I don’t recall when I first read the Sword of Shannara by
Terry Brooks or how many times I have read it now.
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| The original cover art in Australia |
It can’t have been any later than 1992 because I gave a
speech in my final year at primary school (elementary school) about the
Shannara books – however many of them existed at that point. I forgot I was
supposed to do a speech that week and had to write one in a hurry. I must have
been reading the books at the time and it was flavour of the month.
Like many other books I picked up in my early years, I read
these out of order. The Elfstones of Shannara was the first in the series I
read and I’m not sure when I went back and read the Sword of Shannara.
This book is very classic fantasy – or you might even say
formulaic, but I enjoy it nevertheless. Think Lord of the Rings. Allanon
(Gandalf) arrives to rescue Shea Ohmsford (Frodo) who is the only person who
can wield (carry) the Sword of Shannara (the One Ring) and is being hunted by
Skull Bearers (Ringwraiths). He must take the Sword of Shannara to confront and
destroy the Warlock Lord (Sauron). Looks very familiar doesn’t it?
Shea is also joined by a company of heroes to help him along
his way, including two elves (OK, we get two of Legolas) and a dwarf (Gimli).
We don’t get three hobbit companions, but we do get Flick Ohmsford (Shea’s
adopted brother) and Menion Leah (a close family friend of the Ohmsfords and
filling in for Aragorn).
Shea is also superficially very much like Frodo. He comes
from Shady Vale (the Shire), an isolated community of hard-working but
unworldly people called Valemen (hobbits). He’s never been out into the world
and is ill-equipped to defend himself, especially against dark and magical
creatures like the Skull Bearers. OK, not the most original name, but this was
a first book and dates back to the 70s. Be kind.
Of all the Shannara books, this is not my favourite. It is
possibly my least favourite. Looking at it against Lord of the Rings I now
wonder if that’s why. I know it has been criticised for its resemblance to Lord
of the Rings. But it is still an enjoyable read, although possibly a bit slow
in places. More so on re-reads I think, though it’s been a while for me. It is
a first book and I don’t think Brooks’s later books are so obviously
unoriginal. Brooks freely admits he was heavily influenced by Tolkien when he
wrote this book.
It is worth reading for the scene-setting it does for the
later books – understanding the fact that Shea is a half-elf and the last surviving
descendent of the Elven royal house of Shannara. Only a descendant of Jerle
Shannara can wield the Sword, and this is important in later books as well.
Also Shea is given the blue Elfstones, might weapons of magic, which can only
be wielded by those of Elven blood. This also becomes an important plot point
later in the series. It's also useful to understand some of the history. The Shannara series is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a chemical or nuclear holocaust. The survivors have warily turned to magic as a source of power in the new world. Science is almost completely shunned, its knowledge lost.
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| Way cooler cover art! I want this one. Presumably that's Paranor. |
Well, I guess now I’ve told you, you don’t need to read it
for those reasons, but reading the book is still a fun way to really understand how these things are
important, instead of being just backstory to a later book. I should
know. I read the books out of order, remember?
The most intriguing character in my opinion is Allanon. He
is the last of the Druids, and he sleeps the Druid Sleep at Paranor, the Druid’s
Keep, unless things are terribly wrong in the world. Tough gig, huh? You’d hope the pay is
good.
Unfortunately it’s not. Instead he is the object of
suspicion, mistrust and downright hatred in many quarters, particularly human
lands. Things are a bit better among the Elves and Dwarves. Flick in particular
distrusts Allanon’s motives. He has good cause – Allanon is charged to protect
the Four Lands as a whole and sacrifices must be made.
Despite that, I feel more sympathy for Allanon than Flick.
The Valeman is a dour stick in the mud and Allanon is a tormented, conflicted
figure of myth and legend trying his best to save a bunch of ungrateful louts
who do nothing but ostracise him in return. That takes some serious dedication
and qualifies you for ‘way cool’ status in my opinion. He’s also about 7 feet
tall and nearly always shrouded in black robes. This is a character who is just
awesome without being invincible.
Allanon is also the only character with a significant repeat
appearance in the first three books, as Terry Brooks move onto successive
generations of Ohmsfords with each book. If you haven’t read them, don’t panic!
I’ve read some books where sequels were significant disappointments because of
this, but if there is a master of getting it right, it is Terry Brooks. He
masterfully engages the reader in the new Omhsford without making us
feel we have lost our connection with the previous ones.
This isn’t the most original book, and it’s not Terry
Brooks’s best book either. When is a first book ever an author’s best effort? I
should like to think we all improve with time and I will write about some of
his other books in the future. But it is an enjoyable read and if you’re
looking for something your kids can read (like my Dad was) this book qualifies.
No sex, no drugs, no graphic violence. I’m assuming if you’re reading this blog
you don’t have an issue with magical and supernatural themes!
Oh, one other downside. It has no dragons. Can you believe
that? Got Trolls though.
