Is it okay to start reading Terry Brooks with The High Druid of Shannara Trilogy?

[SirSamuelVimes]

I have been wanting to start reading Terry Brooks for a long time now, but have never gotten around to it. I recently was shopping through Barnes and Nobles, and saw that they had the complete trilogy on sale for eight dollars. I couldn't resist buying it, but I wanted to know if it's okay to start with this series? I see that it's a separate series, but it's in the same fantasy world as earlier series by him. I just don't want to feel like I'm jumping in the middle of the story.

 

[RoninJedi84]

I would actually suggest starting with the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy - Ilse Witch, Antrax, and Morgawr - the series that comes before High Druid.

The main characters in High Druid were in this trilogy, and if you skip it then you will miss out on a lot of the characters' development and back story, which becomes important the further you get into High Druid.

You could start with High Druid I suppose, but you'd probably be left wondering why anything mattered.

 

[biodroid]

I would also like to know if one can skip The Sword of Shannara and start with Elfstones? Is it imperative to read SOS?

 

[Reivax26]

Actually, you should start with First King of Shannara because it sets the storyline in motion. I still have my hardback copy I bought when it first came out.

 

[SirSamuelVimes]

I would actually suggest starting with the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy - Ilse Witch, Antrax, and Morgawr - the series that comes before High Druid.

The main characters in High Druid were in this trilogy, and if you skip it then you will miss out on a lot of the characters' development and back story, which becomes important the further you get into High Druid.

You could start with High Druid I suppose, but you'd probably be left wondering why anything mattered.

Thanks, I'll definitely do that. I always hate feeling like I've jumped in to the middle of the story. I only bought this series first, because it was a deal I couldn't pass up.

 

[SirSamuelVimes]

Actually, you should start with First King of Shannara because it sets the storyline in motion. I still have my hardback copy I bought when it first came out.

So by saying you recommend me to start with First King of Shannara are you saying I should read the Shannara series, the Heritage of Shannara series, and the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series before reading High Druid? I was just asking because it has those three series listed before this one in High Druid.

 

[biodroid]

I think on Terry Brooks site he mentions an alternate order to his book. Checkout the forum on his site, I havent been there in a while but it was informative.

 

[SirSamuelVimes]

I think on Terry Brooks site he mentions an alternate order to his book. Checkout the forum on his site, I havent been there in a while but it was informative.

Thanks, I looked it up and it was helpful for sure. It still recommended me to read a couple series before I read High Druid though. Which is fine by me. I'll get around to it eventually. I kind of jump around in my reading. I read multiple series at the same time a lot, and am doing so now.

 

[Reivax26]

Well, if you want to go all the way back to the beginning of the thing you need to read the Running with the Demon trilogy. Its actually my favorite trilogy by Brooks.

 

[SirSamuelVimes]

Well, if you want to go all the way back to the beginning of the thing you need to read the Running with the Demon trilogy. Its actually my favorite trilogy by Brooks.

The title of the series definitely catches my intention. It's cool to see someone else on here lives in NC. You from NC?

 

[Reivax26]

Actually a Tennessee native who married a crazy woman from NC and moved here last October.


The Running with the Demon trilogy won several awards when it first came out, especially the first 2. It was a trip for people because they were so used to him writing about Shannara but it was set in modern times in a small town in Indiana.