The Sword of Shannara Trilogy [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

In the Sword of Shannara, we learn of Shea Ohmsford & his brother Flick in quiet Shady Vale in the Four Lands...an area virtually sheltered from the rest of the Country, and one where manifestations of dark magic rarely (if ever) come to light. But one day the peace that Shea & Flick have known all their lives is suddenly shattered when Allanon, last of the magical Druids stops to talk specifically to Shea about his bloodline and how he is the last of the Shannara line who can wield the fabled Sword of Shannara against the Warlock Lord. One of the reasons I LOVE this novel was the beginning where Allanon relates a great deal of history of the Four Lands and the creation of the Sword to destroy the former Druid, Brona. The story is quite detailed all without losing the urgency for the need of Shea to act quickly. Reluctantly Shea takes off on the adventure of a thousand lifetimes to help rid the world of the Warlock Lord on his quest to subjugate all within the Four Lands.

The Elfstones is personally my favorite of all the fantastic Shannara novels. If you read the original Sword you know that the Elfstones were given to Shea Ohmsford, and subsequently passed on down until Wil Ohmsford now has them. Again Allanon makes an unscheduled surprising visit to convince young Wil that his help is absolutely VITAL to help in banishing the hordes of demons who are about to pour into the Four Lands. What many just don't realize is that the sacred tree, The Ellcry's was created thousands of years before by Elvin Magic to banish the demons behind a magical wall called the Forbidding. The Ellcrys is finally beginning to die out, and chooses one of its caretakers to go on a quest to restore it back to life...all with the help of Allanon and Wil Ohmsford and the Elfstones. This quest is simply fantastic. Allanon makes his most visible appearance in the Elfstones helping to lead an army of Elves against the onslaught of demons breaking free of the failing wall of the Forbidding into the Four Lands. The battle scenes are incredible and tremendously entertaining. Simply one of the greatest Fantasy stories in print in this, or any other generation.

The Wishsong is mighty close to the Elfstones, but falls short by a tiny margin. Again a decendant of the house Ohmsford is asked (again) by Allanon to assist in helping the Four Lands battle a new incarnation of evil. Mord Wraiths have control of the Ildatch, ancient tome of evil magic, and are using it to poison the Four Lands, beginning with the Eastland. This time our protagonist isn't a man, or even a boy. SHE'S an Ohmsford, but Brin is anything but your typical girl. She was born with the gift of the Wishsong (or curse, depending on how you look at it). Brin & her younger brother, Jair have this gift, which manifests itself differently in each of them. There are many memorable characters introduced in the Wishsong, including Slanter the Dwarf, Garret Jax the Weapon's Master and Kimber Boh (yes, related to Walker Boh, future Druid). Both Brin AND Jair begin a journey to help destroy the Ildatch -- but separately -- Brin believing she left her young brother home, and Jair believing that somehow he MUST help Brin otherwise her quest with Allanon is doomed to fail.

ALL 3 stories are incredible tales told to near perfection. Recently I read an interview with Terry Brooks when he was asked if he is a better writer today than he was when he first started 25 years ago. He responded by saying, (in effect) 'I'm a better writer, but not necessarily a better storyteller' and while his writing improves with each tale, he has been hard pressed to improve upon his first three books. Epic Fantasy done RIGHT... THIS is what Fantasy is ALL about.