r/shannara Jul 30 '26

Galaphile is $1.99 for kindle on amazon

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38 Upvotes

I'm sure most of you have already bought and read it, but for those who haven't, now's the time to go.


r/shannara Jul 30 '26

Question about the Black Staff

11 Upvotes

Today i finished reading Galaphile, and started wondering abput all the connection between the various Shannara series and the recurring artifacts and i found myself wondering: What happened to the Black Staff after Panterra Qu got it? I don't remember if it's stated in "The Measure of Magic" or if it just "vanishes" after Panterra Qu dies


r/shannara Jul 29 '26

New Illustrated Shannara Compendium

16 Upvotes

Now that the Shannara series has ended. (on Terry's end at least) I've been hankering for a better illustrated compendium. Like if Darrell K. Sweet was still alive and drew it. I feel ripped off by the one that exists. Anyone else want another? Feel the same? Different?


r/shannara Jul 19 '26

Did Panamon Creel start the Border Legion?

25 Upvotes

After finishing my nteenth read of Sword of Shannara and Elfstones of Shannara, I realized that it's very possible that Panamon Creel was given command of the first Free Corps, while Balinor was still alive and King. The Free Corps ideals sound like something Creel would suggest, giving men (and presumably women) who want to live life for something other than themselves a way to do that honorably.

Edited - updated Border Legion to Free Corps


r/shannara Jul 17 '26

Skull Bearer made by me

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26 Upvotes

r/shannara Jul 10 '26

Character fan art?

6 Upvotes

Any sauce on some depictions of post apocalyptic elves, trolls (all kinds?), gnomes, etc? My imagination is pretty good, but I’m curious


r/shannara Jul 07 '26

Feeling Hawkish

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29 Upvotes

If anyone wants, here’s the trail to the plateau of Paranor, it is a bit hawk-shaped. Other picture of the Four Lands, Paranor at the center.


r/shannara Jul 08 '26

Question for those with Audible

1 Upvotes

I just subscribed to Audible Standard with one month free only to discover there have been some major changes. If I am correct, the books in Plus are now rent and there is an expration date to them and the books in Plus are not mine?


r/shannara Jul 07 '26

What am I missing?

18 Upvotes

A few months ago I started to do a re-read. I never read all the books and stopped after Straken. Now, I am reading Druid of Shannara and in the first pages I am reading that the gardens in wihch the king of the Silver River was given to him by The Word. Did I forgot in the previous novels that The Word was mentioned? And if so, in what book was it mentioned?


r/shannara Jun 15 '26

Where is Parrish Rahn and Well’s Haven?

8 Upvotes

Im reading Galaphile and I was looking on the map in the book for both of these. They are in the South and to the east is Leah and it is huddled on a river. Maybe it is half way down the river on the north bank east of Myrain Lake? It’s kinda irritating this is the setting at the start of the book and it isn’t marked on the map 🤷🏻‍♂️


r/shannara Jun 08 '26

Need help identifying this edition - The Sword of Shannara

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98 Upvotes

I am at a loss for identifying the edition of The Sword of Shannara. I love this copy I found. Please help.


r/shannara Jun 08 '26

Does Galaphile have a good ending to the series?

10 Upvotes

Terry Brooks said that this was going to be his last book. And that he would pass the torch to Delilah Dawson. Does he still intend to co-author the sequels or maybe he wants to give imput, but not actually writing anything?

If the answer is not known, just tell me if the book Galaphile has a good ending to the series.


r/shannara May 28 '26

Allanon vs Dagda Mor, oil on canvas, me, private commission

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121 Upvotes