The Sword of Shannara Epic Fantasy at its Finest

The Sword of Shannara is an epic fantasy novel by Terry Brooks. First published in 1977 it tells the story of Shea Ohmsford and his quest to retrieve a fabled blade needed to fight against an unspeakable evil threatening to take over the Four Lands he and his family call home.

She Ohmsford is leading an ordinary existence in the small village of Shady Vale along with his brother Flick as they help their father run the local inn. Everything is at it should be until Allanon, last of the Druids, enters Shea’s life turning it upside down.  Shea learns an unbelievable truth about his heritage before being thrust into an even more unbelievable quest to find a lost talisman. Shea soon finds himself part of a mis-matched band of heroes made up of the various races of the Four Lands hoping to find the Sword of Shannara, the only weapon which can defeat the Warlock Lord whose evil threatens to cloak the world in darkness, all the while being chased by the Warlock Lord’s evil minions.

The Sword of the Shannara is the book that introduced the literary world to fantasy guru, Terry Brooks. It has spawned one of the most recognizable series in genre fiction. If J.R.R. Tolkien is considered the grandfather of the fantasy genre then Terry Brooks would definitely be its father. The Shannara series helped shaped the landscape for the modern fantasy genre.

The Sword of Shannara is not only my favorite novel, but also holds a special place in my heart. I was introduced to this masterpiece the summer my parents divorced. I was 12-years old and whenever things got too heavy for me I could lose myself in the pages of this fantastic novel.  Shea Ohmsford became a close companion and his exploits were not just a source of entertainment but a salvation for that 12-year old boy whose own life was turning upside down. Years later I wrote to Mr. Brooks thanking him for helping me get through a tumultuous time. He was gracious enough to write back, and that letter is now framed and hanging in my office.

Later in life I was inspired to become a writer myself after one of my annual readings of The Sword of Shannara. I even mentioned Mr. Brooks in the Acknowledgements of my debut novel, Dying Moon. My goal has been to pay it forward so to speak in that if I can help one young reader get through a tough time like The Sword of Shannara did for me, then I can consider my writing career a success. 

*This review/article first appeared with Yahoo Voices in 2011-20012