The Wishsong of Shannara
Ratings36
Average rating3.7
15
Ratings36
Average rating3.7
Horror stalked the Four Lands as the Ildatch, ancient source of evil, sent its ghastly Mord Wraiths to destroy Mankind. Only Druid Allanon held the magic power of wishsong that could make plants bloom instantly or turn trees from green to autumn gold. But she, too, was in mortal danger, and Ildatch waited for Brin to fall into his trap....From the Paperback edition.
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Some interesting and original characters here. It's unfortunate that the supposed heroine needs so much support, but the young hero character pulls through.
Argh. DNF at about page 420 of 500 (original mass market paperback, printed in 1988). I just can't bring myself to finish this book.
Bad stuff is always happening in Shannara. Dark Lords always seem to be resurfacing. Some teenagers are home alone for the weekend and when they should be partying, a dude in a cloak comes along and tells them (a) there's a dark lord resurfacing, (b) only you can stop him, and (c) your parents won't mind at all if you come with me and risk your lives using forbidden magic. He's kinda like the Cat in the Hat. I was willing to let that go, but after 400 pages it's just too much. This is the kind of wish fulfillment people are talking about when they say “eighties fantasy.” These teenagers are the only ones who can save this world that always seems to need saving.
Now, if I read this in 1988 or even 1992, that would be fine. We weren't drowning in fantasy then. Terry Brooks, Mercedes Lackey and Dragonlance were pretty much all you could find. I'm just telling you not to expect depth. Not even the depth of Elfstones of Shannara. I will still read Terry Brooks, but I don't know that I'll commit if it looks like this again.
It's kind of like a nice re-telling of the Sword of Shannara. The plot's mostly interchangeable here and there. While the brother and sister protagonists this time around has good characterisation, it's disappointing to note that again, the story's obviously very influenced by other similar literature, progressing in an almost very typical adventure quest style. But there are some good moments towards the end. Overall, don't go nitpicking the plot or the details and it'll be good for some light reading.
Series
3 primary books4 released booksThe Original Shannara Trilogy is a 4-book series with 3 primary works first released in 1977 with contributions by Terry Brooks.
Series
31 primary books35 released booksShannara (Chronological Order) is a 35-book series with 31 primary works first released in 1976 with contributions by Terry Brooks.
Series
31 primary books34 released booksShannara (Publication Order) is a 37-book series with 32 primary works first released in 1976 with contributions by Terry Brooks and Silvia Stefani.
Series
32 primary books34 released booksShannara - Terry's Suggested Order for New Readers is a 34-book series with 32 primary works first released in 1976 with contributions by Terry Brooks, Elena Dezani Trucco, and Anna Tamagno Gea.
