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grogu_djarin's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall Thoughts:
People have mapped characters and scenes from this book to the Lord of the Rings and it's easy to see the parallels when reading it, however it does introduce some original ideas (notably a post-apocalyptic setting) and the story is at its best when it happens, unfortunately it doesn't happen often enough. In its place, much of the book feels like a generic high fantasy retelling of the Lord of the Rings, and I was often frustrated how often plot points resolved themselves due to the power of plot convenience. In a way, it feels like following a weekly Dungeons and Dragons campaign, with a new enemy eachweek chapter, with whatever trouble the party is in needing to be wrapped up quickly so everyone can go home for the night. That said, it's at least an entertaining read for most of it, though it does have some slow parts, often during pages of exposition and info dumping on the world, its history, and the environment.
People have mapped characters and scenes from this book to the Lord of the Rings and it's easy to see the parallels when reading it, however it does introduce some original ideas (notably a post-apocalyptic setting) and the story is at its best when it happens, unfortunately it doesn't happen often enough. In its place, much of the book feels like a generic high fantasy retelling of the Lord of the Rings, and I was often frustrated how often plot points resolved themselves due to the power of plot convenience. In a way, it feels like following a weekly Dungeons and Dragons campaign, with a new enemy each
Likes:
- While it follows many of the beats of Lord of the Rings, where it's best is when it has original ideas. In particular, the characters of Panamon Creel and Keltset stood out.
- While only a few of the characters have any character development, I thought Flick's character arc was the best, with Menion Leah close behind.
- I liked the twist concerning the Sword of Shannara and how it was used.
- It was an entertaining read if nothing else.
Dislikes:
- There are pages of exposition and info dumping on the world mixed throughout the book. Allanon is especially guilty of this.
- Many of the situations the characters get into feel like "villain of the week" but in this case "villain of the chapter" and it often feels like the main cast has plot armor because they get out of the situations due to extreme luck more often than not.
- Most of the characters are shallow and one-dimensional and could be used interchangeably in many parts. Frequently they aren't even called by their names, rather generic descriptors such as "the dwarf" or "the highlander". There's also only one woman in the book which makes the world feel one-dimensional.
- Maybe because it was one of the first published fantasy books after Lord of the Rings, but much of it feels like generic fantasy. The bad guy is largely called "the Warlock Lord" and he lives in "Skull Mountain" and his minions are the "Skull Bearers". Also the setting of man, elf, and dwarf pitched against gnomes and trolls feels very generic and none of the races are explored much.
Other Notes:
- This book has a strange identity. While it feels closest to high fantasy (especially since it's largely a Lord of the Rings clone), the post-apocalyptic setting sets it apart. I just wish they had explored that aspect more because the vast majority of the book feels high fantasy with a slight identity crisis whenever the post-apocalyptic setting comes up.
Would Recommend To:
- This is probably a good book for a kid or teen to read as entry into fantasy. While there are better fantasy stories, it would be a good introduction to the worlds of swords and sorcery.
Do Not Recommend To:
- Someone wanting a strong fantasy story. It's fairly shallow and parallels quite a lot of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
jobananers's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the characters and the plot, but the writing at times was overwhelming with its descriptions of the landscapes/environment of the characters. I think it would have been better to spend more time advancing the plot than detailing the environment, but I still enjoyed the book.
strawberry2109's review against another edition
The story was ok but I did not like the writing
pague's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
weechito's review against another edition
3.0
It’s hard to review a book that is so intertwined with my introduction to and love for an entire genre. My foundational fantasy authors were Weis and Hickman (their Darksword series, specifically), but soon enough a friend introduced me to Terry Brooks by giving me a copy of The Sword of Shannara for my birthday. I hadn’t experienced Tolkien at this point, and this first book sucked me right in. The world was massive, there were suggestions that it took place not in some mysterious medieval world but rather in our own future, and the quest was twisty and turny in ways that my young mind had never before encountered. When I finally did get around to reading Lord of the Rings, I noticed the obvious similarities, but I was genuinely bored. Tolkien did it first, I thought, but Brooks did it better.
Fast forward. Years later, here I am, giving it another read, and I find myself torn. Is this an obvious retelling of Tolkien? Mostly yes. Is the writing overwrought and even clumsy in places? Again yes (but I’m pretty forgiving of that—“good” writing is important, but so is a good story. You can’t polish a turd, as the saying goes. Tolstoy himself couldn’t fix the Twilight series. Early Brooks may not be the best writer there ever was, but he’s serviceable, and he would go on to prove with the second book in this series that a good story adequately told is sometimes plenty good enough). Is the “futuristic” setting just a gloss over what is still essentially Yet Another Medieval Europe? Sure.
But all that aside, this is still a fun book. Sure, Tolkien did it first and (I admit now) better, but I’m always game for a fast paced piece of popcorn entertainment. This is about as popcorn as 70’s and 80’s fantasy gets. It’s a quick read, despite its size, and it’s fun. And I can’t help but remember how it got me into fantasy. Shannara was a gateway drug for me. Honesty, if we want more young readers to get into fantasy, we need more books like this, not less.
Fast forward. Years later, here I am, giving it another read, and I find myself torn. Is this an obvious retelling of Tolkien? Mostly yes. Is the writing overwrought and even clumsy in places? Again yes (but I’m pretty forgiving of that—“good” writing is important, but so is a good story. You can’t polish a turd, as the saying goes. Tolstoy himself couldn’t fix the Twilight series. Early Brooks may not be the best writer there ever was, but he’s serviceable, and he would go on to prove with the second book in this series that a good story adequately told is sometimes plenty good enough). Is the “futuristic” setting just a gloss over what is still essentially Yet Another Medieval Europe? Sure.
But all that aside, this is still a fun book. Sure, Tolkien did it first and (I admit now) better, but I’m always game for a fast paced piece of popcorn entertainment. This is about as popcorn as 70’s and 80’s fantasy gets. It’s a quick read, despite its size, and it’s fun. And I can’t help but remember how it got me into fantasy. Shannara was a gateway drug for me. Honesty, if we want more young readers to get into fantasy, we need more books like this, not less.
sir_scott's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Very Good book! If you like fantasy or epic tales, this is a must read. Can't put it down
Very Good book! If you like fantasy or epic tales, this is a must read. Can't put it down
craftygiant's review against another edition
4.0
greatly enjoyed as an audio book. A lengthy read but it didn't feel like it.
marmarci's review against another edition
2.0
Sabía de antemano que se iba a parecer mucho a El Señor de los Anillos, y lo curioso es que al principio no me lo pareció tanto (he leído libros que copian más descaradamente), pero conforme avanzaba quedó claro que todo el libro está basado en la estructura y arcos de la obra de Tolkien.
Hasta la mitad del libro, se me hizo tedioso, dándome sueño casi cada vez que lo cogía. Aún así estaba empeñada en seguir (mayormente porque quiero leer el segundo libro). Por suerte, a partir de la mitad más o menos, aparecen dos nuevos personajes que, junto al enano Hendel, son lo mejorcito de este libro. Personajes carismáticos a los que se les coge cariño y que curiosamente son más de la mente de Brooks que un préstamo de Tolkien. Tiene sentido, puesto que los personajes propios siempre estarán mejor desarrollados que los prestados.
Aún así el ritmo del libro va haciendo altibajos entre escenas de interés, y otras largas y tediosas hasta decir basta. Incluso con repeticiones. El libro podría haber estado mejor con menos préstamos y palabras (sobre todo descripciones de rocas y nubes, ay)
Sin embargo, las partes que se nota que son cosecha del escritor, se me hicieron más entretenidas. Pienso que tiene mucho potencial (habiendo leído sólo este libro suyo), y en el momento en que deje de apoyarse en Tolkien (que ojo, El Señor de los Anillos es uno de los libros más importantes de mi vida. Pero si quiero leer esa historia, me voy a Tolkien, no a copias o inspiraciones intensas), creo que puede crear historias muy interesantes. Veremos qué tal evoluciona en el segundo libro de la saga.
Hasta la mitad del libro, se me hizo tedioso, dándome sueño casi cada vez que lo cogía. Aún así estaba empeñada en seguir (mayormente porque quiero leer el segundo libro). Por suerte, a partir de la mitad más o menos, aparecen dos nuevos personajes que, junto al enano Hendel, son lo mejorcito de este libro. Personajes carismáticos a los que se les coge cariño y que curiosamente son más de la mente de Brooks que un préstamo de Tolkien. Tiene sentido, puesto que los personajes propios siempre estarán mejor desarrollados que los prestados.
Aún así el ritmo del libro va haciendo altibajos entre escenas de interés, y otras largas y tediosas hasta decir basta. Incluso con repeticiones. El libro podría haber estado mejor con menos préstamos y palabras (sobre todo descripciones de rocas y nubes, ay)
Sin embargo, las partes que se nota que son cosecha del escritor, se me hicieron más entretenidas. Pienso que tiene mucho potencial (habiendo leído sólo este libro suyo), y en el momento en que deje de apoyarse en Tolkien (que ojo, El Señor de los Anillos es uno de los libros más importantes de mi vida. Pero si quiero leer esa historia, me voy a Tolkien, no a copias o inspiraciones intensas), creo que puede crear historias muy interesantes. Veremos qué tal evoluciona en el segundo libro de la saga.