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sparksofember's review against another edition
2.0
Too Lord-of-the-Rings ripoff but apparently that was what the publisher demanded at the time. It wasn't bad - just very long and I don't tend to like epic-journey stories. It got more interesting once things started to actually happen. I don't really get why Shea was so special and the only one who could use the sword - seems a bit shortsighted of his people, imo. I've heard the series gets more interesting and less LOTR in the sequel.
whatsisface's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
800slim's review against another edition
4.0
an epic quest to save the world from evil...
short plot description: after a cataclysmic event in the past different races (dwarves, gnomes, trolls, elfs) and magic have returned to Earth and all high technology has been lost. We follow the events when Shea Ohmsford, a half-elf who lives peacefully in Shady Vale becomes aware that he is the last heir to the House of Shannara and only he can wield a weapon to destroy the evil which threatens to enslave all of Earth. Woefully unprepared and chased by evil minions he embarks together with his human brother Flick on a quest which will decide the fate of the world...
my thoughts: Brooks borrows (very) heavily from Tolkien's LOTR, sometimes too much for my liking. Nevertheless the setting is intriguing, plot and characters do serve their purpose. Not many surprises here if you've read epic quest fantasy before (though the "lost technology"-setting is well done).
my advice: one of the better entries in a genre which has seen too many Tolkien wannabes.
short plot description: after a cataclysmic event in the past different races (dwarves, gnomes, trolls, elfs) and magic have returned to Earth and all high technology has been lost. We follow the events when Shea Ohmsford, a half-elf who lives peacefully in Shady Vale becomes aware that he is the last heir to the House of Shannara and only he can wield a weapon to destroy the evil which threatens to enslave all of Earth. Woefully unprepared and chased by evil minions he embarks together with his human brother Flick on a quest which will decide the fate of the world...
my thoughts: Brooks borrows (very) heavily from Tolkien's LOTR, sometimes too much for my liking. Nevertheless the setting is intriguing, plot and characters do serve their purpose. Not many surprises here if you've read epic quest fantasy before (though the "lost technology"-setting is well done).
my advice: one of the better entries in a genre which has seen too many Tolkien wannabes.
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. I read this book years ago now, so many that I only remembered a couple of the characters, and nothing else. My first read left me slightly angry, because it had copied so much of Tolkien's ideas.
I read this again, with a hope to read more of the series.
I read this again, with a hope to read more of the series.
aspeng's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The first (and only) female character is introduced almost 500 pages into the book, and she is never given a personality or motivation beyond being rescued. Literally I can’t even recall a mention of a woman in a scene description. Somehow this is an entirely male world. In general I found the characters flat, with the exception of Keltset and Panamon. I would read more about troll society but that’s it for me. I know this early Terry Brooks but I’m not encouraged to try more
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
I'm afraid I have to throw in the towel on this one.
This review was supposed to begin with a fun story about how I had run into a geeky night school classmate in the grocery store over 30 years ago and, noticing I had a bag of books I had just bought, went on and on and on about the Shannara series. And how, over 30 years later, I decided to finally try Sword of Shannara.
I had read all the knocks about Brooks' novel being similar in some ways to Lord of the Rings, but that didn't sway me. Heck, you could blame any fantasy writer for borrowing on some of those themes. It's like blaming every mystery writer for ripping off Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What did encourage me to read Brooks was that although Sword of Shannara had some faults, the rest of his trilogy is reportedly far superior.
So I thought I'd barge through this one since I really needed a change and wanted to get some fun escapism into a rich fantasy world.
For the first couple of hundred pages or so, I was really liking this and I was finding the slams on Brooks to be unfair. There was enough of his own ideas and to be honest, my reading experience was easier compared to LOTR all those years ago.
It was into the 400s that my momentum stalled. It was getting terribly monotonous with the travelling (something I had also had to force myself through in LOTR), and I found the writing was becoming dull. There were brief exchanges of dialogue which were reliefs but dull narrative would take over again.
Finally, looking at page 468 with the prospect of almost 300 pages yet to go, I have decided that I have had enough. My excitement and interest has worn out and I'm just tired.
I will look for a synopsis online of what happened.
I did have low expectations, so no major disappointment. When I get the old school fantasy urge again I may pick up the next book.
This review was supposed to begin with a fun story about how I had run into a geeky night school classmate in the grocery store over 30 years ago and, noticing I had a bag of books I had just bought, went on and on and on about the Shannara series. And how, over 30 years later, I decided to finally try Sword of Shannara.
I had read all the knocks about Brooks' novel being similar in some ways to Lord of the Rings, but that didn't sway me. Heck, you could blame any fantasy writer for borrowing on some of those themes. It's like blaming every mystery writer for ripping off Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What did encourage me to read Brooks was that although Sword of Shannara had some faults, the rest of his trilogy is reportedly far superior.
So I thought I'd barge through this one since I really needed a change and wanted to get some fun escapism into a rich fantasy world.
For the first couple of hundred pages or so, I was really liking this and I was finding the slams on Brooks to be unfair. There was enough of his own ideas and to be honest, my reading experience was easier compared to LOTR all those years ago.
It was into the 400s that my momentum stalled. It was getting terribly monotonous with the travelling (something I had also had to force myself through in LOTR), and I found the writing was becoming dull. There were brief exchanges of dialogue which were reliefs but dull narrative would take over again.
Finally, looking at page 468 with the prospect of almost 300 pages yet to go, I have decided that I have had enough. My excitement and interest has worn out and I'm just tired.
I will look for a synopsis online of what happened.
I did have low expectations, so no major disappointment. When I get the old school fantasy urge again I may pick up the next book.
jmvincent91's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
christie_esau's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know how to review this book because the story wasn't bad and I enjoyed reading it, but my brain kept sounding a "DERIVATIVE TOLKIEN!" alarm.
pemdas97's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jsheil1's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This was a really good fantasy book. Will I read more from this author, probably. However, my list of to read books is very long. But this book was very well written. I enjoyed the story immensely.